• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2013

Objectives: The indoor air quality of newly-built (NC) and remodeled (RC) school classrooms was assessed. The primary aim was to show correlations between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) pollutant levels. Methods: This study investigated the indoor air concentrations of VOCs and HCHO at 26 sites of newly built and 68 sites of remodeled classrooms located in South Gyeongsang Province between 2010 and 2012. VOCs in the indoor air were determined by adsorbent tube (Tenax TA) and automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC-MS analysis. Target analytes were five VOCs: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene. HCHO was collected with a 2,4-DNPH cartridge and analyzed by HPLC. Conclusions: This study estimated that indoor VOCs and HCHO concentrations in the classrooms were mainly affected by interior building materials and classroom equipment. For proper indoor air quality in schools, classroom air should be improved through reduction of hazardous materials by adequate ventilation, selecting environmental friendly materials, etc.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2008

The physico-chemical properties of kapok fibers were altered via the combination processes of chlorite-periodate oxidation, in order to assess their efficacy as a heavy metal adsorbent. The chemically-oxidized kapok fibers were found to harbor a certain amount of polysaccharides, together with lowered lignin content. This alteration in lignin characteristics was clearly confirmed via FTIR and NBO yield. Moreover, chemically oxidized kapok fibers retained their hollow tube shape, although some changes were noted. The chemically oxidized kapok fibers evidenced elevated ability to adsorb heavy metal ions with the best fit for the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Three cycles of adsorption-desorption were conducted with in-between regeneration steps. Our experimental results indicated that chemically oxidized kapok fibers possessed excellent adsorption characteristics, and the modified kapok fibers could be completely regenerated with almost equimolar diluted sodium hydroxide. Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn ions evidenced adsorption rates of 93.55%, 91.83%, 89.75%, and 92.85% on the chemically oxidized kapok fibers. The regeneration efficiency showed 73.58% of Pb, 71.55% of Cu, 66.87% of Cd, and 75.00% of Zn for 3rd cycle with 0.0125N NaOH.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.2 s.49
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• pp.167-178
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• 2005

This study was carried out to evaluate the temporal, spatial, and seasonal variations of VOC, and to characterize the VOC concentrations in two large industrial complexes located in Pohang and Gumi cities. Twenty -four hours continuous sampling of selected VOC was made with STS 25 sequential tube samplers and double-bed adsorbent tubes. Air samples were collected every three hour interval for 7 consecutive days in each site during summer and winter. VOC were determined by thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS. A total of 27 VOCs of environmental concern were determined, including aliphatic, aromatic and halides. Generally. concentrations of toxic VOC were higher in Gumi than Pohang, and VOC levels in industrial areas were typically several-fold higher than those in residential areas. The most abundant VOC appeared to be toluene for both cities. However, chlorinated VOC were higher in Gumi than Pohang, while aromatic VOC were more abundant in Pohang than in Gumi. Two cities showed relatively different variations of VOC concentrations within a day. It is likely that traffic related sources are major factors affecting the VOC in Pohang, and industrial solvents usages are important sources in Gumi. These results imply that the occurrence and levels of atmospheric VOC are strongly dependent on the type of industries in each city. Therefore, in order to develop any control strategies or to establish the priority rankings for VOC in large industrial complexes, the type of industries and the occurrence of VOC in the atmosphere should be taken into consideration.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.767-774
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• 2008

This study was carried out to evaluate the characteristics of atmospheric concentrations of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and aldehydes for near a large shipyard. Most of the painting work in marine coating is performed indoor and outdoor. Most of the VOCs are emitted to the atmosphere as the paint is applied and cures. The massive scale of a ship makes it difficult to capture the emissions from outdoor painting. The VOCs are an important health and contributors to photochemical smog. The VOCs and aldehydes samples were collected using adsorbent tube and 2,4-DNPH cartridge, and were determined by an automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS and HPLC-UV analysis, respectively. A total of 16 aromatic VOCs and 12 aldehydes of environmental concern were determined. At indoor coating facilities, the most abundant compound among 16 target VOCs appeared to be m,p-xylene, being followed by o-xylene. But most of the aldehydes were extremely lower concentrations. The atmospheric concentration of VOCs, m,p-xylene concentrations were the highest and the mean value were outdoor workshop 11.323 ppb, residental area 5.134 ppb, and green area 2.137 ppb, respectively. However, the most aldehydes were extremely lower concentrations such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and non-detection such as iso-valeraldehyde, n-valeraldehyde and o-tolualdehyde.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.771-777
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• 2017

Adsorption characteristics of Eosin Y dye by carbon nano tubes (CNTs) were examined through batch experiments. CNTs used in the study had specific surface area of $106.9m^2/g$, porosity volume of $1.806cm^3/g$, and porosity diameter of $163.2{\AA}$, respectively. Adsorption experiments were carried out as function of contact time, initial solution pH (2~10), dye concentration (100, 150 and 200 mg/L), adsorbent dose (0.05~1.0 g) and temperature (293, 313 and 333 K). The adsorption was favoured at lower pHs and temperatures. Adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir model. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity decreased with increase in temperature. The results of the intraparticle diffusion model suggested that film diffusion and particle diffusion were simultaneously occured during the adsorption process. Thermodynamic studies suggested the spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption of Eosin Y dye onto CNTs.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.344-354
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• 2005

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of a small chamber sampling and analytical method for the measurement of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and formaldehyde (HCHO) emission from building materials. While VOC was determined by the adsorbent tube sampling and sequential thermal desorption coupled with GC/MSD analysis, formaldehyde sampled with DNPH-silica cartridge was analyzed by HPLC. Wide-range performance criteria such as repeatability, desorption efficiency, emission chamber recovery test, duplicate precision, breakthrough volume and method detection limits were investigated for the evaluation of small chamber method. The overall precision of the small chamber sampling and analytical methods was estimated within 20~30% for target compounds. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the small chamber sampling and analytical method can be reliably applied for the measurement of building materials pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.633-648
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• 2010

The study was performed to elucidate the characteristics of VOCs at distinct monitoring sites in urban atmosphere; one is at a roadside in downtown inland city of Jeonju, and the other is at an industrial site in Gunsan near coastal area. The ambient samples were collected for 24 hours in two-bed adsorbent tubes by using MTS-32 sequential tube sampler equipped with Flex air pump every 16 days in a roadside and a industrial complex from February to November in 2009. VOCs were determined by thermal desorption coupled with GC/MSD. Major individual VOCs in roadside samples were shown as following order in magnitude: toluene>m,p-xylene>ethyl benzene>decanal; and those in the industrial complex samples were as follows: toluene>ethanol>ethyl acetate>decanal>m,pxylene. High benzene concentration in the roadside was more frequently occurred than in the industrial complex. However ambient level of toluene in the industrial complex was higher than that in the road side. Results from roadside sample analysis showed that nonane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were very frequently observed with higher concentrations than those in the industrial complex. It seems that nonane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene could be the source characteristics for the roadside air. From the diurnal variation, it was found that concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene, nonane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenznene in the roadside were higher during rush hours; but those in the industrial complex were higher from 10 to 16 LST when the industrial activities were animated. On weekly base, the concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m,p-xylene in the roadside were higher specifically on Wednesday, but those in the industrial complex were higher on Sunday. It was found that the general trends of VOCs levels at both sites significantly influence on seasonal changes. The results of factor analysis showed that the VOCs in the roadside were mainly affected by the emission of vehicles and the evaporation of diesel fuel, meanwhile those in the industrial complex were influenced by the evaporation of solvents and vehicular emission.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to provide scientific and effective information on phytoncides, which are associated with forest healing, and to activate recreational forests. Methods: The target sites were natural recreation forests, a forest park and an arboretum, and the control sites were three urban parks. The samples were collected at a volume of 6.0 L and a flow rate of 0.1 L/min for one hour using a low volume pump and the solid adsorbent sampling method. The phytoncide compounds adsorbed in the Tenax TA tube were analyzed by a automatic heat desorption unit and GC-MS. Results: By type of recreational forest, the annual concentrations of phytoncide (monoterpene) for the forest park showed the highest concentration with $1.450{\mu}g/m^3$, while those for the arboretum showed the lowest concentration at $0.892{\mu}g/m^3$, and thus the concentration of the forest park was approximately 1.6 times higher than the arboretum. The season showing the highest concentration of phytoncides was summer (June) and the forest park was the highest among the recreational forests. The concentrations of major components for phytoncide showed in descending order: ${\alpha}-pinene$, ${\beta}-pinene$, camphene, 3-carene and limonene. The seasonal concentration of ${\alpha}-pinene$, camphene and ${\beta}-pinene$ by type of recreational forest increased in April, which is characterized by low temperature and humidity, and the seasonal concentration of camphene decreased with higher humidity. The meteorological factors which had the high correlation with the concentration of total terpene were temperature and humidity. $CO_2$ and $O_2$ showed an inverse correlation. Conclusion: The major components of phytoncide were ${\alpha}-pinene$, ${\beta}-pinene$, camphene, 3-carene and limonene in descending order of concentration. Further and systematic study on the chemical nature of individual phytoncides, and on the effect of phytoncides on humans needs to be performed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

This research examined the presence of hazardous materials in chemical workplace field using an integrated chemical/biological monitoring. Chemical workplace field air for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis was collected using a collection tube packed with Tena.x TA adsorbent 400 mg. Workplace field air samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Simultaneously, Tradescantia BNL 4430 clone was exposed in situ to monitor hazardous materials in chemical workplace field. GC/MS analysis showed the presence of various VOCs such as trichloroethylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, (m,p,o)-xylenes, styrene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. The results showed that in situ monitoring of VOCs with the Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) assay gave positive results in chemical workplace field and negative response at outdoor air. In conclusion, inhalation of these field air by workers may affect chronic demage to their health by inducing micronuclei formation in Tradescantia pollen mother cells. The combination of chemical/biological monitoring is very effective to evaluate hazardous materials in workplace field and can be alternatively used for screening hazardous materials.