• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.428-434
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• 2022

This study intends to develop an eco-friendly concrete panel mixed with biochars. Experiments about mechanical and thermal properties were conducted on porous biochar concrete, which has insulation and carbon-capture performance. The concrete has a mixing ratio of 0, 5, 10, and 15 % for biochar and a water-binder ratio of 0.35. The unit weight, porosity, and permeability were measured to evaluate the mechanical characteristics. From the results, as the biochar mixing rate increased, the porosity and the permeability increased, but the unit weight decreased. Even though a decreased trend was observed in the compressive strength results, they satisfied the design standard. Since the thermal conductivity was decreased during the increase of contents, biochar could be considered an excellent material for insulation performance. In addition, regression analyses were conducted regarding the relationship of unit weight with porosity, compressive strength with thermal conductivity, and porous with thermal conductivity. From the regression, significant variables for expanding the scope of the application of biochar were presented.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2023

Despite the easing of social distancing, demand for non-face-to-face services continues to rise. Recently, the EU is pursuing a comprehensive plastic use reduction by expanding the scope of plastic use regulations for packaging plastics according to the New Cyclical Economy Action Plan(NCEAP). In response to this trend, the packaging industry is moving away from conventional non-degradable/petroleum-based plastics and conducting research on packaging materials using biodegradable plastics such as PLA(Poly Lactic Acid), PBAT(Poly Butylene Adipate-co-butylene Terephthalate). On the other hand, ginkgo leaves occur in large quantities in Korea and act as a cause of slip accidents and flooding. In this study, a method to utilize ginkgo biloba leaf as a new alternative biomass resource was proposed by producing lactic acid through pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentation processes. For the efficiency of lactic acid production, a comparative analysis of lignin content from before and after browning was performed. In addition, the degree of glucan extraction was evaluated by applying a pretreatment method using three catalysts: hot water, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide. It is difficult to expect high production of lactic acid with single process. Therefore, an integrated process operation using both the pretreated hydrolyzate and the residual solid enzymatic saccharification solution must necessarily be applied.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2023

Global interest in hydrogen energy is increasing as an eco-friendly future energy that can replace fossil fuels. Accordingly, a next-generation hydrogen production technology using microorganisms, nuclear power, etc. is being developed, while a lot of time and effort are still required to overcome the cost of hydrogen production based on fossil fuels. As a way to minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production process, methane direct decomposition technology has recently attracted attention. In order to improve the economic feasibility of the process, the simultaneous production of value-added carbon materials with hydrogen can be one of the most essential aspects. For that purpose, various studies on catalysis related to the quality and yield of high-value carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In terms of process technology, a number of the research and development of fluidized-bed reactors capable of continuous production and improved gas-solid contact efficiency has been attempted. Recently, methane direct decomposition technology using a fluidized bed has been developed to the extent that it can produce 270 kg/day of hydrogen and 1000 kg/day of carbon. Plus, with the development of catalyst regeneration, separation and recirculation technologies, the process efficiency can be further improved. This review paper investigates the recent development of catalysts and fluidized bed reactor for methane direct pyrolysis to identify the key challenges and opportunities.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2023

Because of the global pollution caused by plastic disposal, demand for eco-friendly transformation in the packaging industry is increased. As part of that, the utilization of polylactic acid (PLA) as a food packaging material is increased. However, it is necessary to improve the crystallinity of PLA by adding nucleating agents or to improve the modulus by adding fillers because of the excessive brittleness of the PLA matrix. Thus, the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was fabricated and dried to obtain a powder form and applied to the CNF/PLA nanocomposite. The effect of CNF on the morphological, thermal, rheological, and dynamic mechanical properties of the composite was analyzed. We can confirm the impregnated CNF particle in the PLA matrix through the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that the crystallinity of not annealed CNF/PLA nanocomposite was increased approximately 2 and 4 times in the 1st and 2nd cycle, respectively, with the shift to lower temperature of cold crystallization temperature (T_cc) in the 2nd cycle. Moreover, the crystallinity of annealed CNF/PLA nanocomposite increased by 13.4%, and shifted T_cc was confirmed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.1061-1070
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• 2023

Over the last few years, lead-free inorganic metal perovskites have gained impressive ground in empowering satellites in space exploration owing to their material stability and performance evolution under extreme space environments. The present work has examined the versatility of eight such perovskites as space radiation shielding materials by computing their photon, charged particles and neutron interaction parameters. Photon interaction parameters were calculated for a wide energy range using PAGEX software. The ranges of heavy charged particles (H, He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Si and Fe ions) in these perovskites were estimated using SRIM software in the energy range 1 keV-10 GeV, and that of electrons was computed using ESTAR NIST software in the energy range 0.01 MeV-1 GeV. Further, the macroscopic fast neutron removal cross-sections were also calculated to estimate the neutron shielding efficiencies. The examined shielding parameters of the perovskites varied depending on the radiation type and energy. Among the selected perovskites, Cs₂TiI₆ and Ba₂AgIO₆ displayed superior photon attenuation properties. A 3.5 cm thick Ba₂AgIO₆-based shield could reduce the incident radiation intensity to half its initial value, a thickness even lesser than that of Pb-glass. Besides, CsSnBr₃ and La_0.8Ca_0.2Ni_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ displayed the highest and lowest range values, respectively, for all heavy charged particles. Ba₂AgIO₆ showed electron stopping power (on par with Kovar) better than that of other examined materials. Interestingly, La_0.8Ca_0.2Ni_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ demonstrated neutron removal cross-section values greater than that of standard neutron shielding materials - aluminium and polyethylene. On the whole, the present study not only demonstrates the employment prospects of eco-friendly perovskites for shielding space radiations but also suggests future prospects for research in this direction.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.425-432
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• 2023

In this study, we aim to develop a carbon-reducing concrete technology by incorporating biochar. Performance evaluation experiments were conducted on concrete mixtures containing biochar with insulating and carbon-capturing properties, which are essential for key infrastructure sectors such as construction and tunnels. Concrete mixtures were designed with different biochar incorporation rates of 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 %, as w ell as w ater-to-binder ratios of 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, and 0.40. To assess the physical properties of each mixture, unit weight, total porosity, and permeability were measured, while mechanical properties were determined through the measurement of concrete compressive and flexural strengths. Key factors for enhancing the insulating effect of carbon-reducing concrete containing biochar were identified through regression analysis, indicating a close correlation among biochar incorporation rate, unit weight, concrete strength, and thermal conductivity. It is anticipated that it can be utilized as an insulating material to enhance thermal performance in northern regions with severe winter climates.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.221-232
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• 2023

Carbon neutrality requires carbon dioxide reduction technology and alternative green energy sources. Palygorskite is a clay mineral with a ribbon structure and possess a large surface area due to the nanoscale pore size. The clay mineral has been proposed as a potential material to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) and possibly to store eco-friendly hydrogen gas (H2). We report our preliminary results of grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations that investigated the adsorption isotherms and mechanisms of CO₂ and H₂ into palygorskite nanopores at room temperature. As the chemical potential of gas increased, the adsorbed amount of CO₂ or H₂ within the palygorskite nanopores increased. Compared to CO₂, injection of H₂ into palygorskite required higher energy. The mean squared displacement within palygorskite nanopores was much higher for H₂ than for CO₂, which is consistent with experiments. Our simulations found that CO₂ molecules were arranged in a row in the nanopores, while H₂ molecules showed highly disordered arrangement. This simulation method is promising for finding Earth materials suitable for CO₂ capture and H₂ storage and also expected to contribute to fundamental understanding of fluid-mineral interactions in the geological underground.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 2024

Since the cement industry generates more than 60 % of CO₂ during the clinker production process, supplementary cementitious materials are used worldwide to reduce CO₂ efficiently. Mainly used supplementary cementitious materials such as blast furnace slag and fly ash, which are used in various industries including the cement industry, concrete admixtures, and ground solidification materials. However, since their availability is expected to decrease in the future according to the carbon neutrality strategy of each industry, new supplementary cementitious materials should be used to achieve the cement industry's goal for increasing the additive content of Portland cement. Limestone is a material that already has a large amount in the cement industry and has the advantage of high grinding efficiency, so overseas developed countries established Portland limestone cement standards and succeeded in commercialization. This study was an experimental study conducted to evaluate the possibility of utilizing domestic PLC, the effect of fineness and replacement ratio on the physical properties of cement was investigated, and the environmental impact of cement was evaluated by analyzing CO₂ emissions.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2024

Silicon and carbon composite (SiC) is considered one of the most promising anode materials for the commercialization of Si-based anodes, as it could simultaneously satisfy the high theoretical capacity of Si and the high electronic conductivity of carbon. However, SiC active material undergoes repeated volumetric changes during charge/discharge processes, leading to continuous electrolyte decomposition and capacity fading, which is still considered an issue that needs to be addressed. To solve this issue, we suggest a 4,4'-Methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H₁₂MDI)-based waterborne polyurethane binder (HPUD), which forms a 3D network structure through thermal cross-linking reaction. The cross-linked HPUD (denoted as CHPU) was prepared using an epoxy ring-opening reaction of the cross-linker, triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC), via simple thermal treatment during the SiC anode drying process. The SiC anode with the CHPU binder, which exhibited superior mechanical and adhesion properties, not only demonstrated excellent rate and cycling performance but also alleviated the volume expansion of the SiC anode. This work implies that eco-friendly binders with cross-linked structures could be utilized for various Si-based anodes.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.125-132
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• 2013

Recently, the consciousness of energy crisis is rapidly growing and sustainable eco-friendly energy sources are becoming issue. Therefore the portable electronic device requires new energy sources for providing continuous power supply and the power energy harvesting system of the human body that enables the power-harvesting research requests anytime, anywhere. One of the sources for energy harvesting is heat energy, which is the difference in temperature of the body and the surrounding environment. We tried to analyze the temperature difference between the environmental temperature and the temperature inside clothing according to the structure of the closed portion. And we examined the temperature difference between the environmental temperature and the temperature inside clothing according to the material of the clothing. The analysis showed that we have been able to get different results at parts of the body in the temperature inside clothing according to the structure of clothing. In upper torso of the chest and back, the temperature inside clothing of 'closed structure' was higher than the temperature inside clothing of 'opened structure'. In the section of arm and leg, it was reduced the difference of temperature inside clothing between 'closed structure' and 'opened structure'. It was particularly noticeable in the section of leg. The results of analysis of the difference between the environmental temperature and the temperature inside clothing according to the material of the clothing, in both cases of the two materials, 'closed structure' was higher than the 'opened structure' in the difference value between the environmental temperature and the temperature inside clothing. There was a difference according to the material in the section of leg. In this study, we outlined the basic guidelines for developing heat energy harvesting clothing by exploring the structure and material of clothing suitable for the heat energy harvesting.