• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.806-811
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of plant extracts on methanogenesis and rumen microbial diversity in in vitro. Plant extracts (Artemisia princeps var. Orientalis; Wormwood, Allium sativum for. Pekinense; Garlic, Allium cepa; Onion, Zingiber officinale; Ginger, Citrus unshiu; Mandarin orange, Lonicera japonica; Honeysuckle) were obtained from the Plant Extract Bank at Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. The rumen fluid was collected before morning feeding from a fistulated Holstein cow fed timothy and commercial concentrate (TDN; 73.5%, crude protein; 19%, crude fat; 3%, crude fiber; 12%, crude ash; 10%, Ca; 0.8%, P; 1.2%) in the ratio of 3 to 2. The 30 ml of mixture, comprising McDougall buffer and rumen liquor in the ratio of 4 to 1, was dispensed anaerobically into serum bottles containing 0.3 g of timothy substrate and plant extracts (1% of total volume, respectively) filled with $O_2$-free $N_2$ gas and capped with a rubber stopper. The serum bottles were held in a shaking incubator at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Total gas production in all plant extracts was higher (p<0.05) than that of the control, and total gas production of ginger extract was highest (p<0.05). The methane emission was highest (p<0.05) at control, but lowest (p<0.05) at garlic extract which was reduced to about 20% of methane emission (40.2 vs 32.5 ml/g DM). Other plant extracts also resulted in a decrease in methane emissions (wormwood; 8%, onion; 16%, ginger; 16.7%, mandarin orange; 12%, honeysuckle; 12.2%). Total VFAs concentration and pH were not influenced by the addition of plant extracts. Acetate to propionate ratios from garlic and ginger extracts addition samples were lower (p<0.05, 3.36 and 3.38 vs 3.53) than that of the control. Real-time PCR indicted that the ciliate-associated methanogen population in all added plant extracts decreased more than that of the control, while the fibrolytic bacteria population increased. In particular, the F. succinogens community in added wormwood, garlic, mandarin orange and honeysuckle extracts increased more than that of the others. The addition of onion extract increased R. albus diversity, while other extracts did not influence the R. albus community. The R. flavefaciens population in added wormwood and garlic extracts decreased, while other extracts increased its abundance compared to the control. In conclusion, the results indicated that the plant extracts used in the experiment could be promising feed additives to decrease methane gas emission from ruminant animals while improving ruminal fermentation.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.3270-3275
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• 2007

DME (Dimethyl Ether, $CH_3OCH_3$) has highly attracted attention as an alternative fuel for transportation, power generation and LPG substitute owing to its easy transportation and cleanliness. This study was conducted to verify the combustion performance and to identify potential problems when DME is fuelled to a gas turbine. GE7EA gas turbine of Pyong-Tak power plant was selected as a target to apply the DME. Combustion tests were conducted by comparing DME with methane, which is a major component of natural gas, in terms of combustion instability, $NO_X$ and CO emissions, and the outlet temperature of the combustion chamber. The results of the performance tests show that DME is very clean but has a low combustion efficiency in low load condition. From the results of the fuel nozzle temperature we have ascertained that DME is easy to flash back, and this property should be considered when operating a gas turbine and retrofitting a burner.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.67-73
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• 1992

This paper describes Hyundai's research and development work on a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV). The work on FFV has been conducted to evaluate its potential as an alternative to the conventional gasoline vehicle. Hyundai FFV described here can be operated on M85, gasoline, or any of their combinations, in which the methanol concentration is measured by an electrostatic type fuel sensor. For that operation, a special FFV ECU(Eletronic Control Unit) has been developed and incorporated in the FFV. The characteristics affecting FFV operation, such as FFV ECU control strategy and injector flow rate, have been investigated and optimized through the experiment. And various development tests have been performed in view of engine performance, durability, cold startability, and exhaust emissions reduction. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system consisting of manifold type catalyst and secondary air injection system shows good emission reduction performance including formaldehyde, and finally, the possibility of the FFVs as the low emission vehicles is evaluated by presenting NMOG(Non-Methane Organic Gases) levels with respect to M0 and M85. With these results, it is concluded that FFV can be a candidate for the low emission vehicles, but more works on its durability improvement is required.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2008

The exhaust emissions of diesel engine are recognized as a major cause influencing environment strongly. In this study, the possibility of biodiesel fuel and oxygenated fuel(dimethoxy methane; DMM) was investigated as an alternative fuel for a naturally aspirated direct injection diesel engine. The smoke emission of blending fuel(biodiesel fuel 90vol-%+DMM 10vol-%) was reduced approximately 70% at 2500rpm, full load, in comparison with the diesel fuel. But, power, torque and brake specific energy consumption showed no significant differences. But, NOx emission of biodiesel fuel and DMM blended fuel increased compared with commercial diesel fuel due to the oxygen component in the fuel. It was needed a NOx reduction counterplan that EGR method was used as a countermeasure for NOx reduction. It was found that simultaneous reduction of smoke and NOx emission was achieved with BDF(95 vol-%) and DMM(5 vol-%) blended fuel and cooled EGR method(15%).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.496-501
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• 2012

Thirty-five available feeds were fermented in vitro in order to investigate their soluble total organic carbon (TOCs) and methane ($CH_4$) production rate. A fermentation reactor was designed to capture the $CH_4$ gas emitted and to collect liquor from the reactor during in vitro fermentation. The results showed that $CH_4$ production rate greatly varied among feeds with different ingredients. The lowest $CH_4$-producing feeds were corn gluten feed, brewer's grain, and orchard grass among the energy, protein, and forage feed groups, respectively. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in digestibility, soluble total organic carbon (TOCs), and $CH_4$ emissions among feeds, during 48 h of in vitro fermentation. Digestibility and TOCs was not found to be related due to different fermentation pattern of each but TOCs production was directly proportional to $CH_4$ production (y = 0.0076x, $r^2$ = 0.83). From this in vitro study, TOCs production could be used as an indirect index for estimation of $CH_4$ emission from feed ingredients.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.187-196
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• 2004

매립지에서 배출되는 메탄가스는 이산화탄소에 이어 두 번째로 많이 배출되는 지구온난화 가스이지만 열을 흡수하는 능력에 있어서는 이산화탄소 보다 25에서 35배 정도 더 크기 때문에 지구 온난화 현상에 대한 메탄가스의 영향은 중요하다고 할 수 있다. 매립지로부터 배출되는 메탄가스는 호기성 상태의 매립지 복토층을 통과 할 때 산화될 수 있으므로 매립지 복토층은 메탄가스의 배출을 저감시키는 바이오필터의 역할을 할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 batch 실험을 통하여 매립지 복토층에서의 메탄산화속도에 대한 토양수분과 온도의 영향을 연구하였다. 최대 산화속도는 토양수분 15%(w/w), 배양온도 $35^{\circ}C$의 환경조건에서 $1.03{\mu}mol\;CH_4g^{-1}soil\;h^{-1}$으로 나타났다. 이러한 실험결과를 이용하여 토양수분과 온도를 함수로 하는 회귀모형을 개발하였다. 또한 전국에 4 군데 지역을 선발하여 각 지역의 토양수분과 온도 데이타를 수집하고 개발된 모형을 이용하여 각 지역에 위치하고 있는 매립장에서의 월 평균 메탄산화량을 예측하였다. 예측 결과 환경조건이 양호한 지역의 매립지 복토는 메탄의 배출량을 저감시킬 수 있는 효율적인 바이오필터의 효과를 가지지만 환경조건이 불리한 지역의 매립지 복토에서는 바이오필터의 효과가 크지 않는다고 할 수 있다.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2020

This study aimed to analyze ruminal fermentation, methane emissions, and methanogen levels for different forage feed type and concentrate feed ratios. Alfalfa hay, oat hay, and a feed concentrate were used for in vitro fermentation experiments, at ratios of 9:1, 5:5, and 1:9 (forage:concentrate). After 24 h of incubation, rumen fermentation and methanogen level changes were evaluated. In the low forage treatments, the total gas, CH4, NH3-N, true dry matter digestibility, and total volatile fatty acid were higher than the other treatments, which were used as the parameters on which to assess rumen fermentation (P < 0.05). The feed ratio influenced the copy number for the total archaea and the genus Methanobrevibacter (P = 0.015, P = 0.010). The copy number result trend was like that for CH4 per digested dry matter (DDM). The PCR results and methanogen copy number analysis indicated that the composition of the methanogens affected the CH4 levels, not their copy number. The results of this study can be applied to predict rumen fermentation and methane emission patterns for cattle fed a variety of feedstuffs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol (NOP) on gas production, rumen fermentation, and animal performances depending on animal type using a meta-analysis approach. A database consisted of data from 14 studies, 18 experiments and 55 treatments. The supplementation of NOP linearly decreased methane (CH₄) emissions [g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)] regardless of animal type and length of experimental period (beef, p < 0.0001, R² = 0.797; dairy, p = 0.0003, R² = 0.916; and long term, p < 0.0001, R² = 0.910). The total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and the proportion of acetate, based on beef cattle database, were significantly decreased with increasing NOP supplementation (p = 0.0015, R² = 0.804 and p = 0.0003, R² = 0.918), whereas other individual VFAs was increased. Based on the dairy database, increasing levels of NOP supplementation linearly decreased proportion of acetate (p = 0.0284, R² = 0.769) and increased that of valerate (p = 0.0340, R² = 0.522), regardless of significant change on other individual VFAs. In animal performances, the DMI, from beef cattle database, tended to decrease when the levels of NOP supplementation increased (p = 0.0574, R² = 0.170), whereas there was no significant change on DMI from dairy cattle database. The NOP supplementation tended to decrease milk yield (p = 0.0606, R² = 0.381) and increase milk fat and milk protein (p = 0.0861, R² = 0.321, p = 0.0838, R² = 0.322). NOP is a viable candidate as a feed additive because of its CH₄ mitigation effects, regardless of animal type and experiment period, without adverse effects on animal performances.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.967-972
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• 2017

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio on the nutrient digestibility and enteric methane ($CH_4$) emission in growing goats and Sika deer. Methods: Three male growing goats (body weight $[BW]=19.0{\pm}0.7kg$) and three male growing deer ($BW=19.3{\pm}1.2kg$) were respectively allotted to a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design with an adaptation period of 7 d and a data collection period of 3 d. Respiration-metabolism chambers were used for measuring the enteric $CH_4$ emission. Treatments of low (25:75), moderate (50:50), and high (73:27) F:C ratios were given to both goats and Sika deer. Results: Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility decreased linearly with increasing F:C ratio in both goats and Sika deer. In both goats and Sika deer, the $CH_4$ emissions expressed as g/d, g/kg $BW^{0.75}$, % of gross energy intake, g/kg DM intake (DMI), and g/kg OM intake (OMI) decreased linearly as the F:C ratio increased, however, the $CH_4$ emissions expressed as g/kg digested DMI and OMI were not affected by the F:C ratio. Eight equations were derived for predicting the enteric $CH_4$ emission from goats and Sika deer. For goat, equation 1 was found to be of the highest accuracy: $CH_4(g/d)=3.36+4.71{\times}DMI(kg/d)-0.0036{\times}neutral$ detergent fiber concentrate (NDFC,g/kg)+$0.01563{\times}dry$ matter digestibility (DMD,g/kg)-$0.0108{\times}neutral$ detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD, g/kg). For Sika deer, equation 5 was found to be of the highest accuracy: $CH_4(g/d)=66.3+27.7{\times}DMI(kg/d)-5.91{\times}NDFC(g/kg)-7.11{\times}DMD(g/kg)+0.0809{\times}NDFD(g/kg)$. Conclusion: Digested nutrient intake could be considered when determining the $CH_4$ generation factor in goats and Sika deer. Finally, the enteric $CH_4$ prediction model for goats and Sika deer were estimated.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.323-332
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• 2005

A cylindrical constant volume combustion chamber was used to investigate the flow characteristics at the spark electrode gap and the combustion characteristics of a homogeneous charged methane-air mixture under various overall charge pressures, excess air ratios and ignition times. The flow characteristics, including the mean velocity and turbulence intensity, were analyzed with a hot wire anemometer. Combustion pressure development measured by piezoelectric pressure transducer, a flame propagation image acquired by ICCD camera and exhaust emissions measured by 2-valve gas chromatography were used to investigate effects of initial pressures, excess air ratios and ignition times on the combustion characteristics. It was found that the mean velocity and turbulence intensity had the maximum value around 200-300 ms and then decreased gradually to a near-zero value after 3000 ms and that the combustion duration was shorten and the flame speed and laminar burning velocity had the highest value under the condition of an excess air ratio of 1.1, an overall charge pressure of 0.15 MPa and an ignition time of 300 ms in the present study. The $CO_2$ concentration was proportional to the ignition time and overall charge pressure, the $CO_2$ concentration was proportional to the excess air ratio, and the UHC concentration was inversely proportional to the ignition time and overall charge pressure.