• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.1008-1014
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• 2012

The amount of domestic carbon dioxide emissions is more than 600 million tons/year. The emitted $CO_2$ should be captured and stored, however, suitable storage sites have not been found yet. A lot of researches on the conversion of captured carbon dioxide to useful carbon source have been conducted. The purpose of this study is to convert stable carbon dioxide to useful resources using less energy. For this purpose reducing gas and metallic oxide (activator) are required. Hydrogen was used as reducing gas and cobalt ferrite was used as activator. Considering that activator has different physical properties depending on synthesis methods, activator was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and solid method. Decomposition characteristics of carbon dioxide were investigated using synthesized powders. Temperature programmed reduction/oxidation (TPR/TPO) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) device were used to observe the decomposition characteristics of carbon dioxide. Activator prepared by solid method with 5 and 10 wt% CoO content showed an excellent performance. In TGA experiments with samples prepared by the solid method, reduction by hydrogen was 29.0 wt% and oxidation by $CO_2$ was highest in 27.5 wt%. 95% of adsorbed $CO_2$ was decomposed with excellent oxidation-reduction behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2018

This study compared PENELOPE with measured values from low energy peak to high energy peak to reduce peak to compton ratio and continuum background spectrum using $^{60}Co$, $^{137}Cs$ and mixed volume source. In addition, the change in backscattering and compton edge efficiency was compared with that of PENELOPE through changes in the vicinity of low energy. The results from the mixed volume source are applied to the soil samples to determine how much the minimum detection limits of the soil samples are reduced in the suppression and unsuppressed mode. The compton suppression of the low energy region of $^{60}CO$ (1,173 keV) was considerable, and the Compton edge RF for the $^{137}Cs$ (661 keV) peak was 2.8. In particular, the $^{60}Co$ source emits coincidence gamma rays of 1,173.2 keV and 1,332.5 keV, so compton inhibition was reduced by approximately 21%. RF of compton edges of 1,173 keV and 1,332 keV emitted from a $^{60}Co$ source was 3.2 and 3.4, and the peak to compton edge ratio was improved to 8: 1. And Compared with Penelope, the uncertainty was well within 2%. In compton unsuppressed mode, MDA values of 661 keV, 1,173 keV and 1,332 keV were 0.535, 0.173 and 0.136 Bq/kg, respectively, but decreased in compton suppressed mode to 0.121, 0.00826 and 0.00728 Bq/kg. Thus, Compton suppressed could reduce the background radioactivity and the radioactivity contained in the detector itself.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.336-344
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• 2017

Background: Because of climate change, interest in the development of carbon pools has increased. In agricultural ecosystems, which can be more intensively managed than forests, measures to control carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emission and absorption levels can be applied relatively easily. However, crop residues may be released into the atmosphere by decomposition or combustion. If we can develop scientific management techniques that enable these residues to be stocked on farmland, then it would be possible to convert farmlands from carbon emission sources to carbon pools. We analyzed and investigated soil respiration (Rs) rate characteristics according to input of carbonized residue of red peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), a widely grown crop in Korea, as a technique for increasing farmland carbon stock. Results: Rs rate in the carbonized biomass (CB) section was $226.7mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$, which was 18.1% lower than the $276.9mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ from the red pepper residue biomass (RB) section. The Rs rate of the control was $184.1mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$. In the following year, Rs in the CB section was $204.0mg\;CO_2\;m{-2}h^{-1}$, which was 38.2% lower than the $330.1mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ from the RB section; the control emitted $198.6mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$. Correlation between Rs and soil temperature ((Ts) at a depth of 5 cm) was $R^2=0.51$ in the RB section, which was higher than the other experimental sections. A comparison of annual decomposition rates between RB and CB showed a large difference, 41.4 and 9.7%, respectively. The results showed that carbonization of red pepper residues reduced the rates of decomposition and Rs. Conclusions: The present study confirmed that the Rs rate can be reduced by carbonization of residue biomass and putting it in the soil and that the Rs rate and Ts (5 cm) were positively correlated. Based on the results, it was determined that approximately $1.2t\;C\;ha^{-1}$ were sequestered in the soil in the first year and $3.0t\;C\;ha^{-1}$ were stored the following year. Therefore, approximately $1.5t\;C\;ha^{-1}year^{-1}$ are expected to be stocked in the soil, making it possible to develop farmlands into carbon pools.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Weathering of bottom ash (BA) might induce change of its surface texture and pH and affect physical and chemical properties of soil associated with greenhouse gas emission, when it is applied to the arable soil. This study was conducted to determine effect of weathering of BA in mitigating emission of greenhouse gases from upland soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a field experiment, methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emitted from the soil was periodically monitored using closed chamber. Three month-weathered BA and non-weathered BA were applied to an upland soil at the rates of 0, 200 Mg ha^-1. Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown from July 1_st to Oct 8_th in 2018. Both BAs did not affect cumulative CH₄ emission. Cumulative CO₂ emission were 23.1, 19.8, and 18.8 Mg/ha/100days and cumulative N₂O emission were 35.8, 20.9, and 17.7 kg/ha/100days for the control, non-weathered BA, and weathered BA, respectively. Weathering of BA did not decrease emission of greenhouse gases significantly, compared to the weathered BA in this study. In addition, both BAs did not decrease biomass yields of maize. CONCLUSION: BA might be a good soil amendment to mitigate emissions of CO₂ and N₂O from arable soil without adverse effect on crop productivity.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2009

The regulations for exhaust emission from vehicles have become much more stringent in recent years. These more stringent regulations require vehicle manufacturers to develop alternative fuels that reduce exhaust emission. This research is to analyze the characteristics of exhaust gas emission of same level vehicles that use gasoline, diesel, and LPG fuels. As for the test mode, we used the CVS-75 mode, which is the driving mode of the current domestic and North American emissions. The characteristics of the exhaust gas emitted under this driving condition was studied. We examined the emissions of THC, CO, and NOx of vehicles that use gasoline, diesel, and LPG fuels. As a result, vehicle exhaust gas emissions increased 9.8 % for vehicles using gasoline and it decreased 12.2 % for diesel-powered vehicles compared to vehicles using LPG fuel. Using gasoline and LPG fuel in the CVS-mode, over 80 % of THC and CO emission was produced for the cold start Phase 1.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.737-744
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• 2012

A mobile emission laboratory (MEL) was designed to measure the amount of traffic pollutants, with high temporal and spatial resolution under real conditions. Equipment for the gas-phase measurements of CO, NOx, $CO_2$, and THC and for the measurement of the number, concentration, and size distribution of fine and ultra-fine particles by an FMPS and CPC was placed in a minivan. The exhausts of different types of vehicles can be sampled by an MEL. This paper describes the technical details of the MEL and presents data from the experiment in which a car chases passenger vehicles fuelled by diesel and gasoline. The particle number concentration in the exhaust of the diesel vehicle was higher than that of the gasoline vehicle. However, the diesel vehicle with a DPF emitted fewer particles than the vehicle equipped with a gasoline direct injection engine, with particle diameters over 50 nm.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.65-68
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• 2008

Crop production in a country is very crucial not only in a country's crop self-sufficiency, but also in carbon recycle. Crop can capture and store the emitted $CO_2$ by cereal food consumption. However, imported cereal food is not concerned in carbon recycle and this hinders the accurate estimation of carbon recycle. Korea imports major grain products including wheat, corn, soybean, and rice and about 90% of the grain composition consists of carbohydrate, protein and lipid. Carbon portions in carbohydrate, protein and lipid are 45, 53, and 77%, respectively. When the carbon portions are digested and converted into $CO_2$ completely, one ton of rice, wheat, corn, and soybean can release 1.51, 1.63, 1.56, and 1.56 tons of $CO_2$ to the atmopshere, respectively. Based on this premise, the evolved $CO_2$ calculated from imported grains for the last 4 years in Korea was over 21 MT of $CO_2$. This amount is equivalent to 4.8 billion US dollars in the conception of carbon tax. These results suggest that a decrease in a cereal import(i.e, an increase in a country's crop self-sufficiency) can lower $CO_2$ release to the atmosphere.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2014

The large amount of $CO_2$ emitted from mushrooms during incubation and developmental stages can be utilized in plant production systems as a $CO_2$ source. The objectives of this study were to measure the $CO_2$ emission and absorption rates of mushroom and lettuce, respectively, and to analyze the $CO_2$ concentrations at various ratios of mushroom and lettuce in a closed production system. The $CO_2$ emission rate of king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii ( DC.) Qu$\acute{e}$l) and $CO_2$ absorption rate of lettuces (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Asia Heuk Romaine) were measured by using two closed acryl chambers ($1.0m{\times}0.8m{\times}0.5m$) in which indoor temperatures were maintained at $18^{\circ}C$ and $22^{\circ}C$, respectively. The lettuce was grown at a light intensity of PPF $340mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and with nutrient solution at EC $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The air was periodically circulated between the two chambers using a diaphragm pump. The $CO_2$ emission rate of the mushroom increased until the $15^{th}$ day after scratching (DAS) and then decreased. The rate also increased with increased indoor temperature. In particular, the $CO_2$ emission rate per fresh weight of fruit body increased by about 3.1 times after thinning compared to before thinning. In terms of $CO_2$ balance, the $CO_2$ emission rates from a bottle (950 mL) of the mushroom at 9, 12, and 14 DAS were equivalent to those of 3, 4.5, and 5.5 lettuce plants at 7, 10, and 12 DAT (days after transplanting), respectively. This work shows that balance in $CO_2$ concentration could be achieved using an appropriate ratio of the two crops in a closed production system.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.663-671
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• 2011

Although a scooter is a convenient transportation means for a short distance traveling with a light package in the congested urban center, it might be one of the significant sources of air pollutants to which many people can easily be exposed during its passing-by. In this paper, we measured concentrations of gases and particles emitted from a scooter at roadside with no other traffic. To understand the characteristics of scooter emissions with respect to driving speed (idling, 30 km/h) at the roadside, total particle number concentration, particle size distribution, average surface area of particles deposited in the alveolar region, and concentrations of black carbon, CO, and $NO_x$ were measured. The concentrations of the particle number, surface area of deposited particles, CO, and $NO_x$ were highly fluctuated in the scooter's idling condition. The trends of particle number concentration, CO, and $NO_x$ generation were similar to one another. When the scooter started to move, all of $NO_x$, CO and particle number concentrations increased and after it passed by at the speed of 30 km/h, the concentration peaks of the particles and gases appeared at the same time. Unimodal size distribution with ~70 and ~93 nm mode diameters was observed for the idling and cruising condition, respectively. From this work, we found that emission from a passing vehicle could be characterized using a roadside monitoring technique.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 2017

Background: The concrete walls inside the vaults of cyclotron facilities are activated by neutrons emitted by the targets during radioisotope production. Reducing the amount of radioactive waste created in such facilities is very important in case they are decommissioned. Thus, we proposed a strategy of reducing the neutron activation of the concrete walls in cyclotrons during operation. Materials and Methods: A polyethylene plate and B-doped Al sheet (30 wt% of B and 2.5 mm in thickness) were placed in front of the wall in the cyclotron room of a radioisotope production facility for pharmaceutical use. The target was Xe gas, and a Cu block was utilized for proton dumping. The irradiation time, proton energy, and beam current were 8 hours, 30 MeV, and $125{\mu}A$, respectively. To determine a suitable thickness for the polyethylene plate set in front of the B-doped Al sheet, the neutron-reducing effects achieved by inserting such sheets at several depths within polyethylene plate stacks were evaluated. The neutron fluence was monitored using an activation detector and 20-g on de Au foil samples with and without 0.5-mm-thick Cd foil. Each Au foil sample was pasted onto the center of a polyethylene plate and B-doped Al sheet, and the absolute activity of one Au foil sample was measured as a standard using a Ge detector. The resulting relative activities were obtained by calculating the ratio of the photostimulated luminescence of each foil sample to that of the standard Au foil. Results and Discussion: When the combination of a 4-cm-thick polyethylene plate and B-doped Al sheet was employed, the thermal neutron rate was reduced by 78%. Conclusion: The combination of a 4-cm-thick polyethylene plate and B-doped Al sheet effectively reduced the neutron activation of the investigated concrete wall.