• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.219-234
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• 2021

Industrial emissions, mainly from industrial complexes, are important sources of ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Identification of the significant VOC sources from industrial complexes has practical significance for emission reduction. VOC samples were collected from July 2019 to June 2020. A Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model was used to evaluate the VOC sources in the area. Four sources were identified by PMF analysis, including coating-1, coating-2, printing, and vehicle exhaust. The coating-1 source was revealed to have the highest contribution (41.5%), followed by coating-2 (23.9%), printing (23.1%), and vehicle exhaust (11.6%). The source showing the highest contribution was coating emissions, originating from the northwest to southwest of the sample site. It also relates to facilities that produce auto parts. The major components of VOC emissions from the coating facilities were toluene, m,p-xylene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and butyl acetate. Industrial emissions should be the top priority to meet the relevant control criteria, followed by vehicular emissions. This study provides a strategy for VOC source apportionment from an industrial complex, which is helpful in the development of targeted control strategies.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.223-232
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• 2012

Objective: We performed this study to determine the association between childhood asthma and residential environment risk factors including VOCs and formaldehyde exposure. Methods: We selected an asthma group (30) and a control gorup (30) through physicain diagnosis and assessed the VOCs and formaldehyde levels of exposure of elementary school children in Seoul. Results: In the results, there were no significant differences in socioeconomic factors between case and control groups. However, there were significant differences in family asthma history, amount of sunlight, level of humidity and number of household residents (p < 0.05). The level of VOC (toluene, ethylbenzene, stylene, m,p-xylene) exposure level of the case group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05) and the result of logistic regression showed that asthma family history, amount of humidity and number of household residents were significant predictors of childhood asthma (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Some residential environments such as lower amounts of sunlight, greater amounts of humidity and smaller numbers of household residents and VOC exposure were determinded as risk factors for childhood asthma.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.727-733
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• 2007

In this study, a newly developed biotrickling system, combined with a non-thermal plasma reactor, was investigated to effectively treat gaseous contaminants such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Three kinds of non-thermal plasmas (NTPs) such as a rod type dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma, a packed bead type DBD plasma and a gliding arc (GA) plasma, were tested and compared in terms of power consumption. The rod type DBD plasma was selected as one for integration with biotrickling system due to its relatively high VOC removal efficiency, low power consumption and low pressure drop. Toluene and xylene as representatives of VOCs were used as test gases. The experiment results showed that the efficiency of biotrickling system was especially very low at the high gas concentration and high flow rate and the removal efficiencies of VOCs were considerably enhanced in the biotrickling system, when the DBD plasma was worked in front of that even at the high gas concentration and high flow rate.

• 실내환경 및 냄새 학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.396-403
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• 2018

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from printing industries were analyzed, and an inorganic adsorbent, ${\gamma}-alumina$, was selected for the effective control of the VOC emissions. Printing processes commonly require inks, thinners, and cleaners, and they were mixed organic solvents containing aromatic compounds, ketones, and alcohols. Therefore, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were selected as model compounds for this study. The adsorptive properties using ${\gamma}-alumina$ were determined for the model compounds. Both batch isotherm and continuous flow column tests demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of MEK and IPA was 3~4 times higher than that of toluene. The column test performed at an inlet toluene concentration of 100 ppm showed that an 80% breakthrough for toluene was observed after 3 hours, but both MEK and IPA were continuously adsorbed during the same time period. A numerical model simulated that the ${\gamma}-alumina$ could remove toluene at a loading rate of 0.4 mg/min only for a 4-hour period, which might be too short of a duration for real applications. Consequently, lifetime enhancement for ${\gamma}-alumina$ must be implemented, and ozone oxidation and regeneration would be feasible options.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.351-359
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to understand the characteristics of residents in industrial areas and factors affecting exposure to the Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs : Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) as well as to assess exposure levels according to house-type, and whether residents were indoors or outdoors. This research was designed to assess the differences in exposure levels to indoor, outdoor and personal VOCs in a case group and a control group across all areas, as well as in each different area, from May to October 2007, in. 110 residents of the G, Y and H industrial areas of the Jun-nam province. The geometric mea-levels of airborne benzene for the case group 1.31part per billion(ppb) indoor, 1.29 ppb outdoor, and 1.32 ppb for personal exposure were significantly higher than for the control group 0.99, 0.87 and 0.57 ppb, respectively. The geometric mean level for toluene personal exposure across the G, Y and H areas was 5.70 ppb for the case group and 6.31 ppb for the control group. While the outdoor level was 4.27 ppb for the case group and 5.06 ppb for the control group, The indoor level for the case group was 4.78 ppb, similar to that of the control group 4.69 ppb. The geometric mean levels for airborne xylene across the G, Y and H areas were 0.16 ppb(outdoor), 0.12 ppb(personal exposure) and 0.10 ppb(indoor) for the case group, and for the control group were 0.17(personal exposure) and 0.09 ppb(indoor and outdoor). The indoor/outdoor(I/O) ratio for case group is 1.19, while that of the control group is 1.15, indicating that the indoor level was higher than the outdoor level. The interrelationship differences among the three different types of levels in the air in the G, Y and H areas are statistically significant, except for the difference between the indoor and outdoor figures for xylene. In terms of the different types of houses and energy type uesd, the geometric mean level for airborne benzene, toluene and xylene for houses were 1.61, 5.39 and 0.12 ppb, respectively. while the figures for flats were 0.67, 3.32 and 0.05 ppb, respectively. Outdoors, the levels of benzene and toluene in flats were 0.71 and 2.62 ppb, respectively. and 1.58 and 5.35 ppb in houses. For personal exposure, the house levels of benzene, toluene and xylene were all higher than for flats. Houses using oil for heating have significantly higher levels than flats, which use gas for heating.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to survey the distribution patterns of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and formaldehyde in the various indoor environments using cluster analysis. We investigated VOCs and formaldehyde in subway stations, underground shopping areas, medical centers, maternity recuperation centers, public childcare centers, large stores, funeral houses, and indoor parking lots from June,2005 to May,2006. Concentration of TVOCs in maternity recuperations was 2,605.7 ${\mu}g/m^3$ that was higher than the guideline and other facilities. TVOCs in public childcare centers was 1,951.6 ${\mu}g/m^3$ also it exceeded the guideline. Moreover, concentration of TVOCs in every facility exceeded the guideline of Department of Environment, Korea. In case of formaldehyde, mean concentration, 336.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$, in only public childcare centers exceeded the 120 ${\mu}g/m^3$ of the guideline. Finally, by applying cluster analysis, three pattterns of the indoor air pollutions were distinguished. In the results of analysis, concentrations of TVOCs and formaldehyde of cluster 3 were higher than cluster 1 and 2 that were 2,561.4 ${\mu}g/m^3$ and 184.9 ${\mu}g/m^3$, respectively.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2015

The emissions of ozone precursors, NOx and VOCs from a biogenic source and port-related sources (ship, shipping container truck, and cargo handling equipment) were estimated in Busan during 2013. Total biogenic isoprene emission in Busan during 2013 was estimated to be $4,434ton\;yr^{-1}$ with the highest emission (e.g., $28ton\;day^{-1}$) in summer using a BEIS method. Seasonal ozone production rates by isoprene ranged from 0.15 (winter) to 2.08 (summer) $ppb\;hr^{-1}$, contributing the predominant portion to ambient ozone levels. Total emissions of NOx and VOCs from ship traversing Busan ports were estimated to be 29,537 and $814ton\;yr^{-1}$, respectively, showing the significant contribution to total NOx emission in Busan. The emissions of ozone precursors were significantly different depending on ship tonnage and port location. Compared to the ship emission, the emissions of NOx and VOCs from the shipping container trucks in Busan were insignificant (2.9% for NOx and 3.9% for VOCs). Total NOx and VOCs emissions from the cargo handling equipment were estimated to be 1,440 and $133ton\;yr^{-1}$, respectively with the predominance of yard tractors.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.178-191
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• 2018

The concentrations and chemical compositions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including volatile fatty acids, phenols, indoles, aldehydes, and ketones, which are the main organic compounds generated by swine, were investigated in July and October 2016 and January 2017. In addition, the emission rates and annual emissions of these components from the swine shed were estimated. The concentrations of VOCs in the swine shed averaged $511.3{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in summer, $315.5{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in fall and $218.6{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ in winter. Acetone, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid were the predominant components of the VOCs, accounting for 80-88% of the total VOCs. The hourly variations of VOC concentrations in the swine shed in fall and winter suggest that the VOC concentrations were related to the ventilation rate of the swine shed, the activity of the swine, and the temperature in the swine shed. Accordingly, the emission rates of VOCs from the swine shed were $1-2{\times}10^3{\mu}g(h\;kg-swine)^{-1}$.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• 제21권E2호
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• pp.41-48
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• 2005

A novel hybrid system composed of a biotrickling filter and an activated sludge reactor was investigated under the conditions of four different SRTs (sludge retention times). The performance of the hybrid reactor was found to be directly comparable among the four different sludge ages. Discernible differences in the removal performance were observed among four different SRTs of 2, 4, 6, and 8 days. High removal efficiency was achieved by continuous circulation of activated sludge over the immobilized mixture culture, which allowed on pH control, addition of nutrients, and removal of paint VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The results also showed that the removal efficiency for a given pollutant depends on the activity of microorganisms based on the SRT. As the SRT increased gradually from 2 to 8 days, the average removal performance decreased. The highest removal rate was achieved at the SRT of 2 days at which the highest OUR (oxygen uptake rate), $6.1mg-O_2/liter-min$ was measured. Biological activity in the recycle microbes decreased to a much lower level, $3.6mg-O_2/liter-min$ at a SRT of 8 days. It is thus believed that young microorganisms were more active and more efficient for the VOCs removal of low concentrations and high flow rates. The apparent correlation of $R^2=0.996$ between the average removal efficiency and the average OUR at each SRTs suggests that VOCs degradation by young cells significantly affected the overall removal efficiency for the tested SRTs.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.455-469
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• 2008

VOCs (Volatile organic compounds) are known as one of the harmful chemicals, causing cancer and global warming. Therefore, the proper control, removal, and reduction of the emission of VOCs are important tasks for the environmental protection. Among the method of VOCs removal activated carbon bed is the most efficient and economical method. In this study, the adsorption performance of toluene gas was investigated using various activated carbons. To find out the adsorption efficiency, the H/D (Height/Diameter) of the activated carbon and GHSV (Gas Hourly Space Velocity) of the toluene gas were manipulated with various conditions. The effect of the temperature, humidity and toluene-MEK-IPA mixed gas on adsorption were also investigated. As a result, a high adsorption performance was found when GHSV is lower at room temperature and low humidity. It was also found that the adsorption efficiency of toluene-MEK-IPA mixed gas system was lower than that of toluene gas system.