• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.99-104
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• 2009

Soy protein isolate (SPI)-based nanocomposite films with three different types of nanoclays, such as Cloisite $Na^+$, Cloisite 20A, and Cloisite 30B, were prepared using a solution casting method, and their optical, tensile, and water vapor barrier properties were determined to investigate the effect of nano-clay type on film properties. Among the tested nanoclays, Cloisite $Na^+$, a hydrophilic montmorillonite (MMT), exhibited the highest transparency with least opaqueness, the highest tensile strength, and the highest water vapor barrier properties, indicating Cloisite $Na^+$ is the most compatible with SPI polymer matrix to form nanocomposite films. The film properties of SPI/Cloisite $Na^+$ nanocomposite films were strongly dependent on the concentration of the clay. Film properties such as optical, tensile, and water vapor barrier properties improved significantly (p<0.05) as the concentration of clay increased. However, the effectiveness of addition of the clay reduced above a certain level (i.e., 5wt%), indicating that there is an optimum amount of clay addition to exploit the full advantage of nanocmposite films.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.925-930
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• 2006

Chitosan-based nanocomposite films were prepared using a solution intercalation method incorporating varying amounts of organically modified montmorillonite (Cloisite 30B) from 0 to 30 wt%. The nanocomposite films prepared were optically clear despite a slight decrease in the transmittance due to the spatial distribution of nanoclay. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that a certain degree of intercalation or exfoliation formed when the amount of clay in the film was low and that microscale tactoids formed when the clay content in the sample was high (more than 10 wt%). The tensile strength (TS) of the chitosan film increased when the clay was incorporated up to 10 wt% and then decreased with further increases in the clay content of the film. The elongation at break (E) increased slightly upon the addition of low levels of clay up to 5 wt% and then decreased with further increases in the amount of the clay in the film. The water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased exponentially with increasing clay content. The water solubility (WS) and swelling ratio (SR) of the nanocomposite films decreased slightly, indicating that the water resistance of the chitosan film increased due to the incorporation of the nanoclay.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.1047-1059
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• 2019

This work describes the development of a numerical module with a multiphysics structure to simulate the thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical behavior of compacted bentonites. First, the conceptual model, based on the state-of-the-art formulation for clay-based engineered barriers in deep geological repositories, is described. Second, the advantages of multiphysics-based modules are highlighted. Then, the guidelines to develop a code using such tools are outlined, presenting an example of implementation. Finally, the simulation of three tests that illustrate the behavior of compacted bentonites assesses the scope of the developed code. The satisfactory results obtained, and the relative simplicity of implementation, show the opportunity of the modeling strategy proposed.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.393-409
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• 2015

Zinc and lead pollution are public environmental issues that have attracted lots of attention for a long time. Landfill leachate contains heavy metals, such as Zn(II) and Pb(II), which are usually related to the pollution of groundwater, especially in developing countries. Bentonite has been proven to be effective in enhancing the membrane property of clay, by which landfill liners can have better barrier performance towards the migration of contaminants. In this study, 5% sodium bentonite amended with locally available Fukakusa clay was utilized to evaluate the membrane behavior towards the heavy metals zinc and lead. The chemico-osmotic efficiency coefficient, ${\omega}$, was obtained through Zn(II) and Pb(II) solutions with different concentrations of 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 50 mM. According to the results, ${\omega}$ continually decreased as the Zn(II) and Pb(II) concentrations increased, which is consistent with the Gouy-Chapman theory. Compared to normal inorganic ions, the membrane behavior towards heavy metal ions was lower. The migration of heavy metal ions was not observed based on experimental results, which can be attributed to the adsorption or ion exchange reaction. The mechanisms of the membrane performance change were discussed with the assistance of XRD patterns, free swelling results, XRF results, and SEM images.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.469-488
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• 2022

Technology for high-level-waste disposal employing a multibarrier concept using engineered and natural barrier in stable bedrock at 300-1,000 m depth is being commercialized as a safe, long-term isolation method for high-level waste, including spent nuclear fuel. Managing heat generated from waste is important for improving disposal efficiency; thus, research on efficient heat management is required. In this study, thermal management methods to maximize disposal efficiency in terms of the disposal area required were developed. They efficiently use the land in an environment, such as Korea, where the land area is small and the amount of waste is large. The thermal effects of engineered barriers and natural barriers in a high-level waste disposal repository were analyzed. The research status of thermal management for the main bedrocks of the repository, such as crystalline, clay, salt, and other rocks, were reviewed. Based on a characteristics analysis of various heat management approaches, the spent nuclear fuel cooling time, buffer bentonite thermal conductivity, and disposal container size were chosen as efficient heat management methods applicable in Korea. For each method, thermal analyses of the disposal repository were performed. Based on the results, the disposal efficiency was evaluated preliminarily. Necessary future research is suggested.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.382-387
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• 2013

Biodegradable polyurethane (PU)/clay nanocomposite films were prepared via extrusion compounding process followed by casting film process. Organically modified montmorillonite (denoted as C30B) with a large amount of hydroxyl groups on its surface was used for the formation of strong bonding with PU resin. From both XRD analysis and TEM observations, the intercalated and exfoliated structure, and dispersion state of silicate platelets in the compounded nanocomposite films were confirmed. In addition, the rheological and tensile properties, optical transparency, oxygen permeability of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated as a function of added nanoclay content, and moreover based on these results, the corelation between the morphology and the resulting properties of the nanocomposites could be presented. The inclusion of nanoclays at appropriate content resulted in remarkable improvement in the nanocomposite performance including tensile modulus, elongation, transparency, and oxygen barrier property, however at excess amount of nanoclays, reduction or very slight increase was observed due to poor dispersion. The biodegradability of the prepared nanocomposite film was evaluated by examining the deterioration in the barrier and tensile properties during degradation period under compost.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.72-74
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• 2003

There has been extensive interest in the development of new nanocomposites. One kind of these systems is the hybrid based on organic polymers and inorganic minerals consisting of layered silicates. Some properties like stiffness, strength, barrier properties, thermal, and oxidative stability can be improved by the presence of the filler in the polymeric matrix[1]. It is reported that, in the nylon 6/clay nanocomposites, the modulus is increased, but impact strength and elongation at break are drastically decreased. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.110-113
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of proposed permeable eobarrier system for removal of PCE from groundwater. The materials used for the natural geobarrier are gravel bean and silty clay. In addition, the effect of Pyeongtaek soil on PRB assessed in this experiments. It was observed that the adsorption of PCE in natural geobarrier system is eligible for real site. However, natural geobarrier system has various factors based on using materials. Therefore, more laboratory work is needed to study about permeable geobarrier.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.255-271
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• 2005

polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite (PLSNs) is new type of materials, based on clays usually rendered hydrophobic through ionic exchange of the sodium interlayer cation with an onium cation. It could be prepared via various synthetic routes comprising exfoliation adsorption, in situ intercalative polymerization and melt intercalation. The whole range of polymer is used, i.e. thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers as a matrix. Two types of structure may be obtained, namely intercalated nanocomposites where the polymer chains are sandwiched in between silicate layers and exfolicate nanocomposites where the separated, individual silicate layers are more or less uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. This new family of materials exhibits enhanced properties at very low filer level, usually inferior to 5wt$\%$, such as increased mechanical properties, increase in thermal stability and gas barrier properties and good flame retardancy. Gas permeability through the PLSNs films decreased due to increased tortuosity made by intercalation or exfoliation of clay in polymer.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2012

The buffer and backfill are important components of the engineered barrier system in a high-level waste repository, which should be constructed in a hard rock formation at a depth of several hundred meters below the ground surface. The primary function of the buffer and backfill is to seal the underground excavation as a preferred flow path for radionuclide migration from the deposited high-level waste. This study investigates the hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure of Kyungju Ca-bentonite, which is the candidate material for the buffer and backfill in the Korean reference high-level waste disposal system. The factors that influence the hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure of the buffer and backfill are analyzed. The factors considered are the dry density, the temperature, the sand content, the salinity and the organic carbon content. The possibility of deterioration in the sealing performance of the buffer and backfill is also assessed.