• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-45
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• 2020

The rapid economic growth has brought tremendous pressure on the environment and caused severe air pollution in China. This study empirically examines causes of air pollution in China. Panel-corrected standard errors procedure (PCSE) was used to analyze major determinants of increasing or reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_X) in 30 Chinese provinces. The estimation results show that SO₂ emission is mitigated as per capita regional GDP increases, but the relation between emission of NO_X and per capita regional GDP is found to have an inverse N-shaped curve, which implies that emission of NO_X is ultimately expected to decline with economic growth. As for increasing factors of air pollutants, electricity consumption is a significant common source of SO₂ and NO_X emissions. Moreover, the results show that increment of coal consumption significantly affects emission of SO₂ while increase of natural gas consumption reduce emission of SO₂. On the other side, investment in energy industry, and investment on treatment of waste gases are determinants of mitigating emissions of SO₂, but have no impact on NO_X. Consumption of diesel, truck ratio and number of vehicles increase emission of NO_X. Meanwhile, higher precipitation rate is a common determinant of mitigating emissions of SO₂ and NO_X. Policy implications are suggested in the conclusion.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.213-226
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• 2005

To treat wastewater efficiently by a one-step process of nitrogen removal, a new bacterial strain producing $N_2$ gas from ${NH_4}^+$ under an aerobic condition was isolated and identified. The cell was motile and a Gram-negative rod, and usually occurred in pairs. By 16S-rDNA analysis, the isolated strain was identified as Enterobacter asburiae with 96% similarity. The isolate showed that the capacity of $N_2$ production under an oxic condition was approximately three times higher than that under an anoxic condition. Thus, the consumption of ${NH_4}^+$ by the isolate was significantly different in the metabolism of $N_2$ production under the two different environmental conditions. The optimal conditions of the immobilized isolate for $N_2$ production were found to be pH 7.0, $30^{\circ}C$ and C/N ratio 5, respectively. Under all the optimum reaction conditions, $N_2$ production by the immobilized isolate resulted in reduction of ORP with both the consumption of DO and the drop of pH. The removal efficiencies of $COD_{Cr}$, and TN were 56.1 and 60.9%, respectively. The removal rates of $COD_{Cr}$, and TN were the highest for the first 2.5 hrs with the removal $COD_{Cr}/TN$ ratios of 32.1, and afterwards the rates decreased as reaction proceeded. For application of the immobilized isolate to a practical process of ammonium removal, a continuous operation was executed with a synthetic medium of a low C/N ratio. The continuous bioreactor system exhibited a satisfactory performance at 12.1 hrs of HRT, in which the effluent concentrations of ${NH_4}^+$-N was measured to be 15.4 mg/L with its removal efficiency of 56.0%. The maximum removal rate of ${NH_4}^+$-N reached 1.6 mg ${NH_4}^+$-N/L/hr at 12.1 hrs of HRT(with N loading rate of $0.08\;Kg-N/m^3$-carrier/d). As a result, the application of the immobilized isolate appears a viable alternative to the nitrification-denitrification processes.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2007

In this study, $SiO_2/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl$ alcohol)(EVOH) hybrid coating materials with gas barrier property could be produced using sol-gel method. The biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) substrate with surface pretreatment was coated with the prepared hybrid sols containing various inorganic silicate component by a spin coating method. Crystallization behavior of the hybrids was investigated in terms of analysis of X-ray diffraction and cooling thermogram from DSC experiment. From the morphological observation of the $SiO_2/EVOH$ hybrid gel, it was confirmed that there existed an optimum content of inorganic silicate precursor, Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), to produce hybrid materials with dense microstructure, exhibiting uniformly dispersed silica particles with average size below 100 nm. When TEOS was added at below or above the optimum content, particle clusters with large domain were observed, resulting in phase separation. This morphological result was found to be in good agreement with that of oxygen permeability of the hybrid coated films. In the case of film coated with hybrid prepared from addition of 0.01 - 0.02mol of TEOS, a remarkable improvement in barrier property could be obtained, however, with the addition of TEOS more than 0.04 mol, the barrier property was dramatically reduced because of phase separation and micro-crack formation on the film surface.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2020

This study evaluated CO₂ removal efficiency, monitoring data analysis / evaluation efficiency and energy reduction efficiency in the liquor factory by L-alanine applied scrubber. The average removal rate of the scrubber was 90.45%, and it was confirmed that the removal efficiency was excellent above 10,000ppm of inlet CO₂ concentration. After the scrubber operation, the CO₂ concentration in the workplace was maintained under 2,000ppm(the carbon dioxide reduction efficiency was about 74%). and the energy saving efficiency was calculated to 7.26% by reducing the power consumption. As a result of applying the developed product, it was possible to improve the working environment of workers by reducing the carbon dioxide concentration in the workplace at low concentration without ventilation, and to reduce the energy consumption. Therefore, it is expected that the scrubber will be useful as a high CO₂ removal process in food and liquor factories.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2002

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) have been widely used as solvents in various industries. Biodegradation of MEK and MIBK by Pseudomonas putida KT-3, which could utilize MEK or MIBK as a sole carbon source, was characterized, and the cosubstrate interaction in MEK/MIBK mixture was also studied. Within the range of initial MEK concentration (from 0.5 to 5.5 mM), an increased substrate concentration increased the specific degradation rate of MEK by P putida KT-3 (from 3.15 to 10.58 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h), but the rate sightly increased at 11.0 mM of initial MEK concentation (11.28 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h). The similar degradation rates of MIBK (4.69-4.92 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h) were obtained at more than 3.0 mM of initial MIBK concentation. Kinetic analysis on the degradation of MEK/MIBK mixture by P. putida KT-3 showed that MEK or MIBK acted as a competitive inhibitor. Maximum degradation rate ($V_{max}$), saturation constant ($K_{m}$) and inhibition constant ($K_{1}$) were as follows: $V_{max,MEK}$=12.94 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h; $K_{m,MEK}$=1.72 mmol/L; $K_{l,MEK}$=1.30 mmol/L; $V_{max,MIBK}$=5.00 mmol/g-DCW$\cdot$h; $K_{m,MIBK}$=0.42 mmol/L; $K_{l,MEK}$=0.77 mmol/L.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2013

Methyl alcohol is one of the basic intermediates in the chemical industry and is also being used as a fuel additive and as a clean burning fuel. In this study, conversion of carbon dioxide to methyl alcohol was investigated using catalytic chemical methods. Ceramic monoliths (M) with $400cell/in^2$ were used as catalyst supports. Monolith-supported CuO-ZnO catalysts were prepared by wash-coat method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by using ICP analysis, TEM images and XRD patterns. The catalytic activity for carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methyl alcohol was investigated using a flow-type reactor under various reaction temperature, pressure and contact time. In the preparation of monolith-supported CuO-ZnO catalysts by wash-coat method, proper concentration of precursors solution was 25.7% (w/v). The mixed crystal of CuO and ZnO was well supported on monolith. And it was known that more CuO component may be supported than ZnO component. Conversion of carbon dioxide was increased with increasing reaction temperature, but methyl alcohol selectivity was decreased. Optimum reaction temperature was about $250^{\circ}C$ under 20 atm because of the reverse water gas shift reaction. Maximum yield of methyl alcohol over CuO-ZnO/M catalyst was 5.1 mol% at $250^{\circ}C$ and 20 atm.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.727-734
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• 2018

In this study, real-time absorption coefficients of carbonaceous species in $PM_{2.5}$ was observed using a dual-spot 7-wavelength Aethalometer between November 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 at an urban site of Gwangju. In addition, 24-hr integrated $PM_{2.5}$ samples were simultaneously collected at the same site and analyzed for organic carbon and elemental carbon (OC and EC) using the thermal-optical transmittance protocol. A main objective of this study was to estimate mass absorption cross section (MAC) values of black carbon (BC) particles at the study site using the linear regression between aethalometer-based absorption coefficient and filter-based EC concentration. BC particles observed at 880 nm is mainly emitted from combustion of fossil fuels, and their concentration is typically reported as equivalent BC concentration (eBC). eBC concentration calculated using MAC value of $7.77m^2/g$ at wavelength of 880 nm, which was proposed by a manufacturer, ranged from 0.3 to $7.4{\mu}g/m^3$ with an average value of $1.9{\pm}1.2{\mu}g/m^3$, accounting for 7.3% (1.5~20.9%) of $PM_{2.5}$. The relationship between aerosol absorption coefficients at 880 nm and EC concentrations provided BC MAC value of $15.2m^2/g$, ranging from 11.4 to $16.2m^2/g$. The eBC concentrations calculated using the estimated MAC of $15.2m^2/g$ were significantly lower than those reported originally from aethalometer, and ranged from 0.2 to $3.8{\mu}g/m^3$, with an average of $1.0{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/m^3$, accounting for 3.7% of $PM_{2.5}$ (0.8~10.7%). Result from this study suggests that if the MAC value recommended by the manufacturer is applied to calculate the equivalent BC concentration and radiative forcing due to BC absorption, they would result in significant errors, implying investigation of an unique MAC value of BC particles at a study site.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2013

Solubility of oil contaminants in surfactant solutions plays an important role in selecting a suitable surfactant type for soil remediation. Solubility measurement procedures consist of making an equilibrium between surfactant solution and oil, solvent extraction using dichloromethane, and condensation for gas chromatography analysis. Solubility measurement requires time consumption and lots of materials. Interfacial tension is the contracting force between two immiscible liquids, surfactant solution and oil, and also closely related to solubility of oil. This study established a relationship between the interfacial tension and solubility of diesel fuel in surfactant solution and suggested a quick method to estimate solubility of oil in a surfactant solution by measuring its interfacial tension. The results of this study showed that the solubility of diesel fuel in surfactant solution was exponentially increased by decreasing the interfacial tension between two immiscible liquids. The solubility of diesel fuel was significantly increased under the interfacial tension conditions below 1 dyne/cm, while the solubility change was not apparent under the interfacial tension conditions beyond 5 dyne/cm. Interfacial tension measurements may allow us to quickly select an efficient surfactant and its concentration for soil remediation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.534-541
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• 2017

The bioreactor type of landfill is to operate to enhance waste decomposition by continuously supplying water such as leachate and wastewater within the landfill, which helps increase the landfill gas production, which in turn prematurely stabilize the landfill. Recently, the environmental law for the operation of the bioreactor type of landfill has been enacted and thereafter the bioreactor type of landfill has been introduced for the first time in Korea to the SUDOKWON landfill site. In order to properly apply for bioreactor to the landfill, it is necessary to investigate the water distribution inside the landfill so that water recirculation should be optimally allocated with the zone of concern. In this regard, electrical resistivity survey has been suitably performed to delineate the water distribution in the landfill. That is, it has surveyed for long-term of period that the recirculation of leachate has been properly reflected from electrical resistivity within the second landfill of SUDOKWON landfill site. As a result, the electrical resistivity immediately corresponded to the variation of the extent of the seasonal temperature dynamics. From this, a calibratrion could be accomplished by correlating between temperature and electrical resistivity obtained from this study that can be applicable for optimally monitoring to keep the ideal operating condition for the bioreactor type of landfill.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.738-744
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• 2017

Recently, the installation of energy storage systems (ESSs) has increased in parallel with the extension of renewable energy resources. However, there has been no concrete analysis ofthe performance verification and economic evaluation of ESSs,which makes it difficult to perform aneffective installation and operation of an ESS. In particular, there are no international technical standards and guidelines on electric ESS for frequency regulation applications. Therefore, acomprehensive study on the power quality, impact on grid, extent of contribution, and cost benefit study of ESS are strongly being required. Under these backgrounds, this paper proposes a performance verification algorithm on ESS for frequency regulation application based on ananalysis of the AGC(Automatic Generation Control) performance verification method of PJM in USA. In addition,this paper proposes an economic evaluation algorithm on a 500 MW installation of ESS for frequency regulation applications using the account settlement of an expensive gas-fired generation plant and coal-fired power generation plant. From the simulation with real ESS operation data and 500 MW installation case, it wasconfirmed that the ESS showssuperior performance toany other conventional generators and provides anannual benefit of 500 MW ESS are between 345~429 billon won.