• Title/Summary/Keyword: Carbon Mineralization

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Graphene accelerates osteoblast attachment and biomineralization

  • Ren, Jia;Zhang, Xiaogang;Chen, Yao
    • Carbon letters
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    • v.22
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    • pp.42-47
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    • 2017
  • In this paper, the in vitro biocompatibility of graphene film (GF) with osteoblasts was evaluated through cell adhesion, viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, F-actin and vinculin expressions, versus graphite paper as a reference material. The results showed that MG-63 cells exhibited stronger cell adhesion, better proliferation and viability on GF, and osteoblasts cultured on GF exhibited vinculin expression throughout the cell body. The rougher and wrinkled surface morphology, higher elastic modulus and easy out-of-plane deformation associated with GF were considered to promote cell adhesion. Also, the biomineralization of GF was assessed by soaking in simulated body fluid, and the GF exhibited enhanced mineralization ability in terms of mineral deposition, which almost pervaded the entire GF surface. Our results suggest that graphene promotes cell adhesion, activity and the formation of bone-like apatite. This research is expected to facilitate a better understanding of graphene-cell interactions and potential applications of graphene as a promising toughening nanofiller in bioceramics used in load-bearing implants.

Overview of coal-fired power plant ash situation and cement industry in Vietnam

  • Hong, Ha Thi Vu;Ahn, Ji Whan
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.27 no.3
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    • pp.57-62
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    • 2018
  • The development of coal-fired power plants to ensure energy security and electricity consumption is a matter for the Vietnam economy. However, the huge amount of ash discharged is a major environmental challenge. It is estimated that by the end of 2017, the amount of ash in the country is about 40 million tons and annually emitted over 16.4 million tons. While the quantity of coal-fired power plant is rising, the ash content will increase year by year if the ash doesn't treat well. The ash will be increased from 61 million tons in 2018 to 109 million tons in 2020, 248 million tons in 2025 and 422 million tons in 2030. The difficulties of coal-fired power plants are the problem of ash handling, some plants are at risk of closure because there are not enough dump capacity to storage. Therefore, Vietnam is in need of urgent measures to treat a large amount of waste from coal-fired power plants. The specific objectives of this study were as follows: (1) provide an overview of coal ash situation produced by coal-fired power plants in Vietnam; (2) study about regulations related to coal ash treatment; (3) comprehend the literature review of the cement sector status.

The Green Cement for 3D Printing in the Construction Industry

  • Park, Joochan;Jung, Euntae;Jang, Changsun;Oh, Chaewoon;Shin, Kyung Nam
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.50-56
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    • 2020
  • Currently, 3D printing technology is a new revolutionary additive manufacturing process that can be used for making three dimensional solid objects from digital films. In 2019, this 3D printing technology spreading vigorously in production parts (57%), bridge production (39%), tooling, fixtures, jigs (37%), repair, and maintenance (38%). The applications of 3D printing are expanding to the defense, aerospace, medical field, and automobile industry. The raw materials are playing a key role in 3D printing. Various additive materials such as plastics, polymers, resins, steel, and metals are used for 3D printing to create a variety of designs. The main advantage of the green cement for 3D printing is to enhance the mechanical properties, and durability to meet the high-quality material using in construction. There are several advantages with 3D printing is a limited waste generation, eco-friendly process, economy, 20 times faster, and less time-consuming. This research article reveals that the role of green cement as an additive material for 3D printing.

Appropriate Technology for the Paper Recycling: A New Paradigm

  • Vu, Hong Ha Thi;Lai, Tuan Quang;Ahn, Ji Whan
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.81-88
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    • 2018
  • Every day a huge amount of paper is being used, most of them are thrown after using. This directly impacts on the environment. Therefore, waste paper management is necessity to protect the environment from its annihilation and pollution. Paper recycling products consist of printing paper, newspaper, corrugated containers, magazine paper and so on. Reuse waste paper will reduce the consumption of wood and virgin pulp as recycling one ton of newsprint can save approximately 1 ton of wood, meanwhile recycling 1 ton of printing paper can save more than 2 tons of wood. With increasing recycling rates, lower quality paper fractions may be included. Thus the selection of a paper recycling technology is a crucial first design consideration. The paper recycling must be accompanied by appropriate technology to manage a huge volume of wastepaper. The specific objectives of this study were as follows: (1) comprehensive literature reviews of paper production and consumption, (2) figure out about paper recovery and utilization, (3) investigate the paper recycling in the sustainable times, (4) introduce eco-friendly recycling technology to paper industry.

Effects of controlled environmental changes on the mineralization of soil organic matter

  • Choi, In-Young;Nguyen, Hang Vo-Minh;Choi, Jung Hyun
    • Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.347-355
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    • 2017
  • This study investigated how the combined changes in environmental conditions and nitrogen (N) deposition influence the mineralization processes and carbon (C) dynamics of wetland soil. For this objective, we conducted a growth chamber experiment to examine the effects of combined changes in environmental conditions and N deposition on the anaerobic decomposition of organic carbon and the emission of greenhouse gases from wetland soil. A chamber with elevated $CO_2$ and temperature showed almost twice the reduction of total decomposition rate compared to the chamber with ambient atmospheric conditions. In addition, $CO_2$ fluxes decreased during the incubation under the conditions of ambient $CO_2$ and temperature. The decrease in anaerobic microbial metabolism resulted from the presence of vegetation, which influences the litter quality of soils. This can be supported by the increase in C/N ratio over the experimental duration. Principle component analysis results demonstrated the opposite locations of loadings for the cases at the initial time and after three months of incubation, which indicates a reduction in the decomposition rate and an increasing C/N ratio during the incubation. From the distribution between the decomposition rate and gas fluxes, we concluded that anaerobic decomposition rates do not have a significantly positive relationship with the fluxes of greenhouse gas emissions from the soil.

Sustainable Management of Oyster Shell By-Products and Recent Research Techniques (굴 패각 부산물의 지속 가능한 처리 및 최근 연구 기술)

  • Nam, Gnu;Lee, Namju;Ahn, Ji Whan
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.1-11
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    • 2018
  • Oysters have been continuously produced from all around the world including South Korea every year. The oyster shell by-products accompanied by the oysters have caused the social and environmental problems due to the absence of any method or technique to deal with the by-products. In order to solve those problems, diverse researches and environmental friendly methods using the oyster shells are in development by now due to the possibility as cheap materials. In this review, we discuss the worldwide status of oyster shells and investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of the oyster shells. In addition, we discuss the recent trends about the sustainable methods to utilize the oyster shells.

Climate Change Issues of Paper Manufacturing Production at Phong Khe Craft Village

  • Ha, Vu Thi Hong;Ahn, Ji Whan
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.40-50
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    • 2018
  • Today, the development of industries and rapid urbanization has a profound impact on the human environment. It can be said that the environment in the craft village is most affected. The environment in these areas is severely degraded and depending on the type of production, the environment in the craft villages is different. In Phong Khe ward of Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam, there are over 204 small and large facilities of recycling and producing paper. The paper facilities produce about 200,000 tons of paper each year and the amount of paper produced is not less than 500 tons each day in Phong Khe. They are creating livelihoods for more than 6,000 workers and generating local budgets from VND- 50 billion to VND 60 billion per year. Despite this great contribution, the use of old machines and "backward" modes of production means that paper recycling has caused serious air, soil, and water pollution in the region. The specific objectives of this study were as follows: (1) provide an overview of paper production process in the Phong Khe paper craft village; (2) comprehensive literature review of the current status of water environment, atmosphere environment, soil environment and solid waste; (3) figure out about waste treatment in Phong Khe ward.

Chlor-alkali Membrane Process and its Prospects (클로알칼리 멤브레인법과 전망)

  • Park, In Kee;Lee, Chang Hyun
    • Membrane Journal
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.203-215
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    • 2015
  • Chlor-alkali (CA) membrane process is based on salined water electrolysis employing cation condutive polymer electrolytes, which has been used for the conventional production of both sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas. The CA membrane process has advantages such as relatively low environmental impacts and fairly reduced energy consumption, when compared with diaphragm and mercury process. In this review articles, basic concepts, fundamental characteristics, key technologies of CA membrane process are dealt with in detail. In addition, advanced technologies associated with CA membrane process are described. They include zerogap and oxygen depolarized cathode technologies to improve energy efficiency during the electrolysis. Carbon dioxide mineralization technology will also be introduced as an example of hybridization with different technologies. Finally, current market trend in CA membrane process will be presented.

Effects of thinning intensity on nutrient concentration and enzyme activity in Larix kaempferi forest soils

  • Kim, Seongjun;Han, Seung Hyun;Li, Guanlin;Yoon, Tae Kyung;Lee, Sang-Tae;Kim, Choonsig;Son, Yowhan
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.5-11
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    • 2016
  • Background: As the decomposition of lignocellulosic compounds is a rate-limiting stage in the nutrient mineralization from organic matters, elucidation of the changes in soil enzyme activity can provide insight into the nutrient dynamics and ecosystem functioning. The current study aimed to assess the effect of thinning intensities on soil conditions. Un-thinned control, 20 % thinning, and 30 % thinning treatments were applied to a Larix kaempferi forest, and total carbon and nitrogen, total carbon to total nitrogen ratio, extractable nutrients (inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium), and enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, ${\beta}$-glucosaminidase) were investigated. Results: Total carbon and nitrogen concentrations were significantly increased in the 30 % thinning treatment, whereas both the 20 and 30 % thinning treatments did not change total carbon to total nitrogen ratio. Inorganic nitrogen and extractable calcium and magnesium concentrations were significantly increased in the 20 % thinning treatment; however, no significant changes were found for extractable phosphorus and potassium concentrations either in the 20 or the 30 % thinning treatment. However, the applied thinning intensities had no significant influences on acid phosphatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, and ${\beta}$-glucosaminidase activities. Conclusions: These results indicated that thinning can elevate soil organic matter quantity and nutrient availability, and different thinning intensities may affect extractable soil nutrients inconsistently. The results also demonstrated that such inconsistent patterns in extractable nutrient concentrations after thinning might not be fully explained by the shifts in the enzyme-mediated nutrient mineralization.