Due to recent development in nanotechnology and increasing usage and production of nanomaterials, numerous studies related to environment, sanitation and safety handling of nanoparticle are being conducted. Since nanoparticles can be easily absorbed into human bodies through breathing process, based on their toxic substances and their large specific surface, these particles can cause serious health damage. Therefore, to reduce nanoparticle emissions, nanofiltration technology is becoming a serious issue. Filtration is a separation process during which a fluid passes through a barrier by removing the particles from the stream. Barrier filters can be made of various materials and shapes. One of the most common type of barrier filter is the fibrous filter. Fibrous filters are divided in two types: nonwoven and woven fabrics. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic material, used as a base material for melt blown nonwoven fabric. In this study, we examined filtration property of KCl nanoparticles with a mean particle diameter of 75 nm using multilayer meltblown filter samples. These experiments verify that the penetration of nanoparticle in the filter correlate with pressure drop; the meltblown layer MB1 has the greatest effect on dust collection efficiency of the filter. Among all tested samples, dust collection efficiency of 2-layer filter was best. However, when considering the overall pressure drop and dust collection efficiency, the 4-layer filter has the highest quality factor for particles smaller than 70 nm.

The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been used for rapid detection of elemental compositions of various materials in multi-media (solid, liquid, gas, and aerosols). In this study, the aerosol-LIBS has been developed for real-time monitoring of process-induced particles produced during the semiconductor manufacturing. The developed aerosol-LIBS mainly consists of laser, optics, spectrometer, and aerosol chamber. A new aerosol chamber was constructed for the aerosol-LIBS to be applied for various semiconductor manufacturing process, including exhaust tubes, and low pressure and high temperature chamber. The aerosol-LIBS was evaluated by using laboratory generated aerosols for detection of various elements. As a result, P, Fe, Mg, Cu, Co, Ni, Ca, Na, and K emission lines were successfully detected by the aerosol-LIBS. Further evaluation of the aerosol-LIBS is being conducted.

Nanoporous $SiO_2$ particles containing different pore volume and size were prepared from silicic acid by a spray pyrolysis. The pore size, pore volume and particle size could be controlled with varying the precursor concentration, reaction temperature, and amount of organic templates such as Urea and poly ethylene glycol (PEG). The pore size distribution, pore volume and specific surface area of as-prepared particles were analyzed by BET and BJH methods, and the average particle sizes were measured by a laser diffraction method. The nanoporous $SiO_2$ particles ranged $0.6-0.9{\mu}m$ in diameter were successfully synthesized and the average particle size increased as the silicic acid concentration increased. The morphology of nanoporous $SiO_2$ particles was spherical and pores ranged 1 - 40 nm in diameter were measured in the particles. In case of Urea added into silicic acid, it showed no much difference in the morphology, pore size and pore volume at different Urea concentration. On the other hand, when PEG was added, it was clearly observed that pore diameter and pore volume of the particles surface increased with respect to PEG concentration.

Bioaerosol inactivation becomes important as people recognize the significance on the health effects of bioaerosols. There are several ways to inactivate such bioaerosols such as antimicrobial filters, UV, etc. For the on-filter-inactivation, proper antimicrobial materials coating should be applied. Recently, air ions are adopted to effectively reduce germ and virus activity. Limitations arise when each method is applied separately. Coating materials can experience chemical instability over time and temperature. Ionizers can generate ozone to prepare high ion concentrations. Combinations of developed techniques to enhance the inactivation efficiency were suggested. Researches on the air sterilization are reviewed and outlook is highlighted. Proper techniques such as combinations of filter material coating and air ion generation can be used to make air quality better for human living.

Managing hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) becomes an important issue with the amendment of the Clean Air Conservation Act in 2012. In this study, to develop an effective air quality management policy direction against the HAPs in Korea, (1) the HAPs control policies in the USA, United Kingdom, Japan, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SQAQMD) are reviewed, (2) the state of the art of the HAPs management in Korea are studied, and (3) policy directions are suggested. It was found that each country has its own policy priority and management directions. It was also found that the current HAPs management status is far behind to the countries compared in HAPs identification, emission inventory, monitoring, modeling, and risk management. Further policy directions are suggested.

본 연구에서는 호흡용 보호구 필터의 나노물질에 대한 여과특성을 측정하기 위해서 소금(NaCl)과 은나노입자(Ag)를 대상으로 입경별 집진효율을 평가하였다. 호흡용 보호구 필터는 특급 방진마스크와 1급 방진마스크의 두 가지 안면부 여과식 방진마스크인 사용하였고, 마스크의 배기밸브 부분을 제외한 필터 여재 부분을 직경 47 mm로 잘라내어 필터홀더에 부착하여 입경별 입자제거효율을 시험하였다. 시험입자는 일반적으로 시험 입자로 사용되는 소금입자는 분무형 입자발생장치를 사용하여 발생하였고 중화기를 통과시켜 입자의 하전특성을 볼츠만 분포로 만들어 공급하였다. 은나노입자의 경우, 기화-응축 방법을 이용한 금속나노입자 생성방법인 ISO10801 방법을 사용하였다. 작업장의 은나노입자의 고농도 노출을 모사하기 위해, 중화기를 통과하지 않은 나노입자를 시험입자로 사용하였다. 은나노입자의 경우 소금입자로 만들기 어려운 20nm 이하의 입자를 안정적으로 효과적으로 만들어 시험에 적용하였고, 나노 크기에서도 매우 안정적인 데이터를 확보할 수 있었다. 1급 마스크 필터와 특급 마스크 필터에 대한 소금입자의 평가에서, 입경별 최소효율이 30~50nm 사이에서 나타나는 특성은 기존 연구와 비슷한 결과를 얻었다. 반면, 은나노입자의 경우 1급 마스크 필터와 특급 마스크 필터 모두에서 비슷한 크기의 소금 입자와 비교할 때 높은 효율을 나타냈다. 이것은 소금 입자의 경우 중화기를 통과시켜 시험입자로 사 용한 반면, 은나노입자의 경우 중화기를 통과시키지 않았기 때문이다. 본 연구에서는 작업장에서 은나노 입자가 고농도로 노출될 경우를 모사하여, 기화-응축에 의한 방법의 은나노입자 발생장치를 사용하였는데, 이 때 상대적으로 높게 대전된 입자들이 많이 만들어진다(Jung et al., 2006). 이로 인해, 정전필터인 마스크 필터의 포집 효과가 상대적으로 크기 때문에, 입경별 효율이 높아진 것으로 생각된다. 본 연구에서 평가한 1급 및 특급 방진마스크 여재의 최소 포집효율은 유럽 EN 149 기준인 95 LPM 유량 기준을 만족하는 것으로 나타났지만, 이것은 여재에 대한 평가 결과로, 실제 마스크에 대해서는 여재의 구조적인 불균일성이나 마스크를 착용하는 과정에서 밀착이 되지 않아 누출될 가능성은 마스크 사용에 고려되어야 한다. 불시에 발생할 수 있는 작업장 내 안전사고의 예방을 위하여 적절한 보호구의 선택과 올바른 착용 및 유지관리가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

We conducted experiments on mask filters. We measured filtering efficiencies of several new mask filters which were manufactured by disassembling and reassembling of one type of mask filter. New filter (A+C: combination of the first layer and the third layer of the tested mask filter) showed the highest efficiency (97.7%) with the respiratory resistance of 98 pa.