• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.745-764
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• 2023

In the Republic of Congo, Banded iron formations (BIFs) occur in two areas: the Chaillu Massif and the Ivindo Basement Complex, which are segments of the Archean Congo craton outcropping in the northwestern and southwestern parts of the country. They show interesting potential with significant mineral resources reaching 2 Bt and grades up to 60% Fe. BIFs consist mostly of oxide-rich facies (hematite/magnetite), but carbonate-rich facies are also highlighted. They are found across the country within the similar geological sequences composed of amphibolites, gneisses and greenschists. The Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS)-normalized patterns of BIFs show enrichment in elements such as SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, CaO, P₂O₅, Cr, Cu, Zn, Nb, Hf, U and depletion in TiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O, Sc, Th, Ba, Zr, Rb, Ni, V. REE diagrams show slight light REEs (rare earth elements; LREEs) compared to heavy REEs (HREEs), and positive La and Eu anomalies. The lithological associations, as well as the very high (Eu/Eu^*)_SN ratios> 1.8 shown by the BIFs, suggest that they are related to Algoma-type BIFs. The positive correlations between Zr and TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Hf suggest that the contamination comes mainly from felsic rocks, while the absence of correlations between MgO and Cr, Ni argues for negligeable contributions from mafic sources. Pr/Pr^* vs. Ce/Ce^* diagram indicates that the Congolese BIFs were formed in basins with redox heterogeneity, which varies from suboxic to anoxic and from oxic to anoxic conditions. They were formed through hydrothermal vents in the seawater, with relatively low proportions of detrital inputs derived from igneous sources through continental weathering. Some Congolese BIFs show high contents in Cr, Ni and Cu, which suggest that iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) have been leached through hydrothermal processes associated with submarine volcanism. We discussed their tectonic setting and depositional environment and proposed that they were deposited in extensional back-arc basins, which also recorded hydrothermal vent fluids.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.65-65
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• 2012

Copper zinc tin sulfide ($Cu_2ZnSnS_4$, CZTS) is a very promising material as a low cost absorber alternative to other chalcopyrite-type semiconductors based on Ga or In because of the abundant and economical elements. In addition, CZTS has a band-gap energy of 1.4~1.5eV and large absorption coefficient over ${\sim}10^4cm^{-1}$, which is similar to those of $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$(CIGS) regarded as one of the most successful absorber materials for high efficient solar cell. Most previous works on the fabrication of CZTS thin films were based on the vacuum deposition such as thermal evaporation and RF magnetron sputtering. Although the vacuum deposition has been widely adopted, it is quite expensive and complicated. In this regard, the solution processes such as sol-gel method, nanocrystal dispersion and hybrid slurry method have been developed for easy and cost-effective fabrication of CZTS film. Among these methods, the hybrid slurry method is favorable to make high crystalline and dense absorber layer. However, this method has the demerit using the toxic and explosive hydrazine solvent, which has severe limitation for common use. With these considerations, it is highly desirable to develop a robust, easily scalable and relatively safe solution-based process for the fabrication of a high quality CZTS absorber layer. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of a high quality CZTS absorber layer with a thickness of 1.5~2.0 ${\mu}m$ and micrometer-scaled grains using two different non-vacuum approaches. The first solution-processing approach includes air-stable non-toxic solvent-based inks in which the commercially available precursor nanoparticles are dispersed in ethanol. Our readily achievable air-stable precursor ink, without the involvement of complex particle synthesis, high toxic solvents, or organic additives, facilitates a convenient method to fabricate a high quality CZTS absorber layer with uniform surface composition and across the film depth when annealed at $530^{\circ}C$. The conversion efficiency and fill factor for the non-toxic ink based solar cells are 5.14% and 52.8%, respectively. The other method is based on the nanocrystal dispersions that are a key ingredient in the deposition of thermally annealed absorber layers. We report a facile synthetic method to produce phase-pure CZTS nanocrystals capped with less toxic and more easily removable ligands. The resulting CZTS nanoparticle dispersion enables us to fabricate uniform, crack-free absorber layer onto Mo-coated soda-lime glass at $500^{\circ}C$, which exhibits a robust and reproducible photovoltaic response. Our simple and less-toxic approach for the fabrication of CZTS layer, reported here, will be the first step in realizing the low-cost solution-processed CZTS solar cell with high efficiency.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1297-1306
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• 2017

This study identified physical characteristics and aerosol particle sources of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in the industrial complex of Busan Metropolitan City, Korea. Samples of $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and also soil, were collected in several areas during the year of 2012 to investigate elemental composition. A URG cyclone sampler was used for collection. The samples were collected according to each experimental condition, and the analysis method of SEM-EDX was used to determine the concentration of each metallic element. The comparative analysis indicated that their mass concentration ranged from 1% to 3%. The elements in the industrial region that were above 10% were Si, Al, Fe, and Ca. Those below 5% were Na, Mg, and S. The remaining elements (1% of total mass) consisted of elements such as Ni, Co, Br and Pb. Finally, a statistical tool was applied to the elemental results to identify each source for the industrial region. From a principal components analysis (SPSS, Ver 20.0) performed to analyze the possible sources of $PM_{10}$ in the industrial region, five main factors were determined. Factor 1 (Si, Al), which accounted for 15.8% of the total variance, was mostly affected by soil and dust from manufacturing facilities nearby, Factors 2 (Cu, Ni), 3 (Zn, Pb), and 4 (Mn, Fe), which also accounted for some of variance, were mainly related to iron, non-ferrous metals, and other industrial manufacturing sources. Also, five factors determined to access possible sources of $PM_{2.5}$, Factor 1 (Na, S), accounted for 13.5% of the total variance and was affected by sea-salt particles and fuel incineration sources, and Factors 2 (Ti, Mn), 3 (Pb, Cl), 4 (K, Al) also explained significant proportions of the variance. Theses factors mean that the $PM_{2.5}$ emission sources may be considered as sources of incineration, and metals, and non-ferrous manufacturing industries.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2022

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used in various fields because they make it easy to control porous structures according to combinations of metal ions and organic linkers. In addition, ZIF (zeolitic imidazolate framework), a type of MOF, is made up of transition metal ions such as Co²⁺ or Zn²⁺ and linkers such as imidazole or imidazole derivatives. ZIF-67, composed of Co²⁺ and 2-methyl imidazole, exhibits both chemical stability and catalytic activity. Recently, due to increasing need for energy technology and carbon-neutral policies, catalysis applications have attracted tremendous research attention. Moreover, demand is increasing for material development in the electrocatalytic water splitting and metal-air battery fields; there is also a need for bifunctional catalysts capable of both oxidation/reduction reactions. This review summarizes recent progress of bifunctional catalysts for electrocatalytic water splitting and metal-air batteries using ZIF-67. In particular, the field is classified into areas of thermal decomposition, introduction of heterogeneous elements, and complex formation with carbon-based materials or polyacrylonitrile. This review also focuses on synthetic methods and performance evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1038-1045
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• 2006

A series of experiments was conducted to test the compatibilities of two different techniques to determine elemental concentrations by INAA and ICP-MS based on both the NIST SRM 2783(air particulate on filter media) and the field samples for PM10. For NIST SRM the results of INAA were more accurate and precise for all target elements than those of ICP-MS. The comparative data set for PM10 samples collected in an industrial complex area showed that mean of concentration ratio, derived for the two different methods such as C(INNA/ICP-MS), were distinguished from each other: (1) Ba, Cu, K Mg, Na, and Sb: $0.9{\sim}1.1$; (2) Al, Co, Fe, and Mn: $0.8{\sim}1.2$; and (3) Se, Ti, and Zn: >1.3. When the results obtained from both methods were evaluated in terms of regression analysis, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the results of many elements determined from PM10 samples(such as Al, Ba, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Nd, and Sb) exhibited a fairly good agreement between the two methods, despite a wide range of variation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2013

Aerosol characterization study for individual particle in Busan metropolitan industrial complex was carried out from December 2010 to August 2011. SEM(scanning electron microscope)-EDX(energy dispersive x-ray) analysis was used for the analysis of 600 single particles during the sampling periods to identify non-metallic aerosol particle sources. Average $PM_{10}$ concentration was 65.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in summer, 104.1 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in winter during the sample periods. And Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was 24.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in summer, 64.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in winter individually. Particle density, enrichment factor, correlation analysis, principle component analysis were performed based on chemical composition data. Particle density distribution was measured to 2~4 $g/cm^3$, and the density of $PM_{2.5}$ was measured above 3 $g/cm^3$. In general, the elements Si, Ca, Fe and Al concentrations were higher in all samples of individual particles. The non-ferrous elements Zn, Br, Pb, Cu concentrations were higher in summer than in winter. The concentrations were not changed with the seasons because of non-ferrous industry emission pattern.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.749-760
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• 2022

α-Galactosidase is a debranching enzyme widely used in the food, feed, paper, and pharmaceuticals industries and plays an important role in hemicellulose degradation. Here, T26, an aerobic bacterial strain with thermostable α-galactosidase activity, was isolated from laboratory-preserved lignocellulolytic microbial consortium TMC7, and identified as Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius. The α-galactosidase, called T26GAL and derived from the T26 culture supernatant, exhibited a maximum enzyme activity of 0.4976 IU/ml when cultured at 60℃ and 180 rpm for 2 days. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the α-galactosidase T26GAL belongs to the GH36 family. Subsequently, the pET-26 vector was used for the heterologous expression of the T26 α-galactosidase gene in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The optimum pH for α-galactosidase T26GAL was determined to be 8.0, while the optimum temperature was 60℃. In addition, T26GAL demonstrated a remarkable thermostability with more than 93% enzyme activity, even at a high temperature of 90℃. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ promoted the activity of T26GAL while Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ inhibited it. The substrate specificity studies revealed that T26GAL efficiently degraded raffinose, stachyose, and guar gum, but not locust bean gum. This study thus facilitated the discovery of an effective heat-resistant α-galactosidase with potent industrial application. Meanwhile, as part of our research on lignocellulose degradation by a microbial consortium, the present work provides an important basis for encouraging further investigation into this enzyme complex.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.59-77
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate on several factors, which contaminative the water quality through the water pipe during feeding water, in 42 largescaled apart-ments(total 84 cases) and assayed the Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) and concen-tration of heavy metals that inflow and outflow in reservior water in Jeonnam area(Mokpo, Suncheon, Yeosu) from January 1999 to December 1999. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; 1. The quality of the water pipe composition in the order of frequency in the quality of water pipes were Copper(45.2%)> Zinc(38.9%)> Stainless steel(9.5%)> PVC(4.8%)> PM(2.4%) in observing 42 sites. All of the drain pipes were used the cast iron quality. 2. The result of certification curve from 12 items(17kind) of VOCs was $1.0-4.0{\mu{g}}/{\ell}$ range, a coefficient of correlation was shown 0.99 over. A MDL of each substance range was within $0.1-1.0{\mu{g}}/{\ell}$. 3. The result of the assay, 5 kinds(Viny chloride, Dichloromethane, Ethylbenzene, M,P-xylene, Styrene) of the VOCs of 14 kinds was not detected and the other items were detected slightly. The detection rate of one item and over in total VOCs samples, were 25.9% in inflow and 27.9% in outflow. And frequency of detect in inflow/outflow of THM(Chloroform, Bromodichloro-methane, Dibromochloromethane, Bromoform) were shown higher than 94.1%, 97.0% each stages. It comes to the conclusion that all of the samples were reason able for drinking water standards. 4. The coefficient of correlation were reasonable, it shown 0.999 over in $0.1-1.0{\mu{g}}/{\ell}$ of a measuring range conditions of 4kinds in organic substance(Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn). 5. The results were showed suitability in 78 cases(92.9%) and unsuitability in 6 cases (7.1%), in 84 cases of in organic substances. Compare to inflow stage, mean concentrations of heavy metal, were increased slightly in Zn, Cu, Fe except Mn than outflow stage. The result of the mean concentration in organic substance inflow and outflow in the apartment water tank using Pair-compared T-test, in 95% reliance index, were $0.179mg/{\ell}(0.151-0.307mg/{\ell})$ in Zinc, $0.136mg/{\ell}(0.113-0.230mg/{\ell})$ in Copper, $0.052mg/{\ell}(0.048-0.098mg/{\ell})$ in Fe, and there was a bit growing tendency but there was no differece in Mn. 6. The mean concentration of Copper which used Cu pipe as a water supply pipe in apartment were $0.216mg/{\ell}(0.161-0.338mg/{\ell})$ in case of the Zine pipe were $0.286mg/{\ell}(0.204-0.435mg/{\ell})$. It shows that the detection rate was more higher than the other material used in Cu or Zn as the water supply pipe. We supposed to Cu and Zn substance were gushing out water supply pipe.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 1988

It is important to assess the effects of ionic strength and type of anions when studying the adsorption of heavy metals on zeolite because the background salt may complex with heavy metals and compete for adsorption sites. This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of ionic strength and anion species($Cl^-$, $SO^{2-}\;_4$, and $ClO^-\;_4$) on heavy metal adsorption. Heavy metal adsorption by zeolite from solutions in the range of 10 to 50ppm was studied in the presence of NaCl, $Na_2SO_4$ and $NaClO_4$, with different concentrations. The ionic strength ranged from 0.01 to 1.00. Adsorption of heavy metal cations could be described by the Freundlich isotherm equation. Increasing the ionic strength of equilibrium solutions, the amounts of heavy metal adsorbed on the zeolite surfaces decreased in all three of the anion systems. This fact could be attributed to the competition of background salt cation and the decrease in initial activity of heavy metal cations. In the presence of Cl anion, less adsorption resulted than in the presence of $SO_4$ or $ClO_4$ anions of the same ionic strength, indicating the presence of uncharged and negatively charged complexes of heavy metal with Cl ligands.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1519-1526
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• 2023

For the first time Aluminium-BariumeZinc oxide nanocomposite (ZABONC) was synthesized by solution combustion method where calcination was carried out at low temperatures (600℃) to study the electromagnetic (EM) (X/γ) radiation shielding properties. Further for characterization purpose standard techniques like PXRD, SEM, UV-VISIBLE, FTIR were used to find phase purity, functional groups, surface morphology, and to do structural analysis and energy band gap determination. The PXRD pattern shows (hkl) planes corresponding to spinel cubic phase of ZnAl₂O4, cubic Ba(NO₃)₂, α and γ phase of Al₂O₃ which clearly confirms the formation of complex nano composite. From SEM histogram mean size of nano particles was calculated and is in the order of 17 nm. Wood and Tauc's relation direct energy band gap calculation gives energy gap of 2.9 eV. In addition, EM (X/γ) shielding properties were measured and compared with the theoretical ones using standard procedures (NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyzer MCA). For energy above 356 keV the measured shielding parameters agree well with the theory, while below this value slight deviation is observed, due to the influence of atomic/crystallite size of the ZABONC. Hence synthesized ZABONC can be used as a shielding material in EM (X/γ) radiation shielding.