• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.270-288
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• 2008

Among various environmental issues, those for worn-out products are increasingly important due to rapid development and improvement of products, shortages of dumping sites and waste-incineration facilities, and legislation pressures and customer recognitions to protect the environment. Under such circumstances, collection and product recovery activities give rise to additional material flows from customers back to collectors and reprocessors. Reverse logistics, the opposite direction of the conventional forward logistics, is concerned with the management of this material flow. In this paper, we consider the emerging concept of reverse logistics. First, the concept of sustainable development is explained to explain the philosophical background of various environmental issues. Second, we explain the basics of reverse logistics, which includes the overall structure and the classification of network types. Finally, we review the previous research articles, especially in the aspect of industrial engineering, after classifying the decision problems into : (a) product recovery strategy; (b) network design and operation; (c) inventory management; (d) disassembly problems; and (e) remanufacturing problems.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.399-404
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• 2014

Production of biodegradable polymer polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from industrial wastes exhibits several advantages such as recycle of waste and the production of high valuable products. To this end, this study aimed at isolating from the sewage treatment plant a PHA producing bacterium capable of utilizing wastes generated from biodiesel and food industries. A Bacillus cereus strain capable of producing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] was isolated, which was followed by confirmation of P(3HB) accumulation by gas-chromatographic analyses. Then, the effects of nutrient limitation on P(3HB) production by B. cereus was first examined. Cells cultured in a minimal medium under the limitation of nitrogen, potassium and sulfur suggested that nitrogen limitation allows the highest P(3HB) accumulation. Next, production of P(3HB) was examined from both waste of biodiesel production (crude glycerol) and waste from food industry (spent coffee grounds). Cells cultured in nitrogen-limited minimal medium supplemented crude glycerol and waste spent coffee grounds extract accumulated P(3HB) to the contents of 2.4% and 1.0% of DCW. This is the first report demonstrating the capability of B. cereus to produce P(3HB) from waste raw materials such as crude glycerol and spent coffee grounds.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.259-263
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• 2001

There are several steps such as slicing, lapping, chemical etching and mechanical polishing in the silicon wafer production process. The chemical etching step is necessary to remove damaged layer caused In the slicing and lapping steps. The typical etching liquor is the acid mixture comprising nitric acid, acetic acid and hydrofluoric acid. At present, the waste acid is treated by a neutralization method with a high alkali cost and balky solid residue. A solvent extraction method is applicable to separate and recover each acid. Acetic acid is first separated from the waste liquor using 2-ethlyhexyl alcohols as an extractant. Then, nitric acid is recovered using TBP(Tri-butyl phosphate) as an extractant. Finally hydrofluoric acid is separated with the TBP solvent extraction. The expected recovered acids in this process are 2㏖/l acetic acid, 6㏖/1 nitric acid and 6㏖/l hydrofluoric acid. The yields of this process are almost 100% for acetic acid and nitric acid. On the other hand, it is important to recover and reuse the metal values contained in various industrial wastes in a viewpoint of environmental preservation. Most of industrial products are made through the processes to separate impurities in raw materials, solid and liquid wastes being necessarily discharged as industrial wastes. Chemical methods such as solvent extraction, ion exchange and membrane, and physical methods such as heavy media separation, magnetic separation and electrostatic separation are considered as the methods for separation and recovery of the metal values from the wastes. Some examples of the application of solvent extraction to the treatment of wastes such as Ni-Co alloy scrap, Sm-Co alloy scrap, fly ash and flue dust, and liquid wastes such as plating solution, the rinse solution, etching solution and pickling solution are introduced.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.929-934
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• 2001

As the notion of environment protection changes throughout the world, construction engineers, as part of the effort to resolve environmental problems, have been actively doing research on environmental friendly porous concrete using large and non-uniform aggregate. Concrete having a great deal of continuous porosity enable water and air to pass freely through firmly hardened material, allowing necessary nutrients to reach roots of vegetation, thereby sustaining them. It is possible to prevent the exhaustion of natural resources by recycling waste concrete and industrial by-products, to reduce damage caused by the destruction of nature through effective management of natural resources, to preserve the natural environment and vegetation in urban areas by activating the soil, protecting the underground ecology system, and growing garden plants through the application of environmentally friendly concrete.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.436-443
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• 2020

In this paper, we tried to examine the composition ratio of plastic waste from households according to the generated city and the qualities according to the production time of material recycling products. As a result, the composition ratio of recyclable plastic waste among the total plastic waste according to the generated cities is 64.5~90.4%, showing a big difference by city. In addition, the quality evaluation of material recycling products by production time for four months showed that the average tensile strength was 12.33MPa, the average elongation rate was 5.94%, the average density was 1.35g/㎤ and the average ash content was 3.66%.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.243-253
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• 2009

This research expands investigations into the biomass resource potential associated with California's food processing industry by surveying industries within a two county region in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. A previous survey conducted in 2005 for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) quantified residue and waste generation from food processors and food preparation businesses in the Sacramento region. The present survey investigates residue and waste streams from food processors located in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Sixty food processors were identified to participate in the survey, of which 49 responded (82%) and data were acquired for 38 (63%) (6 facilities closed or moved, 8 decided not to participate). Within the two counties, total annual waste among survey respondents amounted to 24,044 dry tons of high moisture (${\geq}$60%) food residuals, 5,358 dry tons of low moisture (<60%) food residuals; and 23.7 million $m^3$ of wastewater containing 38,814 tons of biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$). The total potential electric power generation from these food residues was estimated at approximately $7\;MW_e$. Total solid waste resource included in the survey response was estimated at about 10% of statewide residue generation for processors falling within the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System Major Group 20 (Food and Kindred Products) categories.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 1992

Annual amount of plastics waste including rubber and leather waste, generated in 1990 was about 2,600,000 tons. Amount of generation of plastics waste has rapidly increased, but fractions of recycling and incineration have gradually decreased. Recently, two-stage incinerator, consisting of gasifier and gas combustor, draws much attention in Korea. Plastics are gasified in the starved air condition in the gasifier and produced gas is fired in the combustor. Combustion of produced gas is much easier than that of solid plastics, and produces a little pollutants. Standardzation of technology and process automation are still needed, but this incineration technology is in the commercial stage. Next topic concerned with this two-stage incineration will be how to treat complex plastics waste including toxic substances generated from automobiles and household appliances. Pyrolysis, realized by indirect heating in inert atmosphere, can provide high-quality products with minimum emissions. Many plastics are easily decomposed into oil in pyrolysis conditions, which can be utilized as chemical feedstocks, or gasoline or kerosene depending on feed materials and operating conditions. This has been demonstrated in several pilot-scale tests performed in Japan, Germany, etc. Easy removal of HCl from PVC is one of the most decisive merits of pyrolysis process. But in general, further efforts should be made for the process to obtain marketability. The future of pyrolysis process depends on public concern about environmental problems and oil prices.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.352-366
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• 2022

Nuclear power plant operations for electricity generation, rare-earth mining, nuclear medical research, and nuclear weapons reprocessing considerably increase radioactive waste, necessitating massive efforts to eradicate radioactive waste from aquatic environments. Cobalt (⁵⁸Co) and strontium (⁹⁰Sr) radioactive elements have been extensively employed in energy generation, nuclear weapon testing, and the manufacture of healthcare products. The erroneous discharge of these elements as pollutants into the aquatic system, radiation emissions, and long-term disposal is extremely detrimental to humans and aquatic biota. Numerous methods for treating radioactive waste-contaminated water have emerged, among which the adsorption process has been promoted for its efficacy in eliminating radioactive waste from aquatic habitats. The current review discusses the adsorptive removal of radioactive waste from aqueous solutions using low-cost adsorbents, such as graphene oxide, metal-organic frameworks, and inorganic metal oxides, as well as their composites. The chemical modification of adsorbents to increase their removal efficiency is also discussed. Finally, the current state of ⁵⁸Co and ⁹⁰Sr removal performances is summarized and the efficiencies of various adsorbents are compared.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.453-458
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• 2001

This study was performed to reuse the dyeing wastewater sludge treated by Fenton process through the solidification/stabilization technique. To solidify the dyeing sludge the industrial by-products such as blast furnace slag, fly ash and waste sand with cement were used. The laboratory scale and pilot scale test were conducted at room temperature to make construction brick which has high compressive strength and low leaching of heavy metals. The experimental results showed that blast furnace slag and fly ash could be used instead of cement and the products satisfied the regulation of Korean Standards. The blast furnace slag increased the compressive strength and the optimum ratio of slag/dyeing sludge on dry basis was found 0.4. The solidifying agent of SB series could increase rapidly the compressive strength and the optimum ratio of solidifying agent/sludge on dry basis was 0.26 at which the strength was two times compared with non-added condition. The portion of waste and industrial by-products in matrix was over 80%. From the pilot test the optimum pressure in molding was 100kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ at which the compressive strength was over 100kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$. And the strength increased continuously to 160kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ until 120 days curing time due to pozzolanic reaction. When SB-20 as a solidifying agent was used, the unconfined compressive strength of dyeing sludge could be obtained 110kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ which satisfied the regulation of cement brick in Korea Standard(KS).

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.738-741
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• 2001

We carried out aminolyses of various rigid polyurethane foams (PUFs) using diethylene triamine and studied application of the aminolysis products as hardners of epoxy resins. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A was used for the study on the curing behavior of epoxy resin with the aminolysis product employing differential scanning calorimeter. Curing reaction of the epoxy resin is generally known to be autocatalytic second order reaction. We found that the curing reaction of the epoxy resin with the aminolysis product of rigid PUF did not show autocatalytic characteristics but followed the n-th order kinetics. The activation energy of the curing reaction of the epoxy resin with the aminolysis product of rigid PUF made from sugar based polyol was slightly lower than that of the epoxy resin with aminolysis product of rigid with made from amine based polyol.