• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2011

Polysulfone (PSf) membranes were prepared via the phase inversion process. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added as a nonsolvent additive in the casting solution containing a mixture of PSf and n-methylpyrrolidone. The added PVP played a role of enhancing liquid-liquid phase separation of the casting solution, and significantly reduced the solution fluidity. When prepared via the diffusion-induced process using water as a precipitation nonsolvent, the solidified membranes revealed a typical asymmetric structure irrespective of the addition of PVP. With 5 wt% PVP content, the finger-like cavities were more developed in the membrane sublayer compared to that of the membranes prepared without PVP. In contrast, with more than 10 wt% of PVP, the formation of finger-like cavities was suppressed, and the thickness of polymer nodule layer was increased. The surface porosity was also increased with the PSf content in the casting solution. The water permeability curve as a function of PVP addition revealed the inflection point. The maximum water permeability for 12 wt% PSf membrane was obtained with 5 wt% PVP content, and that for 18 wt% PSf membrane with 15 wt% PVP.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.77-83
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• 2023

Energy consumption is increased by rapid industrialization. As a result, climate change is accelerating due to the increase in CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. Therefore, a shift in the energy paradigm is required. Hydrogen is in the spotlight as a part of that. Currently 95% of hydrogen is fossil fuel-based reforming hydrogen which is accompanied by CO₂ emissions. This is called gray hydrogen, if the CO₂ is captured and emission of CO₂ is reduced, it can be converted into blue hydrogen. There are 3 technologies to capture CO₂: absorption, adsorption and membrane technology. In order to select CO₂ capture technology, the analysis of the exhaust gas should be carried out. The concentration of CO₂ in the flue gas from the hydrogen production process is higher than 20%if water is removed as well as the emission scale is classified as small and medium. So, the application of the membrane technology is more advantageous than the absorption. In addition, if LNG cold energy can be used for low temperature CO₂ capture system, the CO₂/N₂ selectivity of the membrane is higher than room temperature CO₂ capture and enabling an efficient CO₂ capture process. In this study, we will analyze the flue gas from hydrogen production process and discuss suitable CO₂ capture technology for it.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.239-248
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• 2018

In this study, pervaporation experiments of water, ethanol and IPA (Isopropyl alcohol) single components and water/ethanol, water/IPA mixtures were carried out using zeolite 4A membranes developed by Fine Tech Co. Ltd. Those membranes were fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis (growth in hydrothermal condition) after uniformly dispersing the zeolite seeds on the tubular alumina supports. They have a pore size of about $4{\AA}$ by ion exchange of $Na^+$ to the LTA structure with Si/Al ratio of 1.0, and shows strong hydrophilic property. Physical characteristics of prepared membranes were evaluated by using SEM (surface morphology), porosimetry (macro- or meso- pore analysis), BET (micropore analysis), and load tester (compressive strength). Pervaporation experiments with various temperature and concentration conditions confirmed that the zeolite 4A membrane can selectively separate water from ethanol and IPA. Water/ethanol separation factor was over 3,000 and water/IPA separation factor was over 1,500 (50 : 50 wt%, initial feed concentration). Pervaporation behaviors of single components and binary mixtures were predicted using ACM (activity coefficient model), GMS (generalized Maxwell Stefan) model and DGM (Dusty Gas Model). The adsorption and diffusion coefficients of the zeolite top layer were obtained by parameter estimation using GA (Genetic Algorithm, stochastic optimization method). All the calculations were carried out using MATLAB 2018a version.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.759-764
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• 2018

3D porous carbon electrodes (cNPIM), prepared by solution casting of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) followed by nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) and carbonization are presented. In order to effectively control the pore size of 3D porous carbon structures, cNPIM was prepared by varying the THF ratio of mixed solvents. The SEM analysis revealed that cNPIMs have a unique 3D macroporous structure having a gradient pore structure, which is expected to grant a smooth and easy ion transfer capability as an electrode material. In addition, the cNPIMs presented a very large specific surface area ($2,101.1m^2/g$) with a narrow micropore size distribution (0.75 nm). Consequently, the cNPIM exhibits a high specific capacitance (304.8 F/g) and superior rate capability of 77% in an aqueous electrolyte. We believe that our approach can provide a variety of new 3D porous carbon materials for the application to an electrochemical energy storage.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.943-962
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• 2014

Industrial gas drying, dilute gas mixtures purification, air fractionation, hydrogen production from steam reformers and petroleum refinery off-gases, etc are conducted by using adsorptive separation technology. The pressure swing adsorption (PSA) has certain advantages over the other methods, such as absorption and membrane, that are a low energy requirement and cost-effectiveness. A key component of PSA systems is adsorbents that should be highly selective to a gas being separated from its mixture streams and have isotherms suitable for the operation principle. The six standard types of isotherms have been examined in this review, and among them the best behavior in the adsorption of $CO_2$ as a function of pressure was proposed in aspects of maximizing a working capacity upon excursion between adsorption and desorption cycles. Zeolites and molecular sieves are historically typical adsorbents for such PSA applications in gas and related industries, and their physicochemical features, e.g., framework, channel structure, pore size, Si-to-Al ratio (SAR), and specific surface area, are strongly associated with the extent of $CO_2$ adsorption at given conditions and those points have been extensively described with literature data. A great body of data of $CO_2$ adsorption on the nanoporous zeolitic materials have been collected according to pressure ranges adsorbed, and these isotherms have been discussed to get an insight into a better $CO_2$ adsorbent for PSA processes.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.698-698
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• 2009

화력발전이 많은 비중을 차지하는 전력생산 산업은 온실가스($CO_2$)의 최대 배출 원으로 알려져 있으며 증가하는 전력 수요 뿐 만 아니라 다가오는 기후변화협약에 대응하기 위하여 $CO_2$ 회수 및 공정 개선에 관한 연구가 많이 수행되고 있다. 특히 현재 연구되고 있는 전력분야의 대표적인 $CO_2$ 회수기술은 연소 후 포집(Post-combustion capture), 순산소 연소(Oxy-fuel combustion), 연소전 탈탄소화(Pre-combustion) 3가지로 구분된다. 이중 연소전 탈탄소화 기술은 석탄가스화복합발전(IGCC) 기술과 연계하여 $CO_2$를 회수할 수 있는 방법으로 가스화 된 석탄가스에 Water-Gas Shift 반응과, $CO_2$ 분리로 얻어진 탈 탄소 연료를 통해서 전력을 생산한다. 이 기술의 핵심은 생성된 $CO_2/H_2$ 복합가스로부터 $CO_2$를 분리하는 공정으로 차세대 회수 기술로는 Membrance Reactor, SOFC, Oxygen Ion Transfer Membrane(OTM), 그리고 가스 하이드레이트가 있다. 이중 가스 하이드레이트는 $CO_2$의 회수 뿐 만 아니라 처리 기술에도 적용 가능하지만 우리나라에는 이에 관한 기술이 전무한 형편이다. 본 연구에서는 가스 하이드레이트 형성원리를 이용하여 정온 정압 조건에서 $CO_2/H_2$ 하이드레이트를 제조하였으며 특히, 하이드레이트 형성 촉진제인 THF(Tetrahydrofuran)를 첨가하여 THF 농도에 따른 상평형 및 속도론 실험을 수행 하였다. 이러한 연구는 연소전 탄소화 기술에서의 $CO_2$ 회수 분리에 대한 핵심 연구임과 동시에 탄소배출권 규제에 실질적인 기여를 할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2008

Cutting oils are emulsionable fluids widely used in metal working processes. Their composition is mineral oil, water, and additives (fatty acids, surfactants, biocides, etc.) generating a toxic waste after a long use. Cutting oils also affect colour, taste and odour of water, making it undesirable for domestic and industrial uses. In these days, conventional treatment methods as evaporation, membrane separation or chemical separation have major disadvantages since they generate a concentrated stream that is more harmful than the original waste. In this study, our purpose is to reduce cutting oils by using biological treatment. Eighty one strains were isolated from cutting waste oil of industrial waste water sludge under aerobic conditions. Among these strains, KS47, which removed 90.4% cutting oil in 48 hr, was obtained by screening test under aerobic conditions(pH 7, $28^{\circ}C$). KS47 was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa according to morphological, physiological and biochemical properties, 16S rDNA sequence, and fatty acid analysis. P. aeruginosa KS47 could utilize cutting oil as carbon source. In batch test, we obtained optimal degradation conditions(1.5 g/L cell concentration, pH 7, and temperature $30^{\circ}C$). Under the optimal conditions, 1,060 mg/L cutting oil was removed 83.7% (74.1 mg/L/hr).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.349-359
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• 1992

Studies were carried out on the selective removal of inorganic salts such as NaCl and $Na_2SO_4$ from dye solution, using counter diffusion-reverse osmosis and nanofiltration, respectivey. For the dye solution used in the experiments, 1 to 30% of salts were removed by counter diffusion while the loss of dye molecules was less than 0.3%. The separation factors by one pass operation were 10-500 according to ionic species. In five successive operations, removals of anion($Cl^-$) increased but those of cation($Na^+$) decreased due to the Donnan effect. Effects of feed flow rate on removal efficiencies of various ions were also observed at constant flow rate of stripping water. Reverse osmosis of desalted dye solution by counter diffusion was conducted to prepare highly concentrated liquid dyes. The rejection efficiency of dye molecules was greater than 99%. For the rejection efficiency of chloride ion, experimental values were compared with theoretical ones based on solution-diffusion model. Two stage diafiltration was performed in nanofiltration. The rejection efficiency of chloride ion was continuously decreased due to the Donnan dialysis and even negative rejection was observed. The Donnan effect was more pronounced in the second diafiltration.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2020

This present study was conducted to investigate protective effect of discontinuous Percoll gradient containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) before freezing process on viability, acrosome damage, mitochondrial activity, and oxidative stress of frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa. The separation of spermatozoa by discontinuous Percoll gradient was performed by different concentration of Percoll solution (45/90%) containing ALA combined with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and collected sperm in each Percoll layer was cryopreserved. To evaluate viability, acrosome damage, mitochondrial activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of frozen-thawed sperm, flow cytometry was used. Morphological abnormalities were observed under light microscope. In results, viability of sperm from 90% Percoll layer was higher than control and 45% Percoll group (p < 0.05). Separated sperm in 90% Percoll layer had lower acrosome damage and morphological abnormalities than control as well as viability, whereas 45% Percoll group was higher (p < 0.05). Similar with acrosome damage and abnormalities, mitochondrial activity was slightly enhanced and the population of live sperm with high ROS level was decreased by 90% Percoll separation, however, there was no significant difference. Supplementation of 3 ng/mL ALA into Percoll solution increased sperm viability and decreased population of live sperm with high ROS compared to control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, discontinuous Percoll gradient before freezing process could improve efficiency of cryopreservation of boar sperm through selection of sperm with high freezing resistance, and supplement of ALA during Percoll gradient might contribute suppression of ROS generation via stabilizing of plasma membrane during cryopreservation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2019

We report on the design of oil-water separators and the selection of materials for the effective application of highly selective membranes fabricated by commercial PET (polyester) fabrics. The waterproof ability of PET fabrics was optimized to improve the separation selectivity. The density of individual PET fabrics should be over $60g/m^2$, and the multi-layered structure is more favorable for the waterproof ability together with maintaining the removal efficiency. For the continuous adsorption and removal process, the rotating perforated cylinder was selected, and covered with membranes. Furthermore, more improved and stable removal efficiency was obtained by installing floating baffles which forces the oil content to move toward membranes.