Microwave Chemical

What Microwave Chemical does

Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd. (マイクロ波化学株式会社), founded in August 2007 in Kyoto, Japan and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (ticker 9227) since June 2022, operates a microwave-based process technology platform that electrifies and decarbonizes heating steps in the chemical, petrochemical, recycling, mining, and metallurgical industries. The company's core technology combines a proprietary, trade-secret-protected library of complex dielectric constants measured across frequency and temperature, multi-physics electromagnetic and thermal-fluid simulation, and patented microwave phase/irradiation control and safety systems. It is organized into branded platforms including PlaWave® (plastic chemical recycling via pyrolysis and solvolysis, with the Spider™ distributed-recycling variant), Green Mining-MX™ (ore calcination and reduction, including iron ore and manganese nodules), Carbon-MX™ (carbon-fiber oxidation/carbonization), PharmaWave-1 (peptide solid-phase synthesis), DualPoreSystem/DPS (low-concentration precious-metal recovery), and M-Cracker (gas-solid cracking). MWCC built the world's first Fire-Service-Act-compliant 3,200 t/year large-scale microwave chemical plant at its Osaka site in 2014, and in 2025 opened a Yokohama Lab for in-house development of 1,000 kW-class microwave oscillators.

Name

Microwave Chemical

Legal name

Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd. (マイクロ波化学株式会社 / Maikuroha Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha)

Website

https://mwcc.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd. operates a microwave-based chemical process technology platform, co-developing and licensing scalable, electrified processes for chemical recycling, metal refining, and carbon fiber production. It serves over 60 industrial partners including Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsubishi Chemical, BASF, and Sumitomo Chemical.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microwave Process Technology for Chemicals and Recycling

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Purification, Filtration & Packaging for High-Purity Chemicals (PFA/UPW compatibility, subfab delivery) (IMAEAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pyrometallurgical Recycling (Smelting, Thermal Treatment) (EUAFACAE), Hydrometallurgical Recycling & Refining (Leaching, Solvent Extraction, Precipitation) (EUAFACAD), Metals Recovery & Sorting Facilities (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) (EUAIADAG), Metal Melting & Secondary Smelting/Refining (Recycled Feedstock Producers) (EUAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• Microwave process technology
• Chemical recycling platforms
• Microwave heating reactors
• Electrified metallurgical processes
• Industrial decarbonization solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Suita

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. One-stop co-development and engineering solutions: End-to-end engagements from joint R&D through reactor design, pilot demonstration, engineering, and delivery of commercial-scale microwave plants, control systems, and licenses to chemical and materials manufacturers. Average ~5-year commercialization cycles with multiple parallel projects.
2. Joint development and licensing with strategic partners: Strategic co-development agreements (e.g., BASF polymer production, Mitsubishi Chemical PMMA recycling, Mitsui Chemicals multiple projects, Sumitomo Chemical hydrogen, Resonac chemical recycling, Asahi Kasei PA66) that combine milestone-based R&D funding with future licensing/royalty economics.
3. Low-concentration precious-metal recovery subscription service: DPS cartridges lent to customers under a subscription model; MWCC and the customer jointly recover palladium and other precious metals from wastewater/rinse water and share the value of the recovered metals, with global cross-border shipments enabled by non-waste, non-hazardous handling.
4. Equipment, plant and joint-venture operations: Sale/license of microwave reactors, pilot plants, and (historically) JV-operated plants such as TMT Co., Ltd. with Taiyo Kagaku for food additives. Revenue combines capital equipment, ongoing technical support, and shared JV economics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Microwave Chemical (MWCC) co-develops, designs and delivers microwave-based chemical, recycling, and metallurgical process technology through a one-stop engagement model spanning reaction system design, lab/bench/pilot validation, reactor engineering, safety/control systems, and commercial plant delivery. Its proprietary technology stack — including a complex dielectric constant library, electromagnetic field simulation, and patented phase-controlled microwave irradiation — is applied across plastic chemical recycling (PlaWave®), electrified metal refining and mining (Green Mining-MX™), carbon fiber manufacturing (Carbon-MX), peptide synthesis (PharmaWave-1), distributed recycling systems (Spider™), and a low-concentration precious-metal recovery subscription service (DualPoreSystem).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlaWave®: Microwave-based plastic chemical recycling technology platform enabling both pyrolysis and solvolysis of plastics. Includes Spider™ small-scale distributed recycling sub-platform.
• Spider™
• Green Mining-MX™
• C NEUTRAL™ 2050 design
• DualPoreSystem (DPS)
• NEXT Wave
• Carbon-MX

Products and services

• PlaWave® Microwave-based plastic chemical recycling technology platform that delivers high-selectivity, high-efficiency, space-saving decomposition of plastics into naphtha or monomers via pyrolysis and solvolysis. For chemical manufacturers, waste-management firms, and circular-economy projects.
• Spider™ distributed chemical-recycling business system
• Green Mining-MX™ Microwave technology platform for electrified metal refining and mining processes, including ore calcination and reduction. Successfully applied to manganese nodule ore calcination and iron ore reduction. For steelmakers, mining companies, and rare-metal refiners.
• Carbon-MX microwave carbon fiber manufacturing technology Microwave heating technology for the oxidation and carbonization steps of carbon fiber manufacturing, reported to cut energy use by up to 70% and heating time by up to 90% versus conventional methods. For carbon fiber producers and composite parts manufacturers.
• M-Cracker (microwave cracking) Microwave gas-solid reaction cracking technology (seed project) for chemical feedstock and material production processes. For petrochemical and chemical manufacturers.
• PharmaWave-1 peptide solid-phase synthesis device Microwave-based peptide solid-phase synthesis device (PharmaWave-1) for pharmaceutical and biotech drug-substance manufacturing. For pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs doing peptide and nucleic acid synthesis.
• DualPoreSystem (DPS) low-concentration precious-metal recovery subscription service Subscription service providing silica-based DualPoreSystem (DPS) cartridges with nanoscale pores and microscale through-holes plus surface modification ligands that selectively capture palladium and other precious metals at concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm from customer wastewater and rinse water; MWCC and the customer share the value of recovered metals, with cross-border shipment enabled by non-waste, non-hazardous handling. For electronics manufacturers, chemical product manufacturers, and plating process operators.
• One-stop microwave process co-development and engineering service End-to-end co-development and engineering service: reaction system design using a proprietary complex dielectric constant library, lab/bench/pilot validation, electromagnetic-field and multi-physics reactor simulation, scale-up engineering, and delivery of commercial microwave plants, control/safety systems, and licenses. For chemical, petrochemical, materials, pharmaceutical, steel, mining, and energy companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy consumption reduced to 1/3 of conventional methods
• +13 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature9 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship (latest lithium mou), flagship (lithium mou + historic investor-ally), strategic gtm partner (climate tech accelerator), strategic partner (solvent recovery equipment), strategic partner (medical), major strategic partner (solar recycling), strategic partner (solar recycling), internal strategic capability build-out, strategic r&d partner (seabed minerals), strategic partner (mining/metallurgy), major strategic partner, major strategic partner (full-scale since march 2025), strategic partner (hydrogen), major gtm partner (spider / distributed recycling), flagship r&d partner (rare metals), flagship strategic partner, major r&d partner (space), flagship strategic partner + investor, major pharmaceutical partner, strategic alliance, strategic alliance (capital + business), historical flagship jv partner (food additives), major global strategic partner, strategic technology partner (spider platform) and program operator for amazon accelerator.

• PMET Resources Inc.flagship (latest lithium mou)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Non-binding MOU signed on 17 June 2026 with Mitsui & Co. and MWCC to evaluate MWCC's proprietary microwave calcination technology for processing spodumene concentrate from PMET's Shaakichiuwaanaan lithium project in Quebec, Canada. Pilot plant testing will be conducted at MWCC's Osaka facility using 1.5 tonnes of spodumene concentrate already shipped. The collaboration aims to enable on-site production of battery-grade lithium carbonate using Quebec's renewable hydroelectric power.
• Mitsui & Co., Ltd.flagship (lithium mou + historic investor-ally)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Non-binding MOU (17 June 2026) with PMET Resources and MWCC to evaluate MWCC's microwave calcination technology for on-site battery-grade lithium carbonate production in Quebec. Mitsui & Co. is a long-standing counterparty across the MWCC ecosystem (Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsui Mining & Smelting are separate Mitsui-group entities also allied with MWCC).
• Amazon (Amazon Devices)strategic gtm partner (climate tech accelerator)GTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026MWCC selected for the 'Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator' (announced 21 May 2026) hosted by Amazon, with Plug and Play Tech Center as operator. MWCC proposed its Low-Concentration Precious Metal Recovery Business; works jointly with Amazon and Plug and Play teams on an integration plan and pitch to Amazon Devices senior executives (scheduled for October).
• KOBEX Co., Ltd.strategic partner (solvent recovery equipment)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Joint development and prototype production (announced February 2026) of a microwave vacuum solvent distillation recovery equipment. Prototype scheduled for completion April 2026; commercial series (drum-can batch unit + explosion-proof variant) targeted for 2027. KOBEX provides compact solvent recovery expertise; MWCC provides microwave heating expertise.
• CoreTissue BioEngineering Inc. (CTBE)strategic partner (medical)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026Development of mass-production equipment (announced January 2026) for a regenerative ligament intended for ACL reconstruction using MWCC's world-first microwave decellularization technology. Commercial production targeted for 2028. Initial clinical use of the development product occurred in December 2024.
• TAKEEI CORPORATION (TRE HOLDINGS group)major strategic partner (solar recycling)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025Joint application (with TRE HOLDINGS) to the Ministry of the Environment's FY2025 CO2 Emission Reduction Demonstration Project for Resource Circulation: 'Microwave-based Demonstration Project for Closed-loop Recycling of Solar Panel Glass'. Targets removal/reduction of EVA resin in end-of-life PV panel glass.
• TRE HOLDINGS CORPORATIONstrategic partner (solar recycling)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025Parent of TAKEEI; co-applicant (with TAKEEI and MWCC) for the Ministry of the Environment's FY2025 CO2 Emission Reduction Demonstration Project for Resource Circulation, supporting closed-loop glass-to-glass material recycling of end-of-life solar panel glass using microwave EVA-removal technology.
• Yokohama Lab / in-house oscillator development projectinternal strategic capability build-outOthers · 19 June 2025Full-scale launch of in-house microwave oscillator development and a new Yokohama R&D lab (announced 19 June 2025) to develop 1,000 kW-class oscillators for large-scale applications. Not an external partner — internal initiative.
• University of Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Government 'GX' program)strategic r&d partner (seabed minerals)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2024MWCC is participating in the University of Tokyo's 'Development of Smelting Methods for Seabed Mineral Resources' project, performing microwave calcination of South Bird's Head (Minami-Torishima) EEZ manganese nodule ore under a Tokyo Metropolitan Government GX subsidy. Project ran from a few kg lab scale (FY2024) to tens of kg bench scale (FY2025, completed April 2026) to tonne-scale demonstration planned for 2026–2027.
• Microwave-based rotary hearth furnace strategic alliance partnerstrategic partner (mining/metallurgy)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024Strategic alliance for the design and manufacture of microwave-based rotary hearth furnaces for ore smelting, announced 11 September 2024. Partner name not specified in the source.
• Asahi Kaseimajor strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Joint demonstration project launched April 2023 to commercialize chemical recycling of polyamide 66 (PA66/nylon 66) using microwave depolymerization into hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid monomers, with scraps from airbag and automotive parts manufacturing as feedstock.
• Resonac (formerly Showa Denko / SDK)major strategic partner (full-scale since march 2025)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2022Joint development (since 2022) of microwave-based chemical recycling to directly transform used plastic into basic chemical feedstocks such as ethylene and propylene. Full-scale development launched March 2025 after the project was selected as a GI Fund project, strengthening the collaborative framework.
• Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.strategic partner (hydrogen)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2022Joint development of an energy-saving and highly efficient microwave-based hydrogen production process aimed at supporting carbon neutrality by 2050, announced 21 February 2022.
• Seven-Eleven Japanmajor gtm partner (spider / distributed recycling)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Joint demonstration of a small distributed chemical recycling system under Osaka Prefecture's FY2022 Carbon Neutral Technology Development and Demonstration Project Subsidy. Aims to promote local small-scale high-efficiency recycling devices.
• National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)flagship r&d partner (rare metals)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2021Joint R&D agreement signed 22 December 2021 to develop energy-saving, CO2-reducing refining of rare metals (beryllium, lithium) using microwave heating. Successfully demonstrated single-step dissolution of beryllium ore and spodumene concentrate, replacing a 2,000 °C two-step process. Aimed at fusion power generation supply chain.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation / Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates Ltd.flagship strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2021Joint development and commercialization of PMMA (acrylic resin) chemical recycling. Demonstration plant built at MWCC's Osaka site in June 2021. Commercial recycling facility planned at MCC's plant from fiscal 2024. Recycled MMA produced via this technology was adopted for door visors of Honda's new mini-EV in September 2025. CO2 reduction of ≥70% vs. petrochemical route.
• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)major r&d partner (space)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Project to obtain water resources in space using microwave freeze-drying of ice in lunar and Martian regolith; project began December 2016 under the Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center. Demonstration conducted October 2017. Targets enabling local water procurement for future space habitation.
• Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.flagship strategic partner + investorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2017Strategic capital and business alliance signed September 2017 covering joint R&D of new microwave-based chemical processes. Includes partial equity investment. Subsequent collaborations: Eco-Friendly CF (carbon fiber) manufacturing technology (May 2022), flexible polyurethane foam chemical recycling (May 2022), and direct monomerization of ASR/SMC waste plastics (November 2021).
• PeptiDream / PeptiStarmajor pharmaceutical partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Joint specialty peptide drug development project using MWCC's PharmaWave-1 solid-phase microwave peptide synthesis platform. Project showcases MWCC's pharmaceutical-grade GMP microwave reactor capability.
• Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.strategic allianceStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic business alliance concluded in September 2017 to promote the sophistication of microwave-assisted production processes and the development of new functional materials.
• Futamura Chemical Co., Ltd.strategic allianceStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic business alliance concluded in September 2017 to reinvent existing production processes and develop new materials using microwaves.
• Iwatani Corporationstrategic alliance (capital + business)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic capital and business alliance concluded in September 2017 supporting full-scale entry into the next-generation materials sector.
• Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd.historical flagship jv partner (food additives)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015Joint venture TMT Co., Ltd. established April 2015 to produce food additives using microwave technology. JV plant completed in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture in March 2017. TMT was liquidated/corporately dissolved in March 2024. Original collaboration: sucrose fatty acid ester development.
• BASFmajor global strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Joint development agreement (2014) to improve energy efficiency in polymer production processes; relationship began 2011. Represents MWCC's first major global chemical partnership and validation of industrial-scale microwave process technology.
• Yokogawa Solution Servicesstrategic technology partner (spider platform)Technology or IntegrationProvides continuous pyrolysis process control automation technology, renewable-energy EMS, and electricity tracking system integrated with MWCC's PlaWave oilification technology in the Spider small-scale distributed chemical-recycling business system.
• Plug and Play Tech Centerprogram operator for amazon acceleratorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-operator of the Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator, working jointly with MWCC and Amazon teams on the integration plan for MWCC's low-concentration precious metal recovery technology.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• 6K: US-based company using proprietary microwave plasma technology (UniMelt) for advanced materials manufacturing including battery cathode materials. Operates a similar microwave-driven process technology platform serving industrial decarbonization and energy materials end markets.
• H Quest: US-based company commercializing microwave-driven plasma conversion of natural gas/methane into acetylene and hydrogen/black carbon. Shares MWCC's core approach of using microwave-based process technology to electrify and decarbonize industrial chemistry.

Emerging players

• Mura Technology: UK-based company using supercritical steam (Cat-HTR) technology for advanced plastic recycling. Competes with MWCC's PlaWave platform in the chemical-recycling-of-plastics space, both targeting circular-economy outcomes for mixed plastic waste streams.
• Carbios: French biotech company using proprietary enzymes to depolymerize PET plastics back to monomers. Competes with MWCC's PlaWave platform in plastic chemical recycling, targeting the same circular-economy value proposition via a different technical pathway.

Broad incumbents

• Eastman Chemical: US-based major chemical company with proprietary Carbon Renewal Technology (methanolysis) for chemical recycling of mixed plastics, plus significant hydrogen and decarbonization initiatives. Competes broadly with MWCC's PlaWave platform and downstream chemical-industry electrification efforts.
• Topsoe: Denmark-based catalysis and process technology company with significant green hydrogen (SOEC electrolysis) and chemical decarbonization offerings. Competes with MWCC's Green Mining-MX and hydrogen-production initiatives for similar industrial decarbonization customers.
• Linde: Global industrial gases giant with major green/blue hydrogen and decarbonization initiatives. Competes with MWCC's hydrogen production efforts and serves overlapping industrial customers in chemicals and metals that are pursuing electrification.
• Air Products: Major industrial gases and hydrogen company with multi-billion-dollar blue/green hydrogen projects globally. Competes with MWCC's hydrogen initiatives and serves overlapping chemical and steel end customers pursuing decarbonization.
• thyssenkrupp nucera: Germany-based major supplier of large-scale alkaline and PEM water electrolysis technology for green hydrogen. Competes with MWCC's microwave-based hydrogen production initiative for industrial decarbonization projects in the chemical and steel sectors.
• Metso: Finland-based global leader in mining and metals processing equipment and services. Competes with MWCC's Green Mining-MX platform for electrified ore processing and calcination equipment purchases by mining and metallurgical customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors17 records

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Microwave Chemical