• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2023

Background: Recently, biological adsorbents have been developed for removing radionuclides from radioactive liquid waste due to their high selectivity, eco-friendliness, and renewability. However, since they can be damaged by radiation in radioactive waste, a method for estimating the bio-adsorbent performance as a time should consider the radiation damages in terms of their renewability. This paper aims to develop a simulation method that applies a deep learning technique to rapidly and accurately estimate the adsorption performance of bio-adsorbents when inserted into liquid radioactive waste. Materials and Methods: A model that describes various interactions between a bio-adsorbent and liquid has been constructed using numerical methods to estimate the adsorption capacity of the bio-adsorbent. To generate datasets for machine learning, Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations were conducted while considering radioactive concentrations in the adsorbent column. Results and Discussion: Compared with the result of the conventional method, the proposed method indicates that the accuracy is in good agreement, within 0.99% and 0.06% for the R² score and mean absolute percentage error, respectively. Furthermore, the estimation speed is improved by over 30 times. Conclusion: Note that an artificial neural network can rapidly and accurately estimate the survival rate of a bio-adsorbent from radiation ionization compared with the MCNP simulation and can determine if the bio-adsorbents are reusable.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.195-204
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• 2015

Several researches are focused on improving the value of fine chemicals based on biomass resources due to environmental and other concerns associated with the use of petroleum-based products. Therefore, the synthesis and application of estolides derived from plant-based waste oil materials and their application as lubricants and as processing oil for butyl rubber products have been studied. Four kinds of estolide were prepared with conversions of 71~92% over 24h using various vegetable oils, as determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy determines the esterification of estolides using 2-ethylhexyl alcohol. The estolides have iodine values of 35~90, α-ester/α-acid ratios of 0.45~0.55, and total acid number of 114~134 mg KOH g^–1. Four ball wear tests show that the wear scar diameters (WSDs) of estolides as base oil significantly decreased to 0.328~0.494 mm, compared to WSDs of 0.735 and 0.810 mm of WSD for 150N and Yubase 6, respectively, as general base oil. Thus, the estolides have better wear resistance and satisfying design objectives for the engineering of a variety of lubricant base oils.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2020

Recently, global facing environmental issues have been raised caused by plastic waste. Hence, increasing the demand for interest in environmentally friendly materials. In this row, research on engineering composite materials also replacing the synthetic reinforcement by introducing natural fibers. However, focus on the strength and interfacial adhesion between matrix and reinforcement is very essential in natural fiber composite, which is insufficient in the literature. There are number of approaches for improving the mechanical strength of the composites, one of the common methods is to reinforce additive nanoparticles. The present investigation, bio-additives were synthesized utilizing bio-waste, cheap, bio-degradable sea-weed powder that could replace expensive nanomaterials and reinforced into the CFRP composite through Hand lay-up followed by a vacuum process. Mechanical properties were evaluated and analyzed through microanalysis. The results concluded that synthesized additives are effective for improving mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, and shear strength. Overall, the results confirmed that the fabricated composites have potential applications in the field of engineering applications.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.38 no.2 s.115
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• pp.61-71
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• 2006

Environment-friendly shock-absorbing (cushioning) materials were made using a vacuum forming method from waste wood collected from local mountains in Korea. The waste wood was pulped by thermomechanical pulping. The TMP cushions showed superior shock-absorbing properties with lower elastic moduli compared to EPS(Expanded Polystyrene) and pulp mold. Even though the TMP cushions made using at different suction times had many free voids in their inner fiber structures, their apparent densities were a little higher than EPS and much lower than pulp mold. The addition of cationic starch improved elastic modulus of the TMP cushions without increasing the apparent density, which was different from surface sizing with starch. The porosity of the TMP cushions was a little greater than EPS and much less than pulp mold. Finally, the TMP cushions have great potential to endure external impacts occurring during goods distribution.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to provide a design and operation technical guideline for meeting the appropriate design criteria to bio-gasification facilities treating organic wastes. In accordance with the government's mid-to long-term policies on bio-gasification and energization of organic wastes, the expansion of the waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities is being remarkably promoted. However, because of the limitation of livestock manure containing low-concentration of volatile solids, there has been increased in combined bio-gasification without installing new anaerobic digestion facilities. The characteristics and common problems of each treatment processes were investigated for on-going 13 bio-gasification facilities. The seasonal precision monitoring of chemicophysics analysis on anaerobic digestor samples was conducted to provide guidelines for design and operation according to the progress of bio-gasification treatment. Consequently, major problems were investigated such as large deviation of organic materials depending on seasons, proper dehumidification of biogas and pretreatment of hydrogen sulfide.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.256-264
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• 2014

Enhancing the value of fine chemicals based on biomass resources is an important objective for addressing environmental and other concerns such as demand for renewable or green products, as well as from the political perspective to reduce dependence on fossil feedstock associated with the use of petroleum-based products. Based on these considerations, we studied the synthesis of estolide using waste plant-based oil materials and their application as lubricants and pour point depressants. Five estolides were prepared by varying molar ratio of palmitic acid (PA) to oleic acid (OA) using a reaction time of 48 h. The estolides were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The isolated yields were in the range of 57-78 % and purity was 93-97%, showing iodine values of 18.2-37.8, total acid numbers (TANs) of 75.6-94.2 mg KOH/g and estolide numbers (ENs) of 1.2-1.8. Increasing the ratio of OA to PA in the synthesis decreased the kinematic viscosity and clouding point of the estolides. Four ball wear test of the estolides as a base oil demonstrated that the wear scar diameter (WSD) of the estolides was significantly lower (0.320-0.495 mm) than the WSD of general base oils such as 150N and Yubase (0.735 and 0.810 mm, respectively), indicating better wear resistance of the estolides. However, the lubricant property was found to be independent of the amount of OA in the estolides. These new materials are prospective candidates for application as a lubricant base oil.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2006.06b
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• pp.475-478
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• 2006

Environment-friendly shock-absorbing materials were made using a vacuum forming method from waste wood collected from local mountains in Korea. The waste wood was pulped by thermomechanical pulping. The TMP cushions showed superior shock-absorbing properties with lower elastic moduli compared to EPS and pulp mold. Even though the TMP cushions made using different suction times had many free voids in their inner fiber structure, their apparent densities were a little higher than EPS and much lower than pulp mold. The addition of cationic starch improved the elastic modulus of the TMP cushions without increasing the apparent density, which was different from surface sizing with starch. The porosity of the TMP cushions was a little greater than EPS and much less than pulp mold. Finally, the TMP cushions have great potential to endure external impacts occurring during goods distribution.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2006.06b
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• pp.441-444
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• 2006

A lot of water is using in the paper mill for dilution, washing, sealing, and other process operation. As the regulation of water environment has been more tightened than ever before, water management in the paper mill becomes the most important task. Topics on reducing fresh water and increasing recycling water have been studied. Further, an interest in zero-effluent system has been increased. The pH of waste water in paper mill is usually weak acidic or neutral. The waste water in the paper mill includes water insoluble organic materials that are not easy to be dissolved in the water, inorganic materials that never react with water and chemical additives that are used to recycled fiber. This study investigated on the effect of various materials used in paper mill on COD. This data could be used to control the environmental load in paper mill. COD caused by raw materials and NBDCOD (Non Bio Degradable COD) after the activated sludge process are investigated in this study. Results obtained in this study can be used in a simulation program designed to control environmental load in the paper mill.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate the air lift reactors (ALR) by variations of HRT and recycling rate. Air lift reactor was composed of bioreactor and clarifier above it. To remove organic matters and nitrogen through the formation of microbic film and filtration, bio-filter reactors were filled with clay, glass, bead, waste plastic, respectively. Influent wastewater was fed to biofilter reactor, and effluent wastewater from bio-filter reactor was injected ALR again, instead of adding external carbon source. Effluent BOD concentration was satisfied with lower than 10 mg/L in recycling rate 100% regardless of the variation of HRT and the kinds of media materials. In HRT 4 hr, recycling rate 100%, BOD removal efficiency rate was from about 85 to 90%, COD removal efficiency rate was higher than 90%. Effluent TN concentration was satisfied with less than 20 mg/L, if HRT was maintained by over than 6 hr regardless of recycling rate and media materials. Over than HRT was 4 hr, microbes concentration in air lift reactor was maintained over than 2,500 mg/L constantly, not sensitive to environmental condition, and organic removal was effective as it was higher.

• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.141-152
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• 2015

As environmental issues are emerging, bio-plastic suppliers in leading countries have been foreseeing the strong needs for environment-friendly materials such as eco-packing materials due to increased attention and regulation on recycle. To catch up with the demand, various types of bio-plastics based on natural feedstocks were developed and released on a market. These bio-plastic products drew the great attention even in domestic industries. At present, international oil price fluctuation and heavy charge on waste raise the unit cost of production and disposal expense of conventional plastic materials. These conditions make bio-plastic an alternative, because it is not restrained by oil prices and problem in the disposal. It is also expected that bio-plastic will be applied to various types of products including containers, industrial supplies, disposables, and medical supplies. However, the bio-plastic is still in its infancy, thus more research and understanding should be followed to put it to application. Bio-plastic is considered as environment-friendly material with high potential which has the advantages of production and disposal.