• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.680-686
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• 2018

Nitrogen fertilizers, hairy vetch, and slow-release complex fertilizers were applied to the soil during the cultivation of crops. The impact of these factors on $N_2O$ emission was quantitatively assessed and the GHGs reduction effect comprehensively evaluated. Among the three factors, the significant factors affecting $N_2O$ emission were mineral nitrogen>soil moisture>temperature. Yield and fertilizer utilization efficiency were highest in the slow-release complex fertilizer treatment. There was no significant difference in $N_2O$ emissions between the slow-release complex fertilizer treatments and the NPK+hairy vetch treatments. Comprehensive results showed that slow-release complex fertilizers treatment has high yield and fertilizer utilization efficiency but low $N_2O$ emission.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.410-417
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• 2024

Steel mill gases, including coke oven gas (COG), blast furnace gas (BFG), and Linz-Donawitz gas (LDG), are mainly used as fuels within steel plants, resulting in substantial CO₂ emissions. This combustion process accounts for 10% of South Korea's total CO₂ emissions. These off-gases, rich in CO, CH₄, and hydrogen, have the potential to be converted into valuable chemicals through catalytic processes, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and increasing their economic value. This study investigates the conversion of steel mill gases into methanol, an important platform chemical and cleaner transportation fuel. By using COG and LDG as sources of CO and H₂, respectively, a novel process was developed. In this process, H₂-rich COG from a simple single-step membrane separation and raw LDG are converted into methanol with high selectivity using a Cu-Zn-Al catalyst. The study identified the optimal gas compositions for methanol production through experimental results, demonstrating efficient methanol synthesis from various compositions of LDG, COG, pure hydrogen, and H₂-rich COG. This innovative approach not only aims to reduce specific CO₂ emissions from steel plants but also enhances the economic value of the byproduct gases. Thus, the study provides a sustainable and economically advantageous solution for the steel industry.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.650-660
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• 2017

In this study, simplified LCA (life cycle assessment) tool was developed to increase accessibility and availability on LCA timber construction. The result of simplified LCA was compared with commercial program on LCA (Simapro.7) to verify its availability. As a result of evaluating environmental impacts with the Life Cycle Inventory of all processes, gap between LCA and simplified LCA tools of timber construction was about 1%. Therefore, the simplified LCA tool could analyse greenhouse gas emissions of timber construction and to expand number of data set through improved conveniency of users for developing database of timber construction in Korea. The reduction effects of greenhouse gas emissions of timber construction was about 53% of total emission offset up to construction phase. The results of this study would support decision making process to expand to timber construction policy to showcase environmental friendliness of timber construction. It was expected to contribute to response to the New climate regime in forestry.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.449-456
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• 2016

This study was aimed to quantify the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and to suggest suitable plans which consider the carbon emission reduction in the manufacturing process of the domestic structural glued laminated timber. Field investigation on two glued laminated timber manufacturers was conducted to find out material flow input values such as raw materials, transportation, manufacturing process, and energy consumption during manufacturing process. Based on the collected data and the relevant literatures about life cycle inventory (LCI), the amount of carbon dioxide emission per unit volume was quantified. Results show that the carbon dioxide emissions for sawing, drying and laminating process are 31.0, 109.0, 94.2 kg $CO_2eq./m^3$, respectively. These results show 13% lesser amount of total carbon dioxide emissions compared with the imported glued laminated timber in Korea. Furthermore, it was decreased about 37% when the fossil fuel would be replaced with biomass fuel in drying process. Findings from this study is effectively used as the basic data on the life cycle assessment of wooden building.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1245-1254
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• 2008

Proposing a method for the estimation of the social cost for global warming impact (external cost) is the aim of this paper. Both the endpoint approach and conjoint analysis were applied to estimating the social cost for global warming. The endpoint approach was used to assess the damage on the safeguard subjects by global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The conjoint analysis was used to estimate the economic values for safeguard subjects which measure the social preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) on safeguard subjects. The economic values of human health and social asset were estimated at 62,261,700 Won / DALY (yr) and 10,000 Won / 10,000 Won, respectively. Moreover, cost factors of GHGs were calculated by multiplying the damage factor which is quantified the unit damage on safeguard subject and the economic value. In the case of CO$_2$, the cost factor was calculated at 13.52 Won / kg (13,520 Won / ton). External cost of products or services can be calculated by multiplying the GHG inventory result of products or services by the cost factor of each GHG. inventory.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.389-400
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• 2017

In December 2015, 195 nations agreed to cut green house gas emissions in the Paris Climate Convention, and all over the world showed their willingness to participate in greenhouse gas mitigation. Accordingly, various technologies related to greenhouse gas reduction are being considered, among which carbon dioxide capture, storage, utilization (CCUS) technologies are attracting attention as an unique technology capable of directly removing greenhouse gases. However, CCUS technologies are still costly and have low efficiency. It is still more important to analyze the level of CCUS technology before commercialization and to understand trends and to predict future direction of technology. Therefore, this study analyzes the patent trends of CCUS technology and derives implications for future directions. As a result of country analysis, the United States had the highest number of applications, and sectoral analysis shows that 64% of total patents are from capture sector. Companies such as Alstom technology, Toshiba Corp, and Mitsubishi Heavy are focusing on capturing carbon dioxide. In Korea, government research institutes have focused on storage and utilization technologies. In addition, since the late 2000s, patent applications have increased rapidly, and many countries have been interested in the development of the technology and have made efforts to reduce greenhouse gas.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.440-445
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• 2012

15 carbon footprint product (CFP) schemes, including Korea Carbon Footprint Label, UK Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label and Japan CFP are implemented in the world. A CFP describes green house gases (GHGs) emissions emitted throughout product's life cycle and is intended to reduce GHGs emissions by labeling a CFP result on product. This study calculates Korea, UK and Japan CFP result of vacuum cleaner, detergent, packagin material in order to analyze the Korea, UK and Japan CFP standards. Our results demonstrate significant differences among then calculated results because of criteria, emission factors, etc. Therefore, there are many difficulties in providing various CFP results and the international standard and guidelines for product category are needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.4
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• pp.597-602
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• 2010

The most basic matter to establish forest carbon circulation village is statistic on greenhouse gas emissions. But currently, although there is statistic on greenhouse gas emissions in the level of city or province, there is not statistic on greenhouse gas emission in village unit. According to the results, The model area is located in Seobyeok-ri, Chunyang-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the total $CO_2$emissions caused by energy used in the model area was $1,755tCO_2$. Heating accounts for 55% of total emissions followed by 23% for power and 22% for vehicles. The model area emitted $572tCO_2$ due to rice growing and livestock raising, accounting for approximately 24.5% of total $CO_2$ emissions. It is expected that a reduction of as much as $884tCO_2$ emissions will be made from the current $964tCO_2$ to a level of 1/12th that amount, or $80tCO_2$ by replacing heating energy currently used in the model area with wood bioenergy such as wood chips or pellets. In addition, carbon emission reduction is expected for both heating and power by replacing the power consumption in houses, buildings, and street lights with solar power.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.911-916
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• 2010

Rice paddy fields and crop residue burning are a major source of methane ($CH_4$) emissions, a potent greenhouse in agriculture. This study was conducted to assess $CH_4$ emissions in Korea cropland sector from 1990 to 2008. Greenhouse gas emissions from the cropland sector are calculated in two categories: 4C (Rice cultivation) and 4F (Field burning). In 4C: Rice Cultivation, methane emissions from paddy fields (continuously flooded and intermittently flooded) cultivated for rice production had decreased from 395 $CH_4$ $10^3$ Mg in 1990 to 297 $CH_4$ $10^3$ Mg in 2008. $CH_4$ emissions converted into $CO_2$ equivalent were 8,303 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 1990 and 6,229 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 2008. Greenhouse gas emissions from paddy field in Korea showed that it was gradually going down as the cultivation area decreased. In 4F: Field Burning, methane emissions by burning crop residue increased from 2,502 $CH_4$ Mg in 1990 to 2,726 $CH_4$ Mg in 2008. Emissions converted $CH_4$ into $CO_2$ equivalent were 53 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 1990 and 57 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 2008. Total emissions of $CH_4$ from the cropland sector declined from 8,356 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 1990 to 6,287 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 2008.