• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2019

The redox flow battery (RFB) is a large-capacity energy storage equipment, and the vanadium redox flow cell is a typical RFB, but VRFB is expensive. Iron-chrome RFBs are economical because they use low-cost active materials, but their low performance is an urgent problem. One of the reasons for the low performance is the crossover of the active materials. In this study, the sulfonated Poly (ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membrane, which is a hydrocarbon membrane, was used instead of the fluorine membrane to reduce the crossover of the active materials. The chromium ion permeability of the sPEEK membrane was $1.8{\times}10^{-6}cm^2/min$, which was about 1/33 of that of the Nafion membrane. Thus, it was shown that the use of the sPEEK membrane instead of the fluorine membrane could solve the high active material crossover problem. The activation energy of iron diffusion through the sPEEK membrane was 24.9 kJ/mol, which was about 66% of Nafion membrane. And that the e-PTFE support in the polymer membrane reduces the active material crossover through Iron-Chrome Redox Flow Battery (ICRFB).

• Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.670-682
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• 2018

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) can be released to humans and the environment through the generation of waste containing engineered nanomaterials (WCNMs) and the use and disposal of nano-products. Nanoparticles can also be introduced intentionally or unintentionally into waste streams. This study examined WCNMs in domestic industries, and target nanomaterials, such as silicon dioxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, nano silver, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were selected. We tested 48 samples, such as dust, sludge, ash, and by-products from manufacturing facilities and waste treatment facilities. We analyzed leaching and content concentrations for heavy metals and hazardous constituents of the waste. Chemical compositions were also measured by XRD and XRF, and the unique properties of nano-waste were identified by using a particle size distribution analyzer and TEM. The dust and sludge generated from manufacturing facilities and the use of nanomaterials showed higher concentrations of metals such as lead, arsenic, chromium, barium, and zinc. Oiled cloths from facilities using nano silver revealed high concentrations of copper, and the leaching concentrations of copper and lead in fly ash were higher than those in bottom ash. In XRF measurements at the facilities, we detected compounds such as silicon dioxide, sulfur trioxide, calcium oxide, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. We found several chemicals such as calcium oxide and silicon dioxide in the bottom ash of waste incinerators.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2009

The effect of carbon addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of $Ni_3Al$ and TiAl intermetallic alloys have been characterized. It is shown that carbon is not only an efficient solid solution strengthener in $Ni_3Al$ and TiAl, it is also an efficient precipitation strengthener by fine dispersion of carbide. Transmission electron microscope investigation has been performed on the particle-dislocation interactions in $Ni_3Al$ and TiAl intermetallics containing various types of fine precipitates. In an $L1_2$-ordered $Ni_3Al$ alloy with 4 mol.% of chromium and 0.2~3.0 mol.% of carbon, fine octahedral precipitates of $M_{23}C_6$ type carbide, which has the cube-cube orientation relationship with the matrix, appear during aging. Typical Orowan loops are formed in $Ni_3Al$ containing fine dispersions of $M_{23}C_6$ particles. In the L10-ordered TiAl containing 0.1~2.0 mol.% carbon, TEM observations revealed that needle-like precipitates, which lie only in one direction parallel to the [001] axis of the $L1_0$ matrix, appear in the matrix and preferentially at dislocations. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns analyses have shown that the needle-shaped precipitate is $Ti_3AlC$ of perovskite type. The orientation relationship between the $Ti_3AlC$ and the $L1_0$ matrix is found to be $(001)_{Ti3AlC}//(001)_{L10\;matrix}$ and $[010]_{Ti3AlC}//[010]_{L10\;matrix}$. By aging at higher temperatures or for longer period at 1073 K, plate-like precipitates of $Ti_2AlC$ with a hexagonal structure are formed on the {111} planes of the $L1_0$ matrix. The orientation relationship between the $(0001)_{Ti2AlC}//(111)_{L10\;matrix}$ is and $[1120]_{Ti2AlC}//[101]_{L10\;matrix}$. High temperature strength of TiAl increases appreciably by the precipitation of fine carbide. Dislocations bypass the carbide needles at further higher temperatures.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.302-324
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate exposure to occupational carcinogens in the nationwide electronics industries and to establish a strategy for control of occupational carcinogens in South Korea. Methods: We evaluated occupational carcinogens as defined by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) using a nationwide work environment measurement database on the electronics industry in South Korea measured between 2013 and 2017 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Results: The number of occupational carcinogens found in the electronics industry in South Korea were: 20 for IARC Group 1, 14 for Group 2A, and 30 for Group 2B. The occupational carcinogens (Group 1) most frequently exposed were strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid (sulfuric acid), welding fumes, mineral oils (untreated or mildly treated), nickel compounds, silica dust, crystalline substances in the form of quartz or cristobalite, formaldehyde, arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, chromium (VI) compounds, trichloroethylene, cadmium and cadmium compounds, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, wood dust, beryllium and beryllium compounds, 1,3 butadiene, benzene, and others. Among them, the carcinogens (Group 1) exceeding the acceptable standard were trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide. The working environment measurement system as regulated by Occupational Safety and Health Act is not properly assessed and managed for occupational carcinogens in South Korea. A component analysis for all materials used should be set up to practically reduce occupational carcinogens. A ban on the use of occupational carcinogens and the development of alternative materials are needed. The occupational carcinogens below the acceptable standards should be carefully examined and a new standard for exposure needs to be established. Conclusions: The Occupational Safety and Health Act should be improved to identify and monitor occupational carcinogens at work sites. A strategy for occupational safety and health systems should be provided to give direction to workers' needs and right to know.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.17-23
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• 2022

Using cement as a road subbase is economical, easily modified and supplemented and has excellent road pavement quality control. In addition, cement adheres well to sandy soils without adhesion, and it plays a role of permanently preserving adhesion in viscous soils with adhesion, so it can be widely applied as stable treatment with the advantages of increased strength, reduced compressibility. and improved durability. However, while cement is excellent in terms of strength for a road subbase, the material properties mean that it is difficult to maintain and reinforce when cracks or fractures occur due to dry shrinkage, and the pH increases in the ground due to hexavalent chromium eluting from cement. which can cause environmental problems such as groundwater contamination. Therefore, this study evaluates the usability of alternatives in the road base layer such as environmentally cementitious stabilizer and on-site soil generated from the site. We intend to reduce the environmental damage and evaluate the durability. To evaluate the applicability of the site, Environmental stability test and freeze-thaw test and wetting-drying test was conducted to evaluate the strength characteristics of alternative materials on the road through the limited performance evaluation of environmentally cementitious stabilizer. The test ranges were set at mixing ratios of 10%, 20%, and 30% and ages of three days, and 28 days old to evaluate the early strength and reference strength according to the mixing ratio of the environmentally cementitious stabilizer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.306-314
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• 2022

Background: Due to the rapid aging of the South Korean population, neurological diseases such as dementia are increasing. Many studies have reported that the incidence of dementia is associated with environmental factors along with age. Objectives: This study analyzed the association between cognitive function and ten heavy metals in the body: arsenic, aluminum, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, iron, copper, zinc, and lead. Methods: From 2018 to 2019, a total of 120 participants who suffered from cognitive impairment were recruited for this study. Blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Demographic information was obtained through face-to-face questionnaires completed by a trained investigator. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Korean version of the Boston Name Waiting Test. The associations between cognitive function scores and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The average age of the 120 participants was 72.7 years, and 69.2% were female. The mean of the MMSE-K and K-BNT scores were 22.9 and 37.9, respectively. The geometric mean of aluminum (Al) was 8.42 ㎍/L. MMSE-K was associated with iron (Fe), but the significance was removed in the logistic regression based on 24 points. K-BNT was significantly associated with aluminum and the odds ratio for K-BNT above 38 decreased by 45% as the aluminum concentration increased. Conclusions: The association between aluminum and the K-BNT score indicated that aluminum is associated with language-related cognitive decline. Based on this result, further study will be conducted by considering co-exposure effects of heavy metals including aluminum.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.626-636
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• 2022

Shellfish are exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates that consume various organic and inorganic substances floating in seawater through filter feeding. Heavy metals are known as absorbed and accumulated in seawater. Some of the toxic heavy metals are highly accumulated in seawater, and exposure to them can cause a variety of risks to the human body. Since Koreans like to eat seafood, they are more likely to be exposed to contaminated seafood with heavy metals. In this study, nine types of heavy metals were analyzed on ten different shellfish species in the coastal area of South Korea. The risk assessment was also done on shellfish in which heavy metals were detected. Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were identified at an average of 56.7 mg/kg (6.70 to 466 mg/kg) and 13.2 mg/kg (0.064 to 143 mg/kg), respectively. Lead (Pb) average of 0.208 mg/kg (0.000750 to 1.02 mg/kg), cadmium (Cd) average of 0.454 mg/kg (0.0388 to 1.56 mg/kg) and mercury (Hg) average of 0.0266 mg/kg (0.00548 to 0.174 mg/kg) were identified. Additionally, arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and silver (Ag) were also identified as average concentrations of 4.02 (0.460 to 15.0 mg/kg), 0.167 (< limit of quantification [LOQ] to 0.820 mg/kg), 0.281 (< LOQ to 1.46 mg/kg), and 0.158 mg/kg (< LOQ to 1.15 mg/kg). The result indicates that the monitoring results of heavy metals in most shellfish satisfied the Korean standard. However, Pb and Cd have exceeded some foreign standards, such as the United States and the EU. The permissible human exposure calculated using the heavy metal intake and detection amount was lower than the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives human safety standard, and the risk of heavy metals from shellfish consumption was at an acceptable level.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.1040-1052
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of functional nutrients including various functional amino acids, vitamins, and minerals on chicken intestinal epithelial cells (cIECs) treated with oxidative stress. The cIECs were isolated from specific pathogen free eggs. Cells were exposed to 0 mM supplement (control), 20 mM threonine (Thr), 0.4 mM tryptophan (Trp), 1 mM glycine (Gly), 10 μM vitamin C (VC), 40 μM vitamin E (VE), 5 μM vitamin A (VA), 34 μM chromium (Cr), 0.42 μM selenium (Se), and 50 μM zinc (Zn) for 24 h with 6 replicates for each treatment. After 24 h, cells were further incubated with fresh culture medium (positive control, PC) or 1 mM H₂O₂ with different supplements (negative control, NC and each treatment). Oxidative stress was measured by cell proliferation, whereas tight junction barrier function was analyzed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Results indicated that cell viability and TEER values were less (p < 0.05) in NC treatments with oxidative stress than in PC treatments. In addition, FITC-dextran values were greater (p < 0.05) in NC treatments with oxidative stress than in PC treatments. The supplementations of Thr, Trp, Gly, VC, and VE in cells treated with H₂O₂ showed greater (p < 0.05) cell viability than the supplementation of VA, Cr, Se, and Zn. The supplementations of Trp, Gly, VC, and Se in cells treated with H₂O₂ showed the least (p < 0.05) cellular permeability. In addition, the supplementation of Thr, VE, VA, Cr, and Zn in cells treated with H₂O₂ decreased (p < 0.05) cellular permeability. At 48 h, the supplementations of Thr, Trp, and Gly in cells treated with H₂O₂ showed the greatest (p < 0.05) TEER values among all treatments, and the supplementations of VC and VE in cells treated with H₂O₂ showed greater (p < 0.05) TEER values than the supplementations of VA, Cr, Se, and Zn in cells treated with H₂O₂. In conclusion, Thr, Trp, Gly, and VC supplements were effective in improving cell viability and intestinal barrier function of cIECs exposed to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2024

The creation of vertically aligned one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures through the decoration of n-type tin oxide (SnO₂) on p-type chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) constitutes an effective strategy for enhancing gas sensing performance. These heterostructures are deposited in multiple stages using a glancing angle deposition technique with an electron beam evaporator, resulting in a reduction in the surface porosity of the nanorods as SnO₂ is incorporated. In comparison to Cr₂O₃ films, the bare Cr₂O₃ nanorods exhibits a response 3.3 times greater to 50 ppm H₂S at 300℃, while the SnO₂-decorated Cr₂O₃ nanorods demonstrate an eleven-fold increase in response. Furthermore, when subjected to various gases (CH₄, H₂S, CO₂, H₂), a notable selectivity toward H₂S is observed. This study paves the way for the development of p-type semiconductor sensors with heightened selectivity and sensitivity towards H₂S, thus advancing the prospects of gas sensor technology.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.45-56
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• 2024

Heavy metals emitted from urban development do not decompose in the soil and remain for long periods, continually impacting the environment. Since the mid-1990s, there has been increasing societal concern in South Korea regarding soil contamination, prompting various legislative revisions to reduce pollution. This study utilizes the Environmental Impact Assessment Support System (EIASS) to investigate projects in the metropolitan area that have exceeded the Ministry of Environment's soil contamination concern levels from 1989 to 2022 and to examine improvements in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. The results reveal that the average concentrations of nine contaminants-cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and fluoride (F)-have all increased over the years. Among these, Zn had the highest relative proportion, with 37.5% of the 40 sites exceeding environmental concern levels. Investigation of 19 specific projects at these exceedance sites showed that only 7 had documented analyses of contamination causes and remediation plans, and just one had contracted additional remediation services, though results from these efforts were found to be lacking. Furthermore, since 2019, a significant proportion of these sites were involved in residential developments, likely due to government initiatives in new city development and extensive housing supply plans. This research emphasizes the importance of public disclosure of the processes and outcomes of remediation efforts on historically contaminated soils prior to project development. It discusses improvements to the EIA by reviewing current legislation and international examples. The findings of this study are expected to heighten public awareness about heavy metal contamination and enhance transparency in soil remediation efforts, contributing to sustainable environmental management and development.