• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.217-238
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• 2023

Currently, automobile tax in Korea is imposed by multiplying the vehicle's engine displacement by a certain tax rate. However, the need for revision is being raised as it is pointed out that the current system does not reflect the immediate task of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, this study focuses on the positive relationship between engine displacement and CO₂ emissions, and seeks to calculate an appropriate automobile tax rate considering average CO₂ emissions. To this end, first, we estimated the average annual CO₂ emissions (kg/vehicle) for each engine displacement using the average CO₂ emissions for each vehicle displacement as of 2020. Next, multiple scenarios were analyzed considering the standard tax rate at $75 per ton of CO₂ emissions proposed by the IMF (2019). In particular, we compared the case of imposing a uniform carbon tax of $75 and the case of imposing a progressive tax based on CO₂ emissions by displacement. According to the results, it was confirmed that the uniform tax rate proposed by the IMF is difficult to apply to Korea as it is due to the impact of a decrease in tax revenue, and a tax scheme needs to be designed appropriately considering maintenance of tax revenue according to the current automobile tax, greenhouse gas reduction effect, and automobile tax reform trends in developed countries. For example, in the case of the K3 (1,598cc) of Kia Motors, a representative compact car sold in Korea, if we compare the tax burdens for each tax scenario, the tax burden will be about 220,000 KRW under the current system, about 79,000 KRW under the uniform tax rate, about 83,000 KRW under the progressive tax rate, and about 240,000 KRW under the progressive tax rate similar to the UK tax system, respectively. In this way, this study identified the current statuses of automobile registration and tax in Korea, and automobile tax reform trends in major developed countries, and analyzed the impact of automobile tax reform considering engine displacement and CO₂ emissions, focusing on the tax burden of the people.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.133-160
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• 2018

$CO_2$ storage is a very important technology for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and has been considered as almost the only viable and effective option for immediate large-scale $CO_2$ sequestration. Small-scale demonstration project for offshore $CO_2$ storage in the Pohang Basin is the transitional stage R&D program for technological preparation of large-scale $CO_2$ storage project in Korea. Through the extensive exploration research for prospective $CO_2$ storage sites, the offshore strata in the Pohang Basin was recommended for the storage formation of the small-scale demonstration project. The Pohang Offshore Storage Project launched at 2013, and has accomplished the technical demonstration and technological independence in a wide range of $CO_2$ storage technology, such as geophysical exploration, storage site characterization, storage design, offshore platform construction, injection-well drilling and completion, deployment of injection facility, operation of $CO_2$ injection, and $CO_2$ monitoring. The project successfully carried out $CO_2$ test injection in early 2017, and achieved its final goal for technical development and demonstration of $CO_2$ storage in Korea. The realization of $CO_2$ injection in this project is the measurable result and has been recorded as the first success in Korea. The Pohang Offshore Storage Project has a future plan for the continuous operation of $CO_2$ injection and completion of $CO_2$ monitoring system. The project has provided in-house technical and practical expertises, which will be a solid foundation for the commercial-scale $CO_2$ storage business in Korea. Additionally, the project will help to secure national technical competitiveness in growing international technology market for $CO_2$ storage.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.325-345
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• 2020

Determination of Best available technology (BAT) was suggested to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a petrochemical industrial complex, by conducting human health risk, environmental, and economic assessment based on multimedia fugacity model. Fate and distribution of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) was predicted by the multimedia fugacity model, which represent VOCs emitted from the industrial complex in U-city. Media-integrated human health risk assessment and sensitivity analysis were conducted to predict the human health risk of BTEX and identify the critical variable which has adverse effects on human health. Besides, the environmental and economic assessment was conducted to determine the BAT for VOCs reduction. It is concluded that BTEX highly remained in soil media (60%, 61%, 64% and 63%), and xylene has remained as the highest proportion of BTEX in each environment media. From the candidates of BAT, the absorption was excluded due to its high human health risk. Moreover, it is identified that the half-life and exposure coefficient of each exposure route are highly correlated with human health risk by sensitivity analysis. In last, considering environmental and economic assessment, the regenerative thermal oxidation, the regenerative catalytic oxidation, the bio-filtration, the UV oxidation, and the activated carbon adsorption were determined as BAT for reducing VOCs in the petrochemical industrial complex. The suggested BAT determination methodology based on the media-integrated approach can contribute to the application of BAT into the workplace to efficiently manage the discharge facilities and operate an integrated environmental management system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2017

In this study, the heating performance and the energy saving effect of the heat pump system using hot waste water(waste heat) of the thermal power plant discharged from a thermal power plant to the sea were analyzed. The greenhouse area was $5,280m^2$ and scale of the heat pump system was 120 RT(Refrigeration Ton), which was divided into 30 RT, 40 RT and 50 RT. The heat pump system consisted of the roll type heat exchangers, hot waste water transfer pipes, heat pumps(30, 40, 50 RT), a heat storage tank and fan coil units. The roll type heat exchangers was made of PE(Poly Ethylene) pipes in consideration of low cost and durability against corrosion, because hot waste water(sea water) is highly corrosive. And the heating period was 5 months from October to February. During the heating performance test(12 hours), the inlet water temperature of evaporator was changed from $32^{\circ}C$ to $26^{\circ}C$, and heat absorption of he evaporator was changed from 175 kW to 120 kW. The inlet water temperature of the condenser rose linearly from $15^{\circ}C$ to $50^{\circ}C$, and the heat release of condenser was reduced by 40 kW from 200 kW to 160 kW. And the power consumption of the heat pump system increased from 30 kW to 42 kW. When the inlet water temperature of condenser was $15^{\circ}C$, the heating COP(Coefficient Of Performance) was over 7.0. When it was $30^{\circ}C$, it dropped to 5.0, and when it was above $40^{\circ}C$, it decreased to less than 4.0. It was analyzed that the reduction of heating energy cost was 87% when compared to the duty free diesel that the carbon dioxide emission reduction effect was 62% by recycling the waste heat of the thermal power plant as a heat source of the heat pump system.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2020

CO₂ geological storage is currently considered as the most stable and effective technology for greenhouse gas reduction. The saline formations for CO₂ geological storage are generally located at a depth of more than 800 m where CO₂ can be stored in a supercritical state, and an extensive impermeable cap rock that prevents CO₂ leakage to the surface should be distributed above the saline formations. Trough analysis of seismic and well data, we identified the basalt flow structure for potential CO₂ storage where saline formation is overlain by basalt cap rock around PZ-1 exploration well in the Southern Continental Shelf of Korea. To evaluate CO₂ storage capacity of the saline formation, total porosity and CO₂ density are calculated based on well logging data of PZ-1 well. We constructed a 3D geological grid model with a certain size in the x, y and z axis directions for volume estimates of the saline formation, and performed a property modeling to assign total porosity to the geological grid. The estimated average CO₂ geological storage capacity evaluated by the U.S. DOE method for the saline formation covered by the basalt cap rock is 84.17 Mt of CO₂(ranges from 42.07 to 143.79 Mt of CO₂).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.177-191
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• 1998

For various kinds of waters including surface water, shallow groundwater (＜70 m deep) and deep groundwater (500∼810 m deep) from the Pungki area, an integrated study based on hydrochemical, multivariate statistical, thermodynamic, environmental isotopic (tritium, oxygen-hydrogen, carbon and sulfur), and mass-balance approaches was attempted to elucidate the hydrogeochemical and hydrologic characteristics of the groundwater system in the gneiss area. Shallow groundwaters are typified as the 'Ca-HCO$_3$'type with higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, SO$_4$and NO$_3$, whereas deep groundwaters are the 'Na-HCO$_3$'type with elevated concentrations of Na, Ba, Li, H$_2$S, F and Cl and are supersaturated with respect to calcite. The waters in the area are largely classified into two groups: 1) surface waters and most of shallow groundwaters, and 2) deep groundwaters and one sample of shallow groundwater. Seasonal compositional variations are recognized for the former. Multivariate statistical analysis indicates that three factors may explain about 86% of the compositional variations observed in deep groundwaters. These are: 1) plagioclase dissolution and calcite precipitation, 2) sulfate reduction, and 3) acid hydrolysis of hydroxyl-bearing minerals(mainly mica). By combining with results of thermodynamic calculation, four appropriate models of water/ rock interaction, each showing the dissolution of plagioclase, kaolinite and micas and the precipitation of calcite, illite, laumontite, chlorite and smectite, are proposed by mass balance modelling in order to explain the water quality of deep groundwaters. Oxygen-hydrogen isotope data indicate that deep groundwaters were originated from a local meteoric water recharged from distant, topograpically high mountainous region and underwent larger degrees of water/rock interaction during the regional deep circulation, whereas the shallow groundwaters were recharged from nearby, topograpically low region. Tritium data show that the recharge time was the pre-thermonuclear age for deep groundwaters (＜0.2 TU) but the post-thermonuclear age for shallow groundwaters (5.66∼7.79 TU). The $\delta$$\^$34/S values of dissolved sulfate indicate that high amounts of dissolved H$_2$S (up to 3.9 mg/1), a characteristic of deep groundwaters in this area, might be derived from the reduction of sulfate. The $\delta$$\^$13/C values of dissolved carbonates are controlled by not only the dissolution of carbonate minerals by dissolved soil CO$_2$(for shallow groundwaters) but also the reprecipitation of calcite (for deep groundwaters). An integrated model of the origin, flow and chemical evolution for the groundwaters in this area is proposed in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1180-1185
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• 2006

Lab-scale batch experiments using several 25-L transparent acrylic reactors were conducted to develop optimum capping materials that can reduce phosphorus released from polluted sediments. The sediment used in the experiment was very fine clay(8.8 $\Phi$ in mean grain size), and organic carbon($C_{org}$) content was as high as 2%. Four kinds of batches with different capping materials Brucite($Mg(OH)_2$), Sea sand($SiO_2$), Granular-gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$), Double layer(brucite+sand), and one control batch were operated for 30 days. Phosphorus fluxes released from bottom sediments in the control batch were estimated to be 14.6 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, while 9.5 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 5.2 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 4.2 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, and 3.1 $mg{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in the batch capped with Sea sand, Granular-gypsum, Double layer, and Brucite, respectively. The results obtained from lab-scale batch experiments show that there were 70% reduction of phosphorus for some materials such as Brucite, Double layer(brucite+sand), and whereas sea sand only about 35%. The pH range of surface sediment to which Brucite was applied showed about $8.0{\sim}9.5$ in the weak alkaline state. This effect can prevent liberation of $H_2O$. The addition of gypsum into the sediment can reduce the progress of methanogenesis because of fast early diagenesis and sufficient supply of $SO_4^{2-}$ to the sediments, stimulate the SRB highly. Therefore, the application of Brucite and Gypsum can reduce phosphorus release from the sediment as a result of formation of $Mg_5(OH)(PO_4)_3$, pyrite($FeS_x$), and apatite-mineral.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 2014

In this research, we evaluated the performance and characteristics of carbon supported PtM (M = Ni and Y) alloy catalysts (PtM/Cs) synthesized by a modified polyol method. With the PtM/Cs employed as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of cathodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), their catalytic and ORR activities and electrical performance were investigated and compared with those of commercial Pt/C. Their particle sizes, particle distributions and electrochemically active surface areas (EAS) were measured by TEM and cyclic voltammetry (CV), while their ORR activity and electrical performance were explored using linear sweeping voltammetries with rotating disk electrodes and rotating ring-disk electrodes as well as PEMFC single cell tests. TEM and CV measurements show that PtM/Cs have the compatible particle size and EAS with Pt/C. When it comes to ORR activity, PtM/C showed the equivalent or better half-wave potential, kinetic current density, transferred electron number per oxygen molecule and $H_2O_2$ production(%) to or than commerical Pt/C. Based on results gained by the three electrode tests, when the PEMFC single cell tests were carried out, the current density measured at 0.6 V and maximum power density of PEMFC single cell adopting PtM/C catalysts were better than those adopting Pt/C catalyst. It is therefore concluded that PtM/C catalysts synthesized by modified polyol can result in the equivalent or better ORR catalytic capability and PEMFC performance to or than commercial Pt/C catalyst.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.278-283
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• 2019

3 kinds of fine powder, Fe-2%Ni alloy powder(N Ltd.) and Fe+2%Ni mixed powder(B Ltd. and S Ltd.), were fabricated into sintered compacts of bending strength specimens and ring type specimens by metal injection molding, debinding and controlling sintering conditions (reduction and sintering atmospheres, sintering temperature, sintering time and cooling rates). Density and magnetic properties of the sintered compacts were evaluated with the following conclusions. (1) When each compact was hold at 1123K for 3.6ks in H2 and sintered at 1623K for 14.4ks in Ar, the density of N, B and S Ltd.'s sintered compacts were measured as 96, 99 and 99%, and oxygen/carbon contents were measured as 0.0041%O/0.0006%C, 0.0027%O/0.0022%C, and 0.160%O/0.0026%C, respectively. (2) Magnetic characteristics of B Ltd. compact in Ar with the best results showed $B_{25}=14.3KG$, $B_r=7.75KG$, and $H_c=2.1Oe$, but not enough as those made by melting process. (3) Magnetic properties of B Ltd. compact which were sintered at 1673K for 14.4ks in Ar gas, and cooled at $0.83Ks^{-1}$ to 1123K and then cooled at $0.083Ks^{-1}$ down to room temperature were measured as $B_{25}=14.8KG$, $B_r=8.3KG$, and $H_c=1.3Oe$, almost similar to those made by melting process. Objected soft magnetic materials properties were obtained through sintering process by controlling sintering conditions (reduction condition, sintering atmosphere, sintering temperature and sintering time) and cooling rates.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.117-128
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• 2012

The Government of South Korea has continued its effort to fixate virtuous circle of economic growth and climate change response to cope with international demands and pressure to commitment for greenhouse gas reduction effectively. Nationally, Korean Government has established "Enforcement of the Framework Act on Low carbon, Green Growth"(2010. 4. 13) to implement national mid-term GHG mitigation goal(30% reduction by 2020 compare to BAU), which established the foundation for phased GHG mitigation by setting up the sectoral and industrial goal, adopting GHG and Energy Target Management System. Also, follow-up measures are taken such as planning and control of mid-term and short-term mitigation target by detailed analysis of potential mitigation of sector and industry, building up the infrastructure for periodic and systematic analysis of target management. Likewise, it is required to establish more accurate, reliable and detailed sectoral GHG inventory for successfully establishment and implement the frame act. In comparison to the $CO_2$ emission, Especially fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFCs, PFCs, $SF_6$) are lacking research to build the greenhouse gas inventories to identify emissions sources and collection of the applicable collection activities data. In this study, with the refrigeration and air conditioning sector being used to fluorine refrigerant(HFCs) as the center, greenhouse gas emission estimation methodology for evaluating the feasibility of using this methodology look over and mobile air conditioning, fixed air conditioning, household refrigeration equipment, commercial refrigeration equipment for the greenhouse gas emissions were calculated. First look at in terms of methodology, refrigeration and air conditioning sector GHG emissions in developing country-specific emission factors and activity data of the industrial sector the construction of the DB is not enough, it's 2006 IPCC Guidelines Tier 2a (emission factor approach) rather than the Tier 2b (mass balance approach) deems appropriate, and each detail by process, sectoral activity data more accurate, if DB is built Tier 2a (emission factor approach) can be applied will also be judged. Refrigeration and air conditioning sector in 2009 due to the use of refrigerant greenhouse gas emissions ($CO_2eq.$) assessment results, portable air conditioner 1,974,646 ton to year, fixed-mount air conditioner 1,011,754 ton to year, household refrigeration unit 4,396 ton to year, commercial refrigeration equipment 1,263 ton to year was estimated to total 2,992,037 tons.