Professor MITOMA of Faculty of Science and Engineering: Joint Collaboration between 5 Countries Including JPN and ZAF, Selected for Multilateral Research Framework

    The research group of Professor MITOMA Yoshiharu, who belongs to the Faculty of Science and Engineering, was selected to one of the new international projects within the framework of Africa-Japan Collaborative Research (AJ-CORE). The research project titled "Sustainability Challenge in Africa: Purification of Contaminated Soil Using Nano-Calcium and Its Recycling into Eco-Fertilizer and High-Strength Concrete (SCA-CEFC)" was submitted to the fourth joint call for proposals in the field of “Environmental Science”.

    The AJ-CORE framework supports international collaborative research conducted by researchers from Japan, South Africa, and at least one African country participating in Africa’s Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI). Japanese teams receive support from JST while African teams are supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
    Researchers from other African countries will cooperate on an equal-partnership basis with those from Japan and South Africa, together contributing to issues of local and global significance. Alongside natural scientists the consortium encourages participation by a variety of stakeholders including social scientists, enterprises, NGOs and citizens, with an aim to make research outcomes relevant for wider society.

    With the support of AJ-CORE, Professor MITOMA’s research group, consisting of researchers from Japan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Benin, and Indonesia, will promote collaborative research to achieve highly efficient methods for resource and energy-saving soil purification and reduce waste through recycling, as described below.

Abstract of Research Project
    This research focuses on the purification of soils contaminated by malaria control agents (mainly DDT) and heavy metals using nanoscale calcium reagents. The goal is to advance environmental purification while enhancing the value of the treated soil by recycling it into fertilizers or strengthened concrete.
    The Japanese team will prepare the reagents and provide guidance on various analytical methods. The South African team will handle the purification of pesticide-contaminated soils and heavy metal countermeasures. The Ethiopian team will focus on soil purification and soil acidification measures in cornfields. The Benin team will address soil purification in cotton fields, and the Indonesian team will develop high-performance concrete materials using palm fiber.
    Through multinational collaboration involving five countries, the teams aim to achieve resource and energy efficiency while reducing waste.

For more details, please visit the JST press release page.

Learn more about Professor Yoshiharu MITOMA (only in Japanese)
Professor Yoshiharu MITOMA’s research