• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.30-40
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• 2021

The present study investigates the bioleaching efficiencies of arsenic via contact and non-contact mechanisms. The attachment of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was restricted by a partition system comprising a semi-permeable membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of 12-14 kDa. The results were compared for two arsenic concentrations in the system (1.0% and 0.5% w/v) to maintain a homogeneous system. The overall bacterial performance was monitored by comparing total arsenic and iron concentrations, Fe ion speciation, pH, and solution redox potentials in flask bioleaching experiments over a period of 10 d. Our results indicated that bacterial attachment could increase arsenic extraction efficiency from 20.0% to 44.9% at 1.0 % solid concentrations. These findings suggest that the bacterial contact mechanism greatly influences arsenic bioleaching from mine tailings. Therefore, systems involving two-step or non-contact bioleaching are less effective than those involving one-step or contact bioleaching for the efficient extraction of arsenic from mine tailings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1252-1258
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• 2022

The exhaust gas from the marine engines include a quantity of water vapor and particulate matter. The total particulate matter includes filterable particulate matter (FPM) and condensable particulate matter (CPM) that condense after releasing into the atmosphere. The portion of CPM is higher than that of FPM that is removable through the filter before discharging. An experimental setup for waste heat and water recovery and removal of CPM in the exhaust gas was tested using an industrial gas boiler in the laboratory. The water and CPM in the exhaust gas were removed through the first stage of cooling method and further removed through the second stage of absorption method. The efficiencies of water recovery were 73% after the first stage of cooling method and 90% after the second stage of absorption method. At the same time, the CPM was removed by 80-90% through the processes. The waste heat recovered could be used to process heat, and the water recovered could be used to process water in the ship. Furthermore, the CPM, which is a major source of the particulate matter but not subject to administrative regulation, could be removed effectively.

• Atmosphere
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-385
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• 2023

The variabilities of precipitation and particulate matters (i.e., PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and the scavenging efficiency of PMs by precipitation were quantified using long-term measurements in Seoul, Korea. The 21 years (2001~2021) measurements of precipitation and PM₁₀ mass concentrations, and the 7 years (2015~2021) of PM_2.5 mass concentrations were used. Statistical analysis was performed for each period (i.e., year, season, and month) to identify the long-term variabilities of PMs and precipitation. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 decreased annually and the decreasing rate of PM₁₀ was greater than PM_2.5. The precipitation intensity did not show notable variation, whereas the annual precipitation amount showed a decreasing trend. The summer precipitation amount contributed 61.10% to the annual precipitation amount. The scavenging efficiency by precipitation was analyzed based on precipitation events separated by 2-hour time intervals between hourly precipitation data for 7 years. The scavenging efficiencies of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were quantified as a function of precipitation characteristics (i.e., precipitation intensity, amount, and duration). The calculated average scavenging efficiency of PM₁₀ (PM_2.5) was 39.59% (35.51%). PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were not always simultaneously scavenged due to precipitation events. Precipitation events that simultaneously scavenged PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 contributed 42.24% of all events, with average scavenging efficiency of 42.93% and 43.39%. The precipitation characteristics (i.e., precipitation intensity, precipitation amount, and precipitation duration) quantified in these events were 2.42 mm hr^-1, 15.44 mm, and 5.51 hours. This result corresponds to 145% (349%; 224%) of precipitation intensity (amount; duration) for the precipitation events that do not simultaneously scavenge PM₁₀ and PM_2.5.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2022

Purpose: The efficacy of the amount of sealer in the root canal and two retreatment NiTi file systems in removing filling materials. Materials and Methods: Extracted premolars with a single root canal were selected for this study. After access opening and root canal preparation up to size #40/.06, the specimens were randomly divided into four groups. Gutta percha (GP) tapers of .06 or .04 were used for each group and filled using a single-cone filling technique with CeraSeal, a calcium silicate-based sealer. Each group was retreated either using the ProTaper Universal Retreatment System (PTUR) or the Hyflex Remover (HR). The time taken to remove the filling material, the amounts of apically extruded debris, and canal cleanliness were measured and compared. Results: The amount of sealer did not affect the efficiency when removing the filling materials. However, the filling material was removed faster in the HR group than in the PTUR group. Two types of NiTi files showed similar retreatment effects in the amounts of apically extruded debris and in the degree of canal cleanliness. Conclusion: The amount of sealer in canal filling had no significant effect on retreatability. Retreatment with HR removed filling materials is faster than PTUR. There was no difference in other removal efficiencies according to the type of retreatment NiTi file.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4B
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• pp.441-447
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• 2008

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from various industrial sources commonly consist of biodegradable chemicals and recalcitrant compounds. Therefore, it is not effective to employ a single method to treat such mixtures. In this study, a novel hybrid system coupled with a ultraviolet (UV) photolysis reactor and a biofilter in a series was developed and evaluated using toluene and TCE as model VOCs. When only TCE was applied to the UV reactor, greater than 99% of TCE was degraded and the concentration of soluble byproducts from photo-oxidation reaction increased significantly. However, the toluene and TCE mixture was not effectively degraded by the UV photo-oxidation standalone process. The hybrid system showed high toluene removal efficiencies, and TCE degradation at a low toluene/TCE ratio was improved by UV pretreatment. These findings indicated that the UV photo-oxidation were effective for TCE degradation when the concentration of toluene in the mixture was relatively low. A restively high toluene content in the mixture resulted in an inhibition of TCE degradation. Thus, chemical interactions in both photo-oxidation and biodegradation need to be carefully considered to enhance overall performance of the hybrid system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.27-34
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• 2023

Using ammonia as fuel for solid oxide fuel (SOFC) cells has become an attractive topic nowadays due to its high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and ease of storage and transportation. Several configurations of ammonia-fed SOFC systems have been proposed and investigated, demonstrating high electrical efficiency. However, to further enhance efficiency, it is crucial to understand the inefficient components of the system. The exergy concept is well-suited for this purpose, making exergetic analysis essential for ammonia-fed SOFC systems. This study conducts an exergetic analysis for three selected systems: a simple fuel cell system (FC), an anode off-gas recirculation system (RC-FC), and a recirculation system with water removal (RC-WR-FC). The results reveal that the exergetic efficiencies of the FC, RC-FC, and RC-WR-FC are 48.7%, 51.6%, and 58.4%, respectively. In all three systems, the SOFC stack is the main source of exergy destruction. However, other components with relatively low exergetic efficiency, such as the burner, air heat exchanger, and cooler/condenser, offer greater opportunities for improvement.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.507-514
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• 2023

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) was investigated in a catalyst (Ag/γ-Al₂O₃) packed dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor. The intermittent generation of plasma in the catalyst bed partially oxidized the hydrocarbon reductant for NO_x removal to several aldehydes. Compared to using the catalyst alone, higher NO_x conversion was observed with the intermittent generation of plasma due to the formation of highly reductive aldehydes. Under the same operating conditions (temperature: 250 ℃; C/N: 8), the NO_x reduction efficiencies were 47.5%, 92%, and 96% for n-heptane, propionaldehyde, and butyraldehyde, respectively, demonstrating the high NO_x reduction capability of aldehydes. To determine the optimal condition for intermittent plasma generation, the high voltage on/off cycle was adjusted from 0.5 to 3 min. The NO_x reduction performance was compared between continuous and intermittent plasma generation on the same energy density basis. The highest NO_x reduction efficiency was achieved at 2-min high voltage on/off intervals. The reason that the intermittent plasma discharge exhibited higher NO_x reduction efficiency even at the same energy density, compared to the continuous plasma generation case, is that the intermediate products, such as aldehydes generated from hydrocarbon, were more efficiently utilized for the reduction of nitrogen oxides.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2023

This study examined the effect of input substrate concentration on hydrogen production of microbial electrolysis cells. To compare the performance of MEC according to the input substrate concentration, six laboratory-scale MEC reactors were operated by sequentially increasing the input substrate concentration from 2 g/L of sodium acetate, to 4 g/L, and 6 g/L. The current density, hydrogen production, and SCOD removal rate were analyzed, and energy efficiency and cathodic hydrogen recovery were calculated to compare the performance of MEC. The maximum volumetric current density was obtained at 4 g/L condition (76.3 A/m³) and it decreased to 19.0 A/m³, when the input concentration was increased to 6 g/L, which was a 75% decrease compared to the 4 g/L input condition. Maximum hydrogen production was obtained also at 4 g/L condition (47.3 ± 16.8 mL), but maximum hydrogen yield was obtained at 2 g/L input condition (1.1 L H₂/g COD_in). Energy efficiencies were also highest in 2 g/L condition; the lowest result was observed at 6 g/L condition. Maximum electrical energy efficiency was 76.4%, and the maximum overall energy efficiency was 39.7% at 2 g/L condition. However, when the substrate concentration increased to 6 g/L, the performance was drastically decreased. Cathodic hydrogen recovery also showed a similar tendency with energy efficiency, with the lowest concentration condition showing the best performance. It can be concluded that operating at low input substrate concentration might be better when considering not only hydrogen yield but also energy efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of a gamma irradiation to decompose 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) in an aqueous solution. The decomposition reaction of TNT by gamma irradiation was a pseudo first-order kinetic over the applied initial concentrations($25{\sim}100mg/L$). The dose constant was strongly dependent on the initial TNT concentration. The removal of TNT was more efficient at pH below 3 and at pH above 11 than at neutral pH(pH 5-9). The required irradiation dose to remove over 99% of TNT was 40, 80 and 10 kGy, individually at pH 2, 7 and 13. The dose constant was increased by 1.6 fold and over 15.6 fold at pH 2 and 13, respectively, when compared with that at pH 7 When irradiation dose of 200 kGy was applied, the removal efficiencies of TOC were 91, 46 and 53% at pH 2, 7 and 13, respectively. Ammonia and nitrate were detected as the main nitrogen byproducts of TNT and glyoxalic acid and oxalic acid were detected as organic byproducts. The results showed that a gamma irradiation was an attractive method for the decomposition of TNT in an aqueous solution. However, regarding the application of high energy radiation for the TNT decomposition and mineralization, an application of an acidic pH below 3 to the solution before irradiation should be considered.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2004

Removal efficiencies of soil washing and soil improvement processes to remediate farmland soils and stream deposits around Goro abandoned mine were investigated with batch and column experiments. For As-contaminated farm-land soils around Goro mine, batch tests to quantify As extraction rate from contaminated soils and lime treated contaminated soils were performed. The contaminated soil mixed with lime decreased As extraction rate less than one fourth, suggesting that the soil improvement method mixed with lime dramatically decrease As extraction rate. A storage dam will be constructed in the lower part of the main stream connected to Goro abandoned mine and the amount of As extracted from the bottom soils of reservoir could be the main source to contaminate water of reservoir. The decrease of As extraction amount from the bottom in reservoir, caused by the application of the soil improvement method was investigated from the physically simulated column experiment and results showed that As extraction rate decreased to one forty when 1％ lime mixed soil improvement was applied to contaminated soils. For contaminated stream deposits connected Goro mine, the removal efficiency of the soil washing method was investigated with batch experiments. Hydrochloric acid, citric acid, acetic acid and distilled water were used as soil washing solution and 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 N of washing solution were applied to extract As. When washing with 0.05 N of hydrochloric acid or citric acid, more than 99.9% of As was removed from stream deposits, suggesting that As contaminated stream deposits around Goro mine be successfully remediated with the soil washing process. Total volumes of contaminated soils and deposits needed for remediation were calculated based on three different reme-diation target concentrations and the operation cost of soil washing for calculated soil volumes was estimated. Results from this research could be directly used to make a comprehensive countermeasure to remediate contaminated area around Goro mine and also many contaminated areas similar to this research area.