• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.615-621
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• 2018

Recently, various environmentally friendly products have been developed for improving the indoor air quality while pursuing a well-being nature-friendly healthy life as a core value. In this research, we not only solve the problems of existing environmentally friendly paints, but also developed a charcoal composite seats that can reduce radon, which is a natural radioactive substance, and evaluated the reduction effect of radon, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds. In the charcoal composite seats, a sodium silicate emulsion and charcoal were mixed to prepare an charcoal liquid coating material, and the composite seats was fabricated by air-spray coating method. In order to analyze the hazardous substance reduction performance of the fabricated charcoal composite seats, radon was designed to comply with the Ministry of the Environment standard, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds were designed to comply with KCL-FIR-1085 standard. As a result of the experiment, the fabricated charcoal composite seats was evaluated as having a radon reduction capability of about 90.8% from 20 hours, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds were 3 hours, and the reduction capability of 96.7% and 96.6% was found respectively. It is considered that these results can be utilized as basic data at the time of product development for improvement of indoor air quality.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2016

In previous study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission characteristics were highly affected by coating materials for wood finishing. Natural based coating materials showed that about 15~46% lower TVOC emission than typical products. In this study, long-term changes of VOCs emission characteristics from pine panel with three types of coating treatments were determined. Non-treated pine panel emitted $604.7{\mu}g/m^2{\cdot}h$ of TVOC that contained 66% of NVOC ($399.7{\mu}g/m^2{\cdot}h$) at 0 month. After 10 month, TVOC reduced 88% and 93% reduction on NVOC was observed. Natural oil and waterborne stain treated pine panel showed 61% and 77% lower TVOC, respectively, than non-treated pine panel. However, TVOC from finished pine panels showed higher TVOC emission than non-treated pine panel. All samples satisfied the VOC emission regulation (below $4,000{\mu}g/m^2{\cdot}h$) by Korean Ministry of Environment. Toluene emission regulation (below $80{\mu}g/m^2{\cdot}h$) was passed on all sample without varnish treated pine panel at 0 month. According to HB qualification standard for construction materials by Korea Air Cleaning Association (KACA), wood is not qualified to get the best tag due to high TVOC emission. At the 10 months, only non-treated pine panel could get the best tag of HB from KACA.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.548-556
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of lignocellulosic fiber and coconut shell activated carbon (CSA) for the production of a particulate matter (PM)-reducing air-filter as raw materials to solve the environmental problems of non-woven fabrics. CSA had a good potential to use as a raw material of air-filter for reducing volatile organic compounds as well as noxious metals, and reduction capability of the CSA was 5 times higher than that of wood fiber. Natural adhesives formulated with proteinaceous wastes mostly were applied successfully to fabricate air-filters with the shape of fiberboard. The air-filter fabricated with the minimum target density of 200 kg/m³ and the maximum CSA-content of 40 wt% in fiberboard had a good manageable strength. However, the fiberboard filters was required to make vent-holes for improving an air-permeability of the filters. Size of the CSA particles was adjusted to greater than 2 mesh with the consideration of strength and formability of the fiberboard. Three-layers fiberboard that only wood fiber and the mixture of wood fiber and CSA were formed in the surface and middle layers, respectively, was determined to the optimal condition for the production of air-filters. In addition, traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry trees (TKP) showed a good PM-reducing property as an air-filter. It is concluded that air-filtering set composed of fiberboard with vent-holes and TKP instead of conventional air-filters made with non-woven fabrics can be used as a filter for reducing the concentrations of PM, VOC and noxious metals existed in indoor and outdoor spaces.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.15 no.5 s.58
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• pp.298-305
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to figure out the profiles of eco-friendly finishing materials and intoner products through content analysis on the advertisements of three domestic interior design magazines, which have been published for 4 years since 2002. The amount of advertisements has been continuously increasing due to the public concerns on well-being. Finishing material types absolutely took the greatest proportion (92.8%), while products such as furniture and household equipments were only 7.2% among the advertisements. Charcoal, natural jade, yellow soil and nano-silver were the frequently mentioned health-related components in the finishing material. Only 35.7% of the finishing materials hold certification on indoor air quality. Among the interior products, phytonchid in air cleaner was the only advertised component related to health. In conclusion, controlling pollutants of indoor air quality, such as HCHO, VOC, seems to be the big issue in both materials and products due to the concern of Sick Building Syndrome. However, more scientific and objective guidelines are necessary for consumers to live in healthy interior environment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.145-151
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• 2006

As the concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) increase in recent years, lots of research works are under way to investigate the influence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from building products on the IAQ. One of the regulations for the IAQ is the level of total VOCs (TVOCs) from building products, assuming that the TVOCs are suspected to cause many health problems such as skin irritation, asthma, and allergy. However, the presence of biogenic VOCs, or natural VOCs (NVOCs) is believed to be beneficial to human health. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate chemical species and the NVOCs compositions of solid lumbers from different wood species. It was found that major VOC components were monoterpenes such as $\alpha$-pinene, $\beta$-pinene, d-limonene, camphene, $\alpha$-terpinene, $\gamma$-terpinene etc.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.115-123
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• 2011

Because buildings recently built have been highly insulated and highly airtight, it is impossible to emit toxic substances from interior finishing materials only by natural ventilation. Therefore, they cause indoor air pollution and it may threaten the user"s health such as atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma and (allergic) rhinitis. Domestically, users spend indoors 80 percent of their time of a day. With the increased interest in indoor air quality, the introduction of forced ventilation system for new-built apartment buildings has been legislated. However, toxic substances from indoor are mostly below there commended standard approximately 23 months later. Thus, this study has assumed the status of the apartment buildings 23 months later through a simulation, regarded $CO_2$ as an exclusive indoor air pollution source. In the process of effectively eliminating the $CO_2$, this study has also been conducted on an operating plan that can provide superior performance from the energy side.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.724-732
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• 2018

Plant defence responses to various biotic stresses via systemic acquired resistance (SAR) are induced by avirulent pathogens and chemical compounds, including certain plant hormones in volatile form, such as methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate. SAR refers to the observation that, when a local part of a plant is exposed to elicitors, the entire plant exhibits a resistance response. In the natural environment, plants are continuously exposed to avirulent pathogens that induce SAR and volatile emissions affecting neighbouring plants as well as the plant itself. However, the underlying mechanism has not been intensively studied. In this study, we evaluated whether plants "memorise" the previous activation of plant immunity when exposed repeatedly to plant defensive volatiles such as methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate. We hypothesised that stronger SAR responses would occur in plants treated with repeated applications of the volatile plant defence compound MeSA than in those exposed to a single or no treatment. Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings subjected to repeated applications of MeSA exhibited greater protection against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum than the control. The increase in SAR capacity in response to repeated MeSA treatment was confirmed by analysing the defence priming of the expression of N. benthamiana Pathogenesis-Related 1a (NbPR1a) and NbPR2 by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR compared with the control. We propose the concept of plant memory of plant defence volatiles and suggest that SAR is strengthened by the repeated perception of volatile compounds in plants.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2020

In this paper, we proposed a plan to maintain comfortable indoor air quality in nursing homes by suggesting ways to reduce items temporarily exceeding the reference values through real-time concentration variation analysis of indoor air quality. Five items including PM10, CO₂, CO, VOC, and Radon are measured at nursing homes in spring (April) and autumn (September) was carried out and all of the measured items were analyzed to satisfy the criteria set by the Indoor Air Quality Control Act. As a result of the analysis of the real-time concentration change, the concentration of CO₂ was close to the reference value based on the number of occupants in the sick room. Due to the disinfectant (alcohol) used to disinfect and the auxiliary tools (adhesive) used in the operation of the program such as making and coloring, it was analyzed to temporarily exceed the standard value in the hall. In conclusion, it is possible to provide pleasant indoor air quality and contribute to securing the nursing home's competitiveness if periodic ventilation, natural disinfectant and eco-friendly product are used in consideration of the thermal environment.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2011

Charcoal burning in the process of manufacture and ordinary use often release many constituent chemical species. As a result of open burning, the chemical composition as well as the physical properties of original material changes through the modification of surface properties of charcoal. Surface modification could be more responsible toward the outside elements for surface adsorption, it becomes easy to adsorb more toxic elements through surface adsorption. In this study, four kinds of commercially available charcoal were studied against the chemical and thermal stability along with the heavy metals and organic hazardous substances. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry, from room temperature to $400^{\circ}C$, were performed to study the weight loss and the changes in the behavior of those substances. According to TGA analysis, about 10% of weight loss was happened before $200^{\circ}C$. It was found that related weight loss of this temperature region may responsible to the gas phase organic matter. Natural charcoal, K1 and C1 show 15% of loss during the reaction heated to $400^{\circ}C$, while the artificial charcoal K2, C2 show the weight loss of about 20% was found. This is consistent with the main organic matter and VOC analysis results shown. Chemical composition based on the x-ray diffraction analysis was carried out. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the existence of chemical additive in the forms of $Ba(NO_3)_2$, $BaCO_3$, and $NaNO_3$.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.24
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• pp.75-83
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• 2008

In order to assess antifungal activity of a wooden storage box, which was made of Paulownia tomentosa and used for keeping ancient documents, antifungal activity of volatile organic compounds emitted from the box was investigated along with qualitative analysis on major substances of the compounds. After collecting floating microorganisms inside air tester, the fungal activity was assessed by counting the number of colonies growing on TSA media. Compared to the control which collected 85 colonies from outdoor, 72 colonies were observed showing reduction rate of 14.82%. Through GC/MS and TDS system analysis, limonene was detected from the volatile organic compounds as characteristic features. When the fungal activity was assessed through fumigation by adding natural biocide BI and BII containing eugenol and anethole as major substances, both biocides showed a strong fungal activity with respectively 92.6%(inside the box) and 99.9%(outdoor) of reduction rate. Although these results didn't clarify antifungal activity of the volatile organic compounds emitted from the Paulownia-wood storage box and their functional components, it was at least confirmed that there is application possibility of natural biocide to use for preservation of ancient documents with increased efficiency in controlling pests of wooden storage boxes.