• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1991

This study was carried out to provide basic data to be necessary for the selection of an energy recovery process based on the characteristics of municipal solid wastes(MSW). The samples were collected at Kangdong-Ku in Seoul and conducted ultimate and proximate analyses. Laboratory scale anaerobic digesters were operated to determine the non biodegradable fractions of the wastes. The results indicated that carbon and hydrogen contents, and lower heating values could be calculated from the volatile contents of MSW by the following equations : C = 0.57 VS, H =0.084 VS, and HL=49.5 VS-(6-0.045VS) W. Nonbiodegradable fractions were respectively 58.9% of volatile matters and 77.7% of MSW. Incineration and refuse derived fuel(RDF) processes appeared to be the most efficient processes in terms of weight reduction and energy recovery, But determining the energy recovery processes, the fluctuations of heating values of MSW throughout a year and available landfill site and secondary pollution should be considered.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2013

In this work, torrefaction of the sewage sludge was investigated the characteristics of torrefied products and the value of as energy resource to improve energy density and to maintain consistent quality of SRF. Torrefaction was performed two important torrefaction operational parameter, temperature($150-230^{\circ}C$) and reaction time(10-60min). As raising the torrefaction temperature at long reaction times, the moisture content of torrefied products was decreased, while the heating value was increased. Moreover, increasing of the torrefaction temperature led to a increase of the content of the carbon up to 60% compare to the initial the sample, and a decrease of the content hydrogen and oxygen. Especially, Average heating value was 4,818 kcal/kg regardless of the reaction time when torrefaction was performed over $210^{\circ}C$. In addition, the fuel ration and coal band were improved after torrefaction because the O/C and the H/C ratio were decreased.

• Carbon letters
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• v.18
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• pp.49-55
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• 2016

Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) produced using municipal solid waste was pyrolyzed to produce RDF char. For the first time, the RDF char was used to remove aqueous copper, a representative heavy metal water pollutant. Activation of the RDF char using steam and KOH treatments was performed to change the specific surface area, pore volume, and the metal cation quantity of the char. N₂ sorption, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the char. The optimum pH for copper removal was shown to be 5.5, and the steam-treated char displayed the best copper removal capability. Ion exchange between copper ions and alkali/alkaline metal cations was the most important mechanism of copper removal by RDF char, followed by adsorption on functional groups existing on the char surface. The copper adsorption behavior was represented well by a pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum copper removal capacity was determined to be 38.17 mg/g, which is larger than those of other low-cost char adsorbents reported previously.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.101-108
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• 2022

This study analyzed the physicochemical properties and combustion characteristics of dry food waste to evaluate the possibility of using food waste as a solid refuse fuel (SRF). The characteristics of dry food waste as a fuel were analyzed by comparing the difference in properties with SRF, and the combustion characteristics after conversion into fuel were identified. Ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, calorific value analysis, and TGA analysis were conducted using two types of food waste and two types of SRF, and the following results were obtained. The moisture content and ash content of dry food waste were 1.7~10.0 wt.% and 7.8~11.7 wt.%, respectively, which satisfied the quality standards for SRF. The low calorific value of dry food waste was 4,000 ~ 4,720 kcal/kg, which was higher than the quality standard of 3,500 kcal/kg for SRF. As a result of TGA analysis of dry food waste, the combustion reaction started at about 200 ℃ and the highest burning rate was at about 500 ℃. After moisture evaporation between 100 and 200 ℃, initial volatile matter, carbon and residual volatile matter were released and burned between 200 and 500 ℃. Based on the high calorific value and low moisture and ash content of dry food waste, it is considered that it is possible to convert dry food waste into SRF through the application of efficient drying technology and strict quality standard inspection in the future.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.24-32
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• 2010

In the present work, a new separation system with rotating rakes has been developed to separate the film-based plastics from the recyclable materials, and environment assessment is also carried out during operation of the device. Capacity of the device was about 5.3 ton/hr at a rakes rotation speed of 26.0 rpm (the number of rakes in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trials were 39, 52 and 48, respectively) and a belt conveyor speed of 38.5m/min, which satisfied the initial design capacity (5.0 ton/hr). Recovery ratio and purity of the plastic films were 92.6% and 96.5%, respectively at a rotation speed of 28 rpm. The levels of noise, vibration and particulate emission were below material standard regulatory limits. Plastic refused fuel (RPF) was also prepared with the recovered films. The calorific value and chlorine content of the prepared RPF were 9,740 kcal/kg and 0.18%, respectively which satisfy the first grade quality specification of the Korean RPF standard. As a result of this work, recovery of energy resources from the municipal solid waste is possible by adopting the developed separation device.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2833-2845
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• 2012

In this study, the amount of waste resource that could be recovered was analyzed. The installation and operation costs of waste resource recovery for both single- and multi-regional facility were calculated, and compared with the costs of landfill to investigate the feasibility of them. RDF(Refuse Derived Fuel) process and resource recovery by incineration process were considered as waste resource recovery facility. And, the multi-regions for cost analysis were established on the basis of the proper generation rate of municipal waste with the consideration of combustible ratio. The study results showed that single region facility for both RDF and incineration process has no economic benefit, compared with the landfill method. For the multi-regional facility, RDF process could save a large cost than the landfill method, but the incineration facility couldn't. Separate from the economic benefits, the waste resource recovery should be importantly considered when considering the depletion of fossil fuel, global warming, environmental toxicity, and the enormous expenses due to social conflict and confuse. When the CDM(Clean Development Mechanism) is vitalized in the near future, the additional economic benefits by CERs(Certified Emission Reductions) could be expected. CERs for RDF facility is corresponding to about 256.5 billion won, and CERs for incineration facility is corresponding to about 54 and 77.4 billion won for single- and multi-regional facility, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

This study evaluated if the selected samples meets the Solid Refuse Fuel quality criteria in Korea. Biomass and plastic wastes generated in D City were mixed in diverse ratio. When the biomass content was about 40%, the moisture content was close to the SRF criteria and was measured to be 9.8%. The ash contents were analyzed up to 4.19%, and the lower calorific values based on Steuer, Dulong Equation and Bomb Calorimeter were at least 4,851, 4,181 and 3,847 kcal/kg, respectively. As a result of the elemental analysis, sulfur and chloride content were measured up to 0.05%. Those values satisfied the SRF criteria. Also, heavy metals(Hg, Cd, Pb, As) were analyzed to be below the SRF criteria. This makes it possible to use efficiently the wood byproducts abandoned in the woods, and the physical properties of wood being weak to moisture can be supplemented with plastics. Consequently, if plastic and biomass were well mixed and made into SRF, it would overcome the problem of shortening the life span of incineration facilities due to the high temperature of plastic wastes in the incinerator.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.350-358
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• 2021

The results of this study shows that the combustor temperature ranged from 848.27 to 1,026.80 ℃, averaging about 976.61 ℃, and the NOx concentration increased as the temperature increased. The urea usage ranged from 291.00 to 693.00 kg d^-1, averaging about 542.34 kg d^-1, and the NOx concentration decreased as the urea usage increased. Residence time was about 3.38 to 9.17 s, averaging about 5.22 s, about 2.61 times larger than the 2 s of the design details. This is 1,086 kg h^-1, averaging about 55.71%, compared to the 1,950 kg h^-1 SRF input permission standard. The combustion chamber area is constant, but the residence time is shown to increase with the decrease of exhaust gas. The O₂/CO ratio was 847.05 to 14,877.34, averaging about 3,111.30, and the NOx concentration slightly increased as the O₂/CO ratio increased. As the combustor temperature and O₂/CO ratio increased, the combustion reaction with nitrogen in the air increased and the NOx concentration slightly increased. As the urea usage and residence time increased, the NOx concentration decreased slightly with an increase in reactivity with NOx. The NOx concentration at the stack ranged from 7.88 to 34.02 ppm with an average of 19.92 ppm, and was discharged within the 60 ppm emission limit value. The NOhx emission factor was 1.058 to 1.795 kg ton^-1, averaging about 1.450 kg ton^-1. This value was about 24.87% of the maximum emission factor of 5.830 kg ton^-1 of other solid fuels. Other synthetic resins and industrial wastes were 79.80% and 43.65% compared to 1.817 kg ton^-1 and 3.322 kg ton^-1, respectively. This value was similar to 1.400 kg ton^-1 of RDF in the NIER notice (2005-9), 10.98% compared to the maximum SRF of 13.210 kg ton^-1. Therefore, the NOx emission factor had a large deviation.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.67-76
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• 2022

The furniture industry has a high possibility to create value-added and a high potential to create new occupations due to the characteristics of the industry, which mainly consists of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, the used furniture, which has sufficient reuse value, is also crushed and used as solid refuse fuel (SRF) recently. Besides, the number of waste treatment companies continues to decrease, and it occurs congestion of wood waste. As a way to solve the issue, a business model development of remanufacturing used furniture can be suggested as an alternative due to its high circular economic efficiency. Remanufacturing business including furniture industry creates positive effects in various aspects such as economic, environmental and job creation. In other words, remanufacturing is an effective recycling way to reduce input resources and energy in the production process. The results of economic analysis show that the expected annual revenue from the single worker furniture remanufacturing site was 104 million won which is 3.11 times more than the average income of a single-worker household in Korea and its B/C ratio was estimated about 30 which means high business feasibility. Revenue through furniture remanufacturing also showed 320 times higher than that of SRF production from the perspective of weight. In addition, it is shown that the GHGs reduction from the furniture remanufacturing is 2.2 ton CO₂-eq. per year, which is similar to the amount of GHGs absorption effect of 937 pine trees or 622 Korean oak trees annually. Thus the results of this study demonstrate that it is important to adopt an appropriate recycling method considering the economic and environmental effects at the end-of-life stage.