• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2005

The bioelectrochemical reduction of nitrate in the presence of various mediators including methyl viologen and azure A was studied using a 3-electrode voltammetric system. The catalytic potential for the reduction of the mediators was observed in the reactor, which for methyl viologen and azure A were -0.74 V and -0.32 V, respectively, with respect to the potential of Ag/AgCl reference electrode. This potential was then applied to a working electrode to reduce each mediator for enzymatic nitrate reduction. Nitrite, the product of the reaction, was measured to observe the enzymatic nitrate reduction in the reaction media. Methyl viologen was observed as the most efficient mediator among those tested, while azure A showed the highest electron efficiency at the intrinsic reduction potential when the mediated enzyme reactions were carried out with the freely solubilized mediator. The electron transfer of azure A with respect to time was due to the adhesion of azure A to the hydrophilic surface during the reduction. In addition, the use of the adsorbed mediator on conductive activated carbon was proposed to inhibit the change in the electron transfer rate during the reaction by maintaining a constant mediator concentration and active surface area of the electrode. Azure A showed better than nitrite formation than methyl viologen when used with activated carbon.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.201-219
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• 2016

To internalize climate-related external costs from agricultural production and food consumption Pigou taxes and carbon credits increase private costs for food. Voluntary GHG reduction program for carbon-neutral food can be advantageous over such policy measures since they avoid higher food prices for the poor. The pilot project of low-carbon agriculture certification system is to reduce GHG emissions from agricultural production and enhance the competitiveness of domestic agricultural products. This study examines producers', distributors', and consumers' perceptions of the low-carbon agriculture certification system and analyzes alternatives to promote the low-carbon certificated agricultural products.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2014

This study was performed to prevent deforestation and forest degradation and vitalize REDD+ program through suitable site analysis at the 16 districts of South Korea. For this, we worked out profit potential, opportunity cost, carbon credits through making it use of conception of the Forest Carbon Index. As a results, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon Metropolitan City, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Daegu Metropolitan City, Gwangwon-do included in the top 5 among the 16 districts of South Korea. In case of Gyeonggi-do as best suitable site, reduction of carbon emission was best high due to reduction area of deforestation. And profit potential was also high in accordance with practice of REDD+ program. Furthermore, we proposed four plans to activate REDD+ program in South Korea on the basis of the results.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1137-1144
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• 2013

$TiO_2$ composites with seven different carbon materials (activated carbons, graphite, carbon fibers, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene oxides, and reduced graphene oxides) that are virgin or treated with nitric acid are prepared through an evaporation method. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples are evaluated in terms of $H_2$ production from aqueous methanol solution (photo-catalytic reduction: PCR) and degradation of aqueous pollutants (phenol, methylene blue, and rhodamine B) (photocatalytic oxidation: PCO) under AM 1.5-light irradiation. Despite varying effects depending on the kinds of carbon materials and their surface treatment, composites typically show enhanced PCR activity with maximum 50 times higher $H_2$ production as compared to bare $TiO_2$. Conversely, the carbon-induced synergy effects on PCO activities are insignificant for all three substrates. Colorimetric quantification of hydroxyl radicals supports the absence of carbon effects. However, platinum deposition on the binary composites displays the enhanced effect on both PCR and PCO reactions. These differing effects of carbon materials on PCR and PCO reactions of $TiO_2$ are discussed in terms of physicochemical properties of carbon materials, coupling states of $TiO_2$/carbon composites, interfacial charge transfers. Various surface characterizations of composites (UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, SEM, FTIR, surface area, electrical conductivity, and photoluminescence) are performed to gain insight on their photocatalytic redox behaviors.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2015

This study investigates Cu(II) complexes of cyclam, propylene cross-bridged cyclam (PCB-cyclam), and propylene cross-bridged cyclam diacetate (PCB-TE2A) as homogeneous electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction in comparison with Ni(II)-cyclam. It is found that Cu(II)-cyclam can catalyze CO₂ reduction at the potential close to its thermodynamic value (0.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl) in tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.45) on a glassy carbon electrode. Cu(II)-cyclam, however, suffers from severe demetalation due to the insufficient stability of Cu(I)-cyclam. Cu(II)-PCB-cyclam and Cu(II)-PCB-TE2A are revealed to exhibit much less demetalation behavior, but poor CO₂ reduction activities as well. The inferior electrocatalytic ability of Cu(II)-PCB-cyclam is ascribed to its redox potential that is too high for CO₂ reduction, and that of Cu(II)-PCB-TE2A to the steric hindrance preventing facile contact with CO₂ molecules. This study suggests that in addition to the redox potential and chemical stability, the stereochemical aspect has to be considered in designing efficient electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2022

Increasing carbon and PM_2.5 concentrations have been emerging as serious environmental issues worldwide. The purpose of this study was to quantify carbon and PM_2.5 reduction by urban parks in Gangneung, Korea. A total of 35 parks were sampled by applying a random sampling method to survey tree planting structures and the areal distribution of land cover types of urban parks. These survey data and the Green Evaluation Technique (GET) computer program were used to estimate carbon and PM_2.5 reduction by trees. Mean tree density and cover in the study parks were 3.5±0.2 tree/100 m² and 44.5±3.0%, respectively. Annual carbon uptake and PM_2.5 deposition per unit area by trees averaged 2.8±0.2 t/ha/yr and 30.2±2.8 kg/ha/yr. Gangneung's urban parks annually offset the carbon emissions by 3.4% and the PM_2.5 emissions by 3.5%. Thus, urban parks played a significant role in reducing atmospheric carbon and PM_2.5 concentrations. Total annual carbon uptake and PM_2.5 deposition of urban parks in Gangneung were about 1,338.2 t/yr and 14,433.2 kg/yr. This study is expected to contribute to raising awareness of the role and importance of urban parks regarding carbon and PM_2.5 reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2013

Studies on the regulation and measurement of greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions have been carrying out for global wanning. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many countries have been promoting the Emissions Trading System and projects of the Joint Implementation(JI) and Clean Development Mechanism(CDM). These country's GHG emissions have been measured calculation criteria based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) Guidelines. In order to respond to GHGs regulation, in each country, it is planing to build a Low-Carbon City. The system has been developed for calculating GHGs emissions from companies and institutions in their respective countries. However, the system can monitor the GHGs per city, has not been developed. In this paper, it is studied to design the User Interface and to develop integrated monitoring program for Low-carbon city. This program will make possible monitoring and management, statistics, and reports written by using each data in units of cities.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.425-433
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• 2013

A mass balance of process was calculated by using the analysis of basic unit and environmental assessment of all the processes of Busan fashion color industry cooperative that operates a combined heat and power plant and a bio treatment plant. The mass balance for the combined heat and power plant was done, based on boiler and water treatment processes while each unit reactor was used for the bio treatment plant. From the results above, a resource recycle network, a treatment flowchart for food waste water/wastewater treatment and a carbon reduction program were established.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2009

The conversion of carbon dioxide to value-added compounds has been attracted to solve the environmental problems due to the climate change caused by greenhouse effect in addition to recycle the abundant and renewable carbon source. For utilizing carbon dioxide to useful compounds, the development of catalysts and optimization of experimental conditions are indispensable since carbon dioxide is the most stable one among carbon compounds and the a certain amount of energy is required for the carbon dioxide conversion. The technologies developed for the electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion were reviewed in terms of electrocatalyst which can be electrode material, inorganic complex, and enzyme. This field should be developed further since no good catalyst having selectivity, efficiency, and stability all together.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.42-45
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• 2013

Natural photosynthesis utilizes solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to energy-rich carbohydrates. Substantial use of sunlight to meet world energy demands requires energy storage in useful fuels via chemical bonds because sunlight is intermittent. Artificial photosynthesis research focuses the fundamental natural process to design solar energy conversion systems. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ($NAD^+$) and $NADP^+$ are ubiquitous as electron transporters in biological systems. Enzymatic, chemical, and electrochemical methods have been reported for NADH regeneration. As photochemical systems, visible light-driven catalytic activity of NADH regeneration was carried out using platinum nanoparticles, molecular rhodium and cobalt complexes in the presence of triethanolamine as a sacrificial electron donor. Pt nanoparticles showed photochemical NADH regeneration activity without additional visible light collector molecules, demonstrating that both photoactivating and catalytic activities exist together in Pt nanoparticles. The NADH regeneration of the Pt nanoparticle system was not interfered with the reduction of $O_2$. Molecular cobalt complexes containing dimethylglyoxime ligands also transfer their hydrides to $NAD^+$ with photoactivation of eosin Y in the presence of TEOA. In this photocatalytic reaction, the $NAD^+$ reduction process competed with a proton reduction.