• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

In this study the complex formation reactions between uranium(VI) and 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB) as a model ligand of humic acid were investigated by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The analysis of the spectrophotometric data, i.e., absorbance changes at the characteristic charge-transfer bands of the U(VI)-DHB complex, indicates that both 1:1 and 1:2 (U(VI):DHB) complexes occur as a result of dual equilibria and their distribution varies in a pH-dependent manner. The stepwise stability constants determined (log $K_1$ and log $K_2$) are $12.4{\pm}0.1$ and $11.4{\pm}0.1$. Further, the TRLFS study shows that DHB plays a role as a fluorescence quencher of U(VI) species. The presence of both a dynamic and static quenching process was identified for all U(VI) species examined, i.e., ${UO_2}^{2+}$, $(UO_2)_2{(OH)_2}^{2+}$, and $(UO_2)_3{(OH)_5}^+$. The fluorescence intensity and lifetimes of each species were measured from the time-resolved spectra at various ligand concentrations, and then analyzed based on Stern-Volmer equations. The static quenching constants (log $K_s$) obtained are $4.2{\pm}0.1$, $4.3{\pm}0.1$, and $4.34{\pm}0.08$ for ${UO_2}^{2+}$, $(UO_2)_2{(OH)_2}^{2+}$, and $(UO_2)_3{(OH)_5}^+$, respectively. The results of Stern-Volmer analysis suggest that both mono- and bi-dentate U(VI)-DHB complexes serve as groundstate complexes inducing static quenching.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.657-666
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• 2014

Coal gasification technology is considered as next generation clean coal technology even though it uses coal as fuel which releases huge amount of greenhouse gas because it has many advantages for carbon capture. Coal or pet-coke slurry gasification is very attractive technology at present and in the future because of its low construction cost and flexibility of slurry feeding system in spite of lower efficiency compared to dry feeding technology. In this study, we carried out gasification experiment using bituminous coal slurry sample by integrating coal slurry feeding facility and slurry burner into existing dry feeding compact gasifier. Especially, our experiment was conducted under fairly lower operation temperature than that of existing entrained-bed gasifier, resulting in partial slagging operation mode in which only part of ash was converted to slag and the rest of ash was released as fly ash. Carbon conversion rate was calculated from data analysis of collected slag and ash, and then cold gas efficiency, which is the most important indicator of gasifier performance, was estimated by carbon mass balance method. Fairly high performance considering pilot-scale experiment, 98.5% of carbon conversion and 60.4% of cold gas efficiency, was achieved. In addition, soundness of experimental result was verified from the comparison with chemical equilibrium composition and energy balance calculations.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2013

Low-rank coal with high water content (32.3 wt%) was dried by fry drying, and the fuel characteristics of the dried coal from which the oil was separated by using a high-speed centrifugal separator were analyzed. After fry drying for 6 min and 10 min, the water content decreased to 5.0 wt% and 4.2 wt% respectively. The higher calorific value (HCV) of the coal increased remarkably after fry drying, from 11,442.0 kJ/kg-wet. The oil content of the fry-dried coal was 15.0 wt% and it decreased with an increase in the reheating temperature: 9.7 wt% at $80^{\circ}C$ to 9.3 wt% at $100^{\circ}C$, and then to 8.5 wt% at $120^{\circ}C$. The recovered oil could then be reused. According to of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), there was no difference in the weight loss patterns of the coal samples with different coal diameters at a reheating temperature of $120^{\circ}C$. This was because the amount of oil separated by the centrifugal separator was affected by the reheating temperature rather than the coal diameter. And derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) curves of raw coal before the fry-drying process, a peak is formed at $400^{\circ}C$ in which the volatile matter is gasified. In case of the fry-dried coal, the first peak is generated at $350^{\circ}C$, and the second peak is generated at $400^{\circ}C$. The first peak is caused by the oil that is replaced with the water contained in the coal during the fry-drying process. Further, the peaks of the coal samples in which the oil is separated at a reheating temperature of $80^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$, $120^{\circ}C$, respectively are smaller than that of the coal in which the oil is not separated, and this is caused by that the oil is separated by the centrifugal separator.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.1002-1007
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• 2012

The considerable portion of energy demand has been satisfied by the combustion of fossil fuel and the consequent $CO_2$ emission was considered as a main cause of global warming. As a technology option for $CO_2$ emission mitigation, absorption process has been used in $CO_2$ capture from large scale emission sources. To set up optimal operating parameters in $CO_2$ absorption and solvent regeneration units are important for the better performance of the whole $CO_2$ absorption plant. Optimal operating parameters are usually selected through a lot of actual operation data. However theoretical approach are also useful because the arbitrary change of process parameters often limited for the stability of process operation. In this paper, a theoretical approach based on vapor-liquid equilibrium was proposed to estimate optimal operating conditions of $CO_2$ absorption process. Two $CO_2$ absorption processes using 12 wt% aqueous $NH_3$ solution and 20 wt% aqueous MEA solution were investigated in this theoretical estimation of optimal operating conditions. The results showed that $CO_2$ loading of rich absorbent should be kept below 0.4 in case of 12 wt% aqueous $NH_3$ solution for $CO_2$ absorption but there was no limitation of $CO_2$ loading in case of 20 wt% aqueous MEA solution for $CO_2$ absorption. The optimal regeneration temperature was determined by theoretical approach based on $CO_2$ loadings of rich and lean absorbent, which determined to satisfy the amount of absorbed $CO_2$. The amount of heating medium at optimal regeneration temperature is also determined to meet the difference of $CO_2$ loading between rich and lean absorbent. It could be confirmed that the theoretical approach, which accurately estimate the optimal regeneration conditions of lab scale $CO_2$ absorption using 12 wt% aqueous $NH_3$ solution could estimate those of 20 wt% aqueous MEA solution and could be used for the design and operation of $CO_2$ absorption process using chemical absorbent.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2020

This study was conducted to develop a method for depth assessment of embedded sources using gamma-spectrum ratio and for the evaluation of field applicability. To this end, Peak to Compton and Peak to valley ratio changes were evaluated according to ¹³⁷Cs, ⁶⁰Co, ¹⁵²Eu point source depth using HPGe detector and MCNP simulation. The effects of measurement distance of PTV and PTC methods were evaluated. Using the results, the source depth assessment equation using the PTC and PTV methods was derived based on the detection distance of 50 cm. In addition, the sensitivity of detection distance changes was assessed when using PTV and PTC methods, and error increased by 3 to 4 cm when detection distance decreased by 20 cm based on 50 cm. However, it was confirmed that if the detection distance was increased to 100 cm, the effects of detection distance were small. And PTV and PTC methods were compared with the two distance measurement method which evaluates the depth of source by the change of net peak counting rate according to the detection distance. As a result of source depth assessment, the PTV and PTC showed a maximum error of 1.87 cm and the two distance measurement method showed maximum error of 2.69 cm. The results of the experiment confirmed that the accuracy of the PTV and PTC methods was higher than two distance measurement. In addition, Sensitivity evaluation by horizontal position error of source has maximum error of less than 25.59 cm for the two distance measurement method. On the other hand, PTV and PTC method showed high accuracy with maximum error of less than 8.04 cm. In addition, the PTC method has lowest standard deviation for the same time measurement, which is expected to enable rapid measurement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1013-1019
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• 2007

Electronic wastes have increased tremendously. However, any reliable treatment methodologies have rarely been established. Electronic wastes have posed serious disposal problem due to their physico-chemical stability. This paper investigated the application possibility of pyrolysis for the purpose of recycling the p-CCL(phenol based Copper Clad Laminate). Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA) was used to investigate the thermal decomposition pattern of p-CCL. We elucidated the characteristics of pyrolysis by-products at operating temperatures of 280, 350 and $600^{\circ}C$. GC/MS and FT-IR were used to characterize the liquid by-products along with general characterization methods such as Ultimate Analysis, Proximate Analysis and Heating Value, whereas general characterization methods were only introduced for the solid by-products. At a heating rate of $5^{\circ}C$/min, TGA curves exhibited three decomposition stages: (1) low-temperature decomposition region$(<280^{\circ}C)$, (2) medium temperature region$(280\sim350^{\circ}C)$ and (3) high-temperature region$(>350^{\circ}C)$. The major compounds of liquid by-products at low- and medium-temperatures were accounted for by water and phenol, whereas branched phenols and furans were major compounds at high-temperatures. As the temperature increases, volatile quantities decreased but the fixed carbon increased. High heating values of solid by-products($7,400\sim7,600$ kcal/kg) would suggest that the solid by-products could be applicable as fuel. In addition, high fixed carbon but low ash content of the solid by-products offered an implication that they are capable of being upgradable for adsorbent after applying appropriate activating process.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.271-282
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• 2020

Sewage treatment plants are social infrastructure of cities. The sewage distribution rate in Korea is reaching 94% based on the sewage statistics based in the year of 2017. In Korean sewage treatment plants, use of PAC (Poly Aluminum Chloride) accounts for 58%. It contains a large amount of impurities (heavy metal) according to the quality standards, however, there have been insufficient efforts to reinforce the standards or technically improve the quality, which resulted in secondary pollution problems from injecting excessive coagulant. Also, the increase in the use of chemicals is leading to the increases in the annual amount of sewage sludge generated in 2017 and the need to reuse sludge. As such, this study aims to verify the possibility of reusing sludge by evaluating the stability of heavy metals based on the injection of coagulant mixture during water treatment which uses the torrefield wood powder and natural materials, and evaluating the sedimentation and heating value of sewage sludge. As a result of analyzing heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Pb, and Ni) from the coagulant mixture and PAC (10%), Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Hg were not detected. As for Zn, while its concentration notified in the quality standards for drinking water is 3 mg/L, only a small amount of 0.007 mg/L was detected in the coagulant mixture. Maximum amounts of over double amounts of Fe, Cu, and As were found with PAC (10%) compared to the coagulant mixture. Also, an analysis of sludge sedimentation found that the coagulant mixture showed a better performance of up to double the speed of the conventional coagulant, PAC (10%). The dry-basis lower heating value of sewage sludge produced by injecting the coagulant mixture was 3,378 kcal/kg, while that of sewage sludge generated due to PAC (10%) was 3,171 kcal/kg; although both coagulants met the requirements to be used as auxiliary fuel at thermal power plants, the coagulant mixture developed in this study could secure heating values 200 kal/kg higher than the counterpart. Therefore, utilization of the coagulant mixture for water treatment rather than PAC (10%) is expected to be more environmentally stable and effective, as it helps generating sludge with better stability against heavy metals, having a faster sludge sedimentation, and higher heating value.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.63-99
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• 1994

The international environmental activities and environmental education began in 1970's. Environmental education in Korea was emphasized since the Forth National Curriculum. 'The Environmental Education Curriculum' will be separated as one of the most important parts in the Sixth National Education Curriculum in Korea. The purpose of this study was development. of 'Environmental Science' of high school appropriate to Sixth National Education Curriculum. First step was to state goals of environmental education in detail based on analysis of goals about environmental education in our country and other countries. Second was to analyse seven environments-related texts of Korea, America and England. Third, to measure how much environmental education has achieved in Fifth National Curriculum of Korea. Fourth, to develop a new environmental text of high school level. Fifth, to verify the effect of developed environmental text. The environmental part of 'Science I'(unit V. Life and Environments) and high school environments-related reference text(Survival and Environments) in Korea, American knowledges. American 'Environments' was stressed in many skills but they didn't include various teaching strategies. On the other hand, American 'Science-Technology-Society(S-T-S)' and British 'Science and Technology in Society(SATIS)' were stressed in knowledges and skills, and they included many teaching strategies and student actions. American 'S-T-S' was the only one stressed in values and attitudes. And all seven texts were not interested in behaviors and participations. To measure the achievement of environmental education by questionnaire, 497 high school students in total were selected from five different schools. Actually, most students had a positive thinkings and attitudes in their hearts about environmental problems, about environmental problems, but many of them did not take actions to solve environmental problems and to protect environments. The higher the score students got in 'knowledges and informations', the higher the score in 'skill'. It implies that learning of skills is based on learning of knowledges and informations about environments. On the other hand, much knowledges and information about environments has not always ensured positive thinkings and attitudes or active behaviors and participations to solve environmental problem. In view that ultimate aim of environmental education is forming responsible environmental behaviors and the goals of values and behaviors are as important as knowledges and skills. A new environmental text of high school level was developed and it was based on analysis of seven texts and environmental education in Fifth Korean Curriculum. This text have seven units, 1. Habitates : What're the meanings?, 2. Nuclear Energy : Can't be Avoid?, 3. Acid Rain : What're the Messages?, 4. Ethanol : Is this Future Fuel?, 5. Wastes : A New War!, 6. What're the National and Gloval Environmental education and avoided from the array of knowledges. Therefore included various teaching strategies and independent actions of students. 'Open-ended value learning' and 'free behavior learning' in text were special learning parts for aquisition of values and formation of behaviors. To verify the effects. of new developed environmental text, the direct learning was carried out by 286 students in total. Post test scores of experimental groups per each units were significantly higher than those of control groups from five different schools were as follows. For validity of selecting contents for units, 74% of respondent replied positively. For classification and presentation of four goal-groups, 90% replied positively in validity and 82%, in utility. For validity of various teaching strategies, 88% and for the degree of including student-centered independent actions, 86% replied positively, For importances and expected effects of 'open=ended value learning' and 'free behavior learning', showed positive responses respectively, 88%, 92% Therefore this text is effective to achieve four goals of environmental education equally.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.605-614
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• 2022

Two major problems currently threaten human survival on Earth: climate change and the rapid aging of the population in developed countries. Climate change is a result of the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere due to the increase in the use of fossil fuels owing to economic and transportation development. The rapid increase in the age of the population is a result of the rise in life expectancy due to the development of biomedical science and technology and the improvement of personal hygiene in developed countries. To avoid irreversible global climate change, it is necessary to quickly transition from the current fossil fuel-based economy to a zero-carbon renewable energy-based economy that does not emit GHGs. To achieve this goal, the dairy and livestock industry, which generates the most GHGs in the agricultural sector, must transition to using low-carbon emission production methods while simultaneously increasing consumers' preference for low-carbon diets. Although 77% of currently available arable land globally is used to produce livestock feed, only 37% and 18% of the proteins and calories that humans consume come from dairy and livestock farming and industry. Therefore, using edible insects as a protein source represents a good alternative, as it generates less GHG and reduces water consumption and breeding space while ensuring a higher feed conversion rate than that of livestock. Additionally, utilizing the functionality of medicinal insects, such as silkworms, which have been proven to have certain health enhancement effects, it is possible to develop functional foods that can prevent or delay the onset of currently incurable degenerative diseases that occur more frequently in the elderly. Insects are among the first animals to have appeared on Earth, and regardless of whether humans survive, they will continue to adapt, evolve, and thrive. Therefore, the use of various edible and medicinal insects, including silkworms, in industry will provide an important foundation for human survival and prosperity on Earth in the near future by resolving the current two major problems.