• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2022

In this study, cogeneration power plants that use biomass as a raw material to convert them into energy have recently received a lot of attention worldwide and are gradually increasing in South Korea. Therefore, in order to confirm the possibility of using the generated floor material as a fine aggregate for concrete, properties and stability evaluation experiments were performed. Compared to standard sand, the compressive strength of wood chip aggregate was improved by 11 % to 111 %, the length change rate was 89 %, and the waste processing test results met all criteria for hazardous substances. All of these are satisfied, and it is judged that the floor materials by the cogeneration power plant can be used as a fine aggregate for concrete.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2023

Celluloses are naturally occurring polymers that can be easily obtained from various natural sources. Nanocellulose, a form of cellulose, can be derived from regular cellulose and has unique properties that make it ideal for multiple industrial applications. Nanocellulose is a renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly composite material with exceptional mechanical properties and thermal stability, surpassing metal and ceramic composites. As a result, nanocelluloses are being extensively studied for their potential applications, including fillers, packaging, energy, medicine, and coatings. This review aims to summarize the current research on nanocelluloses and their applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2019

Utilization of organic waste as a renewable energy source is promising for sustainability and mitigation of climate change. Pyrolysis converts organic waste to gas, oil, and biochar by incomplete biomass combustion. Biochar is widely used as a soil conditioner and adsorbent. Biochar adsorbs/desorbs metals and ions depending on the soil environment and condition to act as a nutrient buffer in soils. Biochar is also regarded as a carbon storage by fixation of organic carbon. Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are strictly controlled in many wastewater treatment plants because it causes eutrophication in water bodies. P and N is removed by biological and chemical methods in wastewater treatment plants and transferred to sludge for disposal. On the other hand, P is an irreplaceable essential element for all living organisms and its resource (phosphate rock) is estimated about 100 years of economical mining. Therefore, P and N recovery from waste and wastewater is a critical issue for sustainable human society. For the purpose, intensive researches have been carried out to remove and recover P and N from waste and wastewater. Previous studies have shown that biochars can adsorb and desorbed phosphates implying that biochars could be a complementary fertilizer. However, most of the conventional biochar have limited capacity to adsorb phosphates and nitrate. Recent studies have focused on biochar impregnated with metal salts to improve phosphates and nitrate adsorption by synthesizing biochars with novel structures and surface properties. Metal salts and metal oxides have been used for the surface modification of biochars. If P removal is the only concern, P adsorption kinetics and capacity are the only important factors. If both of P and N removal and the application of recovery are concerned, however, P and N desorption characteristics and bioavailability are also critical factors to be considered. Most of the researches on impregnated biochars have focused on P removal efficiency and kinetics. In this study, coffee waste is thermally treated to produce biochar and it was impregnated with Mg/Al to enhance phosphates and nitrate adsorption/desorption and P bioavailability to increase its value as a fertilizer. Kinetics of phosphates and nitrate adsorption/desorption and bioavailability analysis were carried out to estimate its potential as a P and N removal adsorbent in wasewater and a fertilizer in soil.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2024

This study attempted to improve the growth of the freshwater microalgae, Parachlorella kessleri, through the sequential optimization of culture conditions. This attempt aimed to enhance the microalgae's ability to fixate atmospheric CO₂. Culture temperature and light intensity appropriate for microalgal growth were scanned using a high-throughput photobioreactor system. The supplied air flow rate varied from 0.05 to 0.3 vvm, and its effect on the growth rate of P. kessleri was determined. Next, sodium phosphate buffer was added to the culture medium (BG11) to enhance CO₂ fixation by increasing the availability of CO₂(HCO₃^-) in the culture medium. The results indicated that optimal culture temperature and light intensity were 20℃-25℃ and 300 μE/m²/s, respectively. Growth rates of P. kessleri under various air flow rates highly depended on the increase of the culture's flow rate and pH which determines CO₂ availability. Adding sodium phosphate buffer to BG11 to maintain a constant neutral pH (7.0) improved microalgal growth compared to control conditions (BG11 without sodium phosphate). These results indicate that the CO₂ fixation rate in the air could be enhanced via the sequential optimization of microalgal culture conditions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.182-195
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• 2024

Background: Invasive alien plant species (IAP) significantly threaten Nepal's protected areas and local communities. Understanding their distribution, impact, management, and utilization is essential for developing effective management strategies and sustainable utilization practices. The systematic literature review of publications from 2010 to 2023. The search was conducted through the database Nepal Journal online database (NepJOL) and Google Scholar, yielding an initial pool of 4,304 publication. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria; we meticulously reviewed 43 articles for data extraction. Results: Seventeen IAP are found in protected area, Nepal with the highest prevalence observed in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, followed by Chitwan and Sukhlaphanta National Park. The most problematic species in terrestrial ecosystems are Mikania micrantha, Lantana camara, and Chromolaena odorata. The grassland ecosystems of wildlife habitats, primarily in the Terai and Siwalik regions, are the most invaded. Various management approaches are employed to mitigate the spread and impact of IAP, including mechanical methods such as uprooting, burning, and cutting. However, these methods are costly, and context-specific interventions are needed. The study also explores the potential use of IAP for economic, ecological, or cultural purposes, such as medicinal properties, energy production potential, and economic viability. Local communities utilize these plants for animal bedding, mulching, green manure, briquette, and charcoal production. Conclusions: Applying silvicultural practices alongside mechanical management is recommended to maintain a healthy terrestrial ecosystem and utilize the removed biomass for valuable products, thereby reducing removal costs and increasing income sources, potentially benefitting both local communities and wildlife in protected areas.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.672-677
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• 2012

Lipids in microalgal biomass were recovered by using pyrolysis method. The pyrolysis experiments of two Chlorella sp. KR-1 samples, which have triglyceride contents of 10.8% and 36.5%, respectively were carried out at $600^{\circ}C$ to investigate the effects of lipid contents in the cells on the reaction characteristics. The conversion and liquid yield of the lipid-rich sample were higher than those of the lipid-lean sample since its carbon to hydrogen ratio was low. There were low molecular weight organic acids, ketones, aldehydes and alcohols in the liquid products from both KR-1 samples, but the pyrolysis oil of the lipid-rich sample was abundant in free fatty acids, particularly palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid while the content of nitrogen containing organic compounds was low. The microalgal pyrolysis oil had two layers composed of the light hydrophobic fraction and the heavy hydrophilic fraction. The light fraction might be originated from triglycerides and the heavy fraction might be from carbohydrates and proteins. In the light fraction of the liquid products, there were considerable linear alkanes such as pentadecane and heptadecane as well as free fatty acids, implying that deoxygenation reaction including decarboxylation was occurred during the pyrolysis. The yield of the liquid products from the pyrolysis of the KR-1 sample having triglyceride content of 36.5% was 56.9% and the light fraction in the liquid products was 68.2%. Also more than 80% of the light fraction was free fatty acids and pure hydrocarbons, thus showing that most triglycerides could be extracted in the form of suitable raw materials for biofuels.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.687-692
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• 2016

Biomass has been concerned as one of the alternative energy resources because it is renewable, abundant worldwide, eco-friendly, and carbon neutral. Quercus variabilis has been studied to understand pyrolysis reaction characteristics, and to evaluate the efficiency of bio-energy production from fast pyrolysis. Quercus variabilis were fast pyrolyzed in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor at various reaction conditions. The effects of pyrolysis temperature between $400^{\circ}C$ and $550^{\circ}C$ on product yields were investigated. The yield of bio-oil was changed between 36.98 wt% and 39.14 wt%, and those of gas yield was 33.40 and 36.96 wt% with increasing reaction temperature. The higher heating value (HHV) of bio-oil at $500^{\circ}C$ ($3.0{\times}U_{mf}$) was 20.18 MJ/kg. The gas compositions were similar for all reaction conditions such as CO, $CO_2$ and $CH_4$, and $CO_2$ selectivity was the highest (37.16~50.94 mol%). The bio-oil has high selectivities for furfural, phenol and their derivatives such as 1-hydroxy-2-propanone, 2-methoxy-phenol, 1,2-benzendiol, 2,6-dimethoxy-phenol.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.102-112
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of design criteria and environmental conditions of the site of created tidal flats on the structure and function of man-made ecosystem. Seven constructed tidal flats and three natural tidal flats were studied taking the difference in the location (wave height and tidal current), inflow of river water, slope of tidal flat and age after the construction completed into consideration. Parameters studied were physico-chemical and biological characteristics of soils and rate of respiration. The natural tidal flats had higher contents of silt, nitrogen and organic matter compared with the constructed ones. The natural ones had reductive zone below 2cm, whereas the constructed ones had aerobic zone from the surface to below 20cm. The bacterial population in the soil of the constructed tidal flats was one to two orders of magnitude lower than that in the natural ones. Both biomass of macrobenthos and microbial respiration rate, however, were not different significantly between the natural and the constructed tidal flats. There was an exceptional constructed tidal flat with similar physico-chemical and biological characteristics to the natural ones. It is most probable that sufficient conditions to have similar tidal flats to natural ones are the location in enclosed bay or calm coastal area. Thus, to make man-made tidal flats with the same characteristics as those in natural ones, man-made tidal flats should be designed and/or located to enhance the accumulation of silt on tidal flat. It is important to select a place having low water motion for construction of tidal flat.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.3-10
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• 2000

The main purpose of this study were to estimate the benthic fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) from the sediment and denitrification rates in tidal flats of the Keum river estuary. Sediment specimens were collected by a core sampler from three stations along the Keum river estuary in April, August and December, 1999. The sediments were composed of 1.18 %, 29.34 % and 69.49 % of gravel and sand, sand and silt, respectively. The mean ignition loss of the sediment was found 6.7 % and its Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) was measured -12 mV. The total hydrogen sulfides was determined about 0.26 mg/gㆍdry. The estimated outflux of ammonium was found 11.2 m mole N/m²ㆍday from the sediment, whereas -1.09 m mole N/m²ㆍday of influx was obtained for nitrate and nitrite through the incubation experiment of sediment cores. Total DIN flux was 10.2 m mole N/m²ㆍday outflux from the sediment. From the incubation experiments executed with the flux studies, mean denitrification rate was found 30.6 m mole N₂/m²ㆍday measured by the direct assay of N₂ production technique. On the basis that DIN flux and denitrification rate in sediment of tidal flat of the Keum river estuary are may be effects to control the algal biomass in the coastal environment, it seems inevitable to pay more attention to investigate the flux of DIN and denitrification rate in tidal flat of the Keum river estuary.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2010

Seagrass beds are a type of coastal wetland with many ecosystem services and precious economic values. Seagrass meadows used to be widespread along the coasts in northern Chinese seas, yet they have long been overlooked and lack devoted study on their history and status. This paper firstly reveals, by synthesis of information on composition of seagrass species and their distribution, that the seagrasses in this region have experienced considerable declines, both in terms of distribution and biomass, from the earliest record to present days. Then, a case study at the seagrass bed of Chudao is described to show the status of representative seagrass meadows. The results indicate that the environmental condition is good, seagrasses are in recovery, the planktoners are healthy and rich fishery resources and the mammal finless porpoise are associated with the seagrass bed. The cause(s) of historical seagrass decline and current conditions are also discussed, and future recommendations on seagrass protection and mapping are suggested.