• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제51권3호
• /
• pp.746-754
• /
• 2019

Vitrification of radioactive liquid waste (RLW) provides a feasible solution for isolating radionuclides from the biosphere for an extended period. In vitrification, base glass and radioactive waste are added simultaneously into the melter. Determination of heat and mass transfer rates is necessary for rational design and sizing of melter. For obtaining an assured product quality, knowledge of reaction kinetics associated with the thermal decomposition of waste constituents is essential. In this study Thermogravimetry (TG) - Differential Thermogravimetry (DTG) of eight kinds of nitrates and two oxides, which are major components of RLW, is investigated in the temperature range of 298-1273 K in the presence of base glasses of five component (5C) and seven component (7C). Studies on thermal behavior of constituents in RLW were carried out at heating rates ranging from 10 to $40\;K\;min^{-1}$ using TG - DTG. Thermal behavior and related kinetic parameters of waste constituents, in the presence of 5C and 7C base glass compositions were also investigated. The activation energy, pre-exponential factor and order of the reaction for the thermal decomposition of 24% waste oxide loaded glasses were estimated using Kissinger method.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제20권6호
• /
• pp.1032-1041
• /
• 2010

The comparative influence of two nanoparticles [viz., superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) and nanobarium titanate (NBT)] upon the in vitro and in situ low-density polyethylene (LDPE) biodegradation efficiency of a potential polymer-degrading microbial consortium was studied. Supplementation of 0.01% concentration (w/v) of the nanoparticles in minimal broth significantly increased the bacterial growth, along with early onset of the exponential phase. Under in vitro conditions, ${\lambda}$-max shifts were quicker with nanoparticles and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) illustrated significant changes in CH/$CH_2$ vibrations, along with introduction of hydroxyl residues in the polymer backbone. Moreover, simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTG-DTA) reported multiple-step decomposition of LDPE degraded in the presence of nanoparticles. These findings were supported by scanning electron micrographs (SEM), which revealed greater dissolution of the film surface in the presence of nanoparticles. Furthermore, progressive degradation of the film was greatly enhanced when it was incubated under soil conditions for 3 months with the nanoparticles. The study highlights the significance of bacteria-nanoparticle interactions, which can dramatically influence key metabolic processes like biodegradation. The authors also propose the exploration of nanoparticles to influence various other microbial processes for commercial viabilities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제20권5호
• /
• pp.908-916
• /
• 2010

Fullerene-60 nanoparticles were used for studying their effect on the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) biodegradation efficiency of two potential polymer-degrading consortia comprising three bacterial strains each. At a concentration of 0.01% (w/v) in minimal broth lacking dextrose, fullerene did not have any negative influence upon the consortia growth. However, fullerene was found to be detrimental for bacterial growth at higher concentrations (viz., 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1%). Although addition of 0.01% fullerene into the biodegradation assays containing 5mg/ml LDPE subsided growth curves significantly, subsequent analysis of the degraded products revealed an enhanced biodegradation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed breakage and formation of chemical bonds along with the introduction of ${\nu}C$-O frequencies into the hydrocarbon backbone of LDPE. Moreover, simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTG-DTA) revealed a higher number of decomposition steps along with a 1,000-fold decrease in the heat of reactions (${\Delta}H$) in fullerene-assisted biodegraded LDPE, suggesting the probable formation of multiple macromolecular byproducts. This is the first report whereby fullerene-60, which is otherwise considered toxic, has helped to accelerate the polymer biodegradation process of bacterial consortia.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
• /
• 제26권6호
• /
• pp.99-108
• /
• 2012

본 연구에서는 최근 빈번히 발생하고 있는 폐타이어의 가공 및 저장상황에서의 산화열에 의한 자연발화현상을 규명하기 위해 폐타이어 분쇄물에 대한 화재 재연실험과 가공 및 저장장소에서 수거한 화재 잔존물에 대한 면밀한 성분 분석 및 발화개시온도, 무게감량, 반응열 등을 분석하였다. 이를 위해 열축적이 용이한 폐타이어 분쇄물 2.5~15 mm 범위의 파쇄된 분쇄물을 대상으로 재연실험 및 DSC 및 TGA, DTA, DTG, GC/MS를 통한 열분석을 시행하여 자연발화의 가능성에 대한 과학적인 개연성을 부여하고자 하였다. 연구결과를 살펴보면 재연실험을 통하여 관찰한 결과 48시간 저장시에 온도의 급상승($178^{\circ}C$) 및 탄화현상, 연기발생이 관찰되었다. 또한 DTA, DTG 분석한 결과 $166.15^{\circ}C$에서 최초 중량감소가 일어나는 것으로 분석되었다. 아울러 DSC 및 TGA를 이용한 폐타이어 분쇄물 1(Unburnt)의 실험결과 $180^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 열분해를 시작하는 것으로 나타나 폐타이어의 발화 개시온도는 $160{\sim}180^{\circ}C$라고 말할 수 있다. 그리고 $305^{\circ}C$에서 최초 원료 무게의 10 % 중량감소가 있었고, 원료 무게의 50 % 중량감소는 $416^{\circ}C$로 분석되었다. 또한 GC/MS와 DSC를 이용한 산화성 및 자기반응성시험에 있어서는 1,3 cyclopentnadiene 등 산화성성분이 다량 검출되었지만 표준물질과 폐타이어 분쇄물과의 열분석실험결과 기준치 이하로 분석되어 자기반응성은 없는 것으로 분석되었다. 따라서 폐타이어의 산화열에 의한 자연발화현상을 방지하기 위해서는 분쇄시 열축적이 적거나 없는 냉동파쇄방식 등의 가공공정으로 전환유도를 고려해야하며 현재 파쇄 분쇄물을 대형 마대(500 kg)로 저장하는 방식에서, 마대를 소형화하여 분쇄물을 분산 저장하는 등의 방법으로 열축적을 방지해야한다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.477-482
• /
• 2008

A variety of bacterial strains were isolated from waste disposal sites of Uttaranchal, India, and some from artificially developed soil beds containing maleic anhydride, glucose, and small pieces of polyethylene. Primary screening of isolates was done based on their ability to utilize high- and low-density polyethylenes (HDPE/LDPE) as a primary carbon source. Thereafter, a consortium was developed using potential strains. Furthermore, a biodegradation assay was carried out in 500-ml flasks containing minimal broth (250ml) and HDPE/LDPE at 5mg/ml concentration. After incubation for two weeks, degraded samples were recovered through filtration and subsequent evaporation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTG-DTA) were used to analyze these samples. Results showed that consortium-treated HDPE (considered to be more inert relative to LDPE) was degraded to a greater extent (22.41% weight loss) in comparison with LDPE (21.70% weight loss), whereas, in the case of untreated samples, weight loss was more for LDPE than HDPE (4.5% and 2.5%, respectively) at $400^{\circ}C$. Therefore, this study suggests that polyethylene could be degraded by utilizing microbial consortia in an eco-friendly manner.