• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2016

Porous $Co_3O_4$ spheres with bimodal pore distribution (size: 2-3 nm and ~ 30 nm) were prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of aqueous droplets containing Co-acetate and polyethylene glycol (PEG), while dense $Co_3O_4$ secondary particles with monomodal pore distribution (size: 2-3 nm) were prepared from the spray solution without PEG. The formation of mesopores (~ 30 nm) was attributed to the decomposition of PEG. The responses of a porous $Co_3O_4$ sensor to various indoor air pollutants such as 5 ppm $C_2H_5OH$, xylene, toluene, benzene, and HCHO at $200^{\circ}C$ were found to be significantly higher than those of a commercial sensor using $Co_3O_4$ and dense $Co_3O_4$ secondary particles. Enhanced gas response of porous $Co_3O_4$ sensor was attributed to high surface area and the effective diffusion of analyte gas through mesopores (~ 30 nm). Highly sensitive porous $Co_3O_4$ sensor can be used to monitor various indoor air pollutants.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.255-262
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• 2017

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be produced by interactions between sunlight and light-absorbing substances in natural water environments and can completely destroy various organic pollutants in waste water. In this study, we used graphene oxide modified $Ag_2Se$ nanoparticles to enhance photochemically generated oxygen (PGO) species activity. Surface area and pore volumes of the $Ag_2Se-graphene$ ($Ag_2Se-G$) samples showed catastrophic decrease due to deposition of $Ag_2Se$. The generation of reactive oxygen species was detected through the oxidation reaction of DPCI to DPCO. The photocurrent density and the PGO effect increase in the case of the use of modified graphene. The PGO effect of the graphene modified with $Ag_2Se$ composites increased significantly due to a synergetic effect between graphene and the $Ag_2Se$ nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of sample was evaluated by measuring the degradation of organic pollutants such as methylene blue (MB) and industrial dyes such as Texbrite BA-L (TBA) under visible light.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.367-378
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• 2007

A sediment quality index (SQI) and a mean sediment quality guideline quotient (M-SQGQ) were applied for the assessment of sediment quality in Masan Bay, Korea where metals and organic pollutants are of concern. The SQI was calculated by two functions, 'scope' (the number of variables that do not meet guideline objective) and 'amplitude' (the magnitude by which variables exceed guideline objective), with six different sediment quality guideline values from Canada, USA and Australia/New Zealand. Categorization of sediment quality was on the basis of SQI scores. The SQI values were compared with six guideline values applied as well as with the M-SQGQs. The SQI values were severely influenced by a few variables of high exceedance in the degree of non-compliance. The SQI values were very dependent on both the numbers and values of guideline variables used in index caluculation. Nevertheless, the SQI could provide integrated and simplified information from a large number of chemical data set. It is required to further evaluate protocols and guideline applied for deriving SQI and to compare it with field based sediment toxicity test and ecosystem integrity.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.13-23
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• 2003

Organic carbon and nitrogen contents in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediments in seawater were measured in the Northern East China Sea in summer. The distribution of particulate organic carbon(POC) and particulate organic nitrogen(PON) were in the ranges of 54~481㎍/ℓ and 6~85㎍/ℓ, respectively, with relatively high level of concentrations in the western and southern sides of the study area. Also, there has been a significantly positive correlation between POC and PON, gradually increasing toward the deeper range of depth. Average C:N ratios of POC and PON of SPM were 6 in study area. The ratios of POC to PON of SPM increased as the range of depth increased, indicating nitrogen decomposes more rapidly than carbon and is considered to be influenced by the input of detritus from surface sediments. The distribution of total organic matter(TOM), total organic carbon(TOC) and total organic nitrogen(TON) in surface sediments were in the ranges of 3.1~9.6%, 0.282~0.635% and 0.022~0.069%, respectively, with relatively low range in the western and northern sides of the study area. The ratio of TOC to TON of surface sediments were in the range of 9.8~17.4(average of 13), strongly indicating the active role of the input from the terrestrial organic pollutants.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 1999

Sedimentary organic matter, exposed to continental surficial environment, reacts with oxygen supplied from the atmosphee and forms carbon-containing oxidation products. Knowledge of the rate and mechanisms of sedimentary organic matter weathering is important because it is one of the major controls on atmospheric oxygen level through geologic time. Under the abiological conditions, the oxidation rate of coal organic matter by molecular oxygen is enhanced by the increase of oxygen concentration and temperature. At ambient temperature and pressure, aqueous coal oxidation results in the formation of dissolved $CO_2$ dissolved organic carbon and solid oxidation products which are all quantitatively significant reaction products. The effects of pH, ultraviolet light, and microbial activity on the weathering of sedimentary organic matter are poorly contrained. Based on the results of geochmical and environmental studies, it is believed that the photochemical reaction should play an important role in the decomposition and oxidation of sedimentary organic matter removed from the weathering profile. At higher pH conditions, the production rate of DOC can be accelerated due to base catalysis. These high molecular weight oranic matter can react with man-made pollutants such as heavy metal ions via adsorption/desorption or ion exchange reactions. The effect of microbial activity on the oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic matter is poorly understood and remains to be studied.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

It is indispensable for child care centers to investigate and manage indoor air quality (IAQ) because they perform education and day care for children who usually have weak immunity. Nevertheless, there is insufficient research being done, given its importance. This study aims to investigate indoor pollutants' concentration and to seek the causes in order to improve the air quality conditions. Also it aims to secure data which can be used for further researches. Measurements were performed for air temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, fine particle mass, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds. Temperature, humidity, CO and CO2 were measured 30times(1min/time) and PM10 was measured 10times (3min/time). Formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds were measured and analyzed based on The Indoor Air Quality Official Test Method. The results show that the temperatures were within the comfort zone in over half of the centers. CO2 was found to be the main pollutants as its concentration exceeded the IAQ standard. The concentrations of TVOC and PM10 exceeded the standard, by 32% and 24% respectively, whereas those of HCHO and CO were under the standard. HCHO and CO concentrations were under the guideline. 24% of child care centers for education were found to exceed the standard in 2 or more of the pollutants. 82% of were found to exceed the standard by 1 or more. Therefor it is requested for IAQ to manage and improve in child care center for education.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.05a
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• pp.43-43
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• 2014

White rot fungi have been useful source of enzymes for the degradation of environmental pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic dyes. PAHs are widespread organic compounds present in fossil fuels and are routinely generated by incomplete fuel combustion. PAHs are some of the major toxic pollutants of water and soil environments. Synthetic dyes are major water-pollutants, which are toxic to organisms in water environments and interfere photosynthesis of water plants. Removal of PAHs and synthetic dyes has been of interests in the environmental science especially in the environmental microbiology. Mushrooms are fungal groups that function as primary degraders of wood polyphenolic lignin. The ligninolytic enzymes produced by mushroom, including manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, and laccase, mediate the oxidative degradation of lignin. The catalytic power of these enzymes in the degradation of aromatic ring compounds has been sought for the degradation of various organic compounds. In this project, we have screened 60 wild mushroom strains for their degradation activity against two representative PAHs, naphthalene and anthracene, and five aromatic dyes, including alizarin red S, crystal violet, malachite green, methylene blue, rose bengal. The degradation of PAHs was measured by GC while the decolorization of dyes was measured by both UV spectrophotometer and HPLC. As results, 9 wild mushroom strains showed high activity in degradation of PAHs and textile dyes. We also describe the secretive enzyme activities, the transcription levels, and cloning of target genes. In conjunction with this, activities of degradative enzymes, including laccase, lignin peroxidase, and Mn peroxidase, were measured in the liquid medium in the presence of PAHs and dyes. Our results showed that the laccase activity was directed correlated with the degradation, indicating that the main enzyme acts on PAHs and dyes is the laccase. The laccase activity was further simulated by the addition of $Cu^{2+}$ ion. Detailed studies of the enzyme system should be sought for future applications.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.331-341
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• 2018

Hazardous air pollutants(HAPs) in the atmosphere are regulated as major air pollutants in Korea by the Air Pollution Control Act. In order to manage and control HAPs, accurate standards, which are traceable to the International System of Units(SI), are required. In this study, primary standard gas mixtures(PSMs) of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) which are specified as HAPs were developed at $1{\mu}mol/mol$ levels. The selected fourteen VOCs include Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m-Xylene, Styrene, o-Xylene, Chloroform, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloroethane, Carbon tetrachloride, 1,3-Butadiene, and Dichloromethane. The HAPs PSMs were gravimetrically prepared in aluminum cylinders and their consistency was verified within the relative expanded uncertainty of 0.71% (k=2). Potential adsorption loss onto the internal surface of cylinders was estimated by cylinder-to-cylinder division method. No adsorption loss was observed within the uncerainty of 0.53%. The long-term stability of the HAPs PSMs was evaluated comparing with freshly prepared HAPs PSMs. The HAPs PSMs were stable for one year within the uncertainty of 0.38%. The final uncertainty of the PSMs was determined by combining the preparation uncertainty, verification uncertainty, and stability uncertainty. Finally, traceable and stable HAPs PSMs at $1{\mu}mol/mol$ levels were developed with the uncertainty of less than 0.76% in high-pressure aluminum cylinders.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2018

CALPUFF is one of the recommended air pollution models by EPA with AERMOD. It has been used to simulate the ambient concentration of critical air pollutants as well as non-critical pollutants such as persistent organic matters and the organic materials causing odor. In this model, the air pollutants go through dispersion, transportation, chemical reaction, and deposition process. These mechanisms are significantly influenced by meteorological condition. This study produces the meteorological field in three different methods for the simulation of $SO_2$ using CALPUFF: 1) CALMET model by using both ground-level and aerological observation, 2) CALMET model by using MM5 results with NCEP/NCAR reanalyzed data, 3) CALMET model by using MM5 results in which FDDA is applied with NCEP/NCAR reanalyzed data as well as the meteorological data of Korea Meteorological Administration. As a result of CALPUFF model, the resolved concentration of $SO_2$ showed different behaviors in three cases. For the first case, the fluctuation of SO2 concentration was frequently observed while the fluctuation is reduced in the second and third cases. In addition, the maximum concentration of $SO_2$ in the first case was about 2~3 times higher than the second case, and about 4~6 times higher than the third case. These results can be caused by the accuracy of the resolved meteorological field. It is inferred that the meteorological field of the first case could be less accurate than other two cases. These results show that the use of correct meteorological data can improve the result of dispersion model. Moreover, the contribution of various sources such as point, line, and area sources on the ambient concentration of air pollutant can be roughly estimated from the sensitivity analysis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 2003

Titanium mesoporous materials have received increasing attention as a new photocatalyst in the field for photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds. The photocatalytic degradation of chlorothalonil by mesoporous titanium oxo-phoswhate (Ti-MCM) was investigated in aqueous suspension for comparison with $TiO_2$, (Degussa, P25) using as an effective photocatalyst of organic pollutants. Mesoporous form of titanium Phosphate has been prepared by reaction of sulfuric acid and titanium isopropoxide in the presence or n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The XRD patterns of Ti-MCM are hexagonal phases with d-spacings of 4.1 nm. Its adsorption isotherm for chlorothalonil reached at reaction equilibrium within 60 min under dark condition with 28% degradation efficiency. The degradation ratio of chlorothalonil after 9 hours under the UV radiation condition (254 nm) exhibited 100% by Ti-MCM and 88% by $TiO_2$. However, these degradation kinetics in static state showed a slow tendency compared to that of stirred state because of a low contact between titanium matrices and chlorothalonil. Also, degradation efficiency of chlorothalonil was increased with decreasing initial concentration and with increasing pH of solution. As results of this study, it was clear that mesoporous titanium oxo-phosphate with high surface area and crystallinity could be used to photo- catalytic degradation of various organic pollutants.