• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.55-62
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the effect of seaweed (SW) addition on the anaerobic digestion of food waste (FW). Anaerobic batch experiments were carried out at various substrate concentrations (2.5 to 10.0 g VS/L) and mixing ratios (FW:SW=100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 on VS basis) of FW and SW. The methane yield of FW alone was 394, 377, 276, $49mL\;CH_4/g\;VS_{added}$ at each substrate concentration (2.5 to 10.0 g VS/L). In cases of co-digestion, methane yield decreased (up to 15 %) with increasing mixing ratio of SW at low substrate concentration (2.5 to 5.0 g VS/L), while it increased (up to 240 %) at high substrate concentration (7.5 to 10.0 g VS/L). The synergistic effect was calculated based on the amount of methane generated from the single-feedstock digestion of FW and SW. The synergistic effect was not found at 2.5 and 5.0 g VS/L. However, the synergistic effect increased (up to 25% = synergistic increment/total methane production at 10.0 g VS/L, FW:SW=50:50) with increasing the ratio of seaweed at 7.5 and 10.0 g VS/L. At 10.0 g VS/L of FW alone, the accumulated amount of organic acids was 7,426 mg COD/L, which was decreased to 2,346 mg COD/L by seaweed (FW:SW=50:50) addition. The reason for the synergistic effect was to control the production rate of the organic acids by adding SW that has a relatively lower biodegradability compared to FW.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.293-305
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• 2009

Methane, as a greenhouse gas, is some 21~25 times more detrimental to the environmental than carbon dioxide. Landfills generally constitute the most important anthropogenic source, and methane emission from landfill was estimated as 35~73 Tg per year. Biological approaches using biocover (open system) and biofilter (closed system) can be a promising solution for older and/or smaller landfills where the methane production is too low for energy recovery or flaring and installation of a gas extraction system is inefficient. Methanotrophic bacteria, utilizing methane as a sole carbon and energy source, are responsible for the aerobic degradation (oxidation) of methane in the biological systems. Many bench-scale studies have demonstrated a high oxidation capacity in diverse filter bed materials such as soil, compost, earthworm cast and etc. Compost had been most often employed in the biological systems, and the methane oxidation rates in compost biocovers/boifilters ranged from 50 to $700\;g-CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Some preliminary field trials have showed the suitability of biocovers/biofilters for practical application and their satisfactory performance in mitigation methane emissions. Since the reduction of landfill methane emissions has been linked to carbon credits and trading schemes, the verified quantification of mitigated emissions through biocovers/biofilters is very important. Therefore, the assessment of in situ biocovers/biofilters performance should be standardized, and the reliable quantification methods of methane reduction is necessary.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.212-220
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• 1995

An obligatory type II methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b was cultivated on methanol as a sole carbon and energy source. The effects of methanol concentration, pH, temperature, nitrogen source and phosphate concentration on cell growth were investigated and the results were compared with the growth on methane, which had been studied previously. When $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ was used as a nitrogen source, the maximal specific growth rate (${\mu}max$) on methanol was $0.20hr^{-1}$ and the carbon conversion efficiency(CCE) was 43%. In comparison, on methane, ${\mu}max$ and CCE were $0.08hr^{-1}$ and 32%, respectively. Ammonia was found to be a better nitrogen source for methanol-growing cells. Cell yield on nitrogen (YX/N) was the same regardless of nitrogen source as 7.14g dry cells/g N, but the yield on methanol(YX/N) was higher with ammonia(0.8g dry cells/g MeOH) than with nitrate(0.64g dry cells/g MeOH). Optimal pH and temperature were 7.0 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Methanol inhibition on cell growth was observed at above 0.5%(v/v). Inhibition by phosphate was observed at above 60mM, although the inhibition on methanol dehydrogenase activity started at a much lower level of 20mM. Based on the experimental findings, the cellular physiology of M. trichosporium OB3b growing on the two closely-related carbon sources were discussed extensively.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.466-471
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• 2019

1,4-dioxane and dichloromethane are classified as carcinogenic groups in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). They are frequently released at high concentrations in an industrial wastewater effluent. The acute toxicity (24 h) of Daphnia magna for 7.53 mg/L of 1,4-dioxane in the industrial effluent was evaluated as 1.1 TU (toxic unit) and showed TU close to the effluent quality standard. Mixed substances of 1,4-dioxane and dichloromethane in the industrial effluent showed relatively high TU as compared to that of a single substance. Half maximal effective concentration (24 h $EC_{50}$) values of 1,4-dioxane and dichloromethane for the synthetic wastewater prepared in laboratory were 1,744 (0.06 TU) and 170 mg/L (0.6 TU), respectively and the toxicity was low. Nevertheless the toxicological evaluation of the mixture showed that TU values increased to 0.02, 0.04 and 0.10, respectively as 1, 5 and 10 ppm of dichloromethane was added to 100 ppm of 1,4-dioxane. And the synergistic effect was observed between two substances. But the TU value of synthetic wastewater was below 5%, lower than that of industrial effluent at the similar concentration.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.97-109
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of anti-inflammatory plant extracts on the in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and methane emission. Anti-inflammatory plant extracts from Morus bombycis Koidz, Mallotus japonicus L., Morus alba L., Paulownia coreana Uyeki, Isodon japonicus Hara and Ginkgo biloba L. were used in the study. The ruminal fluid(5 mL), McDougall buffer(10 mL), timothy as a substrate(0.3 g) and each anti-inflammatory plant extract(5% of substrate) were dispensed anaerobically into 50mL serum bottle. The mixtures were incubated for 3, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72h at $39^{\circ}C$ without shaking. Supplementation of the anti-inflammatory plant extracts did not effects characteristics(pH, digestibility of dry matter, glucose concentration, ammonia concentration, protein concentration, VFA) on rumen fermentation. Total gas was showed a different pattern depending on treatments. Carbon dioxide was significantly(p<0.05) higher in Morus alba and Isodon japonicus than in control at 48h. Methane was significantly(p<0.05) lower in treatment than in control at initial fermentation. However the more incubation time was increased, the more methane emission was higher in treatment than in control. The concentrations of polyphenol and flavonoid were higher in Ginkgo biloba. In conclusion, supplementation of the anti-inflammatory plant extracts did not effect on rumen fermentation and methane emission was decreased in initial fermentation.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.140-149
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• 2022

In this study, the conditions of low temperature and high pressure of biogas upgrading process using polysulfone membrane have been designed and tested to achieve the high recovery and efficiency corresponding to those of the highly selective polymeric materials. Polysulfone hollow fiber membrane with 4-component dope solution was spun via non-solvent induced phase separation. The hollow fiber membrane was mounted into a 1.5 inch housing. The effective area was 1.6 m², and its performance was examined in various operation temperatures and pressures. CO₂ and CH₄ permeances were 412 and 12.7 GPU at 20℃, and 280 and 3.6 GPU at -20℃, respectively, while the CO₂/CH₄ selectivity increased from 32.4 to 77.8. Single gas test was followed by the mixed gas experiments using single-stage and double stage where the membrane area ratio varied from 1:1 to 1:3. At the single-stage, CH₄ purity increased and the recovery decreased as the stage-cut increased. At the double stage, the area ratio of 1:3 showed the higher CH₄ recovery as decreasing the operation temperature at the same purity of CH₄ 97%. Finally, polysulfone hollow fiber membranes have yielded of both CH₄ purity and recovery of 97% at -20℃ and 16 barg.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2014

A numerical analysis was performed for concentration of methane from the biogas using a polysulfone hollow fiber membrane permeator. Governing equations were derived for the countercurrent flow and numerically solved by using the Compaq Visual Fortran 6.6 software. When the methane mole fraction of feed was 0.5, the mole fraction of retentate increased from 0.5 to 0.8; the normalized retentate flow rate to the feed flow rate decreased from 1.0 to 0.57 at the given typical operating condition as the feed gas flowed from the inlet to the outlet of the membrane. As the methane mole fraction of feed was changed to 0.9, the methane mole fraction of retentate became 0.93 and the normalized retentate flow rate was changed to 0.91. When the pressure ratio of the permeate to the feed was varied from 0.33 to 0.17, there was a little difference in the methane mole fraction of retentate for the low stage cut of 0.1, whereas there was an significant increment for the high stage cut of 0.3. The retentate methane mole fraction remained relatively high despite the change of a stage cut as the area of the membrane increased from $1.14m^2$ to $2.57m^2$.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2010

Methane was produced from the anaerobic digestion of marine macro-algae. Elemental analysis was first performed to estimate the theoretical methane production of three macro-algae (Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica, Hizikia fusiformis). Three algae were found to contain C 34 ~ 36%, H 5%, O 37 ~ 43%, N 2 ~ 4%, S 0.4 ~ 0.7%, and ash 14~21%, and the theoretical methane content was in the range of 56 ~ 60%, which can produce 442 ~ 568 mL $CH_4$ per g of volatile solid (VS). Using the biological methane potential (BMP) test, we found that L. japonica resulted in the highest yield of methane (52%). Moreover, various operational conditions, such as algae amount, pH, salinity, particle size, and pre-treatment, were investigated in order to find an optimal condition of anaerobic digestion. At pH 8.0, the autoclaved L. japonica (5g VS/200 mL), when used without washing salt, produced 268.5 mL/g VS which is 65% of the theoretical methane productions. Furthermore, using a CSTR (with the working volume of 7 L out of the total volume of 10 L), we have successfully operated the reactor for 65 days and obtained maximum methane production rate of 1.4 L/day with purity of 70%.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.17-20
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• 2006

한국에너지기술연구원에서는 가정용 고분자연료전지 열병합 발전시스템을 위한 통합형 천연가스 연료처리 시스템을 개발해 왔다. 가정용 시스템으로서 필수적인 소형화와 고효율을 현실화하기 위해, 연료처리 시스템의 각 단위 공정 즉 수증기 개질, 수성가스 전이, 선택적 산화 공정 등을 이중 동 심관형 반응기에 통합하여 상호 열교환이 용이하도록 반응기를 설계하였다. 현재 시험 운전 중인 Prototype-I 연료 처리 시스템은 1kW급 고분자 연료전지 열병합 발전 시스템에 개질 가스를 공급하기 위해 설계되었으며, 기초 성능은 정격 부하 운전시 열효율 78% (HHV 기준), 메탄 전환율 91%이다. 개질 가스 내 일산화탄소 농도는 고분자 연료전지 전극의 피독을 피하기 위해 10ppm 이하로 유지되어야 하며, Prototype-I 연료 처리 시스템은 백금과 루테늄 촉매를 적용한 선택적 산화 반응기를 통해 개질 가스 내 일산화탄소 농도를 10ppm 이하로 제거하였다. 일반 가정에서는 고분자 연료전지 시스템의 부하 변동이 예상되기 때문에 연료 처리 시스템의 부하 변동 운전 특성도 살펴보았다 정격 부하에서 80%, 60%, 40%로 부하를 변동하며 운전하였고, 각 부하에서 안정한 메탄 전환율과 10ppm이하의 일산화탄소 농도를 보였다. 80%까지는 열효율이 77%로 큰 변화를 보이지 않았으며, 60%에서는 76%, 40%에서는 72%로 열효율이 감소하는 현상을 보였다 연료 처리 시스템의 일일 시동-정지 운전시 내구성을 테스트 중이다. 현재까지 50여회의 일일-시동 정지를 시도하였다 시동 후 약 세 시간가량의 정력 부하 운전을 실시한 후 부하 변동을 실시하였고, 총 운전 시간 8시간 정도 운전한 후 시스템을 정지하였다 메탄 전환율과 일산화 탄소 농도, 열효율을 모니터링 하고 있으며, 현재까지 초기 성능을 그대로 유지하고 있다. 앞으로 일일시동-정지 운전 시험을 지속하면서 초기 시동 특성 및 부하 변동에 따른 응답 특성 개선, 그리고 연료전지와의 연계 운전을 실시할 예정이다

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.217.2-217.2
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• 2010

자연 상태에서의 가스하이드레이트의 존재는 물의 빙점보다 높은 온도에서 가스 수송관이 막히는 사고가 관내에 생성된 하이드레이트에 의한 것으로 규명된 이후영구동토지역이나 심해저에 부존되어 있는 막대한 매장량으로 인해 매우 활발한 연구가 최근에 진행되고 있다. 가스하이드레이트는 수분의 량에 비해 대량의 가스를 함유하므로 인위적인 가스하이드레이트를 제조하기 위하여 여러 가지 연구 중 하이드레이트 반응을 촉진하는 촉진제(promoter)와 생성을 억제하는 억제제(inhibitor)를 찾는 연구가 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 계면활성제와 고분자물질이 이들의 다양한 첨가제로 현제 사용되고 있다. 이러한 연구에서 메탄가스하이드레이트 형성에 영향을 미치는 대상물질로 선택한 DME(Dimethane Ether)는 산소 함유율이 34.8wt%인 함산소연료로 최근 신에너지로 부상하고 있으며, 해외 가스전 개발과 맞물려서 상용화단계에 들어와 있다. DME의 물리화학적인 특성으로는 상온의 온도에서 약5기압의 압력으로 액화 시킬 수 있다. 마취성이 강한 디에틸에테르와는 달리 마취성이 없을 뿐만 아니라 인체에 무해한 무색기체로 세탄가가 60가까이되어 경유(세탄가 55) 대체연료로 내연기관의 실증사업이 진행되고 있다. 이러한 특성을 갖고 있는 DME가 메탄가스 하이드레이트 생성에는 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 본 연구에서는 실험을 통해서 분석을 수행하였다. 실험과정에는 세 단계로 구분하여 진행하였는데 첫 번째 단계에서는 메탄가스만으로 하이드레이트 생성조건을 실험분석하였고, 두 번째 단계에서는 DME가스를 먼저 주입한후 동일 온도에서 메탄가스를 주입시켜 하이드레이트 생성 압력을 실험측정하였다. 마지막 단계에서는 DME가스를 약 두 배 정도 많이 주입한 후 동일 온도에서 메탄가스를 주입하여 하이드레이트 생성 압력을 측정하였디. 이러한 단계별 과정을 다소 온화한 $-5^{\circ}C{\sim}4^{\circ}C$의 온도 범위에서 반복적으로 수행하였다. 실험결과에서는 메탄만의 하이드레이트 형성보다 빙점($0^{\circ}C$) 이하의 온도 범위에서는 DME가 메탄하이드레이트 형성에 촉진제 역할을 하였고, 빙점 이상의 온도에서는 억제제의 역할을 하는 것으로 측정되었다. 또한 첨가된 DME의 양에 따라 촉진제의 역할과 억제제의 역할에 확연한 차이를 보였다. 추후 실험에서는 좀더 넓은 농도, 온도 및 압력범위에서 재현성 실험을 추가로 수행할 것도 제안한다.