X-MINING X-TALK Vol.8 【Part 3】 What ’s the goal to Enhance the Potential of Copper

Dr. Sasahara’s activities are introduced on the website of the Kitasato Environmental Science Center as part of the SDGs initiatives. What kind of organization is the Kitasato Environmental Science Center?

The organization aims to contribute to the creation of a healthy living environment by returning the outcomes to society through projects that improve environmental issues and contribute to preventive medicine, based on cutting-edge knowledge and scientific technology.

Currently, the center is considering ways to engage with the SDGs by sharing the knowledge and experience it has cultivated with children who will shape the future, through academic-related activities.

As a first step, last fiscal year, it registered as an SDGs partner in a partnership with Kanagawa Prefecture and Sagamihara City.

How do you plan to link copper research to the realization of a sustainable society?

At the center, we are working to strengthen the testing system for environmental conservation and infection control, which are crucial to people’s lives.

Environmental conservation refers to efforts to protect the natural environment and ecosystems on Earth and maintain them in a sustainable state.

Specifically, to ensure the use of safe and secure water, our center is proficient in all types of water quality inspection based on various ordinances such as the Water Supply Act, including examinations presented to government offices and municipalities, and those required by public health centers.

On the other hand, infection control refers to reducing infectious diseases through improvements in the environmental aspect.

Our center advocates for the concept of an “Environmental Health Check-up”, which involves continuously testing and inspecting microorganisms and hazardous substances generated from business activities and taking preventive measures in advance, similar to a human health check-up.

Through these preventive activities, we believe that the research and results concerning copper can be utilized in these preventive activities.

After overcoming the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have finally entered what can be called the post-COVID era. During this time, you have continued to study the antibacterial properties of copper. Now, after the pandemic, has there been any change in the situation surrounding copper?

though we had been engaged in various activities even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was still a lack of public relations.
However, following the reports on copper’s antibacterial effects by television and other media outlets triggered by the spread of the novel coronavirus, our center’s website saw a significant increase in traffic.

We also received more inquiries from the public and requests for lectures have increased.

Development of innovative products utilizing copper has also advanced.

The spread of the infection, paradoxically, served as an opportunity to publicize the antibacterial properties of copper.
However, the situation is such that there are still very few copper products available on the market.

The price range of copper has always been high, which has been a bottleneck in the development of new products.
In recent years, the price has risen even further, making it difficult for manufacturers to create prototypes, even if they have ideas.
On the other hand, one of the challenges is the scarcity of businesses that handle processes such as vapor deposition and sputtering. If such a issues could be cleared, I believe the potential for copper could expand even further.

Our company is exploring new possibilities through the application development of highly characteristic submicron copper powder and the utilization of high-precision copper sputtering technology.

As a material, we believe that copper powder is very user-friendly from a processing perspective.

If successful in applications such as coatings for touch panels, we should be able to utilize copper powder in various situations, making it a highly beneficial material in terms of its potential for expansion.

We would like to focus on this in our research activities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were once again made acutely aware of the significant role copper should play in public health.

Recently, there has been an increase in news about Legionella bacteria, originating from the water of recirculating filtration facilities, replacing the news about the coronavirus.
We are thinking about how we can continue research with Dr. Sasahara on the potential of delivering copper as a product that demonstrates effectiveness against various kinds of bacteria and viruses.

Today, I have learned a great deal from understanding a portion of the long-term research results.
I have also been reminded that copper is an exceptionally superior metal element that can be used against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and in various other fields.

At X-MINING, we are also looking for co-creation partners to spark innovation together, and we introduce episodes and thoughts of “new co-creation for the future” that X-MINING aims for, including product development and research, in a conversational format.
For a list of other X-TALKs, click here.

We would be honored if you would consider co-creation with us as part of your future research and development.

Thank you very much.