• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.781-797
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• 2023

Recently, there has been a rapid response from mineral-demanding countries for securing critical minerals in a high tech industries. Graphite, while overwhelmingly dominated by China in production, is changing in global supply due to the exponential growth in EV battery sector, with active exploration in East Africa. Rare earth elements are essential raw materials widely used in advanced industries. Globally, there are ongoing developments in the production of REEs from three main deposit types: carbonatite, laterite, and ion-adsorption clay types. While China's production has decreased somewhat, it still maintains overwhelming dominance in this sector. Recent changes over the past few years include the rapid emergence of Myanmar and increased production in Vietnam. Nickel has been used in various chemical and metal industries for a long time, but recently, its significance in the market has been increasing, particularly in the battery sector. Worldwide, nickel deposits can be broadly classified into two types: laterite-type, which are derived from ultramafic rocks, and ultramafic hosted sulfide-type. It is predicted that the development of sulfide-type, primarily in Australia, will continue to grow, while the development of laterite-type is expected to be promoted in Indonesia. This is largely driven by the growing demand for nickel in response to the demand for lithium-ion batteries. The global lithium ores are produced in three main types: brine lake (78%), rock/mineral (19%), and clay types (3%). Rock/mineral type has a slightly higher grade compared to brine lake type, but they are less abundant. Chile, Argentina, and the United States primarily produce lithium from brine lake deposits, while Australia and China extract lithium from both brine lake and rock/mineral sources. Canada, on the other hand, exclusively produces lithium from rock/mineral type. Vanadium has traditionally been used in steel alloys, accounting for approximately 90% of its usage. However, there is a growing trend in the use for vanadium redox flow batteries, particularly for large-scale energy storage applications. The global sources of vanadium can be broadly categorized into two main types: vanadium contained in iron ore (81%) produced from mines and vanadium recovered from by-products (secondary sources, 18%). The primary source, accounting for 81%, is vanadium-iron ores, with 70% derived from vanadium slag in the steel making process and 30% from ore mined in primary sources. Intermediate vanadium oxides are manufactured from these sources. Vanadium deposits are classified into four types: vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM), sandstone-hosted, shale-hosted, and vanadate types. Currently, only the VTM-type ore is being produced.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.487-494
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• 2008

An experiment was performed for zone refined Re-filament and normal (nonzone refined) Re-filament to reduce the background effect on the measurement of low level uranium samples. From both filaments, the signals which seemed to come from a cluster of light alkali elements, $(^{39}K_6)^+$, $(^{39}K_5+^{41}K)^+$ and $PbO_2$ were identified as the isobaric effect of the uranium isotopes. The isobaric effect signal was completely disappeared by heating the filament about $2000^{\circ}C$ at < $10^{-7}$ torr of vacuum for more than 1.5 hour in zone refined Refilaments, while that from the normal Re-filaments was not disappeared completely and was still remained as 3 pg. of uranium as the impurities after the degassing treatment was performed for more than 5 hours at the same condition of zone refined filaments. A threshold condition eliminating impurities were proved to be at 5 A and 30 minutes of degassing time. The uranium content as an impurity in rhenium filament was checked with a filament degassing treatment using the U-233 spike by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. A 0.31 ng of U was detected in rhenium filament without degassing, while only 3 pg of U was detected with baking treatment at a current of 5.5 A for 1 hr. Using normal Re-filaments for the ultra trace of uranium sample analysis had something problem because uranium remains to be 3 pg on the filament even though degassed for long hours. If the 1 ng uranium were measured, 0.3% error occurred basically. It was also conformed that ionization filament current was recommended not to be increased over 5.5 A to reduce the background. Finally, the contents of uranium isotopes in uranium standard materials (KRISS standard material and NIST standard materials, U-005 and U-030) were measured and compared with certified values. The differences between them showed 0.04% for U-235, 2% for U-234 and 2% for U-236, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.447-454
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• 2003

Samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The nominal composition of the samples was B $i_{1.84}$P $b_{0.34}$S $r_{1.91}$C $a_{2.03}$C $u_{3.06}$ $O_{10+{delta}$ prepared from powder of B $i_2$ $O_3$, PbO, SrC $O_3$, CaC $O_3$, and CuO. They were pulverized, mixed with AgO, A $u_2$ $O_3$and MgO of 50 wt%. Finally, they were sintered at 820 to 85$0^{\circ}C$ in air. The structural characteristics, the microstructure of surface and the critical temperature with respect to the each samples were analyzed by XRD, $T_{c}$, SEM and EDS respectively. It was found that the the critical temperature of the silver oxide additive samples (99.58 K) is higher than those of gold or magnesium oxides additive samples, but all those values are lower than that of pure Bi-2223 phase. The microstructure of surface showed the tendency which the AgO additive samples become more minuteness than A $u_2$ $O_3$ and MgO additive samples.s.samples.s.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2004

The soil samples were collected from the paddy field near the mine tailing dumps in the abandoned Duckum mine in Korea. In the laboratory, the soil solution was extracted from the soil using centrifuge, and analysed for the chemical composition. Physical and chemical soil properties were also analysed. Kaolinite is the main clay minerals in the paddy soil and the CEC value is therefore relatively low. Nearly all soil samples show enrichment in their trace elemental concentrations(Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) compared with natural background level. Some soil samples exceed the soil remediation intervention values for Cd, Pb and Zn and target value for Cu, when compared with Dutch standard, whereas As, Ni and Cr are in normal range. Lead concentrations in some samples near the mine tailing dumps also exceed the standard for remediation act for agricultural area set by Korean soil conservation law. The trace elemental concentrations are higher in the paddy soil nearer the mine tailing dumps and lower for the samples from distance. Similar trend with distance is found for the soil solution chemistry but the decrease with distance from the mine tailing dumps are sharper than the changes in soil chemistry. Cadmium, Cu and Pb concentrations in the soil solution are very low, ranging from a tenth and hundredths to a maximum of several mg/l, whereas their concentrations in soils are highly enriched for natural background. Most of the trace elements are thought to be either removed by reduced iron sulphides or iron oxides, depending on the redox changes. Geochemical equilibrium modelling indicate the presence of solubility controlling solid phases for Cd and Pb, whereas Zn and Cu might have been controlled by adsorption/desorption processes. Although pollutants migration through solution phase are thought to be limited by adsorption onto various Fe, Mn solid phases, the pollutants exist as easily releasable fractions such as exchangeable site. In this case, the paddy soil would act as pollutant pool, which will supply to plants in situ. whenever the geochemical conditions favour.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.634-640
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• 2017

Toxicity and fate assessment is necessary in the evaluation of the environmental, health and safety risks of engineered nanomaaterials (ENMs). Therefore, in order to ensure the reproducibility, reliability and relevance of ENMs toxicity results, stable and monomodal dispersion protocols in toxicity test media are needed. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) are widely used in various products such as cosmetic products, paper, paints etc. In this study, nZnO dispersions in ecotoxicity test media were produced by following a series of steps of modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special publication 1200-5. In addition, natural organic matter (humic acid (HA)) was used as a stabilizing agent to disperse nZnO in the test media. The hydrodynamic diameters (HDD) of the nZnO in dispersion ranged between 150 and 200 nm according to the dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement. Based on these dispersions in ecotoxicity test using ecological species (Oryzias latipes, Daphnia magna, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chironomusus riparius), dispersion protocol was found to have a considerable potential in ecotoxicity test of ENMs.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2020

Recently, various degradation mechanisms of lithium secondary battery cathode materials have been revealed. As a result, many studies on overcoming the limitation of cathode materials and realizing new electrochemical properties by controlling the degradation mechanism have been reported. Li-rich layered oxide is one of the most promising cathode materials due to its high reversible capacity. However, the utilization of Li-rich layered oxide has been restricted, because it undergoes a unique atomic structure change during the cycle, in turn resulting in unwanted electrochemical degradations. To understand an atomic structure deterioration mechanism and suggest a research direction of Li-rich layered oxide, we deeply evaluated the atomic structure of 0.4Li₂MnO₃_0.6LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ Li-rich layered oxide during electrochemical cycles, by using an atomic-resolution analysis tool. During a charge process, Li-rich materials undergo a cation migration of transition metal ions from transition metal slab to lithium slab due to the structural instability from lithium vacancies. As a result, the partial structural degradation leads to discharge voltage drop, which is the biggest drawback of Li-rich materials.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.530-534
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• 2011

The synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by liquid phase oxidative carbonylation of methanol was studied under batch reaction system. Reaction factors such as effect on various metals, anion containing in copper catalyst, temperature, carbon monoxide and oxygen molar ratio and copper content were investigated. In particular $CuCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$ showed the excellent of the methanol conversion 65.2%, DMC selectivity 96.6% reaction condition under 1.0 g, $150^{\circ}C$, MeOH/CO/$O_2$=0.2/0.215/0.05 (molar ratio). $CuCl_2$ led to corrosion of the reactor. Thus, a new catalyst system using supports was investigated to resolve these corrosion problem. Influence on various supports were examined and copper catalyst supported on zeolite Y showed the most excellent activity on the formation of dimethyl carbonate. The amount of Fe dissolved during the reaction using ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer) was compared with catalysts, calcined Cu/zeolite Y showed the lower value below 5% than $CuCl_2-2H_2O$.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.352-360
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the electrochemical properties develop DSA electrode for sewage sludge solubilization. Using Ir as a main catalyst, the catalyst selected for the sewage sludge solubilization durability and proceeds to functional electrode suitable for sewage sludge electrolysis experiment were obtained the following results. Less mass reduction of the sintering temperature of the main catalyst, Ir coated electrodes, the endothermic reaction zone $300^{\circ}C$ to $500^{\circ}C$, which was selected from a range of experiments. The efficiency of the catalyst results came up to $350^{\circ}C$ best. Each Binder stars (Ta, Sn, W) in this experiment was the biggest catalyst efficiency at $350^{\circ}C$. Used as a binder, $TaCl_5$, $SnCl_4$, $WCl_6$ of the Ta and without affecting the other characteristics of the main catalyst than Sn, W. For the 50% $IrO_2$ electrode is 1.4 V (vs. Ag / AgCl) in a current of about $29mA/cm^2$ was caused to evaluate the effectiveness of the electrode.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.214.1-214.1
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• 2015

Thin-film transistors (TFTs)의 채널층으로 널리 쓰이는 indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO)는 높은 전자 이동도(약 10 cm2/Vs)를 나타내며 유기 발광 다이오드디스플레이(OLED)와 대면적 액정 디스플레이(LCD)에 필수적으로 사용되고 있다. 하지만, 이러한 재료는 우수한 TFT의 채널층의 특성을 가지는 반면, ZnO 기반 재료이기 때문에 소자 구동에서의 안정성은 가장 큰 문제로 남아있다. 따라서 최근, IGZO layer의 특성을 향상시키기 위한 연구가 다양한 방법으로 시도되고 있다. IGZO의 조성비를 조절하여 전기적 특성을 최적화거나 IGZO layer의 조성 중 Ga을 다른 금속 메탈로 대체하는 연구도 이루어지고 있다. 그러나 IGZO에 미량의 도펀트를 첨가하여 박막 특성 변화를 관찰한 연구는 거의 진행되지 않고 있다. 산화물 TFTs의 전기적 특성과 안정성은 산소 함량에 영향을 많이 받는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 더욱이 TFT 채널층으로 쓰이는 IGZO 박막의 고유한 산소 공공은 디바이스 작동 중 열적으로 활성화 되어 이온화 상태가 될 때 소자의 안정성을 저하시키는 것이 문제점으로 지적되고 있다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 낮은 전기 음성도(1.22)와 표준전극전위(-2.372 V)를 가지며 산소와의 높은 본드 엔탈피 값(719.6 kJ/mol)을 가짐으로써 산소 공공생성을 억제할 것으로 기대되는 yttrium을 IGZO의 도펀트로 도입하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 Y-IGZO의 박막 특성 변화를 관찰하고자 한다. 본 연구에서는 magnetron co-sputtering법으로 IGZO 타깃(DC)과 Y2O3 타깃(RF)를 이용하여 기판 가열 없이 동시 방전을 이용해 non-alkali glass 기판 위에 증착 하였다. IGZO 타깃은 DC power 110 W으로 고정하였으며 Y2O3 타깃에는 RF Power를 50 W에서 110 W까지 증가시키면서 Y 도핑량을 조절하였다. Working pressure는 고 순도 Ar을 20 sccm 주입하여 0.7 Pa로 고정하였다. 모든 실험은 $50{\times}50mm$ 기판 위에 총 두께 $50nm{\pm}2$ 박막을 증착 하였으며, 그 함량에 따른 전기적 특성 및 광학적 특성을 살펴보았다. 또한, IGZO 박막 제조 시 박막의 안정화를 위해 열처리과정은 필수적이다. 하지만 본 연구에서는 열처리를 진행하지 않고 Y-IGZO의 안정성 개선 여부를 보기 위하여 20일 동안 상온에서 방치하여 그 전기적 특성변화를 관찰하였다. 나아가 Y-IGZO 채널 층을 갖는 TFT 소자를 제조하여 소자 구동 특성을 관찰 하였다. Y2O3 타깃에 가해지는 RF Power가 70 W 일 때 Y-IGZO박막은 IGZO박막과 비교하여 상대적으로 캐리어 밀도는 낮은 반면 이동도는 높은 최적 특성을 얻을 수 있었다. 상온방치 결과 Y-IGZO박막은 IGZO박막에 비해 전기적 특성 변화 폭이 적었으며 이것은 Y 도펀트에 의한 안정성 개선의 결과로 예상된다. 투과도는 Y 도핑에 의하여 약 1.6 % 정도 상승하였으며 밴드 갭 내에서 결함 준위로 작용하는 산소공공의 억제로 인한 결과로 판단된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2008

To clarify the antioxidation effect of the various solvent fractionation of Tetragonia tetragoniodes which has been known to superior plants for the traditional prevention and treatment of stomach-related diseases, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, vitamin E content, the elimination activity of a DPPH free radical and superoxide anion, inhibition activity of the superoxide generation, reducing power and metal chelating effects were estimated. The contents of the polyphenol compounds were highest in the DCM and EA fractionation, and the content of flavonoid was high in the order of HX and EA fractionation. The vitamin E content showed high in the order of the HX and DCM fractionation among solvent fractions. $IC_{50}$ for the elimination effect of a DPPH radical were estimated as 554.25 and $394.96{\mu}g/ml$ in the DCM and EA fractions, respectively. These values were higher than that of BHT $784.7{\mu}g/ml$ widely used in antioxidation effect. The inhibition activity of the superoxide generation using the T. tetragoniodes solvent fractions represented the effects similar to that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol known to prevent the lipoprotein oxidation, but lower consequences than that of the phenol-resins, BHT and BHA, respectively. In the antioxidation activity derived by the reducing capability, the EA fractionation in a 1.5 mg/ml concentration showed higher than that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol.