• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.481-498
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• 2013

In this paper we evaluate the performance of voluntary environmental agreements in South Korea, called as the 30/50 program. We constructed establishment- and chemical substance-level panel data from 2004 to 2010 by using the Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) Information System. Although firms voluntarily participate in the program and the agreement is not binding, we find that the chemical materials released by the participating firms is substantially reduced by 1.2 to 2.7 tons. Although the abatement effect is more salient for those listed chemical substances in the agreements, the reductions in other substances are also significant. This implies that participating firms adopted new technologies that could reduce environmental hazards.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.134-139
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• 2004

A study was made on the synthesis of a carbonate base nitrogen-free deliming agent using a non-phosgene compound applicable to the deliming process, which is one of the biggest sources of pollutant increasing the T-N concentration in the effluent from the leather making processes. And also studied on the possibility of using the agent in the deliming process. Through measurement of T-N, BOD, COD and SS in the effluent after the agent is used, contents of Ca and Cr and TS in the leather after the deliming process were measured, by which deliming efficiency, influences to the physical properties of the chromium tanned leather and reducing effects of T-N, BOD, COD and SS concentrations in the effluent could be confirmed. Thus an eco-friendly study has been conducted.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.3-13
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• 1996

The efficiency of bioremedation can be measured by the enumeration of microorganism, respiration rate and decomposition rate. The side-effect can be measured by using Daphnia, oyster larvae and rainbow trout. Oxygen transfer could be a problem in the on-site treatment. For these, hydrogen peroxide can be used for solvents such as benzenes. Oleophilic nitrogen and phosphorus can be added for the treatment of oil pollution. Mixed microbial population or pure culture can be used for the inoculum. The pure culture used is Pseudomonas and Phanerochate. Sometimes enzymes are added and Photodegadation is coupled to increase the efficiency. For the treatment of oil pollution residue on soil such as waste lubrication oil and machine oil sludges, top soil of 15cm∼20cm depth is plowed and oil residue with approximately 5% concentration is applied. The optimum pH range is 7∼8, the ratio of phosphorus to hydrocarbon is 1:800. Appropriate drainage is necessary. For the treatment of marine oil pollution residue, addition of oleophilic fertilizer is effective. Air pollutiant such as oder can be treated by bioremediation. In this case, biofilters or biosrubbers are used for the reactor.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.71-82
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to minimize damage of chemical accidents through the appropriation analysis of evacuation facility position focused on Ulsan metropolitan city. For analysis, informations such as pollutant release and transfer registers(PRTR), population census, and evacuation facilities were used. After then, damage assessment of chemical accidents, accessibility and appropriation of evacuation facilities were analyzed. Damage of chemical accidents is high in around 5km of industrial complex there is dense of chemical facility and population. Evacuation facilities were mainly situated in hazard area of chemical accidents, but accessibility of evacuation facilities was vulnerable in chemical plant neighborhood. Therefore, safety check of deteriorated plants is important for prevention of chemical accidents. Also, effective evacuation plan considering capacity and scale of evacuation facilities will be established.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.515-523
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• 2018

Objectives: Based on the results of a chemical substance emissions survey, we investigated characteristics of chemical emissions in industrial complexes and used them as basic data for chemical management. Methods: The emissions and characteristics of chemicals by major industrial complexes from 2011 to 2015 were analyzed using the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register homepage. To understand the status of chemical accidents for major chemicals emitted from the industrial complexes, the Chemistry Safety Clearing-house system of the National Institute of Chemical Safety was used. Results: Emissions from the top five industrial complexes accounted for about 30% of total chemical emissions. The chemical emission was the highest in the order of Ulsan Mipo Industrial Complex and Okpo Industrial Complex. The main chemicals emitted were xylene, ethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, toluene, dichloromethane, and others. Carcinogen emissions differed by industrial complex, but ethylbenzene and dichloromethane were the major chemicals for this type of emissions. Conclusion: Recently, the use and emission of chemicals have been continuously increasing. A chemical management plan should be prepared considering the characteristics of industrial complexes and chemical substance emissions.

• Clean Technology
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.228-236
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• 2020

Korea has an economy based on manufacturing industrial fields, which produce high amounts of hazardous wastes, in spite of few landfill candidates, and a significant concern for fine airborne particulates; therefore, traditional waste management is difficult to apply in this country. Moreover, waste collection and accumulation have recently been intensified by the waste import prohibitions or regulations in developing nations, the universalization of delivery services in Korea, and the global COVID-19 crisis. This study thus presents a domestic waste management strategy that aims to address the recent issues on waste. The contents of the strategy as the main results of the study include the (1) improvement of the compatibility of the classification codes between the domestic hazardous waste and the international ones such as those of the Basel Convention; (2) consideration of the mixed hazard indices to represent toxicity from low-content components such as rare earth metals often contained in electrical and electronic equipment waste; (3) management application based on risks throughout the life cycles of waste; (4) establishment of detailed material flow information of waste by integrating the Albaro system, Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system, and online trade databases; (5) real-time monitoring and prediction of the waste movement or discharge using positional sensors and geographic information systems, among others; and (6) selection and implementation of optimal treatment or recycling practices through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and clean technologies.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.232-244
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a management system for the safe handling of chemicals and related health management based on reporting under the Chemical Control Act (CCA). It is used to search handling information by constructing data linked to the name of companies, chemicals, products, etc. Methods: Due to the differences in submission periods for each reporting regulation of the Chemical Control Act, the data used is as follows: A statistical survey collected 26,222 companies in 2014 and 2016, Pollutant Release Transfer Registers (PRTR) collected 4,234 companies in 2015-2017, performance reports by handlers of hazardous chemical substances collected 14,658 companies in 2016-2018, and declarations for import of toxic chemicals collected 892 companies in 2016-2017. The total information on 36,080 companies is standardized based on company ID, name, business registration number, address, and more. The data were classified into information such as company, chemical, and product name and amounts handled and released, and then extracted according to criteria to establish relationships among classified information. Results: A search service was developed for handling information on chemical substances for reporting data by linking four reporting data: statistical survey, PRTR, performance report by handler of hazardous chemical substances, and declaration for import of toxic chemicals under the CCA. It was composed of five menus to search by regulation type, reporting regulation, companies and chemicals, and system management. Conclusion: It is necessary to use data linked by company, region, and chemical to respond and to prevent chemical accidents. In addition, these items can be utilized to perform handling and safety management of chemicals according to whether regulations under the CCA may be implemented.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.419-424
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• 2007

The contents were investigated by the monitoring survey from the soils and tailings caused by numerous abandoned mines in Korea. Cause heavy metals due to abandoned metal mines are raising significant environmental problems. But it is an important key such as a leaching and a transfer mechanism to evaluate contamination levels caused by abandoned mines. In this study the column test was carried in order to calculate a leaching level from soils and tailings. It was demonstrated that the leaching of Pb, Cd and Mn was expressed with similar behaviors and that of As and Cu was expressed with similar behaviors. For Zn, the leaching behavior was shown a serious leaching level with 40 mg/kg during the 45days. This was explained by Zn high contents of soils Zn in a natural world and ORP conditions where the leaching of Zn was occurred easily. Hence it was necessary that the survey of ORP was a key as well as total contents for the management of abandoned metal mines. We could estimate the chemical forms of heavy metals using the physical index such as ORP and pH and reduce the risk from heavy metals caused by abandoned metal mines.

• Membrane Journal
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.395-408
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• 2020

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have gained much attention as eco-friendly energy conversion devices without emission of environmental pollutant. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) that can transfer proton from anode to cathode and also prevent fuel cross-over has been regarded as a key component of PEMFCs. Although perfluorinated polymer membranes such as Nafion® were already commercialized in PEMFCs, their high cost and toxic byproduct generated by degradation have still limited the wide spread of PEMFCs. To overcome these issues, development of hydrocarbon based PEMs have been studied. Incorporation of cross-linked structure into the hydrocarbon based PEM system has been reported to fabricate the PEMs showing both high proton conductivity and outstanding physicochemical stability. This study focused on the various cross-linking strategies to the preparation of cross-linked PEMs based on hydrocarbon polymers with ion conducting groups for application in PEMFCs.

• Resources Recycling
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.3-11
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• 2022

Owing to the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), appropriate management of their waste batteries is required urgently for scrapped vehicles or for addressing battery aging. With respect to technological developments, data-driven diagnosis of waste EV batteries and management technologies have drawn increasing attention. Moreover, robot-based automatic dismantling technologies, which are seemingly interesting, require industrial verifications and linkages with future battery-related database systems. Among these, it is critical to develop and disseminate various advanced battery diagnosis and assessment techniques to improve the efficiency and safety/environment of the recirculation of waste batteries. Incorporation of lithium-related chemical substances in the public pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) database as well as in-depth risk assessment of gas emissions in waste EV battery combustion and their relevant fire safety are some of the necessary steps. Further research and development thus are needed for optimizing the lifecycle management of waste batteries from various aspects related to data-based diagnosis/classification/disassembly processes as well as reuse/recycling and final disposal. The idea here is that the data should contribute to clean design and manufacturing to reduce the environmental burden and facilitate reuse/recycling in future production of EV batteries. Such optimization should also consider the future technological and market trends.