• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.802-807
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• 2012

The autothermal reforming of methane to syngas has been carried out in a reactor charged with both a Ni (15 wt%)-Ru (1 wt%)/$Al_2O_3$-MgO metallic monolith catalyst and an electrically-heated convertor (EHC). The standalone type reactor has a start-up time of less than 2 min with the reactant gas of $700^{\circ}C$ fed to the autothermal reactor. The $O_2/CH_4$ and $H_2O/CH_4$ ratio governed the methane conversion and temperature profile of reactor. The reactor temperature increased as the reaction shifted from endothermic to exothermic reaction with decreasing $H_2O/CH_4$ ratio. Also the amount of $CO_2$ in the products increases with increasing $H_2O/CH_4$ ratio due to water gas shift reaction. The 97% of $CH_4$ conversion was obtained and the reactor temperature was maintained $600^{\circ}C$ at the condition of $GHSV=10,000\;h^{-1}$ and feed ratio ($H_2O/CH_4=0.6$ and $O_2/CH_4=0.5$). In this condition, the maximum flow rate of the syngas generated from the reactor charged with 170 cc of the metallic monolith catalyst is $0.94\;Nm^3/h$.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.39-49
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• 2020

Rice paddy cultivation is one of the major sources in methane (CH₄) emission of which accurate assessment would be a prerequisite for agricultural greenhouse gas management. Biomass treatment in paddy fields is an important factor that affects CH₄ emissions and thus needs to be taken into account. The objectives of this study were to apply drone images to investigate organic matter practices and to incorporate into the estimation of CH₄ emissions from paddy fields. Three study areas were selected by one from each of the three different regions of Yeongnam, Honam and Jungbu, which are the most active region in paddy cultivation. The eBee drone was used to take images of the study sites twice a year; Jul mid-season for identifying rice cultivation area; Jan for investigating rice straw management and winter crop cultivation. Based on biomass management practices, different emissions factors were assigned on an individual paddy field and CH₄ emmisions were estimated by multiplying respective areas. The ratios of rice straw application and winter crop cultivation were 1.4% and 37.2% in Hapcheon, 1.3% and 19.8% in Gimje, and 0.0% and 0.5% in Dangjin, respectively. The CH₄ emissions estimates for respective sites were 0.40 ton CH₄/year/ha, 0.34 ton CH₄/year/ha, and 0.29 ton CH₄/year/ha. On average, estimated CH₄ emissions of this study were 28.5% less than the current Tier 2 CH₄ emission estimation method.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2019

Operating characteristics of a 30 L microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for producing biogas from sewage sludge was studied. During the 32-day inoculation period, carbon dioxide concentration decreased and methane concentration increased with operating time, and the overall methane content of biogas was 69.1% with a production rate of 171.6 mL CH₄/L·d. In fed-batch experiments for 6 operating cycles, CH₄ concentration of 66.5~77.2% was obtained at a production rate of 184.9~372.9 mL CH₄/L·d, COD, TS and VS removal efficiency ranged from 28.2 to 42.1%, 20.7 to 37.5% and 18.5 to 36.9%, respectively. The MEC system was observed to be stabilized as operating cycles were repeated after inoculation. In the last operating cycle, 5221 mL/L of methane was produced with CH₄ yield of 316.7 L CH₄/kg COD_rem, and the energy recovery was 73%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.542-549
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• 2015

The bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion for sewage sludge was attempted at different applied voltages ranged from 0.2 V to 0.4 V. At 0.3 V of the applied voltage, pH and VFAs were at 7.32 and 760 mg COD/L, respectively, which were quite stable. The methane production rate was $1.32L\;CH_4/L.d$, and the methane content in biogas was 73.8%, indicating that the performance of the bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion could be considerably improved by applying a low voltage. At 0.4 V of the applied voltage, however, the contents of the minor VFA components including formic acid and propionic acid were increased. The methane production rate was reduced to $1.24L\;CH_4/L.d$ and the biogas methane content was also reduced to 72.4%. At 0.2 V of the applied voltage, the pH was decreased to 6.3, and VFAs was accumulated to 5,684 mg COD/L. The contents of propionic acid and butyric acid in the VFAs were considerably increased, The performances in terms of the methane production rate and the biogas methane content were deteriorated. The poor performance of the bioelectrochemical reactor at 0.2 V of the applied voltage was ascribed to the thermodynamic potential lack for the driving of the carbon dioxide reduction into methane at cathode.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 2016

Theoretical maximum methane yield of glucose at STP (1 atm, $0^{\circ}C$) is 0.35 L $CH_4/g$ COD. However, most researched actual methane yields of anaerobic digester (AD) on lab scale is lower than theoretical ones. A wide range of them have been reported according to experiments methods and types of organic matters. Recent year, a MET (Microbial electrochemical technology) is a promising technology for producing sustainable bio energies from AD via rapid degradation of high concentration organic wastes, VFAs (Volatile Fatty Acids), toxic materials and non-degradable organic matters with electrochemical reactions. In this study, methane yields of food waste leachate and sewage waste sludge were evaluated by using BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) and continuous AD tests. As the results, methane production volume from the anaerobic digester equipped with MET (AD + MET) was higher than conventional AD in the ratio of 2 to 3 times. The actual methane yields from all experiments were lower than those of theoretical value of glucose. The methane yield, however, from the AD + MET occurred similar to the theoretical one. Moreover, biogas compositions of AD and AD + MET were similar. Consequently, methane production from anaerobic digester with MET increased from the result of higher organic removal efficiency, while, further researches should be required for investigating methane production mechanisms in the anaerobic digester with MET.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.911-916
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• 2010

Rice paddy fields and crop residue burning are a major source of methane ($CH_4$) emissions, a potent greenhouse in agriculture. This study was conducted to assess $CH_4$ emissions in Korea cropland sector from 1990 to 2008. Greenhouse gas emissions from the cropland sector are calculated in two categories: 4C (Rice cultivation) and 4F (Field burning). In 4C: Rice Cultivation, methane emissions from paddy fields (continuously flooded and intermittently flooded) cultivated for rice production had decreased from 395 $CH_4$ $10^3$ Mg in 1990 to 297 $CH_4$ $10^3$ Mg in 2008. $CH_4$ emissions converted into $CO_2$ equivalent were 8,303 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 1990 and 6,229 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 2008. Greenhouse gas emissions from paddy field in Korea showed that it was gradually going down as the cultivation area decreased. In 4F: Field Burning, methane emissions by burning crop residue increased from 2,502 $CH_4$ Mg in 1990 to 2,726 $CH_4$ Mg in 2008. Emissions converted $CH_4$ into $CO_2$ equivalent were 53 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 1990 and 57 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 2008. Total emissions of $CH_4$ from the cropland sector declined from 8,356 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 1990 to 6,287 $CO_2$-eq. $10^3$ Mg in 2008.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.717-724
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• 2016

Methane (CH₄) is the most abundant component in natural gas. To reduce its harmful environmental effect as a greenhouse gas, CH₄ can be utilized as a low-cost feed for the synthesis of methanol by methanotrophs. In this study, several methanotrophs were examined for their ability to produce methanol from CH₄; including Methylocella silvestris, Methylocystis bryophila, Methyloferula stellata, and Methylomonas methanica. Among these methanotrophs, M. bryophila exhibited the highest methanol production. The optimum process parameters aided in significant enhancement of methanol production up to 4.63 mM. Maximum methanol production was observed at pH 6.8, 30℃, 175 rpm, 100 mM phosphate buffer, 50 mM MgCl₂ as a methanol dehydrogenase inhibitor, 50% CH₄ concentration, 24 h of incubation, and 9 mg of dry cell mass ml^-1 inoculum load, respectively. Optimization of the process parameters, screening of methanol dehydrogenase inhibitors, and supplementation with formate resulted in significant improvements in methanol production using M. bryophila. This report suggests, for the first time, the potential of using M. bryophila for industrial methanol production from CH₄.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2000.07c
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• pp.2020-2022
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• 2000

The cross-linked polyethylene(herein after XLPE) insulated power cable emit the methane($CH_4$)gas in the course of chemical cross-linking process. The general stranded conductor easily discharge this methane gas through the gap of each stranded wires. But the special stranded conductor that filled with semi-conducting rubber compound to prevent water penetration which is applied to water proof type of cable(22.9kV CN/CV-W), disturb the methane gas emission. The pre-mold type cable joint shall be expanded gradually by emit of gas left in XLPE insulation. For example, sometimes the corona problem outbreak on a new power distribution line, resulted from the gap between the sleeve and semi-conductive layer of cable joint. If above mentioned problem especially happened on the way of operating. We have to shut down the line and try to discharge the methane gas in cable joint. In this point, we would like to explain the mechanism of methane gas & cable joint and our test result briefly. At last, we are pleased to introduce the solution for preventing reoccurrence of this problem.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.280-289
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• 2015

Anaerobic digestion is an efficient and renewable energy technology that can produce biogas from a variety of biomasses such as animal manure, food waste and plant residues. In developing countries this technology is widely used for the production of biogas using local biomasses, but there is little information about the value of these biomasses for energy production. This study was therefore carried out with the objective of estimating the biogas production potential of typical Vietnamese biomasses such as animal manure, slaughterhouse waste and plant residues, and developing a model that relates methane ($CH_4$) production to the chemical characteristics of the biomass. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) and biomass characteristics were measured. Results showed that piglet manure produced the highest $CH_4$ yield of 443 normal litter (NL) $CH_4kg^{-1}$ volatile solids (VS) compared to 222 from cows, 177 from sows, 172 from rabbits, 169 from goats and 153 from buffaloes. Methane production from duckweed (Spirodela polyrrhiza) was higher than from lawn grass and water spinach at 340, 220, and 110.6 NL $CH_4kg^{-1}$ VS, respectively. The BMP experiment also demonstrated that the $CH_4$ production was inhibited with chicken manure, slaughterhouse waste, cassava residue and shoe-making waste. Statistical analysis showed that lipid and lignin are the most significant predictors of BMP. The model was developed from knowledge that the BMP was related to biomass content of lipid, lignin and protein from manure and plant residues as a percentage of VS with coefficient of determination (R-square) at 0.95.This model was applied to calculate the $CH_4$ yield for a household with 17 fattening pigs in the highlands and lowlands of northern Vietnam.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1220-1225
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• 2011

Anaerobic decomposition of organic materials in flooded rice fields produces methane ($CH_4$) gas, which escapes to the atmosphere primarily by transport through organs of the rice plants such as arenchyma etc., Although the annual amount of methane emitted from a given area is influenced by cultivation periods of rice and organic/inorganic amendments etc., soil type also affects methane emission from paddy soil during a rice cultivation. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of soil type on $CH_4$ emission in two paddy soils. One is a red-yellow soil classified as a Hwadong series (fine, mixed, mesic family of Aquic Hapludalfs), and the other is a gley soil classified as a Shinheung series (fine loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic family of Aeric Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts). During a flooded periods, redox potentials of red-yellow soil were significantly higher than gley soil. $CH_4$ emission in red-yellow soil ($0.21kg\;ha^{-1}\;day^{-1}$) was lower than that in gley soil ($5.25kg\;ha^{-1}\;day^{-1}$). In the condition of different soil types, $CH_4$ emissions were mainly influenced by the content of total free metal oxides in paddy soil. The results strongly imply that iron- or manganese-oxides of well ordered crystalline forms in soil such as goethite and hematite influenced on a $CH_4$ emission, which is crucial role as a $CH_4$ oxidizers in paddy soil during a rice cultivation.