• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2005

To investigate the characteristics of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration in the groundwater around Ulsan, Korea, 168 groundwaters, 12 stream waters, and 6 sewage waters were analyzed for 61 VOCs. Results showed that VOCs were not detected in stream waters and total VOCs concentration in 5 sewage waters was in the range of ND-22.3 ${\mu}$g/L. In 78 groundwater samples more than one VOCs were detected and VOCs concentration of the samples ranged from 0.1 ${\mu}$g/L to 387.1 ${\mu}$g/L. However, VOCs concentration of 66 samples out of 78 samples showed less than 10 ${\mu}$g/L and that of only 6 samples exceeded Korea drinking water limit (KDWL). 42 VOCs detected from the 168 groundwaters were 14 aromatic hydrocarbons out of 25, 27 chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons out of 35, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Detection rate of each VOCs in the groundwaters was as follows: chloroform in 43 samples (25.6%), methylene chloride in 36 samples (21.4%), TCE in 26 samples (15.5%), 1,1-dichloroethane in 19 samples (1.3%), PCE in 16 samples (9.5%), cis-1,2-DCE in 15 samples (8.9%), and toluene in 14 samples (8.3%). Even though VOCs concentration in the groundwaters of the study area is still low, the city is expanding and the drinking water limit is becoming strict, and therefore continuous monitoring is necessary.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.12.1-12.8
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the health and environmental risk factors of air contaminants that influence environmental and respiratory diseases in Gyeongju, Pohang and Ulsan in South Korea, with a focus on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Methods: Samples were collected by instantaneous negative pressure by opening the injection valve in the canister at a fixed height of 1 to 1.5 m. The sample that was condensed in $-150^{\circ}C$ was heated to $180^{\circ}C$ in sample pre-concentration trap using a 6-port switching valve and it was injected to a gas chromatography column. The injection quantity of samples was precisely controlled using an electronic flow controller equipped in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Results: The quantity of the VOC emissions in the industrial area was 1.5 to 2 times higher than that in the non-industrial area. With regards to the aromatic hydrocarbons, toluene was detected at the highest level of 22.01 ppb in Ulsan, and chloroform was the halogenated hydrocarbons with the highest level of 10.19 ppb in Pohang. The emission of toluene was shown to be very important, as it accounted for more than 30% of the total aromatic hydrocarbon concentration. Conclusions: It was considered that benzene in terms of the cancer-causing grade standard, toluene in terms of the emission quantity, and chloroform and styrene in terms of their grades and emission quantities should be selected for priority measurement substances.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.384-397
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• 2021

Background: With volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene that can adversely affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems when a certain concentration is reached, it is important to accurately evaluate the source and the corresponding health risk effects. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide scientific evidence for the city of Seoul's VOC reduction measures by confirming the risk of each VOC emission source. Methods: In 2020, 56 VOCs were measured and analyzed at one-hour intervals using an online flame ionization detector system (GC-FID) at two measuring stations in Seoul (Gangseo: GS, Bukhansan: BHS). The dominant emission source was identified using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, and health risk assessment was performed on the main components of VOCs related to the emission source. Results: Gasoline vapor and vehicle combustion gas are the main sources of emissions in GS, a residential area in the city center, and the main sources are solvent usage and aged VOCs in BHS, a greenbelt area. The risk index ranged from 0.01 to 0.02, which is lower than the standard of 1 for both GS and BHS, and was an acceptable level of 5.71×10^-7 to 2.58×10^-6 for carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: In order to reduce the level of carcinogenic risk to an acceptable safe level, it is necessary to improve and reduce the emission sources of vehicle combustion and solvent usage, and eco-car policies are judged to contribute to the reduction of combustion gas as well as providing a response to climate change.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1177-1189
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• 2016

In order to prepare the information needed to construct a reduction system for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exhausted from ship-block paint-booths in a giant shipyard, VOCs in paint-shop airs were analyzed and compared to the components in paint thinners. Aromatic hydrocarbons containing eight and nine carbon atoms are known to be major VOC compounds found in shipyard paint-shops. The total hydrocarbon (THC(C7)) concentrations calibrated using toluene gas, were measured in block paint-shops with two photo-ionization detector (PID) meters, and the resulting THC(C7) data were converted to THC(C1) concentrations according to the Standard Methods for the Measurements of Air Pollution in South Korea. THC(C1) concentrations near the spray site ranged from 10 to 2,000 ppm, but they were less than 400 ppm near the walls of the paint-booth. The measurements of THC concentrations, based on the height of the monitoring sites, were related to the height of the target to which the spray paints were applied. The maximum concentrations occurred at almost the same height as the spray targets. When painted blocks had been dried-by warming with no spraying, the THC concentrations were 80~100 ppm.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.667-673
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• 2005

An EBeam (electron beam)-catalyst coupling technique has been developed to control aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by annexing the catalyst with already existing EBeam technology. In this study, toluene emitted from various industrial coating processes was selected as a representative VOC. The concentration of toluene of concern was 200 ppm. There was an increase in the removal efficieny of toluene by increasing the absorbed dose (kGy) in the EBeam-only and the EBeam-catalyst coupling systems. Compared to EBeam-only system under the same existing EBeam-Pt $1\%$ coupling conditions, EBeam-Pt $1\%$ coupling system revealed 36, 29, 30$\%$ increase in toluene treatmenet at (5, 6.7, 8.7 kGy), respectively. In addition, $O_{3}$ was decreased and CO, $CO_{2}$ were increased by increasing the absorbed dose (kGy) in the EBeam-catalyst (Pt $1\%$, Cu $1\%$) coupling systems. Therefore, it was concluded that the EBeam-catalyst coupling system had a synergy effect on toluene control, compared to the EBeam-only system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.336-336
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• 2011

Over the past decades, organic semiconductors have been investigated intensely for their potential in a wide range of optoelectronic device applications since the organic materials have advantages for very light, flexible and low cost device fabrications. In this study, we fabricated small-molecule organic solar cells (OSCs) based on chloro[subphthalocyaninato]boron(III) (SubPc) as an electron donor and $C_{60}$ as an electron acceptor material. Recently SubPc, a cone-shaped molecule with $14{\pi}$-electrons in its aromatic system, has attracted growing attention in small-molecule OSC applications as an electron-donating material for its greater open-circuit voltage (VOC), extinction coefficient and dielectric constant compared to conventional planar metal phthalocyanines. In spite of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancement of small-molecule OSC using SubPc and $C_{60}$, however, the study on the interface between donor-acceptor heterojunction of this system is limited. In this work, SubPc thin films at various thicknesses were deposited by organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD) and the evolution of surface morphology was observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). We also investigated the influence of film thickness and surface morphology on the PCE of small-molecule OSC devices.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2018

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from printing industries were analyzed, and an inorganic adsorbent, ${\gamma}-alumina$, was selected for the effective control of the VOC emissions. Printing processes commonly require inks, thinners, and cleaners, and they were mixed organic solvents containing aromatic compounds, ketones, and alcohols. Therefore, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were selected as model compounds for this study. The adsorptive properties using ${\gamma}-alumina$ were determined for the model compounds. Both batch isotherm and continuous flow column tests demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of MEK and IPA was 3~4 times higher than that of toluene. The column test performed at an inlet toluene concentration of 100 ppm showed that an 80% breakthrough for toluene was observed after 3 hours, but both MEK and IPA were continuously adsorbed during the same time period. A numerical model simulated that the ${\gamma}-alumina$ could remove toluene at a loading rate of 0.4 mg/min only for a 4-hour period, which might be too short of a duration for real applications. Consequently, lifetime enhancement for ${\gamma}-alumina$ must be implemented, and ozone oxidation and regeneration would be feasible options.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.389-404
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• 2003

VOCs were detected in the 21 groundwaters out of 37 groundwaters sampled from around the Hanam Industrial Complex and the Gwangju stream. Ten components of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons of VOCs were detected in the 18 groundwater samples. Among them, total trihalomethanes (TTHM) concentration is in the range of $0.1~36.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/L$, CECs concentration is $2.3~190{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/L$, and chlorinated solvents concentration containing PCE, TCE, etc. is $0.1~124.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/L$ respectively. Ten components of the aromatic hydrocarbons of VOCs were detected in the 5 groundwater samples, but their concentration are less than $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/L$. Detection frequency and concentration of the chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons components from the groundwaters in the Hanam Industrial Complex are higher than those of nearby downtown Gwangju stream. VOCs components except for TCE are lower than the MCL of USGS drinking water standard. TCE concentration of the 2 groundwater samples is over MCL, whose concentrations are 5 and 25 times higher than MCL, respectively. TCE is detected from the H8 and H10 groundwater samples and CFCs is detected H8 and H11 groundwater samples in the Hanam Industrial Complex. TTHM in study area is estimated from leakage of the main waters or sewage waters. Because most of the studied groundwater is under an aerobic condition, aromatic hydrocarbons are well degraded. But chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons are degraded very slowly.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2007

This study reports on the pervaporation separation of a volatile organic compound(VOC), dichloromethane(DCM) from water using fluorinated copolysiloxaneimide membranes. The copolysiloxaneimide membranes were prepared from 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride(6FDA) and two diamines(polysiloxane diamine(SIDA), 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl-3,5-diaminobenzene(PFDAB)). By varying the ratio of flexible polysiloxane diamine(SIDA)/rigid fluorinated aromatic diamine(PFDAB) from 0/100 to 100/0 mol%, five copolysiloxaneimide membranes were prepared success- fully. The pervaporation properties of DCM/water were examined in terms of two diamine monomer ratio at room temperature and the feed composition of 0.05 wt% in water. It was found that the increase in SIDA content led to high permeation flux and pervaporation selectivity towards DCM by the enhanced sorption/sorption selectivity and diffusion coefficient/diffusion selectivity due to the increased hydrophobicity and fractional free volume.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.329-337
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• 2017

A major concern regarding most auto-repair shops in residential areas is the emission of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the local atmosphere, especially during painting operations. VOCs contribute to poor local air quality and are responsible for the perceived odor and discomfort experienced by local residents. Sixteen major VOCs (6 aromatic hydrocarbons and 10 aliphatic carbonyl compounds) were selected as potential target compounds. The site was an auto-repair shop located in a central region of Seoul, South Korea, where the air quality of the site has been a subject of residents' complaints. The sampling points were as follows: 1) in the painting booth with new (NB) or old (OB) removal system, (2) in the exhaust duct after new (ND) or old (OD) odor removal filter, and (3) 2 m below the discharge vent (4 m above the ground) (outdoor air, OA). Each sample was coded: (1) before painting (BP), (2) during painting (DP), and (3) after painting (AP). The toluene level in the duct with the new removal filter during painting (ND-DP) was 1.5 ppm (v/v), while it was 3.8 ppm (v/v) in the right duct with an old removal filter during painting (OD-DP). Accordingly, the effect of filter replacement was reflected by differences in VOC levels. Therefore, accurate monitoring of odorous VOCs is an important step to reduce odor nuisance from local sources.