• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2007

Carbon materials of various morphologies were synthesized by pyrolysis of Soap-nut seeds (Sapindus mukorossi), Jack Fruit seeds (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Date-seeds (Phoenix dactylifera), Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica), Tea leaves (Ehretia microphylla), Bamboo stem (Bambusa bambus) and Coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera), without using any catalyst. Carbon materials thus formed were characterized by SEM XRD and Raman. Carbon thus synthesized varied in size (in ${\mu}m$) but all showed highly porous morphology. These carbon materials were utilized as the anode in Lithium secondary battery. Amongst the various precursors, carbon fibers obtained from Soap-nut seeds (Sapindus mukorossi) and Bamboo stem (Bambusa bambus), even after $100^{th}$ cycles, showed the highest capacity of 130.29 mAh/g and 92.74 mAh/g respectively. Morphology, surface areas and porosity of carbon materials obtained from these precursors were analyzed to provide interpretation for their capacity to intercalate lithium. From the Raman studies it is concluded that graphitic nature of carbon materials assist in the intercalation of lithium. Size of cavity (or pore size of channels type structure) present in carbon materials were found to facilitate the intercalation of lithium.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.277-291
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• 2013

The transport and recovery of Levafix brilliant red E-4BA and Levafix brilliant red E-6BA were investigated using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fiber based supported liquid membrane containing tetra butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) in coconut oil as a carrier. The influencing parameters studied are: pH of the feed solution, concentration of dye in the feed solution, extractant concentration, and various kind of stripping agent, rate of stirring, time of transport, reusability of membrane and stability of membrane. Increase in TBAB concentration inside the membrane enhances the flux with its maximum value at $1.553{\times}10^{-4}$ M TBAB. Further increase in the concentration of TBAB leads to decreased rate of transport due to increase in viscosity of membrane liquid. The optimum conditions for dye transport are: pH of feed ($7{\pm}0.1$), $1.553{\times}10^{-4}$ M extractant concentration, 350 rpm for stirring, $4.9{\times}10^{-1}$ M potassium hydrogen phthalate as a stripping solution, the time of transport 6 h. It was noticed that flux values were increased with increasing dye concentration in the feed phase. Applying this study to textile wastewater, dyes were transported up to 98% in 6 h. This recovery technique is rewarding to environment and economic.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to develop water-purification vegetation mats consisting of the eco-friendly materials and to validate their water purification capabilities with the objective of reducing nonpoint pollution into streams. The developed vegetation mats are made of coconut fiber shell and filling consisted of zeolite, diatomaceous earth or a mixture of calcinated foam media. The bench scale assessment of the water purification capability of the three filling materials showed that the removal efficiencies of suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) were higher in the foam media than in zeolite or diatomaceous earth. From the results of the field experiment, the removal efficiencies of the vegetation mats filled with the foam media were 60.1% in SS, 32.2% in T-N and 20.2% in T-P. Therefore the vegetation mats filled with the foam media calcinated from zeolite and diatomaceous earth should have higher efficiencies in controlling the nonpoint source pollutions in streams.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.187-201
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• 1996

This study was to evaluate the efficiency of diffusive monitor using activated carbon fiber(ACF, KF-1500) in measuring airborne organic solvents. The following characteristics were identified and studied as critical to the performance of diffusive monitor; recovery, sampling rate, face velocity, reverse diffusion and storage stability. For the evaluation of the performance of this monitor, MIBK, PCE, toluene were used as organic solvents. In the sampling rate experiments, eight kinds of solvents (n-hexane, MEK, DIBK, MCF, TCE, CB, xylene, cumene) as well as the above solvents were used. The results were as follows: 1. The desorption efficiencies(DE's) of ACF diffusive monitor ranged from 83 % to 101 %. In contrast, those of coconut shell charcoal ranged from 78 % to 102 %. Especially, the DE's of ACF for the polar solvents such as MEK were superior to those of charcoal. 2. Experimental sampling rates on ACF were average 42ml/min(37-46ml/min) for 11 organic solvents at $24{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, $50{\pm}5%RH$. However ideal sampling rates(DA/L) were 33 % higher than experimental sampling rates. 3. The initial response(15~16 min) of the testing monitor was 2 times higher than the actual concentration determined by the reference methods at $24{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, $8{\pm}5%RH$ and $80{\pm}5%RH$. Within 1 hours, the curve reached a linear horizontal line at low humidity condition. But sampling efficiencies decreased with respect to time at high humidity condition. And sampling efficiencies were higher at high humidity condition than low humidity condition for MIBK. 4. At very low velocity (less than 0.02 m/sec), the concentration of ACF diffusive monitor were poorly estimated. But ACF diffusive monitor were not affected at higher velocity(0.2 m/sec-0.6 m/sec). 5. There was no significant reverse diffusion when the ACF monitors were exposed to clean air for 2 hours after being exposed for 2 hours at the level of 1 TLV. 6. There was no significant sample loss during 3 weeks of storage at room temperature and 5 weeks of storage at refrigeration.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.103-112
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• 2013

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal(Nepal) is one of the poorest country in the world. People in Nepal are having lots of housing problems including the lack of housing provision. Even Habitat for Humanity Nepal (HfH_Nepal) has developed various programs to diffuse ecological housing, still there are many problems due to financial and technological shortage. The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of suggestion of performance improvement for HfH_Nepal eco house with introduction of the housing situation and efforts to provide sustainable housing by HfH_Nepal in Terai plain. Ideas on CGI sheet roof with poor insulation, double panel bamboo wall and adobe brick wall which can overcome structural and waterproof flaws of the thin single panel bamboo wall. The experiment result shows that both ideas adapted to adobe brick house reduces daily temperature range 50.8% and humidity adjust effect. For the effective provision of adobe brick house, compressive strength was tested for the bricks made with locally available fiber materials. Brick with jute displayed 41.1% betterment than plain brick with closest packing condition while coconut and straw showed 25.1% and 7.9% improvement respectively. Technical and economic problems brought up during the building and experiment process were listed and countermeasures established. This kinds of building prototype houses and experiments can improve the living conditions of people in developing countries with little supplement of resources. Furthermore, consideration of locally available and affordable material can help the social and ecological sustainability in the world.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.548-556
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of lignocellulosic fiber and coconut shell activated carbon (CSA) for the production of a particulate matter (PM)-reducing air-filter as raw materials to solve the environmental problems of non-woven fabrics. CSA had a good potential to use as a raw material of air-filter for reducing volatile organic compounds as well as noxious metals, and reduction capability of the CSA was 5 times higher than that of wood fiber. Natural adhesives formulated with proteinaceous wastes mostly were applied successfully to fabricate air-filters with the shape of fiberboard. The air-filter fabricated with the minimum target density of 200 kg/m³ and the maximum CSA-content of 40 wt% in fiberboard had a good manageable strength. However, the fiberboard filters was required to make vent-holes for improving an air-permeability of the filters. Size of the CSA particles was adjusted to greater than 2 mesh with the consideration of strength and formability of the fiberboard. Three-layers fiberboard that only wood fiber and the mixture of wood fiber and CSA were formed in the surface and middle layers, respectively, was determined to the optimal condition for the production of air-filters. In addition, traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry trees (TKP) showed a good PM-reducing property as an air-filter. It is concluded that air-filtering set composed of fiberboard with vent-holes and TKP instead of conventional air-filters made with non-woven fabrics can be used as a filter for reducing the concentrations of PM, VOC and noxious metals existed in indoor and outdoor spaces.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.210-214
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• 2008

This experiment was carried out investigation of optimum concentration of supply nutrient solution in hydroponics of sweet pepper using coir substrates (coconut dust fiber=70% : 30%, v/v). During the growing period, it was found out that the electric conductivity (EC) would increase in proportion to the supply nutrient concentration but it was in inverse proportion to the moisture content. The pH of drainage was stable, while EC was high showing EC $7.3\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in EC $4.0\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ of supply nutrient concentration. Also, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were high. Plant length was no difference by the supply nutrient concentration. Photosynthesis rate was generally high in supply nutrient concentration EC$4.0\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Fruit weight was heavy in supply nutrient concentration EC $4.0\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, fruit shape was close to a regular square in supply nutrient concentration EC $3.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1143-1150
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate in vitro methane production of feed ingredients and relationship between the content of crude nutrients and methane production. Feed ingredients (total 26) were grouped as grains (5 ingredients), brans and hulls (8), oil seed meals (9) roughages (3), and animal by-product (1) from their nutrient composition and their methane production protential were measured by in vitro gas test. Among the groups, the in vitro methane productions for both 6 and 24 h incubation were highest in grains, followed by brans and hulls, oil meals and roughages, animal byproducts. Within the group of grains, methane production from wheat flour was the highest, followed by wheat, corn, tapioca, and then oat. Within the brans and hulls, soybean hull showed the highest methane production and cotton seed hull, the lowest. Methane production from oil meals was lower compared with grains and brans and hulls, and in decreasing order production from canola meal was followed by soybean meal, coconut meal, and corn germ meal (p<0.01). Three ingredients were selected and the interactions among feed ingredients were evaluated for methane production. Correlation coefficient between measured and estimated values of the combinations were 0.91. Methane production from each feed ingredient was decreased with increasing amount of crude fiber (CF), protein (CP) and ether extract (EE), whereas positive relationship was noted with the concentrations of N-free extract (NFE). The multiple regression equation (n=134) for methane production and nutrient concentrations was as follows. Methane production (ml/0.2 g DM)=(0.032${\times}$CP)-(0.057${\times}$EE)-(0.012${\times}$CF)+(0.124${\times}$NFE) (p<0.01; $R^2$=0.929). Positive relationship was noted for CP and NFE and negative relationship for CF and EE. It seems possible to predict methane production potential from nutritional composition of the ingredients for their effective application on formulating less methane emitting rations.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.100-110
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• 2000

Studies were conducted to know effects of the bulking agents (saw dusts, mushroom waste, wheat bran coconut meal, rice hulls) adding o moisture control, fermentation methods (aerobic and anaerobic) and periods (1 to 20 days) of food waste fermentation for animal feeds on chemical compositions and in vitro DDM (digestibility of dry matter). Experiment designs were focussed basically to obtain extension service data. The NDF (neutral detergent fiber) composition in the oak and pine saw dust were 93.5% and 95.4% (DM basis) in respectively. Thus, the fermented food waste feeds using saw dust (50%) increased NDF(12%), and decreased in vitro DDM(48%) compared to those of raw materials before aerobic fermentation. The oak saw dust showed higher DDM compared to pine. Mushroom wastes which is a residues of mushroom culture mixed originally willow saw dust (80%) and wheat bran (20%) showed quite higher feed value compared to both saw dusts. It was found that an in vitro DDM and NDF composition in fermented feeds appeared highly dependent or the NDF composition in bulking agents. With an increase wheat bran ratio substitute mushroom waste showed linearly decreased NDF, and increased in vitro DDM in the fermented food waste feeds. The fermented feeds added bottling agents composed higher NDF resulted in higher NDF and lower in vitro DDM with prolonged fermentation time. The feeds from anaerobic fermentation appeared lower NDF and higher in vitro DDM compared to those of aerobic fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2009

A nutrient-concentrating system was operated to retrieve total phosphorus efficiently from a non-point pollution source. Attached bacteria were expected to play an important role in the system. Phosphorous was concentrated by formation of bacterial biofilms on rubberized coconut fiber media of the system. While concentration of total phosphorus (TP) ranged merely 0.12~0.35 mg/L in the stream water, TP levels in pore water and the media were 0.45~0.86 mg/L and 40.91~242.71 mg/kg, respectively. Total bacterial number (TBN) ranged $0.3\sim2.3\times10^6$ cells/ml in stream water, $0.4\sim4.4\times10^6$ cells/ml in pore water and $0.8\sim1.9\times10^9$ cells/g in media. There was a close correlation between TP and TBN. Based on band profiles in DGGE analyses, bacterial communities in the media were different from that in the stream water. Clostridium spp. were abundant in the stream water while Aquabacterium spp. were dominant species in early stages of biofilm formation in the media. The genera predominant in matured biofilms of the media were Clostridium and Enterococcus.