• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 2017

In Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations(CAFOs), emission of ammonia from stored manure contributes negatively on the wellness of livestock. In CAFOs facilities, indoor aerial ammonia concentration oftentime surpasses the critical level potentially harmful to livestock's immune system. Understandably, numerous researches to control aerial ammonia have been conducted in countries where CAFOs were practiced for many decades. Some innovative technologies, such as scrubber, bio-filter, and additives emerged, as a result. Among them, microbial additives became popular in Korea, due to an easiness of use and affordability. However, microbial additives still have some weaknesses. Their price is still high enough to discourage farmers who run a small scale farm and their effectiveness are still questioned by many users and researchers. In the present study, we found soluble carbohydrates, such as sugar, glucose, and molasses, when supplemented to pig slurry manure, can mitigate ammonia emission. To be more specific, pig manure slurry(120kg), stored in container(200L), was supplemented with sugar at 0.1%(w/w) and was, subsequently, monitored for pH and aerial ammonia for next 10 days. From this experiment, it was found that the sugar supplementation was effective in mitigating the aerial ammonia concentration (33% in average) when monitored daily. Also, the pH of manure slurry was maintained at relatively low level(8.2) in sugar-supplemented manure slurry while it was elevated to 8.5 in untreated slurry. Conclusively, the obtained data suggest that soluble carbohydrate can mitigate ammonia emission by acidifying manure slurry. Additionally, it can be suggested that soluble carbohydrates, such as sugar, glucose, and molasses, can be reasonable choices for animal farmers who have been looking for an alternative choice to replace expensive microbial additives.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2012

With the slowdown in environmental issues and the change of environmental consciousness, ecotourism is being discussed in various social fields. Ecotourism is being popularized for environmental protection, and now it is becoming a mainstream product from one of mass tourism. Ecotourism's emphasis on sustainable development in the tourism destination's society, economy, and environment, through ecotourism study and education, enable people to understand the core value of the ecological environment. 2011 was nominated as "the Year of World Forest" by the UN. In the recent years, forests are becoming increasingly important with their own values and functions in environment, economy, society, and culture. In particular, the global environmental issues caused by climate change are becoming an international agenda. Forests are the only effective solution for the carbon dioxide that causes global warming. Moreover, forests constitute a major part of ecotourism, and are now most used by ecotourists. For example, Korea, wherein 60% of the land is forest, attracts ecotourists. With the increasing interests in environment, the number of tourists visiting the ecosystem forest, which is highly valued for its conservation, is increasing significantly every year and is receiving considerable attention from the government. However, poor facilities in the forest ecotourism sites and improper market strategies are the reasons for the poor running of these sites. Furthermore, tourists' environmental awareness affects ecology environmental pollution or the optimization of forest ecotourism. In order to verify the relationships among tourist attractiveness, environmental consciousness, charm degrees of the attractions, and attitudes after tours, we established some scales based on existing research achievement. Then, using these scales, the researcher completed the questionnaire survey. From December 20, 2010 to February 20, 2011, after conducting surveys for 12 weeks, we finally obtained 582 valid questionnaires, from a total of 700 questionnaires, that could be used in statistical analysis. First, for the method of research and analysis, the researcher initially applied the Cronbach's (Alpha) for verifying the reliability, and subsequently applied the Exploratory factor analysis for verifying the validity. Second, in order to analyze the demographics, the researcher makes use of the Frequency analysis for the AMOS, measurement model, structural equation model computing, and also utilizes construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity. Third, for the analysis of the ecotourists' environmental consciousness, impacts on tourist attractiveness, charm degrees of the attractions, and attitudes after the tour, the researcher uses AMOS 19, with the path analysis and equation of structure. After the research, researchers found that high awareness of natural protection lead to high tourist motivation and satisfaction and more positive attitude after the tour. Moreover, this research shows the psychological and behavioral reactions of the ecotourists to the ecotourist development. Accordingly, environmental consciousness does not affect the tourist attractiveness that has been interpreted as significant. Furthermore, people should focus on the change of natural protection consciousness and psychological reaction of ecotourists while ensuring the sustainable development of ecotourists and developing some ecotourist programs.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2020

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is one of the six greenhouse gases, and it is essential to reduce N₂O by showing a global warming potential (GWP) equivalent to 310 times that of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technology that converts ammonia into harmless N₂ and H₂O by using ammonia as a reducing agent to remove NOx, one of the air pollutants; the process also produces high denitrification efficiency. In this study, the Fe-BEA catalyst was steam-treated at 100 ℃ for 2 h before Fe ion exchange in the fixed bed reactor in order to investigate the effect of the steam-treated Fe-BEA catalyst on the NH₃-SCR reaction. NH₃-SCR reaction test of synthesized catalysts was performed at WHSV = 180 h^-1, 370 to 400 ℃ in the fixed bed reactor. The Fe-BEA(100) catalyst steam-treated at 100 ℃ showed a somewhat higher activity than the Fe-BEA catalyst at 370 to 390 ℃. The catalysts were characterized by BET, ICP, NH₃-TPD, H₂-TPR, and ²⁷Al MAS NMR in order to determine the cause affecting NH₃-SCR activity. The H₂-TPR result confirmed that the Fe-BEA(100) catalyst had a higher reduction of isolated Fe³⁺ than the Fe-BEA catalyst, and that the steam treatment increased the amount of isolated Fe³⁺ as an active species, thus increasing the activity.

• Clean Technology
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• v.13 no.1 s.36
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• pp.54-63
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• 2007

Even traces of CO in the hydrogen-rich feed gas to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) poison the platinum anode electrode and dramatically decrease the power output. In this work, a variety of catalytic materials consisting of $Cu/Ce_xZr_{1-x}O_2$, (x = 0.0-1.0) were synthesised, characterized and tested for CO oxidation and preferential oxidation of CO (PROX). These catalysts prepared by hydrothermal and deposition-precipitation methods. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, $N_2O$ titration and oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurement. The effects of composition of the support and degree of excess oxygen were investigated fur activity and $CO_2$ selectivity with different temperatures. The composition of the support markedly influenced the PROX activity. Among the various $Cu/Ce_xZr_{1-x}O_2$ catalysts having different composition, $Cu/Ce_{0.9}Zr_{0.1}O_2$ and $Cu/Ce_{0.7}Zr_{0.3}O_2$ showed the highest activities (>99%) and selectivities (ca.50%) in the temperature range of $150{\sim}160^{\circ}C$. It was found that by using of $Ce_xZr_{1-x}O_2$ mixed oxide support which possesses a high oxygen storage capacity, oxidation-reduction activity of Cu-based catalyst was improved, which resulted in the increase of catalytic activity and selectivity of CO oxidation in excess $H_2$ environments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2013

This study was conducted to comparatively assess quantitative indicating factor for biomineralization characterizing $CO_2$ mineralization on three type of minerals (i.e., $CaCl_2$, $MgCl_2$, $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$) in an aqueous solution amended with Bacillus pasteurii or indigenous microorganisms for a S landfill cover soil. For given three types of minerals, $NH_4{^+}$ (urease activity) was released at the highest of 88 mg/L for $MgCl_2$, then 85 mg/L for $CaCl_2$, and the lowest of 42 mg/L for $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$. $CO_2$ gas in the head space was completely removed after 12, 12, and 24 hr for $CaCl_2$, $MgCl_2$ and $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$, respectively. $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in $CaCl_2$ solution was the quickest and the greatest decreased 92% for 12 hr whereas that in $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$ solution was lower at 85% for 36 hr. $Mg^{2+}$ concentration in $MgCl_2$ was more efficiently decreased at 46% for 48 hr than that of $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$ solution of 38.5% for 72 hr. Regardless of types of minerals or their concentration, pH was changed from 5.5 to 9 by biomineralization being progressed. Microbial activity ($OD_{600}$) was also changed from 0 to 0.6. SEM images indicated that spheroidal and trapezoid shape crystal were formed, which were identified as of $CaCO_3$ (Calcite) and $MgCO_3$ (Magnesite) by X-ray diffraction. In the long run, $NH_4{^+}$ (urease activity), $CO_2$ gas, $OD_{600}$, pH, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ would be suitable for reasonable indicating factor in order to assess the degree of biomineralization efficiency.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2020

Sustainable plastics can be mainly categorized into (1) biodegradable plastics decomposed into water and carbon dioxide after use, and (2) biomass-derived plastics possessing the carbon neutrality by utilizing raw materials converted from atmospheric carbon dioxide to biomass. Recently, biomass-derived engineering plastics (EP) and natural nanofiber-reinforced nanocomposites are emerging as a new direction of the industry. In addition to the eco-friendliness of natural resources, these materials are competitive over petroleum-based plastics in the high value-added plastics market. Polyesters and polycarbonates synthesized from isosorbide and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, which are representative biomass-derived monomers, are at the forefront of industrialization due to their higher transparency, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and gas barrier properties. Moreover, isosorbide has potential to be applied to super EP material with continuous service temperature over 150 ℃. In situ polymerization utilizing surface hydrophilicity and multi-functionality of natural nanofibers such as nanocellulose and nanochitin achieves remarkable improvements of mechanical properties with the minimal dose of nanofillers. Biomass-derived tough-plastics covered in this review are expected to replace petroleum-based plastics by satisfying the carbon neutrality required by the environment, the high functionality by the consumer, and the accessibility by the industry.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.86-92
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• 2011

In order to reduce dependence on the fossil fuels and $CO_2$ gas emission in farming activities, the government has pushed ahead with making the self-sufficiency of farming energy up 40% level in green villages. The objectives of this study are to survey the energy consumption of horticultural facilities or agricultural machineries, and to analyze the reduced $CO_2$ gas emission level from fossil fuel to bio-diesel fuel. For the implement of this study, it is necessary to analyze the energy consumption level in the various sector of farming activities, and available renewable energy sources should be selected. Annual total $CO_2$ gas emission in the tillage farming sector was analyzed as $5,667,258\;t-CO_2$ and that in the horticultural facilities occupied $4,932,607\;t-CO_2$, while the $CO_2$ gas emission level of diesel fuel was $3,105,707\;t-CO_2$, and that of the heavy oil showed $1,370,578\;t-CO_2$. The average $CO_2$ gas emission level of horticultural facilities in the country was analyzed as $29,418\;t-CO_2/ha$. Among the total energy consumption of agricultural machineries, tractor used 284,763kL, power tiller spent 221,314 kL, grain drier consumed 145,524kL and combine tractor expend 72,537kL. From the comparison of $CO_2$ gas emission level between fossil fuel and bio-diesel fuel for the horticultural facilities or agricultural machinery in G-City, Jeonbuk Province, the $CO_2$ gas emission level can be reduced by 7% through replacing the fuel from fossil to biodiesel.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2024

Fishing net waste (FNW) constitutes over half of all marine plastic waste and is a major contributor to the degradation of marine ecosystems. While current treatment options for FNW include incineration, landfilling, and mechanical recycling, these methods often result in low-value products and pollutant emissions. Importantly, FNWs, comprised of plastic polymers, can be converted into valuable resources like syngas and pyrolysis oil through pyrolysis. Thus, this study presents a process for generating high-purity hydrogen (H₂) by catalytically pyrolyzing FNW in a CO₂ environment. The proposed process comprises of three stages: First, the pretreated FNW undergoes Ni/SiO₂ catalytic pyrolysis under CO₂ conditions to produce syngas and pyrolysis oil. Second, the produced pyrolysis oil is incinerated and repurposed as an energy source for the pyrolysis reaction. Lastly, the syngas is transformed into high-purity H₂ via the Water-Gas-Shift (WGS) reaction and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). This study compares the results of the proposed process with those of traditional pyrolysis conducted under N₂ conditions. Simulation results show that pyrolyzing 500 kg/h of FNW produced 2.933 kmol/h of high-purity H₂ under N₂ conditions and 3.605 kmol/h of high-purity H₂ under CO₂ conditions. Furthermore, pyrolysis under CO₂ conditions improved CO production, increasing H₂ output. Additionally, the CO₂ emissions were reduced by 89.8% compared to N₂ conditions due to the capture and utilization of CO₂ released during the process. Therefore, the proposed process under CO₂ conditions can efficiently recycle FNW and generate eco-friendly hydrogen product.