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?@Development of eco-friendly polymers useful in our daily life is one of the significant challenges for the realization of a sustainable society. 

1. Background
?@In 20th century, various kinds of synthetic plastics have been developed and produced, which made our life so comfortable, clean, and safe.?@On the other hand, synthetic plastics possess many problems to solve.?@They are produced from fossil fuel, which is exhaustive.?@They have no biodegradability, so they remain for a long time when disposed by landfill.?@They may cause increase of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, when disposed by incineration.?@So, synthetic plastics are one of the significant and symbolic material of the modern society.?@One possible solution is development of green polymers, such as poly(lactic acid).?@They are produced from natural resources such as corn starch, which are renewable.?@They have biodegradability which can be disposed in sewage plant or compost.

2. Research Topic (a)?@Development of eco-friendly superabsorbent hydrogels
?@Superabsorbent hydrogels are extensively used in many applications such as
hygiene products, agriculture, food, medical, and so on.?@The present situation of superabsobent hydrogels are similar to that of synthetic plastics.?@They are produced from petroleum, and after use, they are incinerated in Japan, in spite of containing large amount of water.?@So development of "green" superabsorbent hydrogels is a very important theme to achieve.?@Cotton cellulose is promising candidate for their main chain, because it is abundantly produced every year, its molecular weight is extremely high, and it has excellent biodegradability.  So we have been studying the development of superabsorbent hydrogels based on polysaccharides such as cotton cellulose, chitin, starch, and so on.?@Various kinds of novel biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogels have been successfully obtained from these polysaccharides.


?ELeft: teabag with o.2g sample based on cotton cellulose.
?Right: blank teabag (without sample).

3. Research Topic (b)?@Utilization of sea lettuce proliferating at Hakata bay
?@
Wajiro-higata tideland, east area of Hakata bay, is one of the most popular stopovers for migratory birds.?@Recently, a plague of sea lettuce has been seen every summer, which may not only destroy the scenery but also exert a bad influence on the ecological system.?@Fukuoka city collects it by use of special boat.?@The collected sea lettuce is disposed by landfill or incineration, because its application has not been found yet.?@We have investigated the production of life-related materials such as detergent, paper and green composites from sea lettuce.?@Environmental load of transportation will be reduced when we achieve the goal, as shown below.

?ELeft: Present situation (material circulation in global scale).
?Right: Goal (material circulation in regional scale).