• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.297-306
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• 2013

This study used long-term air and weather data from 2000 to 2009 as raw data sets to develop regression models in order to estimate precipitation scavenging contributions of ambient $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$ in Korea. The data were initially analyzed to calculate scavenging ratio (SR), defined as the removal efficiency for $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$ by actual precipitation. Next, the effective scavenging contributions (ESC) with considering precipitation probability density were calculated for each sector of precipitation range. Finally, the empirical regression equations for the two air pollutants were separately developed, and then the equations were applied to test the model validity with the raw data sets of 2010 and 2011, which were not involved in the modeling process. The results showed that the predicted $PM_{10}$ ESC by the model was 23.8% and the observed $PM_{10}$ ESCs were 23.6% in 2010 and 24.0% in 2011, respectively. As for $NO_2$, the predicted ESC by the model was 16.3% and the observed ESCs were 16.4% in 2010 and 16.6% in 2011, respectively. Thus the developed regression models fitted quite well the actual scavenging contribution for both ambient $PM_{10}$ and $NO_2$. The models can then be used as a good tool to quantitatively apportion the natural and anthropogenic sink contribution in Korea. However, to apply the models for far future, the precipitation probability density function (PPDF) as a weather variable in the model equations must be renewed periodically to increase prediction accuracy and reliability. Further, in order to apply the models in a specific local area, it is recommended that the long-term oriented local PPDF should be inserted in the models.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.185-195
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• 2012

Due to the high reduction and sorption capacity as well as the large specific surface area, nanosized mackinawite (FeS) is useful in reductively transforming chlorinated organic pollutants and sequestering toxic metals and metalloids. Due to the dynamic nature in its colloid stability, however, nanosized FeS may be washed out with the groundwater flow or result in aquifer clogging via particle aggregation. Thus, these nanoparticles should be modified such as to be built into permeable reactive barriers. This study employed coating methods in efforts to facilitate the installation of permeable reactive barriers of nanosized mackinawite. In applying the methods, nanosized mackinawite was coated on non-treated silica sand (NTS) and chemically treated silica sand (CTS). For both silica sands, the maximum coating of mackinawite occurred around pH 5.4, the condition of which was governed by (1) the solubility of mackinawite and (2) the surface charge of both silica and mackinawite. Under this pH condition, the maximum coating by NTS and CTS were found to be 0.101 mmol FeS/g and 0.043 mmol FeS/g respectively, with such elevated coatings by NTS likely linked with impurities (e.g., iron oxides) on its surface. Arsenite sorption experiments were performed under anoxic conditions using uncoated silica sands and those coated with mackinawite at the optimal pH to compare their reactivity. At pH 7, the relative sorption efficiency between uncoated NTS and coated NTS changed with the initial concentration of arsenite. At the lower initial concentration, uncoated NTS showed the higher sorption efficiency, whereas at the higher concentration, coated NTS exhibited the higher sorption efficiency. This could be attributed to different sorption mechanisms as a function of arsenite concentration: the surface complexation of arsenite with the iron oxide impurity on silica sand at the low concentration and the precipitation as arsenic sulfides by reaction with mackinawite coating at the high concentration. Compared to coated NTS, coated CTS showed the lower arsenite removal at pH 7 due to its relatively lower mackinawite coating. Taken together, our results indicate that NTS is a more effective material than CTS for the coating of nanosized mackinawite.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.708-718
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• 2020

Offensive odor is recognized as a social environmental problem due to its olfactory effects. Ammonia(NH₃), hydrogen sulfide(H₂S) and benzene(C₆H₆) are produced from various petrochemical plants, public sewage treatment plants, public livestock wastes, and food waste disposal facilities in large quantities. Therefore efficient decomposition of offensive odor is needed. In this study, the removal efficiency of atmospheric-pressure plasma operating at an ambient condition was investigated by evaluating the concentrations at upflow and downflow between the plasma reactor. The decomposition of offensive odor using plasma is based on the mechanism of photochemical oxidation of offensive odor using free radical and ozone(O₃) generated when discharging plasma, which enables the decomposition of offensive odor at ordinary temperature and has the advantage of no secondary pollutants. As a result, all three odor substances were completely decontaminated within 1 minute as soon as discharging the plasma up to 500 W. This result confirms that high concentration odors or mixed odor materials can be reduced using atmospheric-pressure plasma.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.605-617
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• 2015

The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a botanical biofiltration system that combines a green interior, biofiltering, and automatic irrigation to purify indoor air pollutants according to indoor space and the size of biofilter. This study was performed to compare the stability of air flow characteristics and removal efficiency (RE) of fine dust within a wall-typed (vertical) botanical biofilter depending on humidifying cycle and to investigate RE of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the biofilter. The biofilter used in this experiment was designed as an integral form of water metering pump, water tank, blower, humidifier, and multi-level planting space in order to be suitable for indoor space utilization. As a result, relative humidity, air temperature, and soil moisture content (SMC) within the biofilter showed stable values regardless of three different humidifying cycles operated by the metering pump. In particular, SMCs were consistently maintained in the range of 27.1-29.7% during all humidifying cycles; moreover, a humidifying cycle of operating for 15 min and pausing for 45 min showed the best horizontal linear regression (y = 0.0008x + 29.09) on SMC ($29.0{\pm}0.2%$) during 120 hour. REs for number of fine dust (PM10) and ultra-fine dust (PM2.5) particles passed through the biofilter were in the range of 82.7-89.7% and 65.4-73.0%, respectively. RE for weight of PM10 passed through the biofilter was in the range of 58.1-78.9%, depending on humidifying cycle. REs of xylene, ethyl benzene, total VOCs (TVOCs), and toluene passed through the biofilter were in the range of 71.3-75.5%, while REs of benzene and formaldehyde (HCHO) passed through the biofilter were 39.7% and 44.9%, respectively. Hence, it was confirmed that the wall-typed botanical biofilter suitable for indoor plants was very effective for indoor air purification.

• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 2016

Textile industry is considered as one of the most polluting sectors in terms of effluent composition and volume of discharge. It is well known that the effluents from textile dying industry contain not only chromatic substances but also large amounts of organic compounds and insolubles. The azo dyes generate huge amount of pollutions among many types of pigments. In general, the electrochemical treatments, separating colors and organic materials by oxidation and reduction on electrode surfaces, are regarded as simpler and faster processes for removal of pollutants compared to other wastewater treatments. In this paper the electrochemical degradation characteristics of dye wastewater containing CI Direct Blue 15 were analyzed. The experiments were performed with various anode materials, such as RuO₂/Ti, PtO₂/Ti, IrO₂/Ti and graphite, with stainless steel for cathode. The optimal anode material was located by changing operating conditions like electrolyte concentration, current density, reaction temperature and initial pH. The degradation efficiency of dye wastewater increased in proportion to the electrolyte concentration and the current density for all anode materials, while the temperature effect was dependent on the kind. The performance orders of anode materials were RuO₂/Ti > PtO₂/Ti > IrO₂/Ti > graphite in acid condition and RuO₂/Ti > IrO₂/Ti > PtO₂/Ti > graphite in neutral and basic conditions. As a result, RuO₂/Ti demonstrated the best performance as an anode material for the electrochemical treatment of dye wastewater.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1572-1578
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• 2007

The specified wastes consist of waste acid, waste alkali, waste oil, waste organic solvent, waste resin, dust, sludge, infectious waste, and others. Among these specified wastes, a great portion is liquid phase wastes. The purpose of this study is to develop the high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) treatment system for decomposition of the liquid phase specified waste (LPSW). For this, we analyzed the physical and chemical properties of the LPSW such as density, proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, heating values, and designed 0.3 ton/day HTHP treatment system. The LPSW tested in this experiment were prepared by adding TCE(trichloroethylene) and toluene to liquid phase waste which was brought into the commercial waste treatment company. The average density of waste oil (25 samples), waste resin (5 samples), and waste solvent (12 samples) was 0.99 g/mL, 0.91 g/mL, and 0.93 g/mL, respectively. And the average lower heating value of waste oil, waste resin, and waste solvent was 8,294 kcal/kg, 5,809 kcal/kg, and 7,462 kcal/kg, respectively. The DRE (Destruction & Removal Efficiency) of TCE and toluene were 99.95% and 99.73% at atmospheric pressure conditions and that were 99.99% and 99.82% at pressurized conditions, respectively. These results showed that TCE/toluene mixtures were properly decomposed over about 99.73% of DRE by the HTHP treatment system and pressurized conditions were more effective to destroy those pollutants than atmospheric pressure conditions. Also these systems could be directly applied to industries which try to treat the liquid phase specified waste within the regulation limit.