• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.633-643
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• 2024

Hereunder, the eco-friendly photocatalytic CO₂ transformation capability of Cu-deposited black TiO₂ (Cu/BTiO₂) was evaluated to investigate if this photocatalyst proceeds the thermodynamically- and kinetically-satisfactory CO₂ transformation into CH₄. The clustered Cu-deposited BTiO₂ (Cu/BTiO₂) and Cu/BTiO₂ architectures revealed noticeable photocatalytic CO₂ transformation abilities, whereas the pristine TiO₂ and BTiO₂ catalysts displayed no significant photocatalytic CO₂ transformation abilities. Especially, the photocatalytic CO₂ transformation rates of a representative Cu/BTiO₂ architecture were 104, 209, 272, 322, and 361 μmol/g at the irradiation times of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h, respectively, while the photocatalytic CO₂ transformation rates of Cu/BTiO₂ were 61, 139, 217, 270, and 309 μmol/g at the same irradiation times, respectively. The promoted photocatalytic CO₂ transformation ability of the Cu/BTiO₂ architecture was assigned to the excellent electron-hole separation tendency, which was verified by the photoluminescence analysis. The composition ratio of Cu incorporated into BTiO₂ in the Cu/BTiO₂ architectures was crucial in CH₄ generation. In addition, the Cu/BTiO₂ architecture displayed eminent photodurability, which was verified by the consecutive experiment cycle, and the mechanistic process for CO₂ transformation into CH₄ via the Cu/BTiO₂ architecture was established. The electronic framework of the Cu/BTiO₂ architecture was established on the basis of its band gap and valence band value. Conclusively, the Cu/BTiO₂ architecture is an outstanding tool for thermodynamically- and kinetically-satisfactory photocatalytic CO₂ transformation into CH₄ that application under simulated sunlight irradiation.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.274-283
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• 2024

Climate change is currently one of the most pressing environmental issues, primarily caused by carbon emissions from fossil fuel usage. As a result, alternative fuels that effectively reduce carbon emissions are garnering more attention. Among these alternatives, hydrogen has numerous advantages, such as its ability for large-scale storage and transport. However, it is crucial to prioritize safety measures, particularly in facilities that handle hydrogen, due to its highly flammable and fast-spreading nature. This study aims to compare and analyze the placement of supply and exhaust vents to efficiently release hydrogen in the event of a leak in an enclosed space. The experiments involved six different scenarios, each with various combinations of supply and exhaust vents. To ensure the experimental process's safety, helium, which shares similar physical properties with hydrogen, was used to analyze the internal oxygen concentration during ventilation system operations. The results revealed that among the six scenarios, Case 2, which employed a lower side supply vent and an upper side exhaust vent, exhibited the shortest ventilation time of 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Additionally, the decrease rate in oxygen concentration was examined in the upper, middle, and lower areas. Ventilation utilizing an upper surface supply vent and two exhaust vents on the upper surface and upper side (Case 6), showed lower oxygen concentration values in the upper area, while Case 2 yielded lower values in the middle and lower areas. Therefore, it is crucial to select an appropriate supply and exhaust vent configuration considering the space's characteristics and usage environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.499-505
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• 2024

To address the issue of global warming, various regulations and policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are being implemented. In this context, the number of countries targeting carbon neutrality, the latter of which entails reducing net carbon emissions to zero, is increasing, and small modular reactors (SMRs) are investigated extensively as a new model for power plants. SMRs, although measuring only 5%-10% of the size of conventional large nuclear power plants, are highly efficient systems that can generate hundreds of megawatts of power. Compared with fossil fuel-based power plants, SMRs generate less carbon emissions and can complement the unstable energy supply from renewable sources. However, the use of SMRs is opposed by local residents owing to the risk of significant radioactive-material leakage when a nuclear-power-plant accident occurs. Hence, floating, small nuclear-power vessels are being investigated and installed in the ocean, thus simplifying the process of securing land, compensating nearby residents, and increasing safety against natural disasters. In this study, the towing stability of SMR power ships is analyzed, and the result shows no significant risk of towing to the destination in sea states 3, 4, and 5.

• 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.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2017

A gamma-ray peak of $^{226}Ra$ (186.2 keV) overlaps with one of $^{235}U$ (185.7 keV) in a gamma-ray spectrometry system. Though reference peaks of $^{235}U$ can be used to correct the peak interference of $^{235}U$ in the analysis of $^{226}Ra$, this requires a complicated calculation process and a high limit of quantitation. On the other hand, evaluating $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant in the overlapped peak can make a rapid measurement of $^{226}Ra$ without the complicated calculation process as well as overcome the disadvantage in the indirect measurement of $^{214}Bi$, which means the confinement of $^{222}Rn$ gas in a sample container and a time period to recover the secular equilibrium. About 93 samples with 6 species for raw-materials and by-products were prepared to evaluate the activity of $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant. The results were compared with the activity of $^{214}Bi$, which means the indirect measurement of $^{226}Ra$, to validate the method of the direct measurement of $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant. The difference between the direct and indirect measurement of $^{226}Ra$ was generally below about ${\pm}20%$. However, in the case of the phospho gypsum, a large error of about 50% was found in the comparison results, which indicates the disequilibrium between $^{238}U$ and $^{226}Ra$ in the materials. Application results of the contribution ratio of $^{226}Ra$ were below about ${\pm}10%$. The direct measurement of $^{226}Ra$ using the correction constant can be an effective method for its rapid measurement of raw materials and by-products because the activity of $^{226}Ra$ can be produced with a simple calculation without the consideration of the integrity of a sample container and the time period to recover the secular equilibrium.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2012

The metal chloride wastes from a pyrochemical process to recover uranium and transuranic elements has been considered as a problematic waste difficult to apply to a conventional solidification method due to the high volatility and low compatibility with silicate glass. In this study, a dechlorination approach to treat LiCl-KCl waste for final disposal was adapted. In this study, a $SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$ (SAP) inorganic composite as a dechlorination agent was prepared by a conventional sol-gel process. By using a series of SAPs, the dechlorination behavior and consolidation of reaction products were investigated. Different from LiCl waste, the dechlorination reaction occurred mainly at two temperature ranges. The thermogravimetric test indicated that the first reaction range was about $400^{\circ}C$ for LiCl and the second was about $700^{\circ}C$ for KCl. The SAP 1071 (Si/Al/P=1/0.75/1 in molar) was found to be the most favorable SAP as a dechlorination agent under given conditions. The consolidation test revealed that the bulk shape and the densification of consolidated forms depended on the SAP/Salt ratios. The leaching test by PCT-A method was performed to evaluate the durability of consolidated forms. This study provided the basic information on the dechlorination approach. Based on the experimental results, the dechlorination method using a $SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$ (SAP) could be considered as one of alternatives for the immobilization of waste salt.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2012

Metal chloride waste is generated as a main waste streams in a series of electrolytic processes of a pyrochemical process. Different from carbonate or nitrate salt, metal chloride is not decomposed into oxide and chlorine but it is just vaporized. Also, it has low compatibility with conventional silicate glasses. Our research group adapted the dechlorination approach for the immobilization of waste salt. In this study, the composition of SAP ($SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$) was adjusted to enhance the reactivity and to simplify the solidification process as a subsequent research. The addition of $Fe_2O_3$ into the basic SAP decreased the SAP/Salt ratio in weight from 3 for SAP 1071 to 2.25 for M-SAP( Fe=0.1). The experimental results indicated that the addition of $Fe_2O_3$ increased the reactivity of M-SAP with LiCl-KCl but the reactivity gradually decreased above Fe=0.1. Also, introducing $B_2O_3$ into M-SAP requires no glass binder for the consolidation of reaction products. U-SAP ($SiO_2-Al_2O_3-Fe_2O_3-P_2O_5-B_2O_3$) could effectively dechlorinate the LiCl-KCl waste and its reaction product could be consolidated as a monolithic form without a glass binder. The leaching test result indicated that U-SAP 1071 was more durable than other SAPs wasteform. By using U-SAP, 1 g of waste salt could generated 3~4 g of wasteform for final disposal. The final volume would be about 3~4 times lower than the glass-bonded sodalite. From these results, it could be concluded that the dechlorination approach using U-SAP would be one of prospective methods to manage the volatile waste salt.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.357-368
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• 2008

On July 31, 2008, the Government issued the construction and operation permit for the first low and intermediate level radioactive waste disposal facility in the Republic of Korea. In this paper, the fundamental regulatory framework, regulatory requirements and technical standards of the disposal facility are introduced, and the phased review process adopted for evaluation of the safety of the facility is briefly described. The Atomic Energy Act sets forth a stepwise regulatory framework for the whole life-cycle of the disposal facility such as siting, design, construction, operation, closure and institutional control. More detailed regulatory requirements and technical standards are stipulated in the subsequent regulations of the Atomic Energy Act and a series of Notices issued by the Ministry of Eduction, Science and Technology. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, as entrusted by the Ministry under the Atomic Energy Act, conducted safety review on the disposal facility, and evaluated the compliance with relevant criteria in all technical elements(i.e. siting and structural safety, radiological environmental impact, operational safety, systems and components, quality assurance, and total systematic performance assessment, etc.). The overall safety review process can be phased into inception phase, initial review phase, main review phase and completion phase. The review results were reported to and deliberated by the five Sub-committees of the Special Committee on Nuclear Safety, and then reported to the Ministry. The Ministry issued the construction and operation permit of the disposal facility through the deliberation of the review results by the Nuclear Safety Commission. Hereafter, the safety of the repository will be reassured by a series of subsequent regulatory inspections and reviews under the Atomic Energy Act. In addition, the licensee's continuous implementation of the "Safety Promotion Plan" may also enhance the long-term safety of the repository and contribute to build-up the confidence of the safety case.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2010

The LCC (Liquid Cadmium Cathode) structure to be developed for inhibiting the formation and growth of the uranium dendrite has been known as a key part in the electrowinning process for the simultaneous recovering of uranium and TRU (TRans Uranium) elements from spent fuels. A zinc-gallium (Zn-Ga) experimental system which is able to be functional in aqueous condition and normal temperature has been set up to observe the formation and growth phenomena of the metal dendrites on liquid cathode. The growth of the zinc dendrites on the gallium cathode and the performance of the existing stirrer type and pounder type cathode structure were observed. Although the mechanical strength of the dendrites appeared to be weak in the electrolyte and easily crashed by the various cathode structures, it was difficult to effectively submerge the dendrite into the bottom of the liquid cathode. Based on the results of the aqueous phase experiments, a lab-scale electrowinning experimental apparatus which are applicable to the development of LCC srtucture for the electrowinning process was established and the performance tests of the different types of LCC structure were conducted to prohibit the uranium dendrite growth on LCC surface. The experimental results of the stirrer type LCC structures have shown that they could not effectively remove the uranium dendrites growing at the inner side of the LCC crucible and the performances of the paddle and harrow type LCC structure were similar. Therefore a mesh type LCC structure was developed to push down the uranium dendrites to the bottom of the LCC crucible growing on the LCC surface and at the inner side of the crucible. From the experimental results for the performance test of the mesh type LCC structure, the uranium was recovered over 5 wt% in cadmium without the growth of uranium dendrites. After completion of the experiments, solid precipitates of the bottom of the LCC crucible were identified as an intermetallic compound (UCd11) by the chemical analysis.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.67-76
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• 2021

Biogasification is a technology that produces environmentally friendly fuel using methane gas generated in the process of stably decomposing and processing organic waste. Biogasification is the most used method for energy conversion of organic waste with high moisture content, and is a useful method for organic waste treatment following the prohibition of direct landfill (2005) and marine dumping (2013). Due to African Swine Fever (ASF), which recently occurred in Korea, recycling of wet feed is prohibited, and consumers such as dry feed and compost are negatively recognized, making it difficult to treat food waste. Accordingly, biogasification is attracting more attention for the treatment and recycling of food waste. Korea's energy consumption amounted to 268.41 106toe, ranking 9th in the world. However, it is an energy-poor country that depends on foreign imports for about 95.8% of its energy supply. Therefore, in Korea, the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) is being introduced. The domestic RPS system sets the weight of the new and renewable energy certificate (REC, Renewable energy certificate) of waste energy lower than that of other renewable energy. Therefore, an additional incentive system is required for the activation of waste-to-energy. In this study, the operation of an anaerobic digester that treats food waste, food waste Leachate and various organic wastes was confirmed. It was intended to be used as basic data for preparing the waste-to-energy incentive system through precise monitoring for a certain period of time. Four sites that produce biogas from organic waste and use them for power generation and heavy gas were selected as target facilities, and field surveys and sampling were conducted. Basic properties analysis was performed on the influent sample of organic waste and the effluent sample according to the treatment process. As a result of the analysis of the properties, the total solids of the digester influent was an average of 12.11%, and the volatile solids of the total solids were confirmed to be 85.86%. BOD and CODcr removal rates were 60.8% and 64.8%. The volatile fatty acids in the influent averaged 55,716 mg/L. It can be confirmed that most of the volatile fatty acids were decomposed and removed with an average reduction rate of 92.3% after anaerobic digestion.