• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.154-161
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• 2022

The carbon-neutrality induced by the global warming is important for the modern society. Hydrogen has been received the attention as a new energy source to replace the fossil fuels. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, which convert the chemical reaction energy of hydrogen into electric power directly, are a type of eco-friendly power for future vehicles. Due to the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction and costly Pt catalyst in the cathode, the research related to the replacement of Pt-based catalysts has been vitally carried out. In this case, however, the performance is significantly different from each other and a variety of factors have existed. In this review paper, we rearrange and summarize relevant papers published within 5 years approximately. The selection of precursors, synthesis method, and co-catalyst are represented as a core factor, while the necessity of research for the further enhancement of activity may be raised. It can be anticipated to contribute to the replacement of precious metal catalysts in the various fields of study. The final objective of the future research is depicted in detail.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2023

This study aims to develop CLSM fill material for emergency restoration using landfill coal ash. As a result of examining physical properties such as particle size distribution and fines content of landfill coal ash, bottom ash, fly ash, and general soil were mixed, and SP was found to have a density of 2.03 and a residual particle pass rate of 7.8 %. CLSM materials that secure fluidity in unit quantities without using chemical admixtures such as glidants and water reducing agents have a high risk of material separation due to bleeding. As a result of this experiment, it was found that the bleeding ratio did not satisfy the standard in the case of the specimen with a large amount of fly ash and a lot of addition of mixing water. As a result of the compressive strength test, the strength development of 0.5 MPa or more for 4 hours was found to be satisfactory for the specimens using hemihydrate gypsum with a unit binder amount of 200 or more, and the remaining gypsum showed poor strength development. Although it is judged that landfill coal ash can be used as a CLSM material, it is necessary to identify and apply the physical and chemical characteristics of coal ash buried in the ash treatment plant of each power generation company.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2023

Marine structures are subject to damage not only from sea salt but also from the adhesion of marine microorganisms and suspended particles, which cause additional damages. In order to prevent this, periodic coating is employed in the case of vessels to maintain the necessary performance. However, it is true that periodic coating is difficult for concrete or steel support structures, and there is a risk of marine environmental pollution. In this study, authors developed an anti-fouling coating agent using eco-friendly materials that possess hydrophilic cellulose nanofibers and AKD(alkyl ketene dimer). To achieve a homogeneous mixture, the content of cellulose nanofibers was fixed at 1 %, and AKD, distilled water, and waste glass were mixed using a digital mixer and homogenizer. The contact angle of the prepared coated surface was observed to be over 130°, indicating sufficient performance even in a water droplet flow test with a 15° slope, suggesting self-cleaning capability. Furthermore, through the analysis of viscosity characteristics at different temperatures, it was confirmed that the application is feasible at room temperature. Microstructure analysis also verified that the coating agent is uniformly applied to the concrete surface.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.431-436
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• 2023

As the industry develops, the amount of heavy metals flowing into the ecosystem is increasing. Heavy metals are difficult to decompose and remain in the ecosystem for a long time and cause toxicity, which is removed by physicochemical methods such as adsorption, filtration, and chemical precipitation during water treatment. In this study, Alginate bead was selected as a chelating resin for adsorbing and removing heavy metals, and the Jellyfish Extract at Immunity reaction (JEI) were mixed to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of heavy metals accordingly. beads mixed with JEI showed high adsorption efficiency in lead (79-99%) and copper (64-70%) according to the characteristics of Alginate, and low adsorption efficiency in cadmium (25-37%) and zinc (5-6%). Although heavy metal adsorption did not increase in proportion to the content of JEI, 50% and 100% JEI beads showed significant increases. As a result of applying the reaction rate equation, it was found that it was more suitable for the pseudo-secondary reaction equation than the pseudo-first reaction equation.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 2010

This study was conducted to know that if ionic liquids can be applicable as control agents of harmful algae in water-ecosystem and to find out problems caused by ionic liquid application. Firstly, the differential selectivity of various fresh-water algal species to several 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids was investigated. There was a distinct differential response between alkyl chain lengths from butyl to dodecyl and towards the algal organisms : Generally algicidal activity was increased with increase of chain length and among the algae used in this study, Stephanodiscus hantzschii f. tenuis, Oscillatoria tenuis and Spirulina pratensis were most sensitive to 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (MAIC12), next was Microcystis aeruginosa, and the others were relatively less sensitive to the chemical. The selectivity degree was about ten to twenty times based on the $EC_{80}$ (Effective concentration required for 80% growth inhibition). Secondly, an activity persistence of ionic liquids was investigated in natural mimic condition (using water bottle containing soil-sediments under the greenhouse condition). At the application of $1.0{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (MAIC8), the algal growth did not occur at all until 6 days after treatment(DAT) and observed a only little growth at 9 DAT. But the algae grew rapidly after 9 DAT. So at 20 DAT, total chlorophylls was $264.4{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and the growth was inhibited by 58.2% compared to untreatment. On the other hand, MAIC12 also had a similar persistence pattern to MAIC8, showing nearly 5 times more activity than MAIC8. At 20 days after $0.2{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ application of MAIC12, that is, total chlorophylls was $251.2{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and the growth was inhibited by 55.2% compared to untreatment. In summary, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids is likely to be applicable for selective control of harmful algae as potent compounds having long lasting activity. However, the difficulty of degradation seems to be a limiting factor in an eco-friendly application of the compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.403-410
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• 2014

This study was conducted in organic certification soil for the comparison of heavy metals, nutrients, and irrigated water standards to certify a farm. It was carried out in 811 paddy fields of organic rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated at Goseong-Gun. The amounts of 8 heavy metals, Cd, Cu, As, Hg, Pb, $Cr^{6+}$, Zn, and Ni were found to be 0.05, 14.5, 1.08, 0.92, 10.7, 1.34, 35.9, and 22.2 mg $kg^{-1}$ in regular sequence in the organic paddy soil, and they were 0.32, 13.6, 1.01, 0.03, 10.4, 0.91, 42.4 and 22.5 mg $kg^{-1}$ in the non-pesticide paddy soil. In comparing organic and non-pesticide paddy soil with respect to the chemical characteristics of the soil, the average pH and the amount of organic matter, available phosphate and available silicate were 5.88 and 27.6 g $kg^{-1}$, 134.5 mg $kg^{-1}$, and 165.3 mg $kg^{-1}$, while they were 5.78 and 32.1 g $kg^{-1}$, 107.7 mg $kg^{-1}$, and 175.2 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively. The amount of exchangeable cation $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mn^{2+}$ were 0.25, 5.20, and 1.04 cmol+ $kg^{-1}$ in organic paddy soil, while they were 0.38, 5.13, and 1.19 cmol+ $kg^{-1}$ in non-pesticide paddy soil. The pH, DO, BOD, COD and SS conditions of the irrigated water used in the organic paddy soil were found to be 7.23, 8.40, 2.80, 1.86, and 2.58 mg $l^{-1}$ and the condition of irrigated water used in the non-pesticide paddy soil were found to be 7.65, 9.16, 2.25, 4.11, and 4.00 mg $l^{-1}$, respectively. Based on these findings, we suggest that environmentally-friendly certificates in Korea have to unify organic and non-pesticide agro-products in an organic standard in food policy and control because there is no difference between soil and irrigated water standards in the two certifications.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.376-387
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• 2019

Melons are mostly grown in soil, but it is susceptible to damage due to injury by continuous cropping such as Fusarium wilt and root rot. Hydroponic cultivation system can overcome the disadvantages of soil cultivation with precise nutrition management and a clean environment. When using the coir substrate, the most environmentally friendly organic substrate used for hydroponics, it is analyzed how the growth and fruit quality of the melon depends on the ratio of chips and dust and the amount of irrigation. The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data of melon hydroponics when cultivated in spring. The two types of the coir substrates used in the experiments were chip and dust ratios of 3 :7 and 5 : 5 respectively. The substrate with high dust ratios had excellent physical characteristics, such as container capacity and total porosity, and the drainage EC level showed a high value of $3.0-6.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. When the amount of irrigation is provided based on the drainage rate, the group provided the nutrient solution on the basis of 10% drainage supplied 91 L per plant, which was reduced by about 30% compared to the group with the highest water supply. In addition, the total drainage showed less than 10 L per plant with a minimum water supply and was reduced by 30 - 70% in substrate with a high dust rates. In substrate with high water supply and high dust ratio, leaf growth and fruit enlargement were good, and the soluble solids content varies greatly from cultivar to cultivar. If you provided the amount of irrigation based on 10% drainage rate, the fruit weight will be decreased, but the amount of irrigation can be reduced. Therefore, it is considered that managing the water & nutrient properly taking into account the characteristics of coir substrate and cultivar can produce melon of uniform quality using hydroponics.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2022

The application of supplemental activated biochar pellet fertilizers (ABPFs) was evaluated by investigating key factors such as changes of surface paddy water and soil chemical properties and rice growth responses during the growing season. The treatments consisted of control, activated rice hull biochar pellet (ARHBP-40%), and activated palm biochar pellet (APBP-40%) applications. It was shown that the lowest NH₄⁺-N and PO₄^--P concentrations were observed in surface paddy water to the ARHBP-40%, while the NH₄⁺-N concentration in the control was abruptly decreased until 30 days after transplant in the soil. However, the lowest NH₄⁺-N concentration in the blended biochar application was 9.18 mg L^-1 at 1 day of transplant, but its ABPFs application was observed to be less than 1 mg L^-1 at 56 days after transplant. The lowest PO₄^--P concentration in paddy water treated ARHBP-40% ranged from 0.06 mg L^-1 to 0.08 mg L^-1 until 30 days after transplant among the treatments. For the paddy soil, the NH₄⁺-N concentration in the control was abruptly decreased from 177.7 mg kg^-1 to 49.4 mg kg^-1, while NO₃^--N concentration was highest, 13.2 mg kg^-1 in 14 days after transplant. The P₂O₅ concentrations in the soils increased from rice transplants until the harvesting period regardless of the treatments. The highest K₂O concentration was 252.8 mg kg^-1 in the APBP-40% at 84 days after transplant. For the rice growth responses, plant height in the control was relatively high compared to others, but grain yield was not significantly different between the control and ARHBP-40%. The application of ARHBP-40% can minimize nitrogen and phosphorous application rates into the agro-ecosystem.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.285-296
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• 2014

Although the problems of the algal blooms have been world-widely observed in freshwater, estuary, and marine throughout the year, it is not yet certain what are the basic causes of such blooms. Consequently, it is very difficult to predict when and where algal blooms occur. The constituents of the Asian dust are in a good agreement with the elements required for the algal growth, which suggests some possible relationship between the algal blooms and the Asian dust. There have been frequently algal blooms in drinking water from rivers or lakes. However, there is no any algal blooms in upwelling waters where the Asian dust cannot penetrate into the soil due to its relatively weak settling velocity (size of particles, $4.5{\pm}1.5{\mu}m$), which implies the possible close relationship of the Asian dust with algal blooms. The present initiative study is thus intended firstly in Korea to illustrate such a relationship by reviewing typical previous studies along with 12 years of weekly iron profiles (2001~2012) and two slant culture experiments with the dissolved Asian dust. The result showed bacterial suspected colonies in the slant culture experiment that are qualitatively in a good agreement with the recent Japanese studies. Since the diatoms require cheap energy (8%) compared to other phytoplankton (100%) to synthesize their cell walls by silicate, the present results can be used to predict algal blooms by diatoms if the concentrations of iron and silicate are available during spring and fall. It can be postulated that the algal blooms occur only if the environmental factors such as light, nutrients, calm water surface layer, temperature, and pH are simultaneously satisfied with the requirements of the micronutrients of mineral ions supplied by the Asian dust as enzymatic cofactors for the rapid bio-synthesis of the macromolecules during algal blooms. Simple eco-friendly methods to regulate the algal blooms are suggested for the initial stage of blooming with limited area: 1) to cover up the water surface with black curtain and inhibit photosynthesis during the day time, 2) to blow air (20.9%) or pure oxygen into the bottom of the water and inhibit rubisco for carbon uptake and nitrate reductase for nitrogen uptake activities in algal growth during the night, 3) to eliminate the resting spores or cysts by suction of bottom sediments as deep as 5 cm to prevent the next year germinations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.139-151
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• 2007

To protect the surface of ground-cutting slopes and ground-raised slopes and to recover environment-friendly slopes at the national road expansion construction between Gamchon and Yaechon, test-construction work was done using several modes of hydro-seeding measures to select a suitable construction method through the field survey; the results were as follows : As a result of survey on physio-chemical characteristics of soil, the average soil inclination on ground-raised slopes was from 4.73 mm to 5.37 mm; the average soil acidity was from pH 6.47 to 6.73; the average soil humidity was within the scope of 0.57~1.70 %,; the average soil inclination on ground-cutting slopes was 9.17~10.43mm; the average soil acidity was pH 6.67~6.77 and the average soil humidity was within the scope of 0.53~1.27 %; considered overall, they showed generally satisfactory base materials for plant breeding. As a result of the number of sprouting individuals, the average sprouting number of individuals on test spots executed by Coir net with Seed spray construction methods and the average number of sprouting individuals on other test spots executed by furrow-digging with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures were 1,172 number of per square meter and 970 number of per square meter respectively; thus they showed higher numerical value comparing with other test spots. Likewise, the average number of sprouting individuals on test spots of the ground-cutting slopes executed by Coir net with Seed spray method and the average number of sprouting individuals on other test spot executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures were found to be 1,107 number of per square meter and 1,105 number of per square meter respectively, whose numerical value showed rather higher other test spots. As a result of a survey on living plants' breeding index [dried weight], the weight in dried state on test spots executed by Coir net with Seed spray method and other test spots executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures on both ground-raised and ground-cutting slopes was found to be higher and showed similar characteristics statistically. As a result of survey on the surface-covering degree of ground-raised slopes, nine weeks after test construction, test spots executed by Coir net with Seed spray method and other test spots executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures showed commonly more than 70% of surface-covering degree, but other test spots showed only below 35% of surface covering degree; especially in case of test spots by Verdvol seed spray measures, they showed 10% of the lowest surface-covering. Surface-covering degree on the test spot of ground-cutting slopes nine weeks after test construction showed more than 75% both executed by Coir net with Seed spray construction method and executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures. As a result of survey on appearing plants on the test spots, there dominates Eragrostis curvula both on ground-raised slopes and on ground-cutting slopes with other seeding plant life's lower breeding and there appear intruders, such as Setaria viridis Beauv, Digitaria sanguinalis Scop, and Chenopodium album var.centrorubrum Makino. As for water-borne excavation and soil's washing-away on the slopes, there happened less washing-away and water-borne excavation with good breeding of plant life on test spots executed both by Coir net with Seed spray construction method and by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures, but there happened much more soil's washing-away along with water-home excavation at the test spot executed by Seed spray with measures. After the research results of test construction sites are examined overall, it's presumed that furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures [interval between lines is 40cm, 5cm in depth] will be preferred to prevent erosion and water-home excavation of slopes located within the construction sites.