One type of amino acid, ALA, is the sole raw material of a substance called porphyrin, which is typified by plant chlorophyll and animal hemoglobin. A global frontrunner in research focused on ALA, Cosmo Oil succeeded in developing a technology for the low-cost mass production of ALA utilizing an environment-friendly fermentation method.
Cosmo Oil has commercialized a liquid fertilizer containing ALA and we are currently selling this product in Japan and overseas. There are numerous locations throughout the world where harsh conditions hinder plant growth. These areas include low sunlight regions, cold regions, dry regions, and regions with alkali soil. Our fertilizer is effective in promoting healthy plant growth in such adverse environments. Beginning with research in Abu Dhabi to determine whether ALA can be used as an ingredient in fertilizer for agriculture and to prevent desertification by utilizing the enhanced salinity tolerance of ALA, we are undertaking joint research in various countries such as China, Poland, and Brazil that is focused on raising environmental stress durability. By deploying agricultural technologies that utilize ALA, we are striving to contribute to the realization of a sustainable global environment in a variety of fields of application that include protecting the environment, increasing food production, and utilizing biomass energy.
5-Amino Levulinic Acid (ALA)
Demonstration testing at UAE University in Abu Dhabi
Technology that utilizes the powers of microorganisms for groundwater remediation and soil remediation is called "bioremediation." Through participation in a JPEC project, Cosmo Oil is developing efficient remediation technologies, including groundwater remediation technologies that use bioremediation and remediation walls, taking into consideration the types and amounts of nutrients needed for activating microorganisms and how decomposition occurs under various conditions such as groundwater flow and soil properties.
Remediation Wall Scheme
Excess sludge emitted from wastewater treatment facilities accounts for the largest proportion of all industrial waste. To efficiently solubilize excess sludge, Cosmo Oil has developed efficient sludge volume-reduction technologies that combine physical crushing using a crusher with alkali chemical treatment. Based on these technologies, in 2001 Cosmo Oil participated in a related JPEC project and in 2002 began operation of sludge reduction facilities at the Sakaide Refinery. Since then, we have been carrying out stable operation of this equipment and have achieved an excess sludge reduction rate of 50%. Additionally, with our Chiba Refinery serving as a demonstration site, we are progressing with research on the development of technologies for operations that achieve an excess sludge reduction rate of over 90%.
Fundamental Principle of Volume Reduction
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