• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.9-12
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• 2002

Diffusive transport of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and their degradation by bacteria in unsaturated soils are couple by poorly understood mass transfer kinetics at the gas/water interface. Determination of the fate of VOCs in unsaturated soil is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of natural attenuation as a VOC remediation strategy. The objective of this study was to develop a mechanistically based mathematical model that would consider the interdependence of VOC transport, microbial activity, and sorptive interaction in a moist, unsaturated soil. Because the focus of the model was on description of natural attenuation, the advective VOC transport that is induced in engineered remediation processes such as vapor extraction was not considered. The utility of the model was assessed through its ability to describe experimental observations form diffusion experiments using toluene as a representative VOC in well-defined soil columns that contained a toluene degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas Putida, as the sole active microbial species. The coefficient for gas-liquid mass-transfer, K$\sub$LA/, was found to be a key parameter controlling the ability of bacteria to degrade VOCs. This finding indicates that soil size and geometry are likely to be important parameters in assessing the possible success of natural attenuation of VOCs in contaminated unsaturated soils.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to calculate the radius of influence (ROI) of well for an air-sparging (AS)/soil vapor extraction (SVE) system and to evaluate the applicability of the system applied for the remediation of the petroleum contaminated rail site. For air permeability test, three monitoring wells were installed at a location of 1.3 m, 2.3 m, 3.0 m from the extraction well. And the pressure of each monitoring well was measured by extracting air from the extraction well with the pressure and flow of $(-)2,600mmH_2O$ and $1.58m^3/min$. The ROI for an extraction well was calculated as 4.31 m. Air was injected into the injection well with the pressure and flow of $3,500mmH_2O$ and $0.6m^3/min$ to estimate the radius of influence for oxygen transfer. Oxygen concentrations of air from three monitoring wells were measured. The ROI of an injection well for oxygen transfer was calculated as 3.46 m. The 28 extraction wells and 19 injection wells were installed according to the ROI calculated. The AS/SVE system was operated eight hours a day for five months. The rail site was contaminated with the petroleum and concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene were over the 'Worrisome Standard' of the 'Soil Environment Conservation Act'. The contaminated area was estimated as $732m^2$ and contaminants were dispersed up to (-)3 m from the ground. During the operation period, soil samples were collected from 5 points and analyzed periodically. With the AS/SVE system operation, concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene were decreased from 7.5 mg/kg to 2.0 mg/kg, from 32.0 mg/kg to 23.0 mg/kg, from 35.5 mg/kg to 23.0 mg/kg, respectively. The combined AS/SVE system applied to the rail site contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exhibited a high applicability. But the concentration of contaminants in soil were fluctuated due to the heterogeneous of soil condition. Also the effect of the remediation mechanisms was not clearly identified.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

For the design of the prevention and mitigation measures in process industries involving flammable substances, reliable safety data are required. An important property used to estimate the risk of fire and explosion for a flammable liquid is the flash point. Flammability is an important factor to consider when developing safe methods for storing and handling solids and liquids. In this study, the flash point data were measured for the binary systems {2-butanol + 2,2,4-trimethylpentane}, {2-butanol + methylcyclohexane} and {2-butanol + toluene} at 101.3 kPa. Experiments were performed according to the standard test method (ASTM D 3278) using a Stanhope-Seta closed cup flash point tester. A minimum flash point behavior was observed in the binary systems as in the many cases for the hydrocarbon and alcohol mixture that were observed. The measured flash points were compared with the predicted values calculated via the following activity coefficient (GE) models: Wilson, Non-Random Two-Liquid (NRTL), and UNIversal QUAsiChemical (UNIQUAC) models. The predicted data were only adequate for the data determined by the closed-cup test method and may not be appropriate for the data obtained from the open-cup test method because of its deviation from the vapor liquid equilibrium. The predicted results of this work can be used to design safe petrochemical processes, such as the identification of safe storage conditions for non-ideal solutions containing flammable components.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.799-806
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• 2017

The potential use of modified clays in the adsorption of vapor phase benzene and toluene was investigated. The modified clays OC-CPC, IOC, and Al-PILC were prepared for comparative purposes and were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. It was confirmed the intercalation of the aluminium pillar in IOC and Al-PILC, as well as the introduction of cetylpyridinium. The adsorption studies showed a great affinity of benzene and toluene for OC-CPC due to the hydrophobic character that resulted and also to the increase in the interlaminar distance. IOC showed a lower affinity for the benzene and toluene, followed by Al-PILC. Natual clay had no affinity for benzene and toluene due to its hydrophilic nature. Clay materials having a laminar structure can be chemically modified, changing their physiochemical characteristics, such as interlaminar distance, surface area, pore size, and chemical affinity. In this study, it was focused on obtaining modified clays to be used for the adsorption of volatile organic chemicals.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2002

The study was carried out to evaluate the characteristics of biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida G7 in soil column. The reactor system was used to investigate mass transfer of VOCs as Toluene in a column of unsaturated soil. Determination of the fate of VOCs in unsaturated soil is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of natural attenuation as a VOCs remediation strategy. The objective of this study was to develop a mechanistically based mathematical model that would consider the interdependence of VOC transport, microbial activity, and sorptive interactions in a moist, unsaturated soil. Because the focus of the model was on description of natural attenuation, the advective VOCs transport that is induced in engineered remediation processes such as vapor extraction was not considered. It can be concluded that the coefficient for gas liquid mass-transfer was found to be a key parameter controlling the ability of bacteria to VOCs. Finally, it appeared that bioremediation technology of VOCs which are difficult to be decomposed by chemical methods.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.211-214
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• 2009

A new porous silicon (PSi) microcavity sensor for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was developed. PSi microcavity sensor exhibiting unique reflectivity was successfully obtained by an electrochemical etching of silicon wafer. When PSi was fabricated into a structure consisting of two high reflectivity muktilayer mirrors separated by an active layer, a microcavity was formed. This PSi microcavity is very sensitive structures. Reflection spectrum of PSi microcavity indicated that the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) was of 10 nm and much narrower than that of fluorescent organic molecules or quantum dot. The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using PSi microcavity was achieved. When the vapor of VOCs condensed in the nanopores, the refractive indices of entire particle increased. When PSi microcavity was exposed to acetone, ether, and toluene, PSi microcavity in reflectivity was red shifted by 28 nm, 33 nm, and 20 nm for 2 sec, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.499-505
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• 2017

Flexible silicon carbide fibrous mats were fabricated by a combination of electrospinning and a polymer-derived ceramics route. Polycarbosilane was used as a solute with various solvent mixtures, such as toluene and dimethylformamide. The electrospun PCS fibrous mats were cured under a halogen vapor atmosphere and heat treated at $1300^{\circ}C$. The structure, fiber morphology, thermal behavior, and crystallization of the fabricated SiC fibrous mats were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal imaging. The prepared SiC fibrous mats were composed of randomly distributed fibers approximately $3{\mu}m$ in diameter. The heat radiation of the SiC fiber mats reached $1600^{\circ}C$ under microwave radiation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.1209-1214
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• 2006

This paper presents an application of Dividing Wall Column(DWC) to the recovery of the waste solvent from the film making processes. The waste solvent feed contains MEK(Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone), Toluene, Cyclohexanone, and water. The commercial software $HYSYS^{TM}$ was used for rigorous simulation and analysis. Sensitivity analysis for several major design variables were carried out to achieve the optimal design of the process. Distribution of the internal vapor and liquid flows to the prefractionator and main sections is shown to be the most dominant design factor for energy saving efficiency in the DWC process. The simulation results also show that the solvent recovery process using the DWC significantly improves both the energy efficiency and the compactness of the solvent recovery process.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.647-651
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• 2014

Handling of the large quantity of oil, generation of heavy metals at the military blasting range and outworn facilities could cause the environmental accidents. Pollution levels of the former five U.S military bases located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do were measured. Soil contamination by TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons), BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene), and heavy metals and groundwater contamination were detected. In order to purify contaminated soil, a variety of technologies including soil vapor extraction, slurping, landfarming and soil washing were applied. Contaminated soils of five target bases were purified and the results were suitable for the legal standards.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.58-73
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate BTEX exposure to gas station service attendants and the critical affect of benzene and MtBE airborne concentration. Methods : the degree of exposure to airborne BTEX and MtBE was examined in the service attendants at seven gas stations across the country during a summer season. The TWAs(time-weighted averages) of atmospheric concentration of substances in personal and area samples, were calculated. The component ratio of BTEX and MtBE in the samples of bulk gasoline from each station studied was also measured. Results : The airborne concentrations of BTEX and MtBE showed a lognormal distribution and The TWA concentrations of benzene in personal samples from each station were 0.089 ppm - 0.18 ppm, and those of toluene were 0.097 ppm - 0.2 ppm. The average TWA concentrations of xylene and ethyl benzene was 0.03 ppm and 0.001 ppm, respectively. The TWA concentrations of MtBE were 0.4 ppm - 1.3 ppm. The volume concentrations of MtBE, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene in the bulk gasoline samples were 3 - 7.4 %, 3 - 12 %, 0.64 % and 1.5 - 10 %, respectively. Conclusions : The benzene concentration was detected to exceed the ACGIH threshold benzene level of 0.5 ppm, in one of 74 personal and area samples. MtBE, a substitute for aromatic compounds such as benzene in gasoline, was found to bring about a greater chance of exposure to carcinogen, due to its high vapor pressure and carcinogenicity.