• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.1-24
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• 2011

The deficiency of clean water is a major global concern because all the living creatures rely on the drinkable water for survival. On top of this, abundant of clean water supply is also necessary for household, metropolitan inhabitants, industry, and agriculture. Among many purification processes, advances in low-energy membrane separation technology appear to be the most effective solution for water crisis because membranes have been widely recognized as one of the most direct and feasible approaches for clean water production. The aim of this article is to give an overview of (1) two new emerging membrane technologies for water reuse and desalination by forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD), and (2) the molecular engineering and development of highly permeable hollow fiber membranes, with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) as the main focuses for the aforementioned applications in National University of Singapore (NUS). This article presents the main results of membrane module design, separation performance, membrane characteristics, chemical modification and spinning conditions to produce novel hollow fiber membranes for FO and MD applications. As two potential solutions, MD and FO may be synergistically combined to form a hybrid system as a sustainable alternative technology for fresh water production.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.211-223
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• 2017

In this work, an attempt was made to compare the effects of UV irradiation on the intrinsic and separation properties of membranes made of two different polymeric materials, i.e., polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyetherimide (PEI). The changes on membrane structural morphologies and chemical characteristics upon UV-A exposure (up to 60 h) were studied by FESEM and FTIR, respectively. It was found that cracks and fractures were detected on the PVDF-based membrane surface when the membrane was exposed directly to UV light for up to 60 h. Furthermore, the mechanical strength and thermal stability of irradiated PVDF-based membrane was reported to decrease with increasing UV exposure time. The PEI membrane surface meanwhile remained almost intact throughout the entire UV irradiation process. Filtration experiments showed that the permeate flux of UV-irradiated PVDF membrane was significantly increased from approximately 11 to $16L/m^2.h$ with increasing UV exposure time from zero to 60 h. Oil rejection meanwhile was decreased from 98 to 85%. For the PEI-based membrane, oil rejection of >97% was recorded and its overall structural integrity was marginally affected throughout the entire UV irradiation process. The findings of this work showed that the PEI-based membrane should be considered as the host for photocatalyts incorporation if the membrane was to be used for UV-assisted wastewater treatment process.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.151-168
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• 2012

Gas sparging is one of the techniques used to control the concentration polarization during ultrafiltration. In this work, the effects of gas sparging in stratified flow regime were investigated during gel layer controlling cross flow ultrafiltration in a rectangular channel. Synthetic solution of pectin was used as the gel forming solute. The liquid and gas flow rates were selected such that a stratified flow regime was prevalent in the channel. A mass transfer model was developed for this system to quantify the effects of gas flow rates on mass transfer coefficient (Sherwood number). The results were compared with the case of no gas sparging. Gas sparging led to an increase of mass transfer coefficient by about 23% in this case. The limitation of the developed model was also evaluated and it was observed that beyond a gas flow rate of 20 l/h, the model was unable to explain the experimental observation, i.e., the decrease in permeate flux with flow rate.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.141-149
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• 2012

The aeration provided in a Submerged Membrane Bioreactor (SMBR) improves membrane filtration by creating turbulence on the membrane surface and reducing membrane resistance. However, conventional hollow fiber membrane modules are generally packed in a vertical orientation which limits membrane scouring efficiency, especially when aeration is provided in the axial direction. In the present research, 3 innovative hollow-fiber membrane modules, each with a different membrane orientation, were developed to improve membrane scouring efficiency and enhance permeate flux. Pilot testing was performed to investigate the permeate flux versus time relationship over a 7-day period under different intermittent modes. The results indicated that the best module experienced an overall permeate flux decline of 3.3% after 7 days; the other two modules declined by 13.3% and 18.3%. The lower percentage of permeate flux decline indicated that permeate productivity could be sustained for a longer period of time. As a result, the operational costs associated with membrane cleaning and membrane replacement could be reduced over the lifespan of the module.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.109-122
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• 2014

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane is widely used for water treatment. However, the weak mechanical strength of PVDF limits its application. To enhance its tensile strength, a double-layer composite hollow fiber membrane, with PVDF and polyetherimide as the external and inner layers, respectively, was successfully prepared through phase inversion technique. The effects of additive content, air gap distance, N,N-dimethyl-acetamide content in the inner core liquid, and the temperature of external coagulation bath on the membrane structure, permeation flux, rejection, tensile strength, and porosity were determined. Experimental results showed that the optimum preparation conditions for the double-layer composite hollow fiber membrane were as follows: PEG-400 and PEG-600, 5 wt%; air gap distance, 10 cm; inner core liquid and the external coagulation bath should be water; and temperature of the external coagulation bath, 40 C. A single layer PVDF hollow fiber membrane (without PEI layer) was also prepared under optimum conditions. The double-layer composite membrane remarkably improved the tensile strength compared with the single-layer PVDF hollow fiber membrane. The permeation flux, rejection, and porosity were also slightly enhanced. High-tensile strength hollow fiber PVDF ultrafiltration membrane can be fabricated using the proposed technique.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.73-86
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• 2014

Membrane fouling is a major challenge limiting the use of membrane applications. In this study high induced shear rates were utilized at the membrane surface in order to reduce the organic and inorganic scaling by using the torsional vibration of flat sheet membranes. The performances of a vibratory shear-enhanced processing (VSEP) system for the ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration of industrial dairy wastewater were investigated. The vibration and non-vibration methods were compared with the same membrane and operational parameters during the purification of real dairy industrial process wastewater. In the initial experiments, short-term tests were carried out in which the effects of vibration amplitude, recirculation flow rate and transmembrane pressure were measured and compared. The permeate flux, turbidity, conductivity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of dairy wastewater were investigated by using UF, NF and RO membranes with vibration and non-vibration methods. In the subsequent experiments, concentration tests were also carried out. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the vibration method gave a better performance, which can be attributed to the higher membrane shear rate, which reduces the concentration of solids at the membrane, and the transmission.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.123-146
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• 2014

Safe water has becoming a competitive resource in many parts of the world due to increasing population, prolonged droughts, climate change etc. The development of economical and stable materials and methods for providing the fresh water in adequate amounts is the need of the water industry. Nanomaterials have unique characteristics e.g., large surface areas, size, shape, and dimensions etc. that make them particularly attractive for removing various contaminants from polluted waters. Nanotechnology based multifunctional and highly efficient membrane processes are providing affordable solutions in the new era that do not rely on large infrastructures or centralizes systems. The objective of the current study is to review the possible applications of the membrane based nanomaterials/composites for the removal of various contaminations from polluted waters. The article will briefly overview the availability and practice of different nanomaterials based membranes for removal of bacteria and viruses, organic compounds and inorganic solutes etc. present in surface water, ground water, seawater and/or industrial water. Finally, recommendations are made based on the current practices of nanofiltration membranes in water industry for a stand-alone membrane filtration system in removing various types of contaminants from polluted waters.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.279-287
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• 1997

Clinical studies were done on 80 persons who were treated with the acupuncture theraphy frozen shoulder. The following results are obtained. 1. Distribution of sex: male(28 persons), female (52 persons). 2. Causes of illness: work(40 persons), unknown origin(32 persons). 3. Duration of illness: less than 1 month(28 persons), 1-3 month(22 persons), 3-6 months(20 persons). 4. Distribution of occupational: housewife(30 persons), unemployed(22 persons), farmer(16 persons). 5. Distribution according to number of times of treatment rate: 3 weeks(32 persons), 2 weeks(14 persons), 4weeks(10 persons). 6. The classification of abduction disturbance before treatment were Gl group 14 persons, GII group 46 persons, GIII group 20 persons. After treatment were GI group 41 persons, GII group 30 persons, GIII group 9 persons. 7. The classification of HBST disturbance before treatment were GI group 10 persons, GII group 51 persons, GIII group 19 persons. After treatment were GI group 39 persons, GII group 28 persons , GIII group 13 persons. 8. The classification of MWT disturbance before treatment were GI group 25 persons, GII group 37 persons, GIII group 18 persons. After treatment were GI group 44 persons, GII group 25 persons, GIII group 11 persons.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.27-34
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of neuro-dynamics technique (NDT) to the balance and gait for chronic stroke patients. Methods: This study was composed of the cross-sectional design. Nine patients with chronic stroke applied to NDT. Balance ability function was measured using the Good Balance System device for static balance, timed up and go test (TUG) and functional reach test (FRT) for dynamic balance. The 10 meter walk test (10MWT) and GAITRite device were used for measurement of gait ability for patients. Results: There were significant improvements were observed on dynamic balance ability (p<.05) and gait ability function (p<.05). Conclusions: This research shows that the NDT is immediate effective on dynamic balance and gait ability of the chronic stroke patients. Further studies may be needed to continuously intervention of NDT for more patients.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.225-229
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• 2001

In Korea, an advanced reactor system of 330MWt power called SMART (System integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) is being developed by KAERI to supply energy for seawater desalination as well as electricity generation. A shielding design of the SMART core with 49 CEDM is established by a two-dimensional discrete ordinates radiation transport analyses. The DORT two-dimensional discrete ordinates transport code is used to evaluate the SMART shielding designs. Three axial regions represent the SMART reactor assembly, each of which is modeled in the R-Z geometry. The BUGLE-96 library is used in the analyses, which consists of 47 neutron and 20 gamma energy groups. The results indicate that the maximum neutron fluence at the bottom of reactor vessel is $5.89 {\times} 10^{17}\;n/cm^2$ and that on the radial surface of reactor vessel is $4.49 {\times} 10^[16}\;n/cm^2$. These results meet the requirement, $1.0 {\times} 10^{20}\;n/cm^2$, in 10 CFR 50.61 and the integrity of SMART reactor vessel during the lifetime of the reactor is confirmed.