• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2022

Recently, interest in and demand for sensors that recognize physical activity and their products are increasing. In particular, the development of wearable materials that are flexible, stretchable, and able to detect the user's biological signals is drawing attention. In this study, an experiment was conducted to improve the dip-coating efficiency of a single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion solution after fine holes were made in a hydrophobic material with a micro needle. In this study, dip-coating was performed with a material that was not penetrated, and comparative analysis was performed. The electrical conductivity of the sensor was measured when the sensor was stretched using a strain universal testing machine (Dacell Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) and a multimeter (Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa, CA, USA) was used to measure resistance. It was found that the electrical conductivity of a sensor that was subjected to needling was at least 16 times better than that of a sensor that was not. In addition, the gauge factor was excellent, relative to the initial resistance of the sensor, so good performance as a sensor could be confirmed. Here, the dip-coating efficiency of hydrophobic materials, which have superior physical properties to hydrophilic materials but are not suitable due to their high surface tension, can be adopted to more effectively detect body movements and manufacture sensors with excellent durability and usability.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.388-393
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• 2023

The analysis of engineering data using neural network based on supervised learning has been utilized in various engineering fields such as optimization of chemical engineering process, concentration prediction of particulate matter pollution, prediction of thermodynamic phase equilibria, and prediction of physical properties for transport phenomena system. The supervised learning requires training data, and the performance of the supervised learning is affected by the composition and the configurations of the given training data. Among the frequently observed engineering data, the data is given in log-scale such as length of DNA, concentration of analytes, etc. In this study, for widely distributed log-scaled training data of virtual 100×100 images, available loss functions were quantitatively evaluated in terms of (i) confusion matrix, (ii) maximum relative error and (iii) mean relative error. As a result, the loss functions of mean-absolute-percentage-error and mean-squared-logarithmic-error were the optimal functions for the log-scaled training data. Furthermore, we figured out that uniformly selected training data lead to the best prediction performance. The optimal loss functions and method for how to compose training data studied in this work would be applied to engineering problems such as evaluating DNA length, analyzing biomolecules, predicting concentration of colloidal suspension.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2007

The measurement methods for total nitrogen in wastewater containing a high concentration of nitrogen were evaluated. (1) The UV spectrophotometry, (2) reduction-distillation Kjeldahl, (3) total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and (4) ion chromatography methods were applied. The experimental procedure of the UV spectrophotometric method was simple, but it produced large errors deriving from the dilution of samples and calibration standards. While, the reduction-distillation Kjeldahl method didn't need dilution, but the amount of Devarda's alloy and NaOH lead to large errors up to 50 mg/L. The levels of total nitrogen measured by each method were as follows: reduction-distillation Kjeldahl ($568.6{\pm}38.7mg/L$) > UV spectrophotometry ($527.3{\pm}9.6mg/L$) > total Kjeldahl nitrogen method ($494.7{\pm}21.4mg/L$) > ion chromatography method ($417.9{\pm}7.3mg/L$). Therefore, the reduction-distillation Kjeldahl method is preferred for wastewater with the high concentration of nitrogen. Optimal conditions for each experimental procedure, however, are needed to be confirmed, and the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for total nitrogen is required for reliable measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.255-260
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• 2023

As demanding the detection of explosive molecules, it is required to develop rapidly and precisely responsive sensors with ultra-high sensitivity. Since two-dimensional semiconductors have an atomically thin body nature where mobile carriers accumulate, the abrupt modulation carrier in the thin body channel can be expected. To investigate the effectiveness of WSe₂ semiconductor materials as a detection material for TNT (Trinitrotoluene) explosives, WSe₂ was synthesized using thermal chemical vapor deposition, and afterward, WSe₂ FETs (Field Effect Transistors) were fabricated using standard photo-lithograph processes. Raman Spectrum and FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy reveal that the adsorption of TNT molecules induces the structural transition of WSe₂ crystalline. The electrical properties before and after adsorption of TNT molecules on the WSe₂ surface were compared; as -50 V was applied as the back gate bias, 0.02 μA was recorded in the bare state, and the drain current increased to 0.41 μA with a dropping 0.6% (w/v) TNT while maintaining the p-type behavior. Afterward, the electrical characteristics were additionally evaluated by comparing the carrier mobility, hysteresis, and on/off ratio. Consequently, the present report provides the milestone for developing ultra-sensitive sensors with rapid response and high precision.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2024

Wastewater treatment using membrane bioreactors has been extensively used to alleviate water shortage and pollution by improving the quality of the treated water discharged into the environment. However, membrane biofouling persistently holds back an MBR process by reducing the process efficiency. Herein, we synthesized carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with many hydrophilic oxygen groups and utilized them as an additive to prepare high-performance ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with hydrophilicity and porous pore structure. CNSs were found to form crescent-shaped pores on the membrane surface, increasing the mean surface pore size by about 40% without causing significant defects larger than bubble points, as the CNS content increased by 4.6 wt%. In addition, the porous pore structure of CNS composite membranes was also attributable to the CNS's isotropic morphologies and relatively low particle number density because the aforementioned properties contributed to preventing the polymer solution viscosity from soaring with the loading of CNS. However, too porous structure compromised the mechanical properties, such that CNS2.3 was the best from a comprehensive consideration including the pore structure and mechanical properties. As a result, CNS2.3 showed not only 2 times higher water permeability than CNS0 but also 5 times longer operation duration until membrane cleaning was required.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.30-37
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the separability of vanadium and tungsten from spent SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalyst leach solution by reduction of vanadium and solvent extraction using Alamine 336 and conducted experiments to optimize process conditions. It is difficult to separate vanadium and tungsten due to their similar chemical behavior, but tungsten can be selectively extracted from acidic solution when vanadium extraction is prevented by reducing anionic pentavalent vanadium to cationic tetravalent vanadium. The results showed that NaHSO₃ was most suitable as a reducing agent, and the extraction efficiency of vanadium decreased and the separation efficiency increased as the amount of reducing agent added, reaction time, and temperature increased. When reducing NaHSO₃ 1.5 eq, 60 min, and 60℃, which are optimal conditions of reduction, vanadium and tungsten were effectively separated with vanadium extraction efficiency of 5.8%, tungsten extraction efficiency of 99%, and separation factor of vanadium and tungsten of 7,564.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.43-56
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• 2024

In this study, we investigate wet absorption process and the performance and regeneration of Fe(II)EDTA^2- absorbents, electrodeposition of the reducing agent for recovery of metal powder and re-absorption performance using regenerated absorbed for the simultaneous removal of nitrogen oxides (NO) and sulfur oxides (SO₂) emitted from flue gas. As a result of a simultaneous absorption experiment of NO and SO₂ under the presence of oxygen, the antagonistic effects of SO₂ and O₂ in the absorption solution resulted in the regeneration of Fe(III)EDTA^- and Fe(II)EDTA-NO^2- to Fe(II)EDTA^2-, inducing the maintained neutral pH and maintained NO₂ absorption, thereby greatly improving the simultaneous absorption performance of NO and SO₂. In addition, after regenerating the Fe(II)EDTA^2- absorbent with Zn metal powder as a reducing agent, electrodeposition was performed to recover the remaining reducing agent. During the electrodeposition process, the high Zn recovery efficiency (approximately 57.50%) was observed at an applied voltage of 4 V, and the total absorption amount of NO was also significantly improved.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.699-710
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• 2006

Batch scale experiments to investigate the efficiency of the solidification process for metal mine tailing treatment were performed. Portland and MSG (micro silica pouting) cements were used as solidifier and three kinds of mine tailings (located at Gishi, Daeryang, and Aujeon mine) were mixed with cements to paste solidified matrices. Single axis com-pressible strengths of solidified matrices were measured and their heavy metal extraction ratios were calculated to investigate the solidification efficiency of solidified matrices created in experiments. Solidified matrices ($5cm{\times}5cm{\times}5cm$) were molded from the paste of tailing and cements at various conditions such as different tailing/cement ratio, cement/water ratio, and different cement or tailing types. Compressible strengths of solidified matrices after 7, 14, and 28 day cementation were measured and their strengths ranged from 1 to $2kgf/mm^2$, which were higher than Korean limit of compressible strength for the inside wall of the isolated landfill facility ($0.21kgf/mm^2$). Heavy metal extractions from intact tailings and powdered matrices by using the weak acidic solution were performed. As concentration of extraction solution for the powdered solidified matrix (Portland cement + Gishi tailing at 1:1 w.t. ratio) decreased down to 9.7 mg/L, which was one fifth of As extraction concentration for intact Gishi tailings. Pb extraction concentration of the solidified matrix also decreased to lower than one fourth of intact tailing extraction concentration. Heavy metal extraction batch experiments by using various pH conditions of solution were also performed to investigate the solidification efficiency reducing heavy metal extraction rate from the solidified matrix. With pH 1 and 13 of solution, Zn and Pb concentration of solution were over the groundwater tolerance limit, but at pH $1{\sim}13$ of solution, heavy metal concentrations dramatically decreased and were lower than the groundwater tolerance limit. While the solidified matrix was immerged Into very acidic or basic solution (pH 1 and 13), pH of solution changed to $9{\sim}10$ because of the buffering effect of the matrix. It was suggested that the continuous extraction of heavy metals from the solidified matrix is limited even in the extremely high or low pH of contact water. Results of experiments suggested that the solidification process by using Portland and MSG cements has a great possibility to treat heavy metal contaminated mine tailing.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.843-850
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• 2000

We have produced the microcapsule composed of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ as a core material (Cm) and the gelatinized polysaccharide as a wall material (Wm). Firstly, we have developed a simple, sensitive, and quantitative analysis method of the microencapsulation product using 5% cupric acetate pyridine solution. We could then optimize all the conditions for the microencapsulation process such as the ratio of [Cm] to [Wm], the temperature of dispersion fluid, and the emulsifier concentration using response surface methodology (RSM). As for the microencapsulation of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, the regression model equation for the yield of microencapsulation (YM, %) to the change of an independent variable could be predicted as follows : YM=99.77-1.76([Cm]:[Wm])-1.72$([Cm]\;:\;[Wm])^2$. From the ridge of maximum response, the optimum conditions for the microencapsulation of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ were able to be determined as the ratio of [Cm] to [Wm] of 4.6:5.4(w/w), the emulsifier concentration of 0.49%, and dispersion fluid temperature of $25.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. Finally, the microcapsules produced under the optimal conditions were applied for the analysis of storage stability. The optimal conditions for the storage were found to be the values of pH 9.0 and $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$. And the storage stability of the microcapsules containing ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ were higher than 99% for a week at pH 9.0 and $25^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2005

This study was performed to compare the treatment efficiencies of two media, newly developed Bio-rock and conventional gravel, in soil clothing contact oxidation process. The composition of synthetic wastewater were $COD_{Cr}$ $150{\sim}370\;mg/L$, $BOD_5$ $150{\sim}270\;mg/L$, T-N $20{\sim}60\;mg/L$, T-P $5{\sim}25\;mg/L$, pH 7 and 2 mL/L of trace element solution. The experiment using two reactors was comparatively conducted for the flow rate of 40 L/d for 13 months, respectively. Initially Bio-rock reactor was increased to pH 12 due to $Ca(OH)_2$ with hydration of cement, but gravel reactor was dropped to pH 4 due to the degradation of organic material and nitrification. This significant pH variation deteriorated the growth and activity of microorganism. But the high pH of Bio-rock seems favorite to ammonia stripping and precipitation of phosphate. Such pH variation of Bio-rock and gravel reactors were finally stabilized to pH 8 and pH 6, respectively. The removal efficiencies of organic compounds from Bio-rock reactor were 96% of $COD_{Cr}$, 98% of $BOD_5$, 80% of T-N and 85% of T-P which stably coping against variation of influent concentration. But those of gravel reactor were 96% of $COD_{Cr}$, 96% of $BOD_5$, 42% of T-N and 40% of T-P, respectively. The Bio-rock was 2 times higher than T-N and T-P in treatment efficiency. And electron-microscopic examination showed that Bio-rock was more favorable to microbial adherence than gravel. The microbial populations were $5.2{\times}10^6\;CFU/mL$ of Bio-rock reactor compared to $2.6{\times}10^6\;CFU/mL$ in gravel reactor. In result Bio-rock was favor to microbial adherence and high treatment efficiency in spite of variation of influent concentration which had the advantages in saving running time and reducing site requirement.