• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2010

In this study, Solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) with Gas Chromatograph using Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) was studied as a possible alternative to liquid-liquid extraction for the analysis of Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and Tertiary-butyl ether (TBA) in water and an optimization condition of trace analysis of MTBE and TBA using the design of experiment (DOE) was described. The aim of our research was to apply experimental design methodology in the optimization condition of trace analysis of fuel oxygenated compounds in soil-phase microextraction with GC/FID. The reactions of SPME were mathematically described as a function of parameters of Temp ($X_1$), Volume ($X_2$), Time ($X_3$) and Salt ($X_4$) being modeled by the use of the partial factorial designs, which was used for fitting 2nd order response surface models and was alternative to central composite designs. The model predicted agreed with the experimentally observed result ($Y_1$(MTBE, $R^2$ = 0.96, $Y_2$ (TBA, $R^2$ = 0.98)). The estimated ridge of the expected maximum responses and optimal conditions for MTBE and TBA were 278.13 and (Temp ($X_1$) = $48.40^{\circ}C$, Volume ($X_2$) = 73.04 mL, Time ($X_3$) = 11.51 min and Salt ($X_4$) = 12,50 mg/L), and 127.89 and (Temp ($X_1$) = $52.12^{\circ}C$, Volume ($X_2$) = 88.88mL, Time ($X_3$) = 65.40 min and Salt ($X_4$) = 12,50 mg/L), respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Only limited information is available on the measured exposure levels of residents according to the construction age of apartments. As such, present study was conducted to measure and to compare the bedroom, living-room, and outdoor air levels of MTBE and benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and m,p-xylene(BTEX) in both newer and older apartments. For both newer and older apartments, all the compounds except for MTBE showed significantly higher levels in bedrooms or living-rooms as compared to the outdoor concentrations. The ratio of bedroom or living-room median concentration to outdoor concentration was close to 1 for MTBE, whereas it was larger than 1 for other target compounds. It was also found that the bedroom and living-room appeared to have similar indoor sources and sinks for BTEX, but not for MTBE. The median concentration ratios of the newer apartments to the older apartments ranged from 1.63 to 1.81, depending upon the compounds. In contrast, the MTBE concentrations did not differ significantly between the newer and older apartments, thereby suggesting that although newer buildings could emit more VOCs, this is not applicable to all VOCs. Conclusively, the findings of present study should be considered, when designing exposure studies associated with VOC emissions in buildings and/or managing indoor air quality according to construction age of buildings.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.704-711
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• 2017

Korea, which has a high dependency on energy imports, is greatly affected by fluctuations in international oil prices. In order to offset these effects, various policies such as 'diversification of energy sources' and 'energy mix' are being pursued. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a policy promoted for this purpose, and a compulsory mixing system is applied only to the diesel. In order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in various countries, they are concentrating on the dissemination of bio-alcohol as well as bio-diesel, and commercialization through various verification. In this study, evaluation of domestic materials and vehicles was carried out to promote domestic bio alcohol fuel. We analyzed the fuel characteristics of domestic quality standard items by mixing them with gasoline of automobile at a certain mixing ratio (0%, 3%, 6%, and 10%).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.19-25
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• 2012

This study describes effects of DME additives on combustion and exhaust emissions characteristics including nano-particle in a single cylinder compression ignition engine. Considered additives include bio-diesel, n-butanol, and MTBE for increasing kinematic viscosity. Among three additives, n-butanol showed the greatest kinematic viscosity. In addition MTBE showed the highest vapor pressure. In the present study mixing ratios of additives were kept constant at 1 and 10% by volume. Experiments were performed at 1200rpm engine speed and nano-particles were measured by SMPS (Scanning mobility particle sizer) devices. Results of combustion characteristics showed that considered additives had little effects on combustion pressure. However, patterns of heat release rate were dependent on properties of additives. Nano-particles of MTBE were the lowest among considered additives.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

MTBE (Methyl tertiary-butyl ether) has been commonly used as an octane enhancer to replace tetraethyl lead in gasoline, because MTBE increases the efficiency of combustion and decreases the emission of carbon monoxide. However, MTBE has been found in groundwater from the fuel spills and leaks in the UST (Underground Storage Tank). Fenton's oxidation, an advanced oxidation catalyzed with ferrous iron, is successful in removing MTBE in groundwater. However, Fenton's oxidation requires the continuous addition of dissolved $Fe^{2+}$. Zero-valent iron is available as a source of catalytic ferrous iron of MFO (Modified Fenton's Oxidation) and has been studied for use in PRBs (Permeable Reactive Barriers) as a reactive material. Therefore, this study investigated the condition of optimization in MFO-PRBs using waste zero-valent iron (ZVI) with the waste steel scrap to treat MTBE contaminated groundwater. Batch tests were examined to find optimal molar ratio of MTBE : $H_2O_2$ on extent to degradation of MTBE in groundwater at pH 7 with 10% waste ZVI. As the results, the ratio of optimization of MTBE to hydrogen peroxide for MFO was determined to be 1:300[mM]. The column experiment was conducted to know applicability of MFO-PRBs for MTBE remediation in groundwater. As the results of column test, MTBE was removed 87% of the initial concentration during 120days of operational period. Interestingly, MTBE was degraded not only within waste ZVI column but also within sand column. It means the aquifer may affect continuously the MTBE contaminated groundwater after throughout the waste ZVI barrier. The residual products showed acetone, TBF (Tert-butyl formate) and TBA (Tert-butyl acetate) during this test. The results of the present study showed that the recycled materials can be effectively used for not only a source of catalytic ferrous iron but also a reactive material of the MFO-PRBs to remove MTBE in groundwater.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.63-69
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• 1998

The treatment of soils and water contaminated with MTBE using the Fenton oxidation was investigated. The effects of dosage of $H_{2}O_{2}$, and Fe$^{2+}$ concentrations, and solution pH on transformation and mineralization in soil were evaluated. Generation of TBA and acetone following Fenton-oxidation of MTBE in water and generation of acetone following Fenton-oxidation of TBA were observed. Therefore TBA and acetone are degradation intermediates of MTBE. There was a large difference of treatment efficiency in Fenton oxidation of MTBE between soil and water system. This may be caused by the complex nature of soil, soil organic matter which can consumed OH $\cdot$ radicals, and interacting with inorganic-soil constituents. The pH of soil was observed to have a significant effect on the chemical oxidation efficient of MTBE in soil The data demonstrated that optimal pH range were pH 3~4 and around 6. The soil batch studies demonstrated that treatment efficiency of MTBE was enhanced by adding additional ferrous salts but Fenton-oxidation occurred in no additional iron which indicated that iron in soil can catalyze the Fenton-oxidation. The most effective parameter of Fentonoxidation was $H_{2}O_{2}$/Fe$^{2+}$ ratio which theocratical ratio is 0.5. The optimal range of this ratio was found to be 0.6~2.3. In evaluating effect of $H_{2}O_{2}$ dosage on treatment efficiency, the increase of $H_{2}O_{2}$ did not always lead to increase of decompositions of MTBE in soil. Fenton oxidation was effective in destroying MTBE in aqueous extracts of contaminated soil and water. Experimental data provided evidence that the Fenton oxidation can effectively remediate MTBE-contaminated water and soil.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.724-732
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• 2002

Although the demands for diesel engine is increased, our world is faced with very serious problems related to the air pollution due to the exhaust emissions of the diesel engine. In this study, the potential possibility of oxygenated fuel such as Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was investigated for the sake of exhausted smoke reduction from diesel engine. MTBE has been used as a fuel additive blended into unleaded gasoline to improve octane number, but the study of application for diesel engine was incomplete. Because MTBE includes oxygen content approximately 18%, it is a kind of oxygenated fuel that the smoke emission of MTBE is reduced remarkably compared with commercial diesel fuel, that is, it can supply oxygen component sufficiently at high load and speed in diesel engine. But, the NOx emission of MTBE blended fuel is increased compared with commercial diesel fuel. And. it was tried to analyze not only total hydrocarbon but individual hydrocarbon components from $C_1$to $C_{6}$ in exhaust gas using gas chromatography to seek the reason for remarkable reduction of smoke emission. The results of this study show three conclusions. 1. The smoke omission of the MTBE blended fuel is lower than that of the diesel fuel at all experimental region in direct injection diesel engine. 2. Individual hydrocarbons(C$_1$~ $C_{6}$) as well as total hydrocarbon of oxygenated fuel are reduced remarkably compared with diesel fuel. 3. Smoke emission from diesel engines was strongly depended on oxygen content in fuel regardless of operating condition.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.374-384
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• 2016

Concern about air pollution is gradually rising up in domestic and foreign, automotive and fuel researchers are trying to reduce vehicle exhaust emissions, through a lot of approaches, which consist of new engine design and innovative after-treatment systems, using clean (eco-friendly alternative) fuels and fuel quality improvement. This research is proceeding by two main issues : exhaust emissions and PM particle emissions of gasoline vehicle. Exhaust emissions, non-regulated emissions and PM (particulate matter) particles of automotive are causing many problems which ambient pollution and harmful effects on the human body. The main particulate fraction of automotive exhaust emissions consists of small particles. Because of their small size, inhaled particles can easily penetrate deep into the lungs. The rough surfaces of these particles make it easier for them to combine with other toxins in the environment. Thus, the hazards of particle inhalation are increased. Based on the oxygenated fuel additive types (MTBE, Bio-ETBE, Bio-ethanol, Bio-butanol), this paper discussed the influence of oxygen contents on gasoline vehicle exhaust emissions, non-regulated emissions and nano-particle emissions. Also, this paper assessed exhaust emission characteristics at 2 type test modes. The test modes were FTP-75 and HWFET. All measurement items be verified less than the value of regulated emissions. It could be known difference increase and decrease by each measurement item depending on increase the oxygen contents.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2020

Petroleum is the most used energy source in Korea with a usage rate of 39.5% among the available 1st energy source. The price of liquid petroleum products in Korea includes a lot of tax such as transportation·environment·energy tax. Thus, illegal production and distribution of liquid petroleum is widespread because of its huge price difference, including its tax-free nature, from that of the normal product. Generally, illegal petroleum product is produced by illegally mixing liquid petroleum with other similar petroleum alternatives. In such case, it is easy to distinguish whether the product is illegal by analyzing its physical properties and typical components. However, if one the components of original petroleum product is added to illegal petroleum, distinguishing between the two petroleum products will be difficult. In this research, we inspect illegally produced gasoline, which is mixed with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as an octane booster. This illegal gasoline shows a high octane number and oxygen content. Further, we analyze the different types of green dyes used in illegal gasoline through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We conduct component analyses on the simulated sample obtained from premium gasoline and MTBE. Finally, the illegal gasoline is defined as premium gasoline with 10% MTBE. The findings of this study suggest that illegal petroleum can be identified through an analytic method of components and simulated samples.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2008

1,4-Dioxane($C_4H_8O_2$), which is used as a solvent stabilizer, could make harmful effects on ecosystem because of its higher solubility, toxicity and carcinogenic by US EPA. From 2011, its discharge limit to waterbody will be regulated at 5 mg/L by Ministry of Environment Republic of Korea. It was thus to investigate that the currently operating activated sludge in polyester manufacturing processes in Gumi can properly treat it to meet with the regulation standard. For that purpose, the removal rate of 1,4-dioxane and its microbial properties were assessed for a few companies(i.e. K, H and T). Its removal efficiency was the most highly recorded in H as 98% and then 77% for K, which met with the regulation standard. However, concentration of 1,4-dioxane of T was 23 mg/L in the effluent, which is more than the regulation standard. Aside from, microbial degradation test was done for 100 ppm of 1,4-dioxane in BSM (Basal salt medium) inoculated with each of activated sludge. After 7 days, 1,4-dioxane was completely removed in the test bottle inoculated with H sludge, 67% in T and 52% in K, which could confirm that the given activated sludge might have different biodegradability against the amount of 1,4-dioxane. Therefore, microbial diversity in each company was investigated by 16s rDNA cloning methods where a species, e.g. Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1, was the greatest observed from H and in lesser from K, but it was not detected from T. Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1 is known to efficiently degrade ether like methyl tertiary-butyl ether(MTBE). It is concluded that the activated sludge in H can be most effectively adopted for a biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane in the concern of industrial sector.