Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) has carried out groundwater studies responding to social demands. Groundwater studies had been conducted for the development of resources and the protection of the environment in the past. These days, in addition, they are contributing to thermal energy use and practical use of the deep groundwater environment for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) and carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) projects. In this paper, we present the history of groundwater research at GSJ, current issues, and our approach to groundwater use.
Antifreeze proteins adsorb to ice crystals and have the function of suppressing their growth. To apply antifreeze proteins to frozen foods where the coarsening of ice crystals leads to the deterioration of quality, we advance mass production technology. However, there were not many cases where the quality of frozen foods was improved by adding the antifreeze protein we developed. So, we changed the direction of development and conducted market research. Our market research revealed new possibilities for utilizing antifreeze proteins. We promoted the development of products that meet the needs of users and began sales as research reagents in 2016. Currently, we are working to address user problems, while manufacturing and selling research reagents.
Details of the methanogenic processes in deep subsurface environments, i.e., reaction pathways and responsible microorganisms are unclear. This issue can be effectively addressed by incubation experiments using subsurface water/sediment samples with high methanogenic potential, followed by subjecting the obtained enrichment culture to the analyses of metagenome, metatranscriptome, and metabolome as well as stable isotope tracer experiments. Elucidation of the methanogenic processes provides basic information required to develop innovate resource technologies such as bio-conversion of residual crude oil in a depleted oil field to natural gas for enhanced energy recovery.
Causes and countermeasures for various kinds of hydraulic system failures in construction machinery generated by biodegradable hydraulic oil (bio-oil) are discussed. Previous component analytical methods can prevent all kinds of failures except hydraulic system malfunction, which requires a holistic approach for analysis. Using the Systems Modeling Language (SysML), the cause of malfunctions can be understood, and the most effective countermeasure can be obtained. Integration of a component analysis method and a holistic analysis method for system development is proposed.
この論説では、我が国の明治・大正時代の産業勃興期における旧通商産業省工業技術院研究所の前身の研究所群の役割を概観し、組織的な技術導入と実証、独創技術の研究開発、産業育成・振興の面から、その成果を紹介する。その例として、（1）電気試験所における無線電信、および（2）東京工業試験所におけるアンモニア合成、の研究開発を取り上げた。 イギリスで18世紀末に起きた産業革命は紡績機、硫酸等の製造技術の革新にあった。19世紀中頃から20世紀初めにはドイツ、アメリカを中心に電信電話機、アンモニア合成等で技術革新が達成された。それに対して我が国の産業革命は19世紀末（明治中期）から20世紀初頭（大正初期）にかけて起こったとされるが、その間の技術導入に加えて電気試験所におけるTYK型無線電話の発明や、東京工業試験所における「東工試法」というアンモニア合成法における新触媒開発等の独創的技術が創出されている。 一方、産業振興の面では、初期無線研究において技術が海軍に移されて研究開発が行われ、その後それらの技術が企業に引き継がれ我が国初の無線通信機製造会社が成立したこと、「東工試法」によるアンモニア合成技術が企業における国産初の硫安製造の成功に大きく貢献したことは大きな特徴である。 このように我が国においては極めて早い時期に、技術導入に加えて独自技術開発やその産業応用が行われていたことは注目に値する。またこの論説では、これらの例をベースに、それ以降引続く我が国の国立試験研究所の産業上の役割についても言及する。
