Graphite from Sake Lees
2025-07-17 06:02:19

Space Seed Holdings Develops Graphite from Sake Lees for Next-Gen SPS Technology

A Leap Toward Advanced Material Technology



In an intriguing development, Space Seed Holdings, a company based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, has announced that it has successfully created graphite using sake lees. This initiative is part of a fundamental verification process for a next-generation Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) device, in collaboration with Okayama University. Recently, the company confirmed its commitment to pioneering new material development technology by working alongside Professor Yoshihisa Mori from the university.

The focus of this project is to create a next-gen SPS device capable of achieving high levels of pressure and precise heating control, surpassing the performance limits of conventional SPS. As a preliminary step towards this goal, the team employed sake lees, a byproduct of the sake brewing process, as a test material. By sintering sake lees as a source of carbon, they were able to produce a sintered body of graphite that not only demonstrates a certain hardness but also confirms its conductivity.

This research serves a dual purpose: first, to innovate material conversion technology from limited microbial resources found on Earth, and second, to prepare for future applications in outer space. Establishing local production of high-performance materials from limited biomass resources is seen as essential for achieving a resource-circulating society even in space environments.

Once completed, the next-gen SPS device will make the sintering of materials possible under ultra-high pressure and temperature conditions, paving the way for the creation of higher-value products. This may include not just graphite but also diamonds derived from sake lees. The potential applications for such advanced materials could significantly impact various industries, especially in our efforts to tackle the challenges posed by space habitation.

Moving forward, Space Seed Holdings plans to strengthen collaborations with research institutions and other companies, particularly Okayama University, to drive research and development that merges industry with cutting-edge material science. These efforts are aimed at innovating circular manufacturing practices on a global scale and establishing foundational technologies necessary for humanity's settlement in space by the 2040s.

About Space Seed Holdings


Space Seed Holdings is on a mission to turn science fiction into reality by engaging in investment activities, research, and business creation within the deep tech space industry. Through initiatives like the Fermentation and Longevity Fund program, the company focuses on generating solutions to social challenges in various ways. Its ultimate goal is to assemble the essential technologies for human habitation in outer space by working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders by 2040.

Visit Space Seed Holdings for more information.


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