• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.727-734
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• 2018

In this study, real-time absorption coefficients of carbonaceous species in $PM_{2.5}$ was observed using a dual-spot 7-wavelength Aethalometer between November 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 at an urban site of Gwangju. In addition, 24-hr integrated $PM_{2.5}$ samples were simultaneously collected at the same site and analyzed for organic carbon and elemental carbon (OC and EC) using the thermal-optical transmittance protocol. A main objective of this study was to estimate mass absorption cross section (MAC) values of black carbon (BC) particles at the study site using the linear regression between aethalometer-based absorption coefficient and filter-based EC concentration. BC particles observed at 880 nm is mainly emitted from combustion of fossil fuels, and their concentration is typically reported as equivalent BC concentration (eBC). eBC concentration calculated using MAC value of $7.77m^2/g$ at wavelength of 880 nm, which was proposed by a manufacturer, ranged from 0.3 to $7.4{\mu}g/m^3$ with an average value of $1.9{\pm}1.2{\mu}g/m^3$, accounting for 7.3% (1.5~20.9%) of $PM_{2.5}$. The relationship between aerosol absorption coefficients at 880 nm and EC concentrations provided BC MAC value of $15.2m^2/g$, ranging from 11.4 to $16.2m^2/g$. The eBC concentrations calculated using the estimated MAC of $15.2m^2/g$ were significantly lower than those reported originally from aethalometer, and ranged from 0.2 to $3.8{\mu}g/m^3$, with an average of $1.0{\pm}0.6{\mu}g/m^3$, accounting for 3.7% of $PM_{2.5}$ (0.8~10.7%). Result from this study suggests that if the MAC value recommended by the manufacturer is applied to calculate the equivalent BC concentration and radiative forcing due to BC absorption, they would result in significant errors, implying investigation of an unique MAC value of BC particles at a study site.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2014

Due to the polar characteristics of silica compared to carbon black, the degree of silica dispersion, which affects the mechanical properties of rubber compounds, is an important issue. Wolff first introduced the in-rubber structure of particles (${\alpha}_F$) to express the structure development in the compounds; however, with the introduction of bifunctional silanes, his theory could not explain the 3-dimensional network structure of the compounds. Later his theory was expanded to express the composite interaction parameter (in-rubber structure of the compound) (${\alpha}_C$), which included Wolff's filler-filler interaction parameter (${\alpha}_F$), however, there was no reported experimental result proving the theory. This research first experimentally expressed the in-rubber structure of the compound ${\alpha}_C$ (= ${\alpha}_F+{\alpha}_{FP}$(filler-silane-rubber interaction parameter) + ${\alpha}_P$ (rubber-rubber interaction parameter)) upon mono- and bifunctional silane treated silica filled natural rubber (NR) compounds. Using different structure silanes, i.e. PTES, OTES, TESPD, and TESPT, the ${\alpha}_C$ value of each compound was measured and calculated. The ${\alpha}_C$ value of TESPT treated silica filled compound was 1.64, which composed of ${\alpha}_F$ (0.99), ${\alpha}_{FP}$ (0.31), and ${\alpha}_P$ (0.34).

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.114-130
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• 2017

Enhancing the properties of rubber, such as the tensile strength, modulus, and wear abrasion, by the addition of carbon black and silica as fillers is very important for improving the performance of rubber products. In this review, we summarize the general features of 'the reinforcement of rubber by fillers' and the equations for representing the reinforcement phenomena. The rubber reinforcement was attributed to enhancement of the following: the rubber, bound rubber, formation of networks, and combination between rubber chains and silica followed by entanglement. The reinforcement capability of silica species with different surface and networked states demonstrated the importance of the connection between the silica particles and the rubber chains in achieving high reinforcement. The model involving combination followed by entanglement can provide a plausible explanation of the reinforcement of rubber by carbon black and silica because the combination facilitates the concentration of rubber chains near the filler particles, and entanglement of the rubber chains around the filler particles enforces the resistance against deformation and breakage of rubber compounds, resulting in high reinforcement.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.416-422
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• 2016

Lots of plastics are widely used in a variety of industrial field. And the amount of plastic waste is massively produced. In the study of waste recycling, it is emerged as an important issue to prevent the waste of potentially useful resource materials as well as to reduce ecological damage. So, the recycling of plastic waste has been currently paid attention to from the view point of reuse. Existing automatic sorting system consist of near infrared ray (NIR) sensors to classify the types of plastics. But the classification of black plastics still remains a challenge. Black plastics which contains carbon black are not almost classified by NIR because of the characteristic of the light absorption of black plastics. This study is focused on handling how to identify black plastics instead of NIR. Raman spectroscopy is used to get qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of black plastics. In order to improve the performance of identification, Support Vector Machine(SVM) classifier and Principal Component Analysis(PCA) are exploited to more preferably classify some kinds of the black plastics, and to analyze the characteristic of each data.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.596-601
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• 2020

Silicon carbide is considered a potentially useful material for high-temperature electronic devices because of its large band gap energy and p-type or n-type conduction that can be controlled by impurity doping. Accordingly, the thermoelectric properties of -SiC powder prepared by refined diatomite were investigated for high value-added applications of natural diatomite. -SiC powder was synthesized by a carbothermal reduction of the SiO₂ in refined diatomite using carbon black. An acid-treatment process was then performed to eliminate the remaining impurities (Fe, Ca, etc.). n-Type semiconductors were fabricated by sintering the pressed powder at 2000℃ for 1~5h in an N2 atmosphere. The electrical conductivity increased with increasing sintering time, which might be due to an increase in carrier concentration and improvement in grain-to-grain connectivity. The carrier compensation effect caused by the remaining acceptor impurities (Al, etc.) in the obtained -SiC had a deleterious influence on the electrical conductivity. The absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient increased with increasing sintering time, which might be due to a decrease in the stacking fault density accompanied by grain or crystallite growth. On the other hand, the power factor, which reflects the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the present work, was slightly lower than that of the porous SiC semiconductors fabricated by conventional high-purity -SiC powder, it can be stated that the thermoelectric properties could be improved further by precise control of an acid-treatment process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.313-323
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to assess exposure to black carbon(BC) among forklift operators and to identify environmental and occupational factors influencing their BC exposure. Methods: We studied a total of 23 forklift operators from six workplaces manufacturing paper boxes. A daily BC exposure assessment was conducted during working hours from January to April 2017. A micro-aethalometer was used to monitor daily BC exposure, and information on work activities was also obtained through a time-activity diary(TAD) and interviews. BC exposure records were classified into four categories influencing BC exposure level: working environment, workplace, forklift operation, and job characteristics. Analysis of variance(ANOVA) was used to compare average BC exposure levels among the four categories and the relationships between potential factors and BC exposure were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Results: The operators' daily exposure was $12.9{\mu}g/m^3$(N=9,148, $GM=7.5{\mu}g/m^3$) with a range: $0.001-811.4{\mu}g/m^3$. The operators were exposed to significantly higher levels when they operate a forklift in a room ${\leq}20,000m^3$($AM=12.3{\mu}g/m^3$), in indoor workplaces($AM=16.3{\mu}g/m^3$), when they operate a forklift manufactured before 2006 ($AM=13.2{\mu}g/m^3$), a forklift with a loading limit of four-tons($AM=27.1{\mu}g/m^3$), with a roll and bale type clamp($AM=17.1{\mu}g/m^3$), and with no particulate filter($AM=15.7{\mu}g/m^3$). Conclusions: Occupational factors including temperature, smoking, season, daytime, room volume($m^3$), location of operating, and manufacturing era and model of forklift influenced the BC exposure of forklift operators. The results of this study can be used to minimize the BC exposure of forklift operators.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.464-476
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the exposure levels of tollbooth workers to diesel particulate matter using black carbon (BC) and to find the correlations among variables associated with BC using the motor vehicle management act regulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Methods: This study was performed over 14 days at a university in Seoul. BC levels were monitored using an aethalometer and were conducted around the breathing zones of the workers. There were three sampling locations: inside the tollbooth (front gate and rear gate) and an office as a control group. T-test, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of BC_30min concentrations in the exposure group was 2.44 ㎍/㎥, approximately 1.4 times higher than the control group (1.75 ㎍/㎥). The GM of BC_30min concentrations was 2.75 ㎍/㎥ during the heavy traffic time (9-10 am) and 2.30 ㎍/㎥ during non-heavy traffic times (p<0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis shows that the number of all types of vehicles and PM_2.5 concentrations in the atmosphere were factors increasing the GM of BC(ln(BC_30min)) concentrations (adjusted R²=0.42, p<0.001). The workers were constantly exposed to low concentrations (GM of BC_30min=2.44 ㎍/㎥), but they were exposed to peak concentrations instantly (BC_10sec=3545.04 ㎍/㎥). When the GM of BC_30min concentrations was momentarily represented as high, it was identified that a vehicle mainly using diesel fuel or an aging vehicle had passed. Conclusions: A ventilation system should be installed in the closed tollbooth or aging vehicles should be controlled so as not to pass tollbooths.

• Clean Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.410-415
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• 2013

The supercapacitors were fabricated using silver (Ag) nano paste and activated carbon paste on the polyimide (PI) film and 5% potassium polyacrylate (PAAK) was used for gel electrolyte. In this paper, the current collector film and the electrode film were fabricated using screen printing. The thickness of printed silver paste was $7.3{\mu}m$ and the sheet resistance has the range of $5-7m{\Omega}/square$. An activated carbon with a surface area of $1,968m^2/g$, an electronic conducting agent (SUPER P, TIMCAL) and poly (4-vinylphenol) were mixed in 2-(2-buthoxyethoxy) ethyl acetate (BCA) with a ratio of 7:1:3 to fabricate the electrode paste. To analyze electrochemical characteristics, cyclic voltammetry was performed to evaluate the stability of the devices under the voltage range of -0.5-0.5 V. The calculated specific capacitances were 44.04 and 8.62 F/g for 10 and 500 mV/s scan rates, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2006

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the reforming characteristics and optimum operating condition of the GlidArc-assisted $C_3H_8$ reforming reaction for the synthesis gas(SynGas) production without formation of carbon black from propane using GildArc plasma reforming. Also, in order to increase the hydrogen production and the propane conversion rate, 13 wt % nickel catalyst was filled into the catalytic reactor and parametric screening studies were conducted, in which there were the variations of vapor mole ratio$(H_2O/C_3H_8),\;CO_2$ mole ratio($CO_2/C_3H_8$), input power and injection flow rate. When the variations of vapor mole ratio, $CO_2$ mole ratio, input power and injection flow rate were 1.86, 0.48, 1.37 kW and 14 L/min, respectively, the conversion rate of the propane reached its most optimal condition, or 62.6%. Under the condition mentioned above, the dry basic concentrations of the SynGas were $H_2\;44.4%,\;CO\;18.2%,\;CH_4\;11.2%,\;C_2H_2\;2.0%,\;C_3H_6\;1.6%,\;C_2H_4\;0.6%\;and\;C_3H_4$ 0.4%. The conversion rate of carbon dioxide was 29.2% and the concentration ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide($H_2/CO$) in the SynGas was 2.4.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.357-363
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• 2015

The development of the environment-friendly tire that meets the standard requirements according to tire labeling system can be improved through using highly homogeneous silica immobilized zinc oxide nanoparticles. In this study, a considerable amount of nanoporous silica was essentially added into nano zinc oxide to improve the physiochemical properties of the formed composite. The introduction of nanoporous silica materials in the composite facilitates the improvement of the wear-resistance and increases the elasticity of the tread. Therefore, the introduction of nanoporous silica can replace carbon black as filler in the formation of composites with desirable properties for conventional green tire. Herein, mesoporous silica immobilized zinc oxide nanoparticle with desirable properties for rubber compounds was investigated. Composites with homogeneous dispersion were obtained in the absence of dispersants. The dispersion stability was controlled through varying the molar ratio, ageing time and mixing order of the reactants. A superior dispersion was achieved in the sample obtained using 0.03 mol of zinc precursor as it had the smallest grain size (50.5 nm) and then immobilized in silica aged for 10 days. Moreover, the specific surface area of this sample was the highest ($649m^2/g$).