• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2010

Since the reaction of mineral fixation proceeds with a very slow rate, the pretreatment method to increases the rate of carbonation reaction should be required. To increase the reactivity of serpentine with $CO_{2}$, two pretreatment methods are performed in this study. The heat treatment is done at $630^{\circ}C$. A heat-treated serpentine shows that the strength of -OH has a lower peak in FT-IR spectrum. Chemical pretreatment is the method of leaching of magnesium from serpentine using sulfuric acid at $75^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Because the protonation of the oxygen atoms polarizes and weakens the Mg-O-Si bond, the removal of magnesium atoms from the crystal lattice was facilitated. After performing the pre-treatment of serpentine, $CO_{2}$ fixation experiments are performed with treated serpentine in the batch reactor. Heat-treated serpentine is converted into 43% magnesite conversion, whereas untreated serpentine has 27% of magnesite conversion. Although the results of the heat-pretreatment are encouraging, this method is prohibited due to excessive energy consumption. Furthermore chemical pretreatment serpentine routes have been proposed in an effort to avoid the cost prohibitive heat pretreatment, in which the carbonation reaction was conducted at 45 atm and $25^{\circ}C$. Chemical-treated serpentine, in particularly is corresponded to a conversion of 42% of magnesite compared to 24% for the un-treated serpentine.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.118-123
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• 2000

Food waste results in various problems such as decay, odors and leachate in collection, transportation and landfill due to the high volatile solids and moisture content. Acidogenic fermentation of food waste is influenced by the environmental conditions such as pH, retention time, etc. Each component of food waste is degraded under the different environmental conditions. Starch, cellulose and protein have their own optimum pHs and retention times for degradation. The degradation of starch increases at low pH, cellulose with increasing retention time, and protein with increasing retention time as well as approaching neutral pH. These mean that the degradation of food waste can be enhanced by adjusting the environmental conditions of acidogenic fermentation. The efficiency of acidification increased from 71.2 to 81.1% by controlling dilution(D) rate from 3.0 to $1.0d^{-1}$ depending on the state of the fermentation. The main component of the acidified product was shifted from butyric to acetic acid, indicating that the increase of acidification was mainly caused by the enhanced degradation of vegetables and meats.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2_spc
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• pp.227-235
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• 2020

In this study, we discussed the limitations of gross alpha measurements for the characterization of radioactive wastes produced in nuclear facilities through experimental tests and Monte Carlo N-particle transport simulations. The determination of gross alpha is essential for the disposal of radioactive waste produced in nuclear facilities in Korea. The measurements of gross alpha are easy to perform and yield rapid analytical results, but it cannot be used for quantitative analysis. The error of counting efficiency for gross alpha with various masses of the deposit on planchets using KCl and ²⁴¹Am was determined. The relative deviation of the counting efficiency in samples having the same mass was 20%. Uranium was extracted from the soil through acid leaching and extraction chromatography, and the concentration of U determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was compared with the results for gross alpha. The gross alpha was underestimated by 50% compared to the U concentration by ICP-MS. The counting efficiency depended on the energy from the alpha emitters, which differed by up to three times in determination of the counting efficiency depending on the kinds of alpha radionuclides of interest. Therefore, the gross alpha is not compatible with the sum of radioactivity for each alpha emitter and is suitable as a screening method.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2005

Many different kinds of radwastes are discharged from the nuclear power plants, and $^{129}$I is included in these radwastes. Recovery test of $^{129}$I was evaluated for different radwastes(dry active waste, sludge, spent resin and simulated evaporator bottom). Recovery of $^{129}$I for dry active waste by acid leaching with $1.8\%$ NaClO was $74.3\%$$(RSD,\;2.2\%)$ and l291 for spent rein by alkali fusion method with KOH as a flux agent was $87.7\%$$(RSD,\;0.9\%$), respectively. iodide in simulated evaporator bottom containing a high concentration of borate was adsorbed with anion exchange resin at pH 7 phosphate buffer solution. Recovery of $^{129}$I for anion exchange resin was $92.5\%$ and not affected up to 1,200 $\mu$g/mL $H_3BO)3$(as a Boron). Recovery of $^{129}$I for the spent resin from nuclear power plant was $87.2\%$ $(RSD,\;1.2\%)$.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.218-224
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• 2003

Magnesium hydroxide, which recently registered as a Mg fertilizer, is greatly different from magnesium sulfate in its solubility and effect on soil pH. In this study, the effects of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate on growth of chinese cabbage were compared at the application rate of $300kg\;MgO\;ha^{-1}$ in a Gyeongsan clay loam soil. Although magnesium hydroxide was effective in increasing number of leaf and fresh weight, overall effects of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate on the growth of chinese cabbage were not significantly different ($p{\leq}0.05$). Comparing the two magnesium fertilizer treatments, magnesium content of chinese cabbage was relatively higher in the magnesium sulfate treatment in the early stage of growth, but it was higher in the magnesium hydroxide treatment at harvest. Contents of Ca, P, and K in chinese cabbage were relatively higher in the magnesium hydroxide treatment than those in magnesium sulfate treatment. But, the differences in nutrient uptakes by chinese cabbage between the treatments were not significant ($p{\leq}0.05$). Therefore, magnesium hydroxide is expected to be used with nearly the same effects on crops as magnesium sulfate at the same application rate of Mg. Soil pH in the treatment of magnesium sulfate was lower than that of control treatment, but magnesium hydroxide could increase pH. Magnesium hydroxide can be used preferentially in acid and/or sandy soils, where magnesium sulfate can induce further soil acidification and leaching loss of Mg is often a severe problem.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2002

Mineral composition and chemical properties of Hwangto (reddish residual soil) that used in feeding of cattles at Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea were examined according to particle size separation such as gravel, sand, silt, coarse clay and fine clay. Mineral composition analyses reveal that gravel and sand are mainly composed of quartz and feldspars and that kaolin mineral and illite are dominant in clay and silt. Iron oxides are mainly included in fine clay. According to chemical analyses of major elements, Al, Fe and $H_2O$ contents are increased with decreasing of particle size. This trend well agrees with increase of clay minerals in smaller particles, Chemical analyses of trace elements indicate that contents of Zn, Rb, Sr, Ba, Pb significantly differ with particle sizes. Ba and Sr are included in feldspars since these elements are abundant in sand containing abundant feldspars. Pb and Sm are abundant in sample before particle size separation, but the contents are significantly decreased after separation. Therefore, most of these elements appear to be existed as removable phase. Nb, La, Th, Ce are more abundant in silt. The contents of all the other trace elements tend to be increased in smaller particles containing more clay minerals. The contents of changeable cations and teachable elements in acid and alkali solutions are high in clay samples. All the above results indicate that using the portion of smaller particle of Hwangto for livestock feed rather than bulk Hwangto can improve cation exchangeable capacity, ion leaching capacity and sorption properties.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.445-449
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• 2012

We investigate the effects of redox reaction on preparation of high purity ${\alpha}$-alumina from selectively ground aluminum dross. Preparation procedure of the ${\alpha}$-alumina from the aluminum dross has four steps: i) selective crushing and grinding, ii) leaching process, iii) redox reaction, and iv) precipitation reaction under controlled pH. Aluminum dross supplied from a smelter was ground to separate metallic aluminum. After the separation, the recovered particles were treated with hydrochloric acid(HCl) to leach aluminum as aluminum chloride solution. Then, the aluminum chloride solution was applied to a redox reaction with hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$). The pH value of the solution was controlled by addition of ammonia to obtain aluminum hydroxide and to remove other impurities. Then, the obtained aluminum hydroxide was dried at $60^{\circ}C$ and heat-treated at $1300^{\circ}C$ to form ${\alpha}$-alumina. Aluminum dross was found to contain a complex mixture of aluminum metal, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, and spinel compounds. Regardless of introduction of the redox reaction, both of the sintered products are composed mainly of ${\alpha}$-alumina. There were fewer impurities in the solution subject to the redox reaction than there were in the solution that was not subject to the redox reaction. The impurities were precipitated by pH control with ammonia solution, and then removed. We can obtain aluminum hydroxide with high purity through control of pH after the redox reaction. Thus, pH control brings a synthesis of ${\alpha}$-alumina with fewer impurities after the redox reaction. Consequently, high purity ${\alpha}$-alumina from aluminum dross can be fabricated through the process by redox reaction.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.3-15
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• 2008

Different toxic wastes are disposed of in our surroundings and these will ultimately threaten the existence of living organisms. Biohydrometallurgy, which includes the processes of bioleaching and bioremediation through the activities of microorganisms such as bacterial or fungal species, is a technology that has the potential to overcome many environmental problems at a reasonable economic cost. Bioleaching were carried out for dissolution of metals from different materials using most important metal mobilizing bacteria such as Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Laptospirillum ferrooxidans. According to the reaction, bioleaching is parted as direct and indirect mechanism. In direct mechanism the bacteria oxidize the sulphides minerals by accepting electron and producing sulphuric acid in leaching media for their growth and metabolism. In other hand the indirect bioleaching is demonstrated as the oxidation of sulphides mineral by the oxidant like $Fe^{3+}$ produced by the iron oxidizing bacteria. Through this process, substantial amount of metal can be recovered from low-grade ores, concentrates, industrial wastes like sludge, tailings, fly ash, slag, electronic scrap, spent batteries and spent catalysts. This may be alternative technology to solve the high deposition of waste, which moves toward a healthy environment and green world.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2011

It is clarified in the radioactive waste transfer regulation that the concentration of radioactive waste for the major radio nuclide has to be examined when radioactive waste is guided to the radioactive waste stores. In case of the low level radioactive waste sample, the analytical results of radioactive waste concentration frequently show a value lower than minimum detectable activity (MDA). Since the MDA value basically depends on the amount of a sample, background value, measurement time, counting efficiency, and etc, it would be necessary to increase a sample amount with a intention of minimizing MDA. In order to measure a concentration of $^{129}I$ in low and medium level radioactive waste, $^{129}I$ was collected by using a distillation technique after leaching the simulated radioactive waste sample with a non-volatile acid. The recovery of $^{129}I$ measured was compared with that measured with column elution technique which is a conventional method using an anion-exchange resin. The recovery of inactive iodide by using the distillation method and column elution were found as $86.5{\pm}0.9%$ and $87.3{\pm}2.7%$, respectively. The recovery and MDA value calculated for distillation technique when 100 g of extracted solution of $^{129}I$ was taken, were found to be $84.6{\pm}1.6%$ and $1.2{\times}10^{-4}Bq/g$, respectively. Consequently, the proposed technique with simplified process lowered the MDA value more than 10 times compared to the column elution technique that has a disadvantage of limited sampling amount.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2007

In order to compare the correlation of radioactivity ratio between the radwaste streams and the primary coolant of PWR NPPs, A RCS sampling kit was installed to primary coolant system for the collection of the radionuclides during the normal operation of NPPs. RCS samples were collected from PWR type of domestic NPPs through 2004 to 2005, and pretreated with acid microwave digestion or leaching method to assay quantitatively of several interesting radionuclides. The radioactivity ratios of $^{137}Cs\;to\;^{60}Co$ in a filter cartridge and a resin cartridge were 2.3E-2 and 7.3E-1, respectively. At a same period of the reactor operating cycle, the radioactivity ratios of $^{137}Cs\;to\;^{60}Co$ were 6.3E-1 for a evaporator bottom, 6.7E-1 for a spent resin, and 5.6E-2 for a dry active waste, so that these radwaste streams were identified as having similar characteristics with the corresponding RCS samples.