• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2018

To enhance the recycling rate of used metal resources, it is strongly desired to develop a metal sorting system that can automatically identify metal type from mixed metal scraps and sort them separately. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS) is a technique that enables real time classification of different metals based on multi-elemental and in-air analysis. In this work, we report the results of LIBS elemental analysis of field scrap samples acquired from a recycling company. By applying multivariate analysis, it was found that the LIBS signals of five different metals could be perfectly classified if surface contamination was removed. The classification accuracy degraded for LIBS signals including contaminant emission, which however could be overcome by performing the multivariate analysis using properly selected emission lines of higher correlation only. The significant improvement in classification accuracy and process speed by the selection of proper emission lines demonstrated the feasibility of LIBS technique as an industrial tool for metal scrap sorting.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2018

The rapid increase in the consumption of products that contain rare metals has highlighted the importance of recycling and recovering resources from these products when they enter the waste stream. Among various metal resources that can be recovered, this study analyzes the waste streams of cobalt and palladium to determine how their waste resource circulation can be improved at each stage of the waste stream. The findings of this study point to improvements and strategies that can be made at individual stages. First, at the discharge/import stage, the implementation of tariff quotas for specific recycled metal resources is suggested to allow the systemic categorization of waste metals as resources. At the collection/discarding stage, a major problem is the instability in the supply of scrap metals, which may be better managed by changing the bidding process for the scrap metals. At the pretreatment stage, possible areas for improvement are uncovered concerning technical areas, such as technological development and improving the efficiency of material recycling, as well as policy-wise, for instance, expanding the regulation for manufacturers to produce products that are designed to facilitate resource recovery, increasing incentive for closed recycling, and refining the guidelines and standards for recycling. At the resource recovery stage, as the waste metal recycling industry consists of businesses that vary in size, policies to promote cooperation and coexistence between large and smaller enterprises will benefit the industry in the long-run. Lastly, at the product production/export stage, a tariff on exporting waste resources that contain cobalt and palladium will help control the amount of waste metals that are shipped abroad.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.14-22
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• 2018

In this study, scarp of PCB containing copper and precious metals was manufactured as an anode, and electrorefining experiments were conducted on change of $H_2SO_4$ concentration and current density. Through electrolytic refining experiments, the concentration of Cu and slime recovered from each electrode was analyzed, element behavior was confirmed, and current efficiency was also calculated. As the $H_2SO_4$ concentration was increased, the current efficiency and the purity of Cu decreased, but the precious metals in the anode slime were maximally concentrated with 2.0 M $H_2SO_4$. In addition, as the current density was increased, the current efficiency decreased and the purity of Cu showed a tendency to increase, and the precious metals in the anode slime were maximally concentrated with $300A/m^2$. As a result of the pilot scale experiments, the Au content was 8,705 mg/kg, the Ag content was 35,092 mg/kg in the anode slime. As compared with the initial content, Au was concentrated 16 times and Ag concentrated 14 times.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2017

This study is carried out to obtain basic data regarding oxidation and reduction reactions, originated on the recycling of waste tungsten hard scraps by oxidation and reduction processes. First, it is estimated that the theoretical Gibbs free energy for the formation reaction of $WO_2$ and $WO_3$ are calculated as ${\Delta}G_{1,000K}=-407.335kJ/mol$ and ${\Delta}G_{1,000K}=-585.679kJ/mol$, from the thermodynamics data reported by Ihsan Barin. In the experiments, the oxidation of pure tungsten rod by oxygen is carried out over a temperature range of $700-1,000^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, and it is possible to conclude that the oxidation reaction can be represented by a relatively linear relationship. Second, the reduction of $WO_2$ and $WO_3$ powder by hydrogen is also calculated from the same thermodynamics data, and it can be found that it was difficult for the reduction reaction to occur at $1,027^{\circ}C$, in the case of $WO_2$, but it can happen for temperatures higher than $1127^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, $WO_3$ reduction reaction occurs at the relatively low temperature of $827^{\circ}C$. Based on these results, the reduction experiments are carried out at a temperature range of $500-1,000^{\circ}C$ for 15 min to 4 h, in the case of $WO_3$ powder, and it is possible to conclude that the reduction at $900^{\circ}C$ for 2h is needed for a perfect reduction reaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2014

In this research, we quantified the environmental load while using and not using secondary resources. During the process of primary processed product of metal resources (copper, aluminum), we applied LCA technique and analyzed by dividing into 8 environmental impact categories that affect the environment. Furthermore, we analyzed the greenhouse gas that occur during the process of primary processed product domestically and globally according to the changes of each metal resource's recycling rate. Consequently, when producing 1 ton of copper using secondary resources, the environmental effects were found to be 6.09E + 01 person-yr/f.u. and 7.23E + 01 person-yr/f.u. Additionally, as the recycling rate increased both globally and domestically, the amount of greenhouse gas decreased. Producing 1 ton of Aluminum using secondary resources, the environmental effects were found to be 2.34E + 02 person-yr/f.u. and 3.01E + 02 person-yr/f.u. Moreover, as the recycling rate domestically decreased, the amount of greenhouse gas increased, however the globally was decreased.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2007

In this study, the EPDM powder which was surface activated by high temperature and shear pulverization process was prepared and the mechanical properties and odor material analysis were investigated. Analysis for particle size and size distribution of waste of the EPDM powder has been performed. The waste EPDMs used in this study were 4 types of solid, sponge, solid+sponge, and solid+metal. According to the results, the solid type showed the smallest particle size among the 4 types of EPDM powder. Effective surface devulcanization of EPDM powder could be obtained by the addition of the reclaiming agent. The dicumyl peroxide was considered as the best crosslink agent for dynamic vulcanization when the surface activated EPDM powder was blended with polyolefin in order to make TPE. Also, the optimum amounts of DCP was 6 phr in terms of surface crosslink reaction and mechanical properties of EPDM powder. The processes of water adsorption and rose oil addition were employed to remove the odor of EPDM powder caused by reclaiming agent. The GC/MS was used to analyze the odor compounds.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.567-573
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• 2012

Compared with the natural marble, the artificial marble has the advantages of excellent appearance, high degree of finish, even color, fine pressure and wear resistance, bear erosion and weathering, etc. It can be widely used in kitchen countertops, bath vanity tops, table tops, furniture, reception desks, etc. However, large amounts of artificial marble waste such as scraps or dust have been generated from sawing and polishing processes in artificial marble industry. Waste from artificial marble industry is increasing according to demand magnification of luxurious interior material. Artificial marble wastes can be recycled as aluminum oxide used as raw materials in electronic materials, ceramics production, etc., and methyl methacrylate(MMA) which become a raw material of artificial marble by pulverization, pyrolysis and distillation processes. The characteristics of artificial marble wastes was analyzed by using TGA/DSC and element analysis. Crude aluminum oxide was obtained from artificial marble waste by pulverization and thermal decomposition under nitrogen atmosphere. In this work, Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the pyrolysis process. The characteristics of crude aluminum oxide was evaluated by chromaticity analysis, element analysis, and surface area.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.65-72
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• 2017

APT (Ammonium paratungstate) is widely used in various industries such as metal cutting tools, drill bits, mining tools, and military inorganic materials. In order to produce high purity APT(S), an impurity purification step in an aqueous $Na_2WO_4$ convert $H_2WO_4$ solution is required. It is difficult to remove impurity Na of 200 ppm or less when $H_2WO_4(S)$ is prepared by adding HCl(Aq) to an aqueous solution of $Na_2WO_4$, which is a well-known conventional wet method. However, in this study, a more economical and efficient method of removing Na through electrodialysis using a cationic membrane was studied. A large amount of Na in aqueous solution of $H_2WO_4$ due to $Na_2CO_3(S)$ which was added to dissolve waste tungsten carbide drill and scrap was removed to 20ppm or less through electrodialysis process, and it was confirmed that the effect of Na removal was great when using electrodialysis.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.141-161
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• 2006

In this study, we classified word problems related to real life presented in elementary mathematics textbooks into five types of context problems(location, story, project, scrap, theme) suggested by Freudenthal(1991), and applied context problems to mathematics class to analyze the influence on students' mathematical belief and attitude. Also, we examined the types of context problems preferred according to academic performance and the reasons of preference within a group experiencing context problems. The results of the study are as follows. First, almost lessons in the mathematics textbook presents word problems related to real life, but the presenting method is inclined to a story type. Also, the problems with a story type are presented fragmentarily. Therefore, although these word problems are familiar to the students, they don't include contextual meanings and cannot induce enough mathematical motives and interests. Second, a lesson using context problems give a positive influence on their mathematics belief and attitude. It is also expected to give a positive influence on students' mathematics learning in the long run. Third, the preferred types of context problems and the reasons of preference are different according to the level of academic performance within the experimental group.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2004

The recycling of waste XLPE(crosslinked polyethylene), which is a major source of scraps from high voltage power transmission cables, has been discussed. The waste XLPE scraps were ground into fine powder with various sizes from less than $100{\mu}m$ up to about $1000{\mu}m$ using two types of tailor-made pulverizers. The compounds were prepared in a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder at various conditions such as different compositions, types and powder sizes of waste XLPE, screw configurations and various polymer matrices (LDPE, HDPE, PP, PS). The mechanical and rheological properties and the fracture surface or the compounds were investigated. It was found that an improved impact strength was obtained from the compound with white XLPE powder pulverized from the scraps without outer/inner semi-conductive layers. Generally, the impact strength increases with the content of XLPE but decreases with the size of XLPE. Especially for LDPE, the extrusion was possible up to 80 wt% loading of XLPE. Also, the impact strength increases with the number of kneading disc blocks in the given screw configurations. The melt viscosity of the compounds increases with increasing XLPE loading. However, the higher shear thinning behavior of the compounds at common shear rates implies proper processibility of the compounds. In addition, the impact strength for other polymer matrices used increases with XLPE and it is noticeable that the impact strength of PS/XLPE (80/20 wt%) compound was improved twice that of pure PS.