• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.56-63
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• 2010

In this work, a dielectrophoresis-based particle-separation device is developed which is to be used to continuously separate particles in microchannels. We fabricated the particle-separation device with combining the benefits of electrode-based DEP and insulator-based DEP. The DEP forces are generated by an array of electrodes located in both sidewalls of a main channel. According to the magnitude and frequency of electrical signals, particles with different dielectric properties experience different DEP forces, and therefore, continuously move along different streamlines in the main flow channel without need of pre-focusing process. Based on this mechanism, we examined the performance of the device by controlling the trajectory of polystyrene particles. This device is applicable to the investigation of dielectric properties of biological cells as well as the continuous separation of biological cells.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.19-23
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• 2022

We have been developing a magnetic separation device that can be used in low magnetic fields for paramagnetic materials. Magnetic separation of paramagnetic particles with a small particle size is desired for volume reduction of contaminated soil in Fukushima or separation of iron scale from water supply system in power plants. However, the implementation of the system has been difficult due to the needed magnetic fields is high for paramagnetic materials. This is because there was a problem in installing such a magnet in the site. Therefore, we have developed a magnetic separation system that combines a selection tube and magnetic separation that can separate small sized paramagnetic particles in a low magnetic field. The selection tube is a technique for classifying the suspended particles by utilizing the phenomenon that the suspended particles come to rest when the gravity acting on the particles and the drag force are balanced when the suspension is flowed upward. In the balanced condition, they can be captured with even small magnetic forces. In this study, we calculated the particle size of paramagnetic particles trapped in a selection tube in a high gradient magnetic field. As a result, the combination of the selection tube and HGMS (High Gradient Magnetic Separation-system) can separate small sized paramagnetic particles under low magnetic field with high efficiency, and this paper shows its potential application.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.359-366
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• 2008

The series of experiments under the various conditions were carried out to evaluate the feasibility of dissolved air flotation (DAF) as an alternative of conventional gravity sedimentation (CGS) and to investigate the decrease of the loadings following to biological wastewater treatment processes in livestock wastewater system. On the basis of the experiment result between CGS and DAF processes, for the other water quality criteria as well as suspended solid the removal efficiency of DAF process was about 20~25 % better than CGS process on average. In addition, the particle removal efficiency of DAF process became higher in proportion as the increase of air to solid (A/S) ratio and the general wastewater treatment efficiency of DAF process was enough to meet the requirement of loading decrease to following biological process even at low A/S ratio range. Though DAF process is widely known as an solid separation unit, there was not the notable relationship between particle separation efficiency and several pollutant removal efficiencies like $COD_{Cr}$ and nutrients (T-N, T-P). Assume that the $COD_{Cr}$ was removed as the fraction of particle separation in this experiment, the removal efficiency of T-N and T-P were sensitive to removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$, especially.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2019

Anisotropic particles have been issued in various fields due to their unique physical properties. Herein, a novel dynamic phase separation method (DPS) is introduced to fabricate anisotropic acorn-like nanoparticles. DPS consists of two dynamic conditions; solvent evaporation and nonsolvent induced precipitation. The bottom layer is controlled by feeding the water as a non-solvent diluent, and the phase separation of the upper layer relies on the diffusion and evaporation of a volatile good solvent. At this condition, the acorn-like particles were fabricated. Under a closed box filled with water (spontaneous phase separation), monodisperse polystyrene (PS) particles were synthesized. At the coexistence between DPS and spontaneous phase separation, the sizes of cap and particle were changed. Also, the volume of PS solutions influences on the particle shape. Since the unique structures could be utilized into various applications, if advanced techniques such as membrane-based controlled water feeding is developed, monodisperse acorn-like particles could be tuned.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.444-448
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• 2011

In the present study, we separated the marker particles from the suspending particle mixture solution using isotacho-electrophoresis technique, a novel quantitative ionic particle separation method, in the microchannel. A multiple stacking zone of the suspending particle was visualized with variations in electric field strength, pH value and concentration of the ionic solution. In particular, the electrophoretic mobility of ionic particle (fluorescein) was estimated based on the electrophoretic velocity value measured by the particle image velocimetry. As a result, isotacho-electrophoresis zones were clearly visualized as going downstream in the electric field. The particle migration velocity increased proportional to the applied voltage increase; it was also affected by the pH value variations in the ionic solution.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.241-255
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• 2022

In this study, sieve analysis testing was performed on weathered granite soil from Yecheon (eastern South Korea) before and after water washing in accordance with the sieve analysis regulations of KS F 2302. The changes in particle separation and particle size distribution after washing with water were analyzed. Image analysis using an optical microscope revealed that soil particles were separated into smaller particles by water washing. The change in the particle size distribution curve was assessed using five index values. The increase in the fine particle fraction (<0.075 mm) was 13.67%, the increase in the 0.075-0.25 mm fraction was 19.44%, and the mean particle diameter (D₅₀) decreased by 0.663 mm. In addition, the maximum passage width (B_M) of the particle size distribution curve increased by 21.08% for the #30 sieve, and the moving area (A) of the particle size distribution curve was 69.28%·mm. These results suggest that washing with water is an effective way to prevent underestimation of the fine particle content in soil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2011

A series of laboratory experiments carried out to investigate the particle separation efficiency and flotation characteristics using $CO_2$ bubbles. The primary objective of this study was to find out the feasibility of $CO_2$ bubbles as an applicable unit of flotation process in tap-water and wastewater treatment plant. The fundamental measurements were conducted to characterize the $CO_2$ bubble from the physical viewpoint in water including bubble size distribution and rising velocity under various operational conditions. In addition, the removal efficiency of solid was experimented using the lab scale plant applied $CO_2$ bubbles, namely the dissolved carbon dioxide flotation (DCF) process. The DCF process using carbon dioxide bubble, which is an advantage as the decrease and the reuse of Green-House gas, can be a promising technology as an water treatment process. On the other hand, the further research to decrease the bubble size distribution of $CO_2$ is required to enhance the particle separation efficiency.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.13-17
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• 2023

Magnetic separation technology for small paramagnetic particles has been desired for the volume reduction of contaminated soil from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident and for the separation of scale and crud from nuclear power plants. However, the magnetic separation for paramagnetic particles requires a superconducting high gradient magnetic separation system applied, hence expanding the bore diameter of the magnets is necessary for mass processing and the initial and running costs would be enormous. The use of high magnetic fields makes safe onsite operation difficult, and there is an industrial need to increase the magnetic separation efficiency for paramagnetic particles in as low a magnetic field as possible. Therefore, we have been developing a magnetic separation system combined with a selection tube, which can separate small paramagnetic particles in a low magnetic field. In the previous technique we developed, a certain range of particle size was classified, and the classified particles were captured by magnetic separation. In this new approach, the fluid control method has been improved in order to the selectively classify particles of various diameters by using a multi-stage selection tube. The soil classification using a multi-stage selection tube was studied by calculation and experiment, and good results were obtained. In this paper, we report the effectiveness of the multi-stage selection tube was examined.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.249-255
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• 2017

Using a magnetic separation process, pond ash generated in thermoelectric power plants was separated into magnetic materials and nonmagnetic materials in order to make it into a raw material of geopolymers and unburned carbon; screening characteristics according to the particle sizes and magnet strength levels of the pond ash were observed. Based on the results of magnetic separation into fine particle (0.15~0.84 mm) and rough particle (0.84~2.4 mm) pond ash using 3000 G magnets, the weight fraction and ignition loss of nonmagnetic materials were found to be higher than those of magnetic materials, regardless of the particle size. In the case of fine particle pond ash, when the magnet strength was increased from 3000 G to 10000 G, even those materials that were weakly magnetic were separated into magnetic materials, leading to drastic increases in the weight fraction of magnetic materials, such that the ignition loss accounted for 66.9 % (22.8 wt%) of the entire ignition loss of 32.6 wt%, despite of the low ignition loss. Based on the results of measurement of the compressive strength levels of geopolymers made of magnetic-separated rough particle pond ash, the compressive strength of geopolymers made of magnetic materials containing small amounts of unburned carbon was found to be 20 MPa.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2012

Purpose: Particle separation in solution is one of important process in a unit operation as well as in an extract preparation for biosensors. Contrary to centrifuge-type of mesh-type filter, using an ultrasonic standing wave make the filtering process continuous and free from maintenance. It is needed to investigate the characteristics of particle movement in the ultrasonic standing wave field. Methods: Through the computer simulation the effects of major design and driving parameters on the alignment characteristics of particles were investigated, and a cylindrical chamber with up-stream flow type was devised using two circular-shape PZTs on both sides of the chamber, one for transmitting ultrasonic wave and the other for just reflecting it. Then, the system performance was experimentally investigated as well. Results: The speed of a particle to reach pressure-node plane increased as the acoustic pressure and size of particle increased. The maximum allowable up-stream flow rate could be calculated as well. As expected, exact numbers of pressure-node planes were well formed at specific locations according to the wavelength of ultrasonic wave. As the driving frequency of PZT got close to its resonance frequency, the bands of particles were observed clearer, which meant the particles were trapped into narrower space. Higher excitation voltages to the PZT produced a greater acoustic force with which to trap particles in the pressure-node planes, so that the particles gathered could move upwards without disturbing their alignments even at a higher inlet flow rate. Conclusions: This research showed the feasibility of particle separation in solution in the continuous way by an ultrasonic standing wave. Further study is needed to develop a device to collect or harvest those separated particles.