• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.15-26
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• 2020

In recent years, there is an increasing interest in environmental friendly treatment of waste-plastics in terms of the generation of microplastics. Accordingly, the recycling of waste-plastics is very important because it provides advantages of volume reduction, mitigation of carbon dioxide emission, and reproduction of value-added products. In particular, in order to recycle the eco-friendly waste-plastics, it is necessary to use a physical separation methods, and among them, flotation separation, which can separate material (i.e., polymer component) in waste-plastics is well known as a very effective separation method in terms of material recycle. Therefore, in this review, the research trend of flotation separation for effective separation of mixture waste-plastics was investigated. In addition, through the reported research results, approaches to use as new functional materials from polymers, which are raw materials for waste-plastics, are summarized.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2021

Decay fungi can decompose plant debris to recycle carbon in the ecosystem. Still, they can also be fungal pathogens, which can damage living trees and/or wood material and cause a large amount of timber loss. We isolated and identified basidiomycetous fungi from the decayed bark of Mongolian oak wrapped with sticky roll traps. The degrading enzyme activities were then tested for all fungal isolates. The decay ability of selected isolates was assessed based on the weight loss of wood discs after inoculating with culture suspension of decay fungi under the different humidity levels. A total of 46 basidiomycetous fungal isolates belonged to 12 species, and 10 genera were obtained from Jong Myo (16 isolates), Chang Kyung palace (7 isolates), Cheong Gye (10 isolates), and Gun Po (13 isolates). Gymnopus luxurians was the most dominant fungus in the present study, and this species distributed in all survey sites with 9 isolates in Jong Myo, followed by 3 isolates in Chang Kyung palace, while Cheong Gye and Gun Po had only 1 isolate each. Among 46 isolates, 44 isolates secreted at least one enzyme, while 25 isolates produced both cellulase and phenol oxidase enzymes, and 2 isolates produced neither. The assessment of decay ability by artificial inoculation indicated that the weight loss of wood discs was significantly influenced by humidity conditions when inoculated with bark decay fungi. The percent weight losses by G. luxurians inoculation in RH of 90-100% and RH of 65-75% were 4.61% and 2.45%, respectively. The weight loss caused by Abortiporus biennis were 6.67% and 0.46% in RH of 90-100% and RH of 45-55%, respectively. The humidity reduction approach should be applied for further studies to control the growth and spread of bark decay fungi on the trunks wrapped with sticky roll traps.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.5-14
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• 2021

As the implementation of carbon reduction measures would be monitored starting from 2023 in line with the Paris Agreement, it is crucial and urgent to control GHGs emitted from wastes contributing to 11% of methane emissions. Despite such importance and urgency, 93% of wastes are deposited in unsanitary landfills in developing countries, presenting challenges to methane management. Against the backdrop, landfill gas-to-energy projects have once again drawn attention for their economic substantiality secured through CDM projects while there has been much research actively carried out to estimate methane emissions and GHG reductions in landfills located in developing countries. Although a signifiant difference was found between estimations calculated based on research methodologies and actual results monitored through registered CDM projects, there has not been a study conducted on what is causing such a difference. Accordingly, the research team conducted an analysis of 18 LFG projects out of 46 that were registered as LFG CDM projects under the UNFCCC and has identified precipitation(28%), malfunction(22%), organic content(11%), amount of landfilled waste(11%) and temperature(11%) as key parameters causing the difference between the amount of methane captured and the amount of GHG reduced.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 2021

To attain the long-term benefits of forest restoration in North Korea, it is important to present the economic value of reforestation. This study as aimed to evaluate the economic value based on cost-benefit analysis from the ecosystem services perspective. The benefits of reforestation were classified into ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water supply, soil erosion control, and disaster risk reduction, and were converted into economic values to calculate comprehensive benefits. In the forest restoration scenario, an "independent forest restoration scenario (IFS)" and a "cooperation-based forest restoration scenario (CFS)" were composed in consideration of recent afforestation performance and forest policy, and the difference in the quantity of afforestation was derived as a scenario despite the same restoration period. In the IFS, it is estimated that over the next two decades, 800 thousand ha of the forest will be restored at a cost of KRW 3,829 billion, resulting in a benefit of KRW 6.87 trillion. The present benefit net value is KRW 3,39 trillion. In the CFS, it is estimated that the benefits of KRW 18,890 billion will be generated by restoring 2.2 million ha of the forest at a cost of KRW 10,053 billion. The present benefit net value is KRW 8,359 billion. In both scenarios, BCR had an economic feasibility value greater than 1, but there was a big difference in the expected benefits. In conclusion, forest restoration can have higher benefits than cost, and its value could be enhanced through forest cooperation.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.94-105
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• 2021

Two vertical flow biofilters in series (BFS) employing synthetic fiber (FBF) followed by woodchip (WBF) was investigated in order to assess its potential as an alternative to the typical vertical-horizontal flow configuration in removing nonpoint source pollutants specifically nutrients and organics. These lab-scale column biofilters were operated for 176 days alongside three other columns that were added for control and sampling purposes. The biofilter columns were fed with either a semi-artificial piggery stormwater or artificial stormwater with specific ammonia and nitrate contents. Results reveal that the BFS was more effective than a single biofilter in removing pollutants especially nitrogen. FBF was found to remove up to 100% of ammonia from the stormwater with corresponding increase in nitrate in the outflow which shows evidence of active nitrification. Meanwhile, the succeeding vertical WBF was able to subsequently remove 77% of the nitrate. The effective reduction of nitrate in a vertical flow biofilter was believed to be due to the use of woodchip which can provide a carbon source that is required for denitrification. However, further investigation is needed to support this claim. Nonetheless, the study shows the potential of vertical flow BFS as a nitrogen removal mechanism especially in areas where enough land space for horizontal flow biofilters is limited.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.415-427
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• 2021

It is generally recognized that high stocking density can increase the risk of immune dysfunction and reduction in productivity cause of elevated stress in broiler farm. The domestic livestock industry is implementing a certification system for animal welfare and livestock farms to reduce the problem of dense breeding. This study compared broiler from the general farm and animal welfare farm to confirm the effectiveness of animal welfare farms against stress. Gas concentrations in a farm of general and animal welfare farms were analyzed, blood (n=10) of the 28-day-old broiler was collected, the partial pressure of the gas in the blood was analyzed using whole blood, and biochemical factors and hormones were analyzed using the serum. Glycogen and L-lactate are analyzed using ELISA kit on finely pulverized muscles (n=10). CO₂ and NH₃ levels in the farm were significantly higher in general farm. Partial carbon dioxide tension (PCO₂) in blood was significantly higher and partial oxygen tension (PO₂) was significantly lower in the general farm. Creatinine (CREA), glucose (GLU), aspartateaminotransferase (AST), and creatinekinase (CK) in the blood were significantly higher in the general farm, and total protein (TP) and globulin (GLOB) were significantly higher in animal welfare farm. Blood corticosterone and norepinephrine were significantly higher in general farm and epinephrine was significantly higher in animal welfare farm. These results imply that animal welfare farm provides a stress-reduced breeding environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2022

Aircraft weight is an important factor affecting performance and fuel efficiency. In the conceptual design stage of the aircraft, the process of balancing cost and weight is performed using empirical formulas such as fuel consumption cost per weight in estimating element weight. In addition, when an airline operates an aircraft, it promotes fuel efficiency improvement, fuel saving and carbon reduction through weight management activities. The relationship between changes in aircraft weight and changes in fuel consumption is called the cost of weight, and the cost of weight is used to evaluate the effect of adding or reducing weight to an aircraft on fuel consumption. In this study, the problems of the existing cost of weight calculation method are identified, and a new cost of weight calculation method is introduced to solve the problem. Using Breguet's Range Formula and actual flight data of the A350-900 aircraft, two weight costs are calculated based on take-off weight and landing weight. In conclusion, it was suggested that it is reasonable to use the cost of weight based on the take-off weight and the landing weight for other purposes. In particular, the cost of weight based on the landing weight can be used as an empirical formula for estimating element weight and optimizing cost and weight in the conceptual design stage of similar aircraft.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

MILD(Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution) combustion has attracted attention as the clean thermal energy technology due to the lower emissions of unburnt carbon and NO_x. MILD combustion aims to enlarge the combustion reaction zone using the spontaneous ignition phenomenon of the reactants. In this study, the ignition delay time of CH₄ according to the initial temperature of reactants and the addition of CO, H₂ was investigated using a numerical approach. Ignition delay time became shorter as the increases of initial temperature and H₂ addition. But, CO addition to the fuel increase the ignition delay time. In case of H₂ addition to the fuel, the ignition delay time decreased because the higher fraction of HO₂ promotes the decomposition of methyl radical(CH₃) and produce OH radical. However, in case of CO addition to the fuel, ignition delay time inceased because a high proportion of HCO consumes H radical. There was no significant effect of HCO on the reduction of ignition delay time. Also, the increase rates of NO emissions by the addition of CO and H₂ were approximately 7% and 1%, respectively. A high proportion of NCO affects the increase in NO production rate.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.241-256
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• 2021

The current study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Phyllostachys bambusoides (PHB) as a feed additives and investigate whether its antioxidant activity could be helpful for increasing rumen fermentation characteristics and methane reduction. The antioxidant activity results showed that total polyphenols and flavonoids contents were 43.54 ± 8.68 mg CE/g and 17.13 ± 0.45 mg QE/g, respectively, and the IC₅₀ values for 1,1-diphenyl-2-prcrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity were 163.13 ± 19.25 ㎍/mL and 97.07 ± 4.46 ㎍/mL, respectively. Two heads of cannulated Hanwoo (450 ± 30 kg), consuming timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (60:40, w/w) twice daily (at 09:00 and 17:30) at 2% of body weight, with free access to water and a mineral block, were used as rumen fluid donors. An in vitro incubation experiment was performed after 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr with PHB added at concentration of 2, 4, and 6% of timothy hay basis. Total gas emission decreased as the amount of PHB addition increased at 6 and 24 hr of incubation. However, PHB addition did not affect total volatile fatty acid production, and methane and carbon dioxide emission also decreased as the amount of addition increased at 48 hr of incubation. Therefore, PHB was expected to be used as methane reducing additives in the ruminants.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2022

Biomass is a sustainable alternative resource for production of liquid fuels and organic compounds that are currently produced from fossil fuels including petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Because the use of fossil fuels can increase the production of greenhouse gases, the use of carbon-neutral biomass can contribute to the reduction of global warming. Although biological and chemical processes have been proposed to produce petroleum-replacing chemicals and fuels from biomass feedstocks, it is difficult to replace completely fossil fuels because of the high oxygen content of biomass. Production of petroleum-like fuels and chemicals from biomass requires the removal of oxygen atoms or conversion of the oxygen functionalities present in biomass derivatives, which can be achieved by catalytic hydrodeoxygenation. Hydrodeoxygenation has been used to convert raw biomass-derived materials, such as biomass pyrolysis oils and lignocellulose-derived chemicals and lipids, into deoxygenated fuels and chemicals. Multifunctional catalysts composed of noble metals and transition metals supported on high surface area metal oxides and carbons, usually selected as supports of heterogeneous catalysts, have been used as efficient hydrodeoxygenation catalysts. In this review, the catalysts proposed in the literature are surveyed and hydrodeoxygenation reaction systems using these catalysts are discussed. Based on the hydrodeoxygenation methods reported in the literature, an insight for feasible hydrodeoxygenation process development is also presented.