Riken Technos and Niihama College Develop Magnetically Recoverable Wastewater Treatment Material Using Iron Oxide Particles
Key facts
- Riken Technos and Niihama College Develop Magnetically Recoverable Wastewater Treatment Material Using Iron Oxide Particles
- Riken Technos Corporation, in collaboration with Niihama National College of Technology, has developed a new water treatment photocatalyst material. By supporting iron oxide magnetic particles on porous materials, they have created a solution that allows for easy magnetic recovery of catalysts after treatment and enables organic matter decomposition using sunlight. The project aims to realize practical, low-energy water treatment processes.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: May 28, 2026
Direct answer
Riken Technos Corporation, in collaboration with Niihama National College of Technology, has developed a new water treatment photocatalyst material. By supporting iron oxide magnetic particles on porous materials, they have created a solution that allows for easy magnetic recovery of catalysts after treatment and enables organic matter decomposition using sunlight. The project aims to realize practical, low-energy water treatment processes.
- Citation
- Riken Technos and Niihama College Develop Magnetically Recoverable Wastewater Treatment Material Using Iron Oxide Particles (May 28, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- May 28, 2026
Riken Technos Corporation, in collaboration with Niihama National College of Technology, has developed a new water treatment photocatalyst material. By supporting iron oxide magnetic particles on porous materials, they have created a solution that allows for easy magnetic recovery of catalysts after treatment and enables organic matter decomposition using sunlight. The project aims to realize practical, low-energy water treatment processes.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 30, 2026 at 23:07 (52h 7m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 30, 2026 at 23:12 (4 min after Collected)
Riken Technos Corp. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kazuaki Tokiwa) has co-developed a material that is easily recoverable after water treatment by supporting iron oxide magnetic particles on porous bodies, in collaboration with Niihama National College of Technology (Niihama City, Ehime; President: Akihiro Tokai).
### 1. Research Background
Photocatalytic water treatment is gaining attention as an environmentally friendly technology that requires no external chemicals. However, dispersing photocatalytic particles in wastewater makes recovery difficult after treatment, posing a challenge for practical operation. Furthermore, refining particles to increase catalytic activity prevents them from settling, making filtration and recovery even more difficult.
### 2. Aim of the Joint Research
By combining Niihama College's research track record in this field with Riken Technos' materials compounding technology and commercialization expertise, the project seeks to implement basic research findings in society. Riken Technos is responsible for material design, process development, scaling up, and business planning for practical application.
### 3. Features of the Developed Material
The newly developed photocatalyst possesses both the ability to decompose organic matter in wastewater and the property of being easily collected by magnets.
* **Porous Structure with Iron Oxide Magnetic Particles**: Magnetic particles containing one or more types of α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, or Fe3O4 are supported on porous bodies like zeolite or diatomaceous earth, achieving both dispersibility and recoverability.
* **Visible Light Photocatalysis Using Sunlight**: Due to the visible light responsiveness of iron oxide, organic matter can be decomposed under sunlight without relying on artificial light sources.
* **Easy Recovery via Magnets**: The magnetic properties allow for rapid recovery using magnets after use, making it suitable for water treatment processes based on reuse.
### 4. Envisaged Application Fields
* Treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater
* Decentralized water treatment using photocatalysts
* Treatment processes requiring recovery and reuse
* Energy-saving water treatment utilizing sunlight
The company will proceed with performance optimization and evaluation in real-world water systems to further advance development toward commercialization.
### 1. Research Background
Photocatalytic water treatment is gaining attention as an environmentally friendly technology that requires no external chemicals. However, dispersing photocatalytic particles in wastewater makes recovery difficult after treatment, posing a challenge for practical operation. Furthermore, refining particles to increase catalytic activity prevents them from settling, making filtration and recovery even more difficult.
### 2. Aim of the Joint Research
By combining Niihama College's research track record in this field with Riken Technos' materials compounding technology and commercialization expertise, the project seeks to implement basic research findings in society. Riken Technos is responsible for material design, process development, scaling up, and business planning for practical application.
### 3. Features of the Developed Material
The newly developed photocatalyst possesses both the ability to decompose organic matter in wastewater and the property of being easily collected by magnets.
* **Porous Structure with Iron Oxide Magnetic Particles**: Magnetic particles containing one or more types of α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, or Fe3O4 are supported on porous bodies like zeolite or diatomaceous earth, achieving both dispersibility and recoverability.
* **Visible Light Photocatalysis Using Sunlight**: Due to the visible light responsiveness of iron oxide, organic matter can be decomposed under sunlight without relying on artificial light sources.
* **Easy Recovery via Magnets**: The magnetic properties allow for rapid recovery using magnets after use, making it suitable for water treatment processes based on reuse.
### 4. Envisaged Application Fields
* Treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater
* Decentralized water treatment using photocatalysts
* Treatment processes requiring recovery and reuse
* Energy-saving water treatment utilizing sunlight
The company will proceed with performance optimization and evaluation in real-world water systems to further advance development toward commercialization.
FAQ
今回開発された水処理材料の主な特徴は何ですか？
酸化鉄磁性粒子を多孔質体（ゼオライトや珪藻土など）に担持しており、汚水中で有機物を分解する光触媒機能と、処理後に磁石で容易に回収できる磁気的性質を併せ持っています。
従来の光触媒による水処理にはどのような課題がありましたか？
触媒粒子を汚水に分散させる方法では処理後の回収が難しく、特に活性向上のために粒子を微細化すると沈降しにくくなり、ろ過や回収がさらに困難になるという課題がありました。
この材料はどのような光源で機能しますか？
酸化鉄の可視光応答性を利用しているため、人工光源を必要とせず、太陽光下でも有機物の分解が可能です。
共同研究においてリケンテクノスと新居浜高専はどのような役割を担っていますか？
新居浜高専は蓄積された知見と技術シーズを提供し、リケンテクノスは材料設計、プロセス開発、スケールアップ、量産プロセスの確立、および事業化検討を担っています。
想定される具体的な応用分野は何ですか？
生活排水・産業排水の処理、分散型水処理システム、回収・再利用を前提とした処理プロセス、および太陽光を利用した省エネルギー型水処理が挙げられます。