• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.198-221
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• 2021

After large-scale reforestation in the 1960s and 1970s, forests in Korea have gradually been aging. Net ecosystem CO₂ exchange of old-growth forests is theoretically near zero; however, it can be a CO₂ sink or source depending on the intervention of disturbance or management. In this study, we report the CO₂ budget dynamics of the Gwangneung deciduous old-growth forest (GDK) in Korea and examined the following two questions: (1) is the preserved GDK indeed CO₂ neutral as theoretically known? and (2) can we explain the dynamics of CO₂ budget by the common mechanisms reported in the literature? To answer, we analyzed the 15-year long CO₂ flux data measured by eddy covariance technique along with other biometeorological data at the KoFlux GDK site from 2006 to 2020. The results showed that (1) GDK switched back-and-forth between sink and source of CO₂ but averaged to be a week CO₂ source (and turning to a moderate CO₂ source for the recent five years) and (2) the interannual variability of solar radiation, growing season length, and leaf area index showed a positive correlation with that of gross primary production (GPP) (R²=0.32~0.45); whereas the interannual variability of both air and surface temperature was not significantly correlated with that of ecosystem respiration (RE). Furthermore, the machine learning-based model trained using the dataset of early monitoring period (first 10 years) failed to reproduce the observed interannual variations of GPP and RE for the recent five years. Biomass data analysis suggests that carbon emissions from coarse woody debris may have contributed partly to the conversion to a moderate CO₂ source. To properly understand and interpret the long-term CO₂ budget dynamics of GDK, new framework of analysis and modeling based on complex systems science is needed. Also, it is important to maintain the flux monitoring and data quality along with the monitoring of coarse woody debris and disturbances.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.222-232
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• 2023

In this study, a hollow fiber support membrane was prepared by a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method using a polysulfone (PSf). The prepared hollow fiber support membrane was coated with PDMS and Pebax to prepare a hollow fiber composite membrane. The prepared composite membrane was measured for permeance and selectivity for pure CO₂, H₂, O₂ and N₂. Gas separation performance of the module having the highest selectivity (CO₂/H₂) among the prepared composite membrane modules was measured according to the change in stage cut using simulated gas. The composition of the simulated gas used at this time was 70% CO₂ and 30% H₂. In the 1 stage experiment, it was possible to obtain values of about 60% of H₂ concentration and 12% of H₂ recovery. In order to overcome the low H₂ concentration and recovery, 2 stage serial test was performed, and through this, it was possible to achieve 70% H₂ concentration and 70% recovery. Through this, it was possible to derive a separation process configuration for CO₂/H₂ separation.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.40-49
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• 2022

In this study, the phase and electrochemical properties of Co and Ti substituted layered perovskites SmBaCo_2-xTi_xO_5+d (x=0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.1, 1.3, and 1.5) were analyzed, and their application as electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were evaluated. After calcination at 1300℃ for 6 h, a single phase was observed for two compositions of the SmBaCo_2-xTi_xO_5+d oxide system, SmBaCoTiO_5+d (x=1.0) and SmBaCo_0.9Ti_1.1O_5+d (x=1.1). However, the phases of SmBaCoTiO_5+d (SBCTO) and SmTiO₃ coexisted for compositions with x≥1.3 (Ti content). In contrast, for compositions of x≤0.7, the SmBaCo₂O_5+d phase was observed instead of the SmTiO₃ phase. To evaluate the applicability of these materials as SOFC electrodes, the electrical conductivities were measured under various atmospheres (air, N₂, and H₂). SBCTO exhibited stable semi-conductor electrical conductivity behavior in an air and N₂ atmosphere. However, SBCTO showed insulator behavior at temperatures above 600℃ in a H₂ atmosphere. Therefore, SBCTO may only be used as cathode materials. Moreover, SBCTO had an area specific resistance (ASR) value of 0.140 Ω·cm² at 750℃.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.423-431
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• 2022

Due to increase of interest in 'carbon neutrality', attempts at agricultural use of CO₂ are increasing. In this study, we used the dry-ice made by CO₂ as by-product in thermoelectric power plant on CO₂ fertilization for production of leafy vegetable in greenhouses. The dry-ice was supplied on three leafy vegetable farms (Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng, Aster scaber, and Oenanthe stolonifera DC.) located in Hadong, Gyeongsangnamdo. Two greenhouses were used in each leaf vegetable crops, one greenhouse used as the control (non-treatment), other greenhouse used as supplied CO₂. For CO₂ fertilization, a gas sublimated from dry ice was supplied to the greenhouse using a specially designed prototype supply machine. A. tuberosum greenhouse has no difference of CO₂ concentration between the control, and CO₂ fertilization and shown high CO₂ concentration both greenhouses. However, the CO₂ concentrations in A. scaber and O. stolonifera greenhouses were increased in CO₂ fertilization treatment. The growth of A. scaber and O. stolonifera were increased in CO₂ fertilization, and the yield also increased to 36% and 25% than the control, respectively. As a result of economic analysis, the A. scaber has increase of income rate, however A. tuberosum and O. stolonifera has decreased income rate. Thus, the use of the dry-ice made by CO₂ as by-product in thermoelectric power plant has possibility to increase productivity of the leafy vegetable in greenhouse and have agricultural use value.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.308-310
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• 2022

Ultrawide bandgap gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) semiconductors are known to have excellent photocatalytic properties due to their high redox potential. In this study, CO₂ reduction is demonstrated using nanostructured Ga₂O₃ photocatalyst under ultraviolet (254 nm) light source conditions. After the CO₂ reduction, C₂H₄ remained as a by-product in this work. Nanostructured Ga₂O₃ photocatalyst also showed an excellent endurance characteristic. Photogenerated electron-hole pairs boosted the CO₂ reduction to C₂H₄ via nanostructured Ga₂O₃ photocatalyst, which is attributed to the ultrawide and almost direct bandgap characteristics of the gallium oxide semiconductor. The findings in this work could expedite the realization of CO₂ reduction and a simultaneous C₂H₄ production using a low cost and high performance photocatalyst.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of CO oxidation by NO poisoning in Pt/TiO₂ catalyst prepared by wet impregnation method and calcined at 400 ℃. In order to confirm the NO poisoning effect of the Pt/TiO₂ catalyst, the change of reaction activity was observed when NO was injected during the CO+O₂ reaction where it was ascertained that the CO conversion rate rapidly decreased below 200 ℃. Also, CO conversion was not observed below 125 ℃. Recovery of initial CO conversion was not verified even if NO injection was blocked at 125 ℃. Accordingly, various analyses were performed according to NO injection. First, as a result of the TPD analysis, it was confirmed that NO pre-adsorption in catalyst inhibited CO adsorption and conversion desorption from adsorbed CO to CO₂. When NO was pre-adsorbed, it was confirmed through H₂-TPR analysis that the oxygen mobility of the catalyst was reduced. In addition, it was validated through FT-IR analysis that the redox cycle (Pt²⁺→Pt⁰→Pt²⁺) of the catalyst was inhibited. Therefore, the presence of NO in the Pt/TiO₂ catalyst was considered to be a poisoning factor in the CO oxidation reaction, and it was determined that the oxygen mobility of the catalyst is required to prevent NO poisoning.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2024

Fishing net waste (FNW) constitutes over half of all marine plastic waste and is a major contributor to the degradation of marine ecosystems. While current treatment options for FNW include incineration, landfilling, and mechanical recycling, these methods often result in low-value products and pollutant emissions. Importantly, FNWs, comprised of plastic polymers, can be converted into valuable resources like syngas and pyrolysis oil through pyrolysis. Thus, this study presents a process for generating high-purity hydrogen (H₂) by catalytically pyrolyzing FNW in a CO₂ environment. The proposed process comprises of three stages: First, the pretreated FNW undergoes Ni/SiO₂ catalytic pyrolysis under CO₂ conditions to produce syngas and pyrolysis oil. Second, the produced pyrolysis oil is incinerated and repurposed as an energy source for the pyrolysis reaction. Lastly, the syngas is transformed into high-purity H₂ via the Water-Gas-Shift (WGS) reaction and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). This study compares the results of the proposed process with those of traditional pyrolysis conducted under N₂ conditions. Simulation results show that pyrolyzing 500 kg/h of FNW produced 2.933 kmol/h of high-purity H₂ under N₂ conditions and 3.605 kmol/h of high-purity H₂ under CO₂ conditions. Furthermore, pyrolysis under CO₂ conditions improved CO production, increasing H₂ output. Additionally, the CO₂ emissions were reduced by 89.8% compared to N₂ conditions due to the capture and utilization of CO₂ released during the process. Therefore, the proposed process under CO₂ conditions can efficiently recycle FNW and generate eco-friendly hydrogen product.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.97-104
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• 2020

One of the main challenges of electrochemical water splitting technology is to develop a high performance, low cost oxygen-evolving electrode capable of substituting a noble metal catalyst, Ir or Ru based catalyst. In this work, CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles with sub-44 nmsize of a inverse spinel structure for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were synthesized by the injection of KNO₃ and NaOH solution to a preheated CoSO₄ and Fe(NO₃)₃ solution. The synthesis time of CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles was controlled to control particle and crystallite size. When the synthesis time was 6 h, CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles had high conductivity and electrochemical surface area. The overpotential at current denstiy of 10 mA/㎠ and Tafel slope of CoFe₂O₄ (6h) were 395 mV and 52 mV/dec, respectively. In addition, the catalyst showed excellent durability for 18 hours at 10 mA/㎠.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.21-31
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• 2020

This study investigates the dynamic effects of economic development, international cooperation, electricity consumption, and political risk on the escalation of CO₂ emission in Vietnam. We adopted autoregressive distributed lag model and Granger causality method to examine the interaction between CO₂ and various economic and political factors, including foreign direct investment, trade openness, economic growth, manufacture, electricity consumption, and political risk in Vietnam since the economic revolution in 1986. The findings reflect opposite influence between these factors and the level of CO₂ in the intermediate and long-term durations. Accordingly, foreign direct investment and CO₂ emission have a bidirectional relationship, in which foreign direct investment accelerates short-term CO₂ emission, but reduces it in the long run through an interactive mechanism. Moreover, economic development increases the volume of CO₂ emission in both short and long run. There was also evidence that political risk has a negative effect on the environment. Overall, the findings confirm lasting negative environmental effects of economic growth, trade liberalization, and increased electricity consumption. These factors, with Granger causality, mutually affect the escalation of CO₂ in Vietnam. In order to control the level of CO₂, more efforts are required to improve administrative transparency, attract high-quality foreign investment, and decouple the environment from economic development.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2022

Container system automatically controlled in its atmosphere of high CO₂/low O₂ was devised to contain and store pork belly meat at chilled temperature. The meat in the container system was compared in the quality preservation at 0℃ for 21 days to that in air-filled container and vacuum package. The container atmosphere could be controlled to be of 47~60% CO₂ and 7~10% O₂ through time-controlled intermittent CO₂ injection. The controlled atmosphere in the developed system was effective in suppressing pH change and aerobic bacterial growth contributing to sensory quality preservation. Compared to control of air-filled container, vacuum packaging showed lower microbial growth and slower pH change on the meat but with high drip loss. The devised container system to keep high CO₂ and mildly low O₂ concentrations is effective in the meat quality preservation on overall, and may be extended to a variety of meat products with possible modification tuned for product requirements.