• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.785-792
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• 2005

In order to reduce roadside and indoor air pollution for volatile organic compounds VOC), it may be necessary to apply photocatalyst-coated construction materials. This study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of $TiO_2$ photocatalysis for the removal of VOC present in roadside or indoor air. The photocatalytic removal of five target VOC was investigated: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and o,m,p-xylenes. Variables tested for the current study included ultraviolet(UV) light intensity coating materials, relative humidity (RH), and input concentrations. Prior to performing the parameter tests, adsorption of VOC onto the current experiment was surveyed, and no adsorption was observed. Stronger UV intensity provided higher photocatalytic destruction(PCD) efficiency of the target compounds. For higher humidity, higher PCD efficiency was observed. The PCD efficiency depended on coating material. Contrary to certain previous findings, lower PCD efficiencies were observed for the experimental condition of higher input concentrations. The current findings suggested that the four parameters tested in the present study should be considered for the application of photocatalyst-coated construction materials in cleaning VOC of roadside or indoor air.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.659-670
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• 1997

Vehicle occupant exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been a subject of concern In recent years because of higher levels of VOCs Inside vehicles as compared to the surrounding ambient atmosphere and because of the toxicity of VOCs. The effectiveness of two commercial ACDs for the removal of selected VOCs in the interior of automobiles was evaluated on 115 commutes throegh urban (Taegu) commutes by two cars and 9 idles. The idling and commuting studios conducted under four different driving conditions showed that the ho commercial ACDs were not effective for the removal of VOCs in the interior of vehicles. The concentrations of all target VOCs except benzene were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the interior of older car than of newer cu. The mean levels of benzene and toluene measured in thins study were well excess of earlier other studios In the United States, besides Los Angeles with which was comparable. It was reported that the in-vehicle exposure to benzene and corresponding upper-bound cancel risk were about 8 times higher than those for outdoor environment, while they were about half of those from Indoor environment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.481-486
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• 2004

Vehicle occupant exposure to air pollutants has been a subject of concern in recent years because of higher levels of air pollutants inside gasoline or diesel-using vehicle, comparing to the surrounding atmosphere. Contrary to previous studies, fuel of vehicles operated in this study was liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This study examined the potential exposure and removal efficiency of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) and respirable suspended particle (RSP) by commercial air cleaning device inside vehicle under different ventilation conditions. Vehicle concentrations inside of benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, $NO_2$ and RSP were lower under the low ventilation condition. This was indicated that outdoor air pollutants could affect the vehicle air quality inside in case metropolitan cities such as Daegu. The urban vehicle concentrations inside of benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, $NO_2$ and RSP with air cleaning device were higher than those without air cleaning device. This means that the use of air cleaning device equipped with activated carbon filter, which was used in this study, in the interior of vehicles could be expected to reduce the vehicle occupants exposure to air pollutants effectively. In batch type reactor of laboratory scale, removal efficiencies of air cleaning device used were $97.0\%,\;95.7\%,\;94.6\%\;and\;85.5\%$ respectively in benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene and $NO_2$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2008

Biological removal capacities for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were determined using a yeast strain, Candida tropicalis. In this study, VOCs including toluene, benzene, p-xylene, and styrene as single substrates or mixtures were tested in the batch culture of the yeast strain. In addition, a kinetic model was applied to evaluate substrate interactions between the VOCs. The yeast strain was able to biodegrade each VOC effectively as a growth substrate, implying it could applied to wide range of VOCs. When the yeast strain was subjected to VOCs in mixtures, the biodegradation rate of one substrate were either increased (stimulated) or decreased (inhibited) by the presence of the others. Both benzene and toluene were inhibited by the other VOCs, and substrate interaction parameters estimated in the model indicated that styrene was the strongest inhibitor for the benzene and toluene biodegradation. Meanwhile, the biodegradation of p-xylene and styrene was stimulated by the presence of either benzene or toluene. The biodegradation rate of p-xylene was significantly increased especially by the presence of toluene, and the styrene biodegradation was enhanced greatly by the benzene addition. The results of the substrate interaction by the yeast strain suggest that the biodegradation rates for the VOCs in mixtures should be carefully evaluated. Furthermore, the competitive inhibition coefficient could be applied as a useful index to determine the substrate interaction

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 1998

This study was conducted to evaluate the surfactant solutions which influence solvent extraction from light hydrocarbon contaminated soils. Nine characteristic compounds were studied: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, mxylene, p-xylene, n-propylbenzene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and n-butylbenzene which were found in gasoline. Adsee-799 and Witbreak DRA-22 showed some extractive capacity for light hydrocarbons from soil. There was no added advantage obtained by using other surfactants in this study. No removal of contaminants from soil was observed when the surfactant concentration was 0.5 percent or below. When the surfactant concentration was 4 percent, the average recovery for some hydrocarbons was 10.8 percent, which was the best obtained at these levels. There was 10 percent surfactant contribution for methanol extraction from soil with the Witbreak DPG-482 and Witbreak DRA-22. This study provided a useful screening technique for procedures that can be used to remediate soils contaminated with light hydrocarbons.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2004

This study presents the result of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of a pharmacokinetic model which describes the distribution and removal of benzene at each organ when an indivisual inhales indoor contaminated air with benzene originated from groundwater. The pharmacokinetic model simulates the distribution of benzene deposited in organs of human body through inhalation of contaminated indoor air as well as degradation-metabolism in liver. This study focused on the uncertainty problem induced from the use of the single values for blood flow, partition coefficient, degradation constant, volume, etc. of each organ which was due to a lack of knowledge about these parameters or their measurements. To solve this problem, uncertainty analysis on the pharmacokinetic model was conducted simultaneously which would help understanding the risk assessment associated with VOCs.

• Clean Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2008

Among various mass transfer models to express adsorption rates for any adsorption processes, the linear driving force (LDF) model is used most. The present investigation aims at finding whether this model may be applied to real adsorption process for separation and removal of benzene. Comparison of numerical simulation results calculated by the LDF model with experimental data allowed us to find the mass transfer coefficients that are most appropriate for a specific adsorption process. Various breakthrough curves were obtained from experiments performed at many different temperatures and pressures, which in turn produced suitable mass transfer coefficients. These dependencies of mass transfer coefficient on temperature and pressure were represented by an Arrhenius type- and a power law type empirical equation, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2008

A study on the operational variables of the UV-TiO$_2$ based photocatalytic air cleaning system was tried. In this study, to examine effects as various air cleaning system conditions, a duct-type reactor was made, and TiO$_2$ was immobilized on a stainless mesh. Benzene was chosen as a target compound. Removal experiments for benzene were done under different initial benzene concentration, air velocity, TiO$_2$ loading, area coated TiO$_2$ as the same TiO$_2$ loading, and UV light intensity conditions. During the experiments, relative humidity was 55%, and reactor temperature was 45$^{\circ}C$. As a result, the photocatalytic degradation of benzene decreased as the inlet concentration increased. But the photocatalytic degradation increased as the concentration boundary layer thickness, amount of TiO$_2$, area coated TiO$_2$ as the same amount of TiO$_2$, and UV light intensity increased. Based on results of current study, they can be applied to the design of air cleaning system over low level VOCs in the indoor air.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.05b
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• pp.385-388
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• 2005

In this study, the objective is to develope environment friendship mineral pigments for removal of harmful chemical substance. Environment friendship mineral pigments made of Slag blast furnace-photocatalyst carriers were developed to identify their removal effects of NOx, HCHO and VOCs(benzene, Toluene) on sunlight, fluorescent light and UV lamp. In case of NOx at UV light, the eliminative ability was been better than different harmful materials, and it was appeared large degree rather than different harmful materials.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.69-72
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• 2003

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) cause air pollution problem and deterioration of atmosphere of petrochemical and fine chemical plants. Hybrid process of membrane and cold-condensation were developed and it effectively removed and recycled the VOC. Operation parameters of the process were optimized to attain hish removal and recycle of VOC. Composite membranes for organic vapor separation were developed in this work by PDMS coating and plasma polymerization on polypropylene and polysulfone support membranes. PDMS and various silicone monomers were tested for several organic vapors such as benzene, toluene, TCE, and HCFC, which are produced in petrochemical and fine chemical industry and causes air pollution problems if are released to atmosphere. Composite membranes prepared in this work showed appreciable performance in terms of organic vapor removal and reuse. Performance variation of the membranes was correlated with their surface characteristics.