• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2013

To comply with the regulation of the reinforcing Clean Air Conservation Act, it is necessary for the semiconductor manufacturers to develop effective low-concentration acid gas abatement system to treat the flue gas. The low-concentration acid gas was found to be harder to deal with than the high-concentration one. In this study, the effect of various potential treatments such as air-assist nozzle spraying, magnetizing the scrubbing water, and adding surfactants to spraying and scrubbing water were investigate through the application of the statistical ANCOVA method, which was proved to be very useful tool when the inlet concentration of acid gas could not be controlled precisely and it affected the removal efficiency of the abatement system.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.81-94
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• 2016

Managing hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) becomes an important issue with the amendment of the Clean Air Conservation Act in 2012. In this study, to develop an effective air quality management policy direction against the HAPs in Korea, (1) the HAPs control policies in the USA, United Kingdom, Japan, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SQAQMD) are reviewed, (2) the state of the art of the HAPs management in Korea are studied, and (3) policy directions are suggested. It was found that each country has its own policy priority and management directions. It was also found that the current HAPs management status is far behind to the countries compared in HAPs identification, emission inventory, monitoring, modeling, and risk management. Further policy directions are suggested.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.435-443
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• 2016

In this study, MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) application effect was evaluated for minimization of benzene fugitive emission in petrochemical industry. Although fugitive emission for benzene in the nation was regulated by the Clean Air Conservation Act from 2015, the US EPA already has introduced MACT standard to minimize its emission with up-to-date technology since 1995. EPA Emission Factor (AP-42) and EPA MACT Standard Guideline were used to assess MACT application effect. As a result, For MACT application it could reduce benzene emission up to 98% (average) comparing with uncontrolled facility, while the national regulation could achieve about 95% (average) reduction which is slightly lower than MACT. However there is no control measure in the national regulation to reduce benzene emission for vessel loading even though MACT standard requires preventive facility such as VRU (Vapor Recovery Unit). For further reduction of benzene emission, it needs to be mandatory for operation of VRU when benzene product is loaded in vessel. These efforts could contribute to achieve the global level for benzene emission management in national petrochemical industry.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2013

Even a small amount of hazardous air pollutants could have a harmful influence upon human beings, animals and plants. Hazardous air pollutants have the properties of toxicity, canceration and organism accumulation. They include heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin, etc. The Clean Air Conservation Act has defined specific hazardous air pollutants and designated 35 pollutants, distinguishing them from common air pollutants for special control. This study investigates the history of the controls of specific hazardous air pollutants with reference to some relevant laws and regulations in Korea. It investigates the regulations at the permission stage, such as the restrictions on installation of emission facilities, the permission and reporting of installation of emission facilities, and the regulations at the operation stage, such as maintaining permissible emission levels, installation of measuring devices, dues for emission, self-measurement and securing environmental engineers. The current regulatory management is not so satisfactory in regards to the serious effects of specific hazardous air pollutants upon the human body. An advanced new concept, like the maximum available control technology in US, the facilities management standards, which will soon take effect, will be able to lessen the emissions of fugitive hazardous air pollutants. In addition, this study discusses some possible stricter controls on the emission facilities of specific hazardous air pollutants and proposes some measures to maintain and supplement the current systems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.85-92
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• 2020

Wet Scrubber reacts the incoming pollutant gas with cleaning water (water + absorbent) to absorb pollutants and release the clean air to the atmosphere. Wet scrubbers and packed tower scrubbers using this principle are widely used in businesses that emit acid gases. In particular, in the etching process using hydrochloric acid (HCl), alkaline washing water (NaOH) having a pH of about 8 to 11 is used to absorb a large amount of acid gas. However, These salts are attached to the injection nozzle (nozzle), filling material (packing), and the demister (Demister), causing air pollution, human damage, and inoperability due to clogging and acid gas discharge. Therefore, In this study, an improvement plan was proposed to manage the washing water with pH 3~4 acidic washing water. The test method takes samples from the Wet Scrubber flue measurement laboratory twice a month for 1 year. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) concentration (ppm) was measured, and nozzle clogging and scale conditions were measured, compared, and analyzed through a differential pressure gauge and a pressure gauge. As a result of the check, it was visually confirmed that the scale was reduced to 50% or less in the spray nozzle, filler, and demister. In addition, the emission limit of hydrogen chloride in accordance with the Enforcement Regulation of the Air Quality Conservation Act [Annex 8] met 3 ppm or less. Therefore, even if the washing water is operated in an acidic pH range of 3 to 4, it is expected to reduce air pollution and human damage due to clogging of internal parts, and it is expected to reduce maintenance costs such as regular cleaning or replacement of parts.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.362-369
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• 2014

This study investigated physical properties and combustion gas characteristics for 8 types of wood pellets (4 domestic and 4 imported products) distributed in the domestic market. Results showed that most pellet types were first-grade pellets in the wood pellet quality standards in Korea with the exception of 3 pellet types from K company (second-grade in mechanical durability), G company (off-grade in nitrogen content) and P company (second-grade in ash percentage). Mixed pellets which contained more lignin and sap content were higher in mechanical durability (%) than that of white pellets. From the combustion gas analysis results, NOx emitted from all pellets combustion was at acceptable levels for national emission standard of the Clean Air Conservation Act except for pellets from G company. In addition, CO levels from all types of wood pellets were acceptable except for pellets from D company and domestic pellets were higher CO levels than imported pellets. These results indicate the higher CO levels in domestic pellets due to the usage of forest thinning materials including logging debris which usually had the high content of bark.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.601-614
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• 2013

The commercial charcoal kiln was projected the largest source of biomass burning sector in Korea. Commercial charcoal kiln was operated to emit air pollutants into the air without any air pollution prevention equipment. The object of this field survey was to understand characteristics of air pollutants concentration and emission factors and to provide preliminary data for effective processor from oak charcoal manufacturing process. As result of field survey, TSP, $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ concentration from charcoal kiln were 400~37,000 $mg/m^3$. These values were over the 100 $mg/m^3$ in TSP, this value was effluent quality standard of Clean Air Conservation Act. The average concentration of CO, $SO_2$ and TVOC were 2~5%. 0~110 ppm and 820~10,000 ppm respectively. The emission factors were 42.4 g-PM/kg-oak in TSP, 40.3 g-PM/kg-oak in $PM_{10}$, 38.2 g-PM/kg-oak in $PM_{2.5}$, 182.5 g-CO/kg-oak, 1.0 g-NO/kg-oak, $SO_2$ 0.2 g-$SO_2/kg$-oak and 104.4 g-TVOC/kg-oak. The part of commercial charcoal kiln had air pollution prevention equipment but it was difficult to work properly. Much wood tar excreted in exhaust emissions from oak charcoal manufacturing process. This wood tar was cause of many troubles sticking in the air pollutant prevention equipment. For handling particulate matters and gaseous air pollutants from oak charcoal manufacturing process in biomass burning, air pollutant prevention equipment design and management needs preprocessor for removal wood tar.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.517-527
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• 2023

Objectives: We examine cases of chemical poisoning that occurred in the cleaning of metal parts and the regulations on halogenated solvents in other countries and propose regulations necessary to prevent chemical poisoning from halogenated solvents. Methods: We collected cases of chemical poisoning through the website of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. A review of the literature was conducted focusing on regulations related to halogenated solvents in the United States and the European Union, particularly for cleaning metal parts. Among the Material Safety Data Sheets submitted to the government, MSDS containing eleven substances were extracted to confirm the composition and product use. We investigated cleaning methods for metal parts used in South Korea. For the hazard classification, the European Chemicals Agency or Japan's NITE's website was used. Results: In the case of poisoning, the cleaning methods involving trichloromethane were dipping and dry, which was not found in the literature. It was confirmed that many halogenated solvents and dimethyl carbonate were used for metal cleaning in South Korea. In vapor degreasing using TCE in the USA, even if the facility is strictly managed, such as by installing cooling coils in open cleaning facilities, the risk of exposure to TCE is considered to be not only carcinogenic but also a concern for acute and chronic effects. In comparison, exposure through Korean work methods such as dipping and drying operations is inevitably much higher. Conclusions: The transition to water-based cleaning with low-hazard chemicals should be a priority in the cleaning process. In the case of metal parts that require precise cleaning, if the use of a halogenated solvent is inevitable, a closed degreasing facility should be used to minimize exposure. The current regulations in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Chemical Substances Control Act, and the Air Environment Conservation Act do not require cleaning facilities to minimize emissions. To protect the health of workers using halogenated solvents to clean metal parts, regulations that require a fundamental reduction in exposure will be necessary.