• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2018

Water management impacts both methane ($CH_4$) and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emissions from rice paddy fields. Although irrigation is one of the most important methods for reducing $CH_4$ emission in rice production systems it can also $N_2O$ emissions and reduce crop yields. A feasibility study on the system of rice intensification (SRI) methods with respect to irrigation requirements, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was conducted for either 2 or 3 years depending on the treatment in Korea. The SRI methods (i.e. SRI and midsummer drainage (MD) with conventional practice (CT)) reduced the irrigation requirement by 49.0 and 22.0 %, respectively. Global warming contribution of GHG to different depending on the type of GHG. Therefore, the emission of $CH_4$ and $N_2O$ shall be converted to Global Warming Potential (GWP). The GHG emission from the conventional practice with midsummer drainage (MD) and the SRI plots, in GWP were reduced by 49.1 and 77.1 %, respectively. Application of SRI water management method could help to improve Korea's water resources and could thus contribute to mitigation of the negative effects of global warming.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.3270-3275
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• 2007

DME (Dimethyl Ether, $CH_3OCH_3$) has highly attracted attention as an alternative fuel for transportation, power generation and LPG substitute owing to its easy transportation and cleanliness. This study was conducted to verify the combustion performance and to identify potential problems when DME is fuelled to a gas turbine. GE7EA gas turbine of Pyong-Tak power plant was selected as a target to apply the DME. Combustion tests were conducted by comparing DME with methane, which is a major component of natural gas, in terms of combustion instability, $NO_X$ and CO emissions, and the outlet temperature of the combustion chamber. The results of the performance tests show that DME is very clean but has a low combustion efficiency in low load condition. From the results of the fuel nozzle temperature we have ascertained that DME is easy to flash back, and this property should be considered when operating a gas turbine and retrofitting a burner.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.110-119
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• 2016

High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge achieves highly efficient volatile solid reduction, and production of volatile fatty acid (VFA) and methane compared with conventional low-solid anaerobic digestion. In this study, the potential mechanisms of the better performance in high-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge were investigated by using 454 high-throughput pyrosequencing and real-time PCR to analyze the microbial characteristics in sewage sludge fermentation reactors. The results obtained by 454 highthroughput pyrosequencing revealed that the phyla Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were the dominant functional microorganisms in high-solid and low-solid anaerobic systems. Meanwhile, the real-time PCR assays showed that high-solid anaerobic digestion significantly increased the number of total bacteria, which enhanced the hydrolysis and acidification of sewage sludge. Further study indicated that the number of total archaea (dominated by Methanosarcina) in a high-solid anaerobic fermentation reactor was also higher than that in a low-solid reactor, resulting in higher VFA consumption and methane production. Hence, the increased key bacteria and methanogenic archaea involved in sewage sludge hydrolysis, acidification, and methanogenesis resulted in the better performance of high-solid anaerobic sewage sludge fermentation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.265-273
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• 2012

Anaerobic sewage treatment is drawing attentions due to high energy consumptions and sludge production associated with aerobic treatment. This study evaluates the treatment characteristics and energy balance of a fluidized bed reactor (FBR) for treating domestic sewage at $20^{\circ}C{\sim}25^{\circ}C$ for 245 days. Sewage fed to the FBR was a primary clarifier effluent of a domestic sewage treatment plant with COD of 99-301 mg/L and $BOD_{5}$ of 37-149 mg/L. Effluent $SBOD_{5}$ and its removal efficiency at HRT of 1~3 h were 6~15 mg/L and 73.4~85.5%, respectively, achieving high removal efficiency for soluble organic substances even at short HRTs. COD removal efficiency and its effluent concentration were 53.8~75.9% and 51~83 mg/L, respectively. The energy production potential from gaseous methane was 0.009-0.028 kWh/$m^{3}$, which satisfies the energy required for the FBR operation.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.67-73
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• 1992

This paper describes Hyundai's research and development work on a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV). The work on FFV has been conducted to evaluate its potential as an alternative to the conventional gasoline vehicle. Hyundai FFV described here can be operated on M85, gasoline, or any of their combinations, in which the methanol concentration is measured by an electrostatic type fuel sensor. For that operation, a special FFV ECU(Eletronic Control Unit) has been developed and incorporated in the FFV. The characteristics affecting FFV operation, such as FFV ECU control strategy and injector flow rate, have been investigated and optimized through the experiment. And various development tests have been performed in view of engine performance, durability, cold startability, and exhaust emissions reduction. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system consisting of manifold type catalyst and secondary air injection system shows good emission reduction performance including formaldehyde, and finally, the possibility of the FFVs as the low emission vehicles is evaluated by presenting NMOG(Non-Methane Organic Gases) levels with respect to M0 and M85. With these results, it is concluded that FFV can be a candidate for the low emission vehicles, but more works on its durability improvement is required.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.165-179
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• 2012

Indirect $CO_2$ effect due to non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) emissions from solvent and product use and fugitive NMVOC emissions from fuels in the Republic of Korea and 13 Annex I countries under United Nations Framework on Climate Change were estimated and the proportions of them to total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ranged from 0.092% to 0.45% in 2006. Indirect greenhouse effect ($CO_2$, $CH_4$, and $O_3$) were estimated at 13 photochemical assessment monitoring sites in the Republic of Korea using concentrations of 8 NMVOCs of which indirect global warming potential (GWP) were available. The contribution of toluene to mixing ratio was highest at 11 sites and however, the contribution of toluene to indirect greenhouse effect was highest at nine sites. In contrast to toluene, the contributions of ethane, butane, and ethylene were enhanced. The indirect greenhouse effects of ethane and propane, of which ozone formation potentials are the lowest and the third lowest respectively among targeted 10 NMVOCs, ranked first and fourth highest respectively. Acetaldehyde has relatively higher maximum incremental reactivity and is classified as probable human carcinogen however, its indirect GWP ranked second lowest.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.923-938
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• 2015

This study was conducted to serve as the basis for establishing a standard cultivation, which enhances the alternative utilization of pig manure, a major cause of environmental pollution, by finding a means for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for eco-friendly cultivation. In a laboratory, $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ emission patterns were investigated corresponding to incremental pig manure treatments in paddy soil. The emissions peaked 12 to 27 days after manure application in the 100~400% applications. It was found that increasing applications of pig manure resulted an increase in $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ emissions. Additionally, application of more than 150% emitted a larger amount of these gasses than applying chemical fertilizer. However, the test application of 100% pig manure emitted a smaller amount of $CH_4$ and hence Global Warming Potential (GWP) than those emitted by chemical fertilizer. If appropriate amount of fertilization is applied in compliance with the standard application rate, the pig manure may be effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the soil environment made more favorable than with the use of chemical fertilizer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2007

Phospho-gypsum a primary waste by-product in phosphate fertilizer manufacturing industry and a potential source of electron acceptors, such as mainly of sulfate and a trace amount of iron and manganese oxides, was selected as soil amendment for reducing methane $(CH_4)$ emissions during rice cultivation. The selected amendment was added into potted soils at the rate of 0, 2, 10, and 20 Mg $ha^{-1}$ before rice transplanting. $CH_4$ flux from the potted soil with rice plant was measured along with soil Eh and floodwater pH during the rice cultivation period. $CH_4$ emission rates measured by closed chamber method decreased with increasing levels of phospho-gypsum application, but rice yield markedly increased up to 10 Mg $ha^{-1}$ of the amendment. At this amendment level, total $CH_4$ emissions were reduced by 24% along with 15% rice grain yield increment over the control. The decrease in total $CH_4$ emission may be attributed due to shifting of electron flow from methanogenesis to sulfate reduction under anaerobic soil conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.529-545
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• 2013

With the increasing concern on climate changes and energy shortage, anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR) become a promising alternative to aerobic processes for domestic wastewater treatment. Two major advantages of AnMBRs are energy production and sludge reduction. Recently, several different configurations of AnMBRs have been proved to produce high quality effluent at reasonable hydraulic retention time and ambient temperature. One of the major problems of the AnMBR is membrane fouling control, and some solutions are already suggested. Other problems to be solved before the full application of the AnMBR are recovery of dissolved methane, management of residual nutrients and sulfide. Considering the potential advantages and future technology development, AnMBR will become major domestic wastewater treatment process in near future.