• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.292-301
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• 2021

Objectives: Wearing medical masks has been recommended since the declaration of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) as a pandemic disease. Certified medical masks are evaluated according to filtration efficiency and facial inhalation resistance. However, some people use non-certified common masks. This study aimed to evaluate various non-certified commercial masks based on the certification criteria for medical masks. Methods: Twenty mask products (three anti-droplet, three disposable dental, eight fashion, three cotton, and three children's masks) were selected. For performance evaluation, filtration efficiency and facial inhalation resistance tests were conducted. The evaluation method followed the certification method for KF-certified masks of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the N95 respirator of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Results: None of the 20 masks met the KF94 certification standard set by the MFDS. Four and three masks respectively met the KF80 certification standard and the N95 standard of NIOSH. Filtration efficiency was significantly higher in three-layer masks than in single layer masks. Pleated-type masks had higher filtration efficiency than cone-type masks. There was no correlation between the structure of masks and facial inhalation resistance. Conclusion: While no masks complied with the KF94 certification standard, a few masks met the KF80 and the N95 certification standards of NIOSH. Although some people wear non-certified commercial masks, protection from aerosols is not guaranteed by such masks. Evaluation of the protection efficiency of non-certified mask against microbiological infection is needed for the prevention of infectious disease.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2011

This study was performed to assess the removal efficiency on nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon in wastewater by spatial separation and internal recycling in a modified oxidation ditch process (modified OD). The performances of the modified OD were evaluated via laboratory-scale experiments. The process was operated at hydraulic retention times of 6-48 hours and solid retention times of 17-38 days. We found that organic carbon removal efficiency increased after the modified OD operation period. T-N removal efficiency remained stable; average T-N concentration of effluent was 8.02 mg/l after modified OD operation. In contrast, T-P concentration of effluent was over 1 mg/l. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency of modified OD at HRT 12 hr were 83.1% and 74.1%, respectively. Also, maximum efficiency was found at SRTs from 20 to 30 days. T-N removal efficiency was 83.1% at a C/N ratio from 3.0 to 3.5. However, T-N removal efficiency decreased at C/N ratios over 3.5. Also, T-P removal efficiency increased with HRT at C/P ratios in the same condition. Maximum efficiency was 74.1% at a C/P ratio from 25 to 28. T-N removal efficiency was 79.2% and T-P removal efficiency was 65.3% after M4 mode operation (added to the internal recycle line connected to the anoxic reactor). The modified OD with spatial separation and internal recycling developed in this study is, therefore, believed to be an improvement for solving problems in the nutrient removal technologies.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 2012

In this century, scientists realized that carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere cause a greenhouse effect which affects the planet's temperature. Therefore lots of attempts have carried out to decrease the discharge of carbon dioxide gas in the field. The dissolved carbon dioxide flotation (DCF) process was developed as an alternative of DAF process to decrease the discharge and reuse of carbon dioxide as well as to save energy consumption. To investigate the particle separation characteristics and the flotation efficiency of carbon dioxide, SCC model was employed in the DCF process which has been applied extensively for the evaluation and simulation in the DAF process. The simulation results by the SCC model revealed the predicted curve of flotation efficiency became decreased gradually over the optimal pressure range of saturator about 1.6 atm in accordance with the experiment results of the DCF pilot plant and the size distribution and the bubble volume concentration of $CO_{2}$ bubbles depending on the operation pressure of saturator. The findings through the simulation results led to the conclusion that there was no significant difference between $CO_{2}$ bubbles and air bubbles, affecting on the practical flotation efficiency, in terms of the initial collision and attachment efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.521-527
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• 2017

Phosphorus is one of the limiting nutrients for the growth of phytoplankton and algae and is therefore one of leading causes of eutrophication. Most phosphorous in water is present in the form of phosphates. Different technologies have been applied for phosphate removal from wastewater, such as physical, chemical precipitation by using ferric, calcium or aluminum salts, biological, and adsorption. Adsorption is one of efficient method to remove phosphates in wastewater. To find the optimal media for phosphate removal, physical characteristics of media was analysed, and the phosphate removal efficiency of media (silica sand, slag, zeolite, activated carbon) was also investigated in this study. Silica sand showed highest relative density and wear rate, and phosphate removal efficiency. Silica sand removed about 36% of phosphate. To improve the phosphate removal efficiency of silica sand, Fe coating was conducted. Fe coated silica sand showed 3 times higher removal efficiency than non-coated one.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.699-709
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• 2005

This study aimed at improving the $TiO_2$ photocatalytic degradation of HA. In this study, the Degradation of Humic Acid using Jeju Scoria Coated with $WO_3/TiO_2$ in the presence of UV irradiation was investigated as a function of different experimental condition : photocatalyst dosage, $Ca^{2+}\;and\;HCO_{3}_{-}$ addition and pH of the solution. Photodegradation efficiency increased with increasing photocatalyst dosage, the optimum catalyst dosage is 2.5 g/L and Photodegradation efficiency is maximized to $WO_3/TiO_2=3/7$. This indicates that $WO_3$ retains a much higher Lewis surface acidity than $TiO_2,\;and\;WO_3$ has a higher affinity for chemical species having unpaired electrons. The addtion of cation($Ca^{2+}$) in water increased the photodegradaion efficiency. But the addtion of $HCO_{3}^{-}$ ion in water decreased a photodegradation efficiency. Photodegradation efficiency increased with decreasing pH < pzc, the electrostatic repulsion between the HA and the surface of $TiO_2$ decreased.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1417-1426
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• 2016

Despite the low removal efficiencies reported by previous studies, electro-flotation still stands out among other microalgae removal methods for its economical and environmental benefits. To enhance removal efficiency, the important factors that limit the performance of this method must be investigated. In this study, the possible ways of increasing the removal efficiency of microalgae have been explored by investigating the effects of several important variables in electro-flotation. Eight parameters, namely flotation time, rising time, current density, pH, conductivity, electrode distance, temperature and initial concentration were evaluated using a one-parameter-at-a-time approach. Results revealed that the operational parameters that greatly affected the removal efficiency of microalgae were electro-flotation time, current density, pH, and initial concentration. The effect of conductivity, electrode distance, and temperature on removal efficiency were insignificant. However, they exhibited positive an indirect positive effect on power demand, which is nowadays considered an equally important aspect in the running of a feasible and economically efficient electro-flotation process.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.1 s.94
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• pp.75-81
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• 2007

This research was conducted to estimate the effect of sonication and reducing agent addition on soil washing of heavy metals-contaminated soil. Sonication trained in soil washing did not significantly increased extraction efficiency of heavy metal compared to soil washing only. The extraction efficiency of sonication trained in soil washing was 12% increased for Pb in 0.01M EDTA leaching solution. Pb and Cd showed higher extraction efficiency in case of reducing agent treatment with mechanical shaking than that with sonication. However, the extraction efficiency of Cu and Zn in case of reducing agent treatment with sonication was over 2 times higher than that in with soil washing. Therefore, application of reducing agent addition with sonication or mechanical shaking should be decided differently for pretreatment of soil washing, according to the kind of heavy metal. It was estimated that sonication after adding reducing agent could increase removal efficiency of Zn or Cu-contaminated soil and shorten the treatment time.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.185-198
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• 2022

Purpose : We conducted a study to propose comparing subjective sleeping states data that was collected through scientifically measuring by using smartwatch and surveys for seafarers. In addition, we conducted a study to provide sleep though analysis of the environmental factors that influence the sleep efficiency of seafarers. Methods : For scientific measurement of seafarers' sleeping states, we measured the sleep hours and sleep efficiency for at least 3 days by using the healthcare function of smartwatches which are wearable devices. As for subjective sleeping states, we collected data on sleep hours and satisfaction rates on the quality of sleep through a survey. Lastly, as for the environmental factors that affect the sleep efficiency which is measured by smartwatches such as physical environment, bedroom space, bedroom furniture, bedding, a survey by self-evaluation method was conducted. Results : There were significant differences in the scientific sleep hours measurement values for all seafarers and the average sleep hours in the subjective survey. There were significant differences in the scientific sleep efficiency measurements of all the seafarers and the sleep satisfaction of the subjective survey, and there was no correlation between the scientific sleep efficiency and the subjective sleep satisfaction of all the seafarers. Among the environmental factors affecting the sleep efficiency of the seafarers, humidity variable had the most influence, and vibration and illuminance variables were also shown to have a very significant effect. Conclusion : We propose the measuring method that can analyze the quantitative and qualitative sleep states of the seafarers by using small activity recorders. In addition, it is very important to control humidity, vibration, and illuminance among ship environmental factors, and comfort, noise and bedroom size should also be reflected.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2015

This study compares the results of collection efficiency of difference gas temperature in cyclone dust collector. The previous researcher's experiment results were used to confirm the reliability of CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics) model. Based on this verified CFD model, we extended the analysis on the cyclone dust collectors. In CFD study, we used RNG k-epsilon model for analysis of turbulence flow, fluid is air, the velocity at inlet is 10 m/s, the temperature of air is $20^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$, $200^{\circ}C$, $300^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$ and $1000^{\circ}C$. As the temperature decreases, the average velocity of outer vortex and collection efficiency is increased, showed the highest collection efficiency at $20^{\circ}C$. It can be inferred smooth flow in cyclone dust collector is difficult because air viscosity increases as temperature increases. The power required at $1000^{\circ}C$ is almost 18 times greater than that of $20^{\circ}C$ to get the similar collection efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.881-888
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• 2007

In order to investigate the characteristics of the non-biodegradable material, the $BOD_5/COD_{Cr}$ ratio was used. The average ratio of industrial complex's influent wastewater was 2.29~2.96, the effluent ratio was 4.29~19.0. The removal efficiency of $UV_{254}$ by physicochemical treatment was 22.8~94.7% and 5.3~77.2% by biological treatment, respectively. Of the wastewater removal efficiency for each of the items, the $BOD_5$ treatment efficiency was the greatest at 97.3% and the color & TN treatment efficiency was 40~70%. The study of the economical assessment showed that the complex as well as the individual companies spent 722~1,298 won for each ton of treated wastewater. All of the wastewater treatment facilities spent the most money on chemicals needed to treat the wastewater. The total cost for Nylon manufacturing wastewater treatment plant was the greatest while the total cost for cotton manufacturing wastewater treatment plant turned out to the lowest. As respects of removal efficiency and economocal assessment, Polyester A and Cotton manufacturing wastewater treatment plants were better effective than a dyeing industrial complex wastewater treatment plant.