Our leveraging the technology of advanced ceramics production in development of technology of detoxifying hazardous asbestos contributes to a safe and secure society. MINO’s is the first in Japan to achieve detoxification of asbestos without melting. We have translated the dominant patent acquired by Gunma National College of Technology into a practical application in a contracted research program for the Japan Science and Technology Agency. Building materials containing asbestos are first pulverized and mixed with a fusion agent (calcium chloride). The mix is heated to 800-900oC to decompose the asbestos, and hazardous asbestos fibers are porphyrized and detoxified. This technology succeeds in not only reducing processing costs by reducing the melting temperature from the conventional 1500oC, but increases processing capacity 30-50 times. Approximately one million tones of drifting asbestos products (e.g. gunning material) containing high levels of asbestos remain in the environment and are currently being processed. The demands for low-cost and high-volume asbestos processing equipment is considerable, given that more than 40 million tons of non-drifting building materials containing asbestos remain in Japan. We are currently designing a pilot model and will commence commercial production of the processing equipment within fiscal year 2009. 　 Copylight(c) 2008 MINO CERAMIC CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.