• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of several variables on the durability of wood pellets fabricated with torrefied larch (LAR) and tulip tree (TUT) chips. Microscopic observation by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer was also performed to identify the surface of the wood pellets visually. In addition, torrefied-LAR and TUT pellets were fabricated with the addition of moisture, lignin, starch and protein as binders, and durabilities of the pellets were analyzed statistically. Durabilities of torrefied-LAR and TUT pellets were lower than one of non-torrefied-LAR and TUT pellets. Durabilities of both pellets fabricated with the wood chips, which were torrefied with $230^{\circ}C$ and 30 min, were the highest among all torrefaction conditions used in this study. From the microscopic observations, lignin was distributed broadly on the surface of non-torrefied wood pellets, whereas congregated partially on the surface of torrefied wood pellets. Durability of LAR pellets increased with the addition of moisture, but that of TUT pellets was reduced. Addition of binders contributed to increase the durability of LAR and TUT pellets. As a binder, lignin and protein were more effective than starch for improving the durability. In conclusion, mild torrefaction treatment, such as $230^{\circ}C$ and 30 min, might be an optimal condition to minimize the durability reduction of the LAR and TUT pellets. In addition, when torrefied woody materials with high and low specific gravities are used as a raw material for the production of durable wood pellets, it might be required to adjust moisture content and torrefaction conditions of woody materials, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.122-134
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of torrefied larch wood as a raw material of pellets. First of all, larch chip was torrefied at the temperatures of 230, 250 and $270^{\circ}C$ for 30, 50 and 70 min. Secondly, moisture content, moisture absorption, higher heating value and ash content of the torrefied chip were measured to examine the effects of torrefaction conditions on the fuel characteristics of larch. Thirdly, surfaces of the torrefied chip were observed by light microscope (LM), field emission scanning microscope (FE-SEM) and SEM-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDXS). With the increases of torrefied temperature and time, contents of lignin increased and those of hemicellulose reduced. Moisture content of torrefied larch chip was greatly lower than that of non-torrefied chip. Moisture absorption of the torrefied chip decreased as torrefaction temperature increased. As torrefaction temperature increased, higher heating value and ash content of larch chip increased. However, durability of torrefied-larch pellets was remarkably lower comparing to non-torrefied-larch pellets. When surface of larch chip was observed by LM and FE-SEM, surface color and cell wall of the chip was getting darker and more collapsed with the increases of torrefaction conditions. Through the analysis of SEM-EDXS, distribution and quantity of lignin existing on the surface of larch chip increased with the increases of torrefied conditions. In conclusion, $270^{\circ}C$/50 min might be an optimal condition for the torrefaction of larch with the aspect of fuel characteristics, but torrefaction condition of $230^{\circ}C$/30 min should be considered according to the durability of torrefied-larch pellets.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2007

Microorganisms participate in a variety of geochemical processes such as weathering and formation of minerals, leaching of precious metals from minerals, and cycling of organic matter The objective of this study was to investigate biogeochemical processes of iron leaching from magnetite ore by iron-reducing bacteria isolated from intertidal flat sediments, southwestern part of Korea. Microbial iron leaching experiments were performed using magnetite ore, Shinyemi magnetite ore, in well-defined media with and without bacteria at room temperature for a month. Water soluble Fe and Mn during the leaching experiments were determined by ICP analysis of bioleached samples, and the resulting precipitated solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extent of iron leaching from magnetite in the aerobic conditions (Fe = 15 mg/L and Mn = 3.41 mg/L) was lower than that in the anaerobic environments (Fe = 32.8 mg/L and Mn = 5.23 mg/L). The medium pH typically decreased from 8.3 to 7.2 during a month incubation. The Eh of the initial medium decreased from +144.9 mV to -331.7 mV in aerobic environments and from -2.3 mV to -494.6 mV in anaerobic environments upon incubation with the metal reducing microorganisms. The decrease in pH is due to glucose fermentation producing organic acids and $CO_2$. The ability of bacteria to leach soluble iron from crystalline magnetite could have significant implications for biogeochemical processes in sediments where Fe(III) in magnetite represents the largest pool of electron acceptor as well as to use as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.142-153
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• 2011

'Silla Monument Stone in Jungseong-ri, Pohang' was discovered in Pohang City, Gyeongsangbuk Province of Korea in 2009. The monument stone with irregular shape has dimensions of maximum height of 105cm, width of 47.6~49.6cm, thickness of 13.8~14.7cm and weight of 115kg. The results of monument stone was found to be granitite. Conservation treatment procedure was carried out in the order of production of Weathering map, cleaning of surface pollutants, consolidation using ethyl silicate. Black pollutant(crust) that covered more than 60% of the surface was analyzed first in order to remove the pollutants on the surface of the monumental stone by cleaning of surface pollutants using laser. The purpose on analysis was not only to verify the pollutants on the stone but also to carry out preliminary cleaning by securing rocks with same pollutant as the monumental stone. As the results of analysis using p-XRF(PMI. INNOV-X, USA) on the site, high level of Mn and Fe were detected, and the analysis of small section that had been fallen off with SEM/EDX for the purpose of quantitative analysis also detected high level of Mn. The Similar contaminants on Stone secured in the manner described above were made into 10 samples ($5cm{\times}5cm$) and was subjected to preliminary cleaning by Nd-YAG Laser(Laser&Physics, Korea). The results of surface observation through portable microscope during cleaning revealed that the power of 460mJ, wavelength of 1064nm and irradiation frequency of 1,800~2,300 per $25cm^2$ were most effective. Evaluation on the preservative treatment was made through confirmation of the extent of removal through color-difference meter measurement and component analysis prior to and following removal of the pollutants. As the result of color-difference meter measurement increase in the brightness was evidenced by the increase in the brightness ($L^*$)value from 33 to 49, and it was possible to ascertain the reduction in the pollutants as the content of Mn was reduced by about 80% from $50,000{\pm}5,000ppm$ to $10,000{\pm}2,000pmm$ from the result of component analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2022

Natural white clay was treated with 6 M of H₂SO₄ and heated at 80℃ for 6 h under mechanical stirring and the resulting acid active clay was used as an adsorbent for the removal of Cs⁺ in water. The physicochemical changes of natural white clay and acid active clay were observed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), BET Surface Area Analyser and Energy Dispersive X-line Spectrometer (EDX). While activating natural white clay with acid, the part of Al₂O₃, CaO, MgO, SO₃ and Fe₂O₃ was dissolved firstly from the crystal lattice, which bring about the increase in the specific surface area and the pore volume as well as active sites. The specific surface area and the pore volume of acid active clay were roughly twice as high compared with natural white clay. The adsorption of Cs⁺ on acid active clay was increased rapidly within 1 min and reached equilibrium at 60 min. At 25 mg L^- of Cs⁺ concentration, 96.88% of adsorption capacity was accomplished by acid active clay. The adsorption data of Cs⁺ were fitted to the adsorption isotherm and kinetic models. It was found that Langmuir isotherm was described well to the adsorption behavior of Cs⁺ on acid active clay rather than Freundlich isotherm. For adsorption Cs⁺ on acid active clay, the Langmuir isotherm coefficients, Q, was found to be 10.52 mg g^-1. In acid active clay/water system, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was more suitable for adsorption of Cs⁺ than the pseudo-first-order kinetic model owing to the higher correlation coefficient R² and the more proximity value of the experimental value q_e,exp and the calculated value q_e,cal. The overall results of study showed that acid active clay could be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cs⁺ from water.