• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.717-724
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• 2016

Methane (CH₄) is the most abundant component in natural gas. To reduce its harmful environmental effect as a greenhouse gas, CH₄ can be utilized as a low-cost feed for the synthesis of methanol by methanotrophs. In this study, several methanotrophs were examined for their ability to produce methanol from CH₄; including Methylocella silvestris, Methylocystis bryophila, Methyloferula stellata, and Methylomonas methanica. Among these methanotrophs, M. bryophila exhibited the highest methanol production. The optimum process parameters aided in significant enhancement of methanol production up to 4.63 mM. Maximum methanol production was observed at pH 6.8, 30℃, 175 rpm, 100 mM phosphate buffer, 50 mM MgCl₂ as a methanol dehydrogenase inhibitor, 50% CH₄ concentration, 24 h of incubation, and 9 mg of dry cell mass ml^-1 inoculum load, respectively. Optimization of the process parameters, screening of methanol dehydrogenase inhibitors, and supplementation with formate resulted in significant improvements in methanol production using M. bryophila. This report suggests, for the first time, the potential of using M. bryophila for industrial methanol production from CH₄.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.530-537
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of flavonoid-rich plant extracts (PE) on ruminal fermentation characteristics and methane emission by studying their effectiveness for methanogenesis in the rumen. A fistulated Holstein cow was used as a donor of rumen fluid. The PE (Punica granatum, Betula schmidtii, Ginkgo biloba, Camellia japonica, and Cudrania tricuspidata) known to have high concentrations of flavonoid were added to an in vitro fermentation incubated with rumen fluid. Total gas production and microbial growth with all PE was higher than that of the control at 24 h incubation, while the methane emission was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the control. The decrease in methane accumulation relative to the control was 47.6%, 39.6%, 46.7%, 47.9%, and 48.8% for Punica, Betula, Ginkgo, Camellia, and Cudrania treatments, respectively. Ciliate populations were reduced by more than 60% in flavonoid-rich PE treatments. The Fibrobacter succinogenes diversity in all added flavonoid-rich PE was shown to increase, while the Ruminoccocus albus and R. flavefaciens populations in all PE decreased as compared with the control. In particular, the F. succinogenes community with the addition of Birch extract increased to a greater extent than that of others. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that flavonoid-rich PE decreased ruminal methane emission without adversely affecting ruminal fermentation characteristics in vitro in 24 h incubation time, suggesting that the flavonoid-rich PE have potential possibility as bio-active regulator for ruminants.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.283-287
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• 2014

This experiment was conducted to determine methane production and emission factors for a range of roughage diets fed to Hanwoo cows at a level of maintenance energy requirement. Seven cows were fed mixed hay only, 12 cows were fed mixed hay containing 30~50% rice straw and 6 cows were fed a mixed hay diet supplemented with 1.0 kg of wheat bran. Each cow was placed in a metabolic crate for 10 consecutive days, including last 7 days for sampling of feces and urine. At the end of the sampling period, the cows were transferred to an open-circuit respiration chamber for 24 consecutive hours. Methane conversion rate (5.5~6.2%, mean value = 5.8%) and emission factor (33.6~38.6 kg/head/year, mean value = 35.2) were not significantly affected by the diets although the mixed hay only diet resulted in 11 and 15% higher respective rates than the other two. However, in light of the many assumptions that forage with good quality might reduce methane production, additional experiments should be required for participation in the greenhouse gas emission trading system.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.463-476
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• 2017

Climate change is considered as the greatest threat to our future and descendants. The Korean government has set a target for 2030 to reduce emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 37% from the business-as-usual levels which are projected to reach 851 million metric tons of $CO_2eq$ (Carbon dioxide equivalent). In Korea, GHGs emission from agriculture account for almost 3.1% of the total of anthropogenic GHGs. The GHGs emitted from agricultural land are largely classified into three types: carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), methane ($CH_4$), and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$). In Korea, rice paddies are one of the largest agricultural $CH_4$ sources. In order to analyze domestic research trends related to $CH_4$ emission from rice paddies, 93 academic publications including peer reviewed journals, books, working papers, reports, etc., published from 1995 to September 2017, were critically reviewed. The results were classified according to the research purposes. $CH_4$ characteristics and assessment were found to account for approximately 65.9% of the research trends, development of $CH_4$ emission factors for 9.5%, $CH_4$ emission reduction technology for 14.8%, and $CH_4$ emission modeling for 6.3%, etc. A number of research related to $CH_4$ emission characteristics and assessment have been studied in recent years, whereas further study on $CH_4$ emission factors are required to determine an accurate country-specific GHG emission from rice paddies. Future research should be directed toward both studies for reducing the release of $CH_4$ from rice paddies to the atmosphere and the understanding of the major controlling factors affecting $CH_4$ emission.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.5-24
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• 1999

There are severl types of Eco-village developed in abvanced countries including urban, suburban and rural style. For the establishment of Eco-village in Korea, it was focussed to introduce the rural style which has been developed inyersively in European countries such as Denmark, England and Germany. As a key cencept for Eco-villge it was explained briefly and discussed on the renewable energy(wind power park, bio-mass and solar energy collector and heating system), eco-architure, methane gas device, living machine (wastewater treatment facility) and organic farming. It was also discussed how important the basic standard and guidelines for organic agriculture to run essential for the system. For this reason major principles of international applicable standard(draft) for organically grown foods by FAO/WHO Codex alimentarius was shortly desidered. as one of very suitable type for Environmental Agriculture Districts Program which Korean govenment is going to establish in the near future. In conculusion it was also suggested that positive participation of organic famers, enthusiastic eneagement of inhabitans and support strategy of govemment /NGO groups might play very important role for successful managment of Eco-village ecologically sustainable after establishment.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2003

A mathematical model was formulated to simulate the long-term performance of an anaerobic bioreactor designed to digest Korean food wastes. The system variables of various decomposition steps were built into the model, which predicts the temporal characters of Solid waste, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the reactor, and gas production in response to various input loadings and temperatures. The predicted values of VFA and gas production were found to be in good agreement with experimental observations in batch and repeated-input systems. Finally, long-term reactor performance was simulated with respect to the seasonal temperature changes from 5C in winter to 25C in Summer at different food waste input loadings. The simulation results provided us with information concerning the success or failure of a process during long-term operation .

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-222
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• 2014

In this study, 2-stage recirculation membrane process was developed for purification of high purity bio-methane for the vehicle fuel application. Pure gas permeation and mixture gas permeation test were done as a function of methane content and pressure in the feed using polysulfone membrane modules. 2-stage membrane plant was designed, constructed in a food waste treatment cite. Dehumidification, dry desulfurization, and desiloxane plants are installed for the removal of $H_2O$, $H_2S$ and siloxane in the biogas. Permeation test were done with the pre-treated methane mixture in terms of methane purity and recovery by adjusting the ratio of membrane area (1:1, 1:3, 2:2) in the first and second membrane modules in the plant. When membrane area of 2 stage increased to $3m^2$ from $1m^2$ at 1-stage membrane area of $1m^2$, the feed rate and $CH_4$ recovery at 95% methane purity were increased from 47.1% to 92.5% respectively. When the membrane area increased two-fold (1:1 to 2:2), $CH_4$ recovery increased from 47.1% to 88.3%. When the feed flow rate was increased, in 1:3 ratio, final purity of the methane is reduced, the methane recovery is increased. When operating pressure was increased, the feed rate was increased and recovery was slightly decreased. From this result, membrane area, feed pressure and feed rate could be the important factor to the performance of the membrane process.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

This study was conducted to suggest the measurement procedure and to build up national greenhouse gas inventory database of animal agricultural sector by assessing methane and nitrous oxide emissions according to IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventory report in order to correspond to the Climate Change Convention. Ten house-made steady-state Half dome floating chambers were used to collect air samples emitted from slurry stored in the pit under the slat. Those chambers were spread out in order that air samples might represent the whole area of slurry under the slat. Fresh air was pumped into the chambers by $5{\sim}9{\ell}/min$ and air inside the chambers was sampled by $1{\ell}/min$. Surplus air by the higher flow rate of fresh air than sampling flow rate was passed through a hole on the top of chambers. Nitrous oxide fluxes measured from 10 locations would be negligible as concentrations between background air and sampled air from the chambers were within the error range. However, mean $CH_4$ fluxes were $0.15{\sim}1.02mg/m^2{\cdot}s$. The application of continuous greenhouse gas measurement techniques would be preferred if the patterns of greenhouse gas emissions are considered.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.38-43
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• 2018

In this study, using electro-refining process and methane gas reduction, we performed studying the recovery of tin with high purity from waste tin oxide had used as a electrode rod of ceramic furnace which occurred during glass production process. We recovered the crude tin of 99% purity from a methane gas reduction process and controlled a little amount of impurities. When the electrolytic refining condition was a current density of $60A/dm^2$ and the sulfuric acid concentration of 0.75 mol, 96.8% of recovered tin (99.979% of purity) were recovered during the electrolytic refining. We confirmed that toxic impurities such as Pb, Sb included in electrode rod. could be controlled.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.13-18
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• 2014

BMP test was carried out to evaluate the characteristics for co-digestion of night soil and food waste. 6 types of sludge were tested in 30 days which were raw, excess, digested, night soil/septic tank (1:1), food waste (food : dilution water = 1:1), and mixed sludge. Bio gas was produced actively after 2 days, and continued in 2 weeks. Gas generation amount was decreased rapidly after considerable space of time. Especially maximum productivity of gas was shown in 7~8 days. The ultimate methane yields of raw, excess, digested, night soil/septic tank, food waste, and mixed sludge were 64.63, 67.49, 66.45, 72.44, 107.85, and 46.71 mL $CH_4/g$ VS respectively from Modified Gompertz model. The lag growth phase time and maximum specific methane production rate of mixed sludge were 1.88 day and 80.4 mL/day respectively. The methane potential of mixed sludge was higher than individual sludge. So high methane potential was expected by controlling mixing ratio of food waste. Besides stable operation of digestion tank and the solution of oligotrophic problem were possible.