• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.696-702
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• 2018

Recently, the current thermal battery technology needs new materials for electrodes in the power and energy density to meet various space and defense requirements. In this paper, to replace the pellet type Li(Si) anode having limitations of the formability and capacity, electrochemical properties of the lithium anode with high density for thermal batteries were investigated. The lithium anode (Li 17, 15, 13 wt%) was fabricated by mixing the molten lithium and iron powder used as a binder to hold the molten lithium at $500^{\circ}C$. The single cell with 13 wt% lithium showed a stable performance. The 2.06 V (OCV) of the lithium anode was significantly improved compared to 1.93 V (OCV) of the Li(Si) anode. Specific capacities during the first phase of the lithium anode and Li(Si) were 1,632 and $1,181As{\cdot}g^{-1}$, respectively. As a result of the thermal battery performance test at both room and high temperatures, the voltage and operating time of lithium anode thermal batteries were superior to those of using Li(Si) anode thermal batteries. The power and energy densities of Li anode thermal batteries were also remarkably improved.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.70-81
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• 2021

This study evaluated the recyclability of waste plastics in used coffee capsules disposed of as municipal waste. For recycling, a new material separation process was developed to remove the coffee grounds through primary crushing, washing, sieving, and secondary crushing, followed by corona discharge electrostatic separation. Furthermore, for the under 10 mm size fraction samples, the aluminum removal and the plastic recovery were 95.4% and 98.3%, respectively, under optimal conditions. In addition, for the 15 mm fraction samples, the aluminum removal and the plastic recovery were 91.3% and 97.2%, respectively. To evaluate the recyclability of the separated waste plastics, the samples were pelleted, and their material properties were analyzed. No hazardous substances were detected, and the results were similar to those for homo-PP. Therefore, it was confirmed tha t sufficient functiona lity existed a s recycled PP. However, owing to the da rk color of the pellets, limited applications to black or dark products are expected.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.191-198
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• 2022

Zirconia and titanium alloys, which are mainly used for dental implant materials, have poor osseointegration and osteogenesis abilities due to their bioinertness with low bioactivity on surface. In order to improve their surface bioinertness, surface modification with a bioactive material is an easy and simple method. In this study, akermanite (Ca₂MgSi₂O₇), a silicate-based bioceramic material with excellent bone bonding ability, was synthesized by a solid-state reaction and investigated its bioactivity from the analysis of surface dissolution and precipitation of hydroxyapatite particles in SBF solution. Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃), and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) were used as starting materials. After homogeneous mixing of starting materials by ball milling and the drying of at oven, uniaxial pressing was performed to form a compacted disk, and then heat-treated at high temperature to induce the solid-state reaction to akermanite. Bioactivity of synthesized akermanite disk was evaluated with the reaction temperature from the immersion test in SBF solution. The higher the reaction temperature, the more pronounced the akermanite phase and the less the surface dissolution at particle surface. It resulted that synthesized akermanite particles had high bioactivity on particle surface, but it depended on reacted temperature and phase composition. Moderate dissolution occurred at particle surfaces and observed the new precipitated hydroxyapatite particles in synthetic akermanite with solid-state reaction at 1100℃.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2022

The objective of this study is to prepare bead-type and pellet-type Pt (1 wt%)/Kieselguhr catalysts as hydrogenation catalysts for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) included in pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO). The optimal reaction temperature to maximize the yield of saturated cyclic hydrocarbons during the PFO-cut hydrogenation reaction in a trickle bed reactor was determined to be 250 ℃. A hydrogen/PFO-cut flow rate ratio of 1800 was found to maximize 1-ring saturated cyclic compounds. The yield of saturated cyclic compound increased as the space velocity (LHSV) of PFO-cut decreased. The difference in hydrogenation reaction performance between the pellet catalyst and the bead catalyst was negligible. However, the catalyst impregnated by Pt after molding the Kieselguhr support (AI catalyst) showed higher hydrogenation activity than the catalyst molded after Pt impregnation on the Kieselguhr powder (BI catalyst), which was a common phenomenon in both the pellet catalysts and bead catalysts. This may be due to a higher number of active sites over the AI catalyst compared to the BI catalyst. It was confirmed that the pellet catalyst prepared by the AI method had the best reaction activity of the prepared catalysts in this study. The majority of the PFO-cut hydrogenation products were cyclic hydrocarbons ranging from C₈ to C₁₅, and C₁₁ cyclic hydrocarbons had the highest distribution. It was confirmed that both a cracking reaction and hydrogenation occurred, which shifted the carbon number distribution towards light hydrocarbons.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2022

In 2021, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), a U.N. advisory research institute, cited container loss as one of six sources of marine litters in shipping. The sinking of the X-P ress Pearl in May 2021 caused a catastrophic environmental pollution accident in which the loaded containers were moved to the shore, and the plastic pellets were loaded inside covered the coast of Sri Lanka. With this history, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will discuss prevention and follow-up measures for container loss during ship voyages, as an agenda at the 8th Sub Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers meeting in September 2022. To establish Korea's response direction at the IMO meeting, this study identified major causes of container loss accidents, and considered the response through analysis based on the accident investigation report and related professional data. As a result, it was found that the major cause of container loss during voyages was the enlargement of container ships, bad weather, and poor loading of containers. In particular, the need to prepare countermeasures for the deterioration of the operational safety of large container ships due to bad weather was identified. Additionally, integrated monitoring of the implementation of international conventions is required, for the safe sea transportation of container cargo. In particular, in terms of preservation of the marine environment, it is necessary to supplement the system for the recovery of lost containers. Finally, it was found that it is necessary to establish systems that can complement each other in the shipbuilding and shipping industries, in terms of shipbuilding as well as ship operation, to fundamentally prevent container loss accidents at sea. It is judged that it is difficult to resolve the various factors of container loss at sea during voyages, by responding from an individual perspective.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

In this study, the economic feasibility of a local energy facility that uses forest biomass as an energy source was assessed. We analyzed profitability using data from the Forest Energy Self-sufficient Village Project financed by the Korea Forest Service. The energy facility has a cogeneration generator and wood chip boiler. Wood chip, which has lower heat value and is cheaper than wood pellets, is used as fuel. Revenue comes from the sale of electricity, heat, and renewable energy certificates. Additionally, we considered the sale of carbon credits as substitutes for fossil fuels. The expenditure consists of fuel costs and fixed costs, and the initial investment is treated as a sunk cost. Under the condition of a 55% operation rate and wood chip price of 95,000 KRW per ton, the annual net revenue is positive. Crucial factors for managing the facility sustainably are operation rate and fuel cost. A simulation in which two factors were changed showed that the annual net revenue is negative with a 50% operation rate and 100,000 KRW per ton of wood chip price. To improve net revenue, an increase in the operation rate or a decrease in the wood chip price is required. Additionally, selling carbon credits will make the operation of the facility more profitable. Furthermore, the payment required to procure wood chips could contribute to the rural economy. To foster the use of forest biomass for energy, the price for heat supplied from renewable energy sources should be subsidized.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.310-317
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: The salt in soil interrupts crop growth. Therefore, water resources are used to remove any salt found in the soil. However, water resources have been reduced by global warming; thus, a new study is required into reducing the salt in soil. Recently, the bottom ash (BA) of a biomass power plant was found to be similar to biochar. Hence, it can be used to remove heavy metals and wastewater through the adsorption characteristics of BA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the improvement effects on crop growth in saline soil containing the BA from biomass power plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect on crop growth in the saline soil supplemented with BA was studied with the crop-planted pots, which were packed by reclaimed greenhouse soils collected from Byolyang, Suncheon. The BA application level was 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg/10a (referred as BA25, BA50, BA100, BA200, and BA400, respectively). The BA increased the fresh weights of the leaf and root, while nitrogen uptake increased by approximately 24-102% and 54-77%, respectively for the lead and root. The phosphorous uptake increased by 38%, although only in the leaf of the lettuce. In the case of soil, BA increased water content, pH, EC, CEC, and NH₄⁺ and the SAR of the soil decreased by 5-15%. The bottom ash increased the contents of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and fixed the amount of Na⁺. CONCLUSION(S): It was confirmed the bottom ash of a biomass power plant, based on wood pellets, improved crop growth, and increased the nutrient uptake of crops in saline soil. In addition, bottom ash, which has a wide range of porosity and high values of pH and EC, improved properties of the saline soil. However, the BA has a large amount of B, As, and heavy metals. Finally, it may require a study on the safety and contamination of heavy metals contained in the bottom ash, which would be applied in soil for a long time.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.48-56
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• 2024

In this study, physical property evaluation and physical separation of the target product were performed to investigate the possibility of using sewage sludge gasification solid residue (GSRs) as a circulating resource. Firstly, the GSRs used in this study was supplied by Sudokwon Landfill Management Corporation, and generally the GSRs was in the form of porous pellets with a particle size of several millimetres. In addition, the partially black areas were confirmed to be unburned and ungasified carbon, and the average carbon content was 5%. In addition, the content of silica, alumina and phosphorus oxide was more than 70% of the total content. It was confirmed that the metallic components of the wet grinding product were separated into individual elements. As a physical separation of metallic and non-metallic components was required, it was finally found that flotation screening was suitable. Accordingly, cationic and anionic surfactants were selected to separate metallic components in which a relatively large amount of non-metallic components were concentrated, and the separation characteristics were confirmed. As a result, it is expected that the concentration of non-metallic components such as silica, alumina and phosphorus will be easier than the separation of metallic components. Therefore, since it is possible to physically treat the gasified sludge residue, it is judged to have potential as a circular resource according to the proposed recycling method for the separated product.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.34-45
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• 2016

Global warming and climate change have been caused by combustion of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases contributed to the rise of temperature between $0.6^{\circ}C$ and $0.9^{\circ}C$ over the past century. Presently, fossil fuels account for about 88% of the commercial energy sources used. In developing countries, fossil fuels are a very attractive energy source because they are available and relatively inexpensive. The environmental problems with fossil fuels have been aggravating stress from already existing factors including acid deposition, urban air pollution, and climate change. In order to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, fossil fuels must be replaced by eco-friendly fuels such as biomass. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary. The biomass resources are the most common form of renewable energy. The conversion of biomass into energy can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common form of converted biomass is pellet fuels as biofuels made from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellets from lignocellulosic biomass has compared to conventional fuels with a relatively low bulk and energy density and a low degree of homogeneity. Thermal pretreatment technology like torrefaction is applied to improve fuel efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, i.e., less moisture and oxygen in the product, preferrable grinding properties, storage properties, etc.. During torrefacton, lignocelluosic biomass such as palm kernell shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was roasted under an oxygen-depleted enviroment at temperature between 200 and $300^{\circ}C$. Low degree of thermal treatment led to the removal of moisture and low molecular volatile matters with low O/C and H/C elemental ratios. The mechanical characteristics of torrefied biomass have also been altered to a brittle and partly hydrophobic materials. Unfortunately, it was much harder to form pellets from torrefied PKS and EFB due to thermal degradation of lignin as a natural binder during torrefaction compared to non-torrefied ones. For easy pelletization of biomass with torrefaction, pellets from PKS and EFB were manufactured before torrefaction, and thereafter they were torrefied at different temperature. Even after torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, their appearance was well preserved with better fuel efficiency than non-torrefied ones. The physical properties of the torrefied pellets largely depended on the torrefaction condition such as reaction time and reaction temperature. Temperature over $250^{\circ}C$ during torrefaction gave a significant impact on the fuel properties of the pellets. In particular, torrefied EFB pellets displayed much faster development of the fuel properties than did torrefied PKS pellets. During torrefaction, extensive carbonization with the increase of fixed carbons, the behavior of thermal degradation of torrefied biomass became significantly different according to the increase of torrefaction temperature. In conclusion, pelletization of PKS and EFB before torrefaction made it much easier to proceed with torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, leading to excellent eco-friendly fuels.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2005

A voloxidizer for a hot cell demonstration, that handles spent fuels of a high radiation level in a limited space should be small and spent fuel powders should not be dispersed out of the equipment involved. In this study a density rate equation as well as the Stokes'equation has been proposed in order to obtain the theoretical terminal velocity of powders. The terminal velocity of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ has been predicted by using the terminal velocity of SiO$_{2}$, and then determination has been the optimum air flow rate which is able to prevent powders from scattering. An equation which has shown a relationship between theoretical terminal velocities of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ and SiO$_{2}$ has been derived with the help of the Stokes'equation, and then an experimental verification made for the theoretical Stokes' equation of SiO$_{2}$ by means of an experimental device made of acryl. The theoretical terminal velocity based on the proposed density rate equation has been verified by detecting U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders in a filter installed in the mock-up voloxidizer. As the results, the optimum air flow rates seem to be 20 LPM by the Stokes'equation while they are 14.5 L/min by the density rate equation. At the experiments with the mock-up voloxidizer, a trace amount of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ seems to be detectable at the air flow rate of 14.5 L/min by the density rate equation, but U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders of 7$\mu$m diameter seem detectable at the air flow rate of 20 L/min by the Stokes'equation. It is revealed that 14.5 L/min is the optimum air flowe rate which is capable of preventing U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders from scattering in the UO$_{2}$ voloxidizer and the proposed density rate equation is proper to calculate the terminal velocity of U$_{3}$O$_{8}$ powders.