• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2021

Objective: Biological monitoring of trace elements in human blood samples has become an important indicator of the health environment. The purpose of this study was to detect and evaluate multiple metal items in blood samples based on ICP-MS, to perform comparative evaluation with the existing analysis method, and to develop and verify a new method. Methods: 100 μL of whole blood from 80 healthy subjects was used to analyze ten metals (Sb, tAs, Cd, Pb, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Tl) using ICP-MS. Verification of the analysis method included calculation of linearity, accuracy, precision and detection limits. In addition, a comparative test with the conventional graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) method was performed. In the case of Pb, Cd, and Hg in whole blood, cross-analysis between Pb, Cd, and Hg analysis methods was performed to confirm the difference between the existing method and the new method (ICP-MS). Results: The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.999 or higher in seven items and 0.995 or higher in three items. The Pb result showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient was very high at 0.983, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.966. The Cd result showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.917 between the existing method and the new analysis concentration value. Its intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.960, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Hg had a low correlation at 0.687, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.761, which was lower than that of Pb and Cd. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy of Pd and Cd were satisfactory, but Hg did not meet the criteria for both accuracy and precision when compared with the conventional analysis method. Conclusion: This study can be meaningful in that it proposes a more efficient and feasible analysis method by verifying a blood heavy metal concentration experiment using multiple simultaneous analyses. All samples were processed and analyzed using the new ICP-MS. It was confirmed that the agreement between the two methods was very high, with the agreement between the current and new methods being 0.769 to 0.998. This study proposes an efficient simultaneous methodology capable of analyzing multiple elements with small samples. In the future, studies of various applications and the reliability of ICP-MS analysis methods are required, and research on the verification of accurate, precise, and continuous analysis methods is required.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2011

To investigate the electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) property based on heat treatment effects of carbon fibers in various temperatures, the polyacrilonitrle-based carbon fibers were prepared by electrospinning method and treated at 1073, 1323, 1873 and 2573 K. The surface morphology of carbon fibers was investigated by using FE-SEM and the carbon crystallization was studied by Raman spectroscopy based on effects of reaction temperatures. The electrical conductivity was obtained by measuring the surface resistance with four probe method on carbon crystallization. The permittivity, permeability and EMI SE were investigated by using S-parameter in the range of 800~4500 MHz. In case of carbon fibers treated at 2573 K, the improved carbon crystallization was confirmed by Raman spectrum and the enhanced electrical conductivity showing 54.7 S/cm was also observed. The permittivity was dramatically improved by factor of 4 based on effect of high reaction temperature. Eventually, the highly improved EMI SE value was obtained showing around 41.7 dB.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2021

This study was conducted to analyze and compare the concentrations of heavy metals in 430 different products of 20 types of herbal medicines available in the domestic market in Korea by Graphite Furnace-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) and automated mercury analyzer. The accuracy for lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) was in the range 92.67-102.56%, and the precision was 0.21-6.00 relative standard deviation (RSD%), which was in compliance with the Codex acceptable range. Furthermore, the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) quality control (QC) material showed a recovery range of 96.7-102.0% and 0.33-4.93 RSD%. The average contents (㎍/kg) of Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in herbal medicines were 254.9 (not detected (N.D.)-2,515.2), 171.0 (N.D.-2,465.2), 99.2 (N.D.-797.1), and 6.0 (N.D.-83.6), respectively. Based on the quantitative analysis results, the heavy metal contents of 20 types of herbal medicines distributed in Korea are within the acceptable range according to the standards issued by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). By using the manufacturer of herbal products as the standard for QC, the Pb, As, Cd, and Hg contents were investigated in the packaging process just before distribution to determine the actual conditions of residual heavy metals in herbal medicines. Thus, these result may contribute to monitoring the QC of herbal medicines distributed in Korea and could provide basic data for supplying safe herbal medicines to the public.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2022

With the expansion of the automobile market, the demand for Nd as an essential rare earth material for automobile motors is rapidly increasing. Research on the calcio-thermic reduction process between Nd₂O₃ and calcium-based alloys has been extensively studied in order to manufacture Nd. In this study, Ca-Cu, as a reducing for Nd₂O₃, was prepared by electrolysis in CaCl₂ molten salt. Cu wire and graphite were employed as a working electrode and a counter electrode for electrolysis reaction, respectively. The reference electrode was manufactured by putting Ag wire in a mixture of AgCl and CaCl₂ at a ratio of 1:99 mol%. The cyclic voltammetry results showed that the deposition of Ca²⁺ on the surface of working electrode was observed from a potential of -1.8 V, and the reduction potential of Ca²⁺ decreased as the reaction temperature increased. The diffusion coefficient of Ca²⁺ calculated by the chronoamperometry experiment was found to be 5.4(±6.8)×10^-6 cm²/s. In addition, Ca-Cu liquid alloy was prepared by applying a constant potential to Cu electrodes. The element ratio of Ca-Cu alloy formed by applying a potential of -2.0 V was found to Ca:Cu=1:4.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.184-190
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• 2022

Spinel LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) and layered LiNi_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3O₂ (NCM) are widely used as positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. LMO and NCM positive electrode materials have a complementary properties. LMO has low cost and high safety and NCM materials show a relatively high specific capacity and better cycle life even at elevated temperature. Therefore, the LMO and NCM active materials are blended and used as a positive electrode in large-size batteries for electric vehicles (xEV). In this study, the cycle performance of a blended electrode prepared by simply mixing LMO and NCM and a bi-layer electrode in which two electrode layers aree sequentially coated are compared. The bi-layer electrode prepared by composing the same ratio of both active materials has similar capacity and cycle performance to the blend electrode. However, the LN electrode coated with LMO first and then NCM is the best in the full cell cycle performance at elevated temperature, and the NL electrode, in which NCM is first coated with LMO has a faster capacity degradation than the blended electrode because LMO is mainly located on the top of the electrode adjacent to electrolyte and graphite negative electrode. Also, the LSTA (linear sweep thermmametry) analysis results show that the LN bi-layer electrode in which the LMO is located inside the electrode has good thermal stability.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2023

This paper presents a multi-scale progressive fatigue damage model incorporating the model for interfacial debonding between fibers and matrix. The micromechanics model for the progressive interface debonding was adopted, which defined the four different interface phases: (1) perfectly bonded fibers; (2) mild imperfect interface; (3) severe imperfect interface; and (4) completely debonded fibers. As the number of cycles increases, the progressive transition from the perfectly bonded state to the completely debonded fiber state occurs. Eshelby's tensor for each imperfect state is calculated by the linear spring model for a damaged interface, and effective elastic properties are obtained using the multi-phase homogenization method. The fatigue damage evolution formulas for fiber, matrix and interface were proposed to demonstrate the fatigue behavior of CFRP laminates under cyclic loading. The material parameters for the fiber/matrix fatigue damage were characterized using the chaotic firefly algorithm. The model was implemented into the UMAT subroutine of ABAQUS, and successfully validated with flat-bar UD laminate specimens ([0]₈,[90]₈, [30]₁₆) of AS4/3501-6 graphite/epoxy composite.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.483-494
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• 2023

Measurement of the physical properties of rocks or minerals is an important factor in determining the distribution of the underground medium as well as mineral resource investigations. Resistivity and induced polarization, which are widely used in Korea, are methods for measuring electrical properties, which are representative properties of obtaining subsurface information. In order to precisely analyze the exploration data obtained from various sites, it is important to accurately measure the material properties. Electrical properties of rock is measured using two-electrode or four-electrode method. Compared to the four-electrode method, the two-electrode method is generally used because it is very easy to contact the sample and the electrode, but there is a problem in that the impedance of the electrode and the sample is measured together. In this study, the time-domain the induced polarization effects were measured using the 2-electrode method and the 4-electrode method for artificial samples mixed with graphite and cement having induced polarization characteristics, and the results were compared. Although the 4-electrode method has difficulties in installing potential electrodes, it was confirmed that it is effective in measuring electrical properties because it can reduce the problem caused by the impedance of potential electrodes compared to the 2-electrode method.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.279-285
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• 2023

In order to predict the mechanical properties of ductile cast iron heat treated in an intercritical temperature range, samples machined from cast iron with a tensile strength of 450 MPa were heat-treated at various intercritical temperatures and air-cooled, after which a microstructural analysis and Brinell hardness test were conducted. As the heat treatment temperature was increased in the intercritical temperature range, the ferrite fraction in the ductile cast iron decreased and the pearlite fraction increased, whereas the nodularity and nodule count did not change considerably from the corresponding values in the as-cast condition. The Brinell hardness values of the heat-treated ductile cast iron increased gradually as the heat treatment temperature was increased. Based on the measured alloy composition, the fraction of each stable phase and the hardness model from the literature, the hardness of the ductile cast iron heat treated in the intercritical temperature range was calculated, showing values very similar to the measured hardness data. In order to check whether it is possible to predict the hardness of heat-treated ductile cast iron by using the phase fraction obtained from thermodynamic calculations, the volumes of graphite, ferrite, and austenite in the alloy were calculated for each temperature condition. Those volume fractions were then converted into areas of each phase for hardness prediction of the heat-treated ductile cast iron. The hardness values of the cast iron samples based on thermodynamic calculations and on the hardness prediction model were similar within an error range up to 27 compared to the measured hardness data.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.215-229
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• 2023

In this study, non-destructive technologies that can be applied to evaluate the integrity of valve materials, safety against internal pressure caused by corrosion, and the blocking function of large-diameter water valves during operation without requiring specimen collection or manpower entering the inside of the valve were tested to assess the reliability of the technologies and their suitability for field application. The results showed that the condition of the graphite structure inside the valve body can be evaluated directly through the optical microscope in the field without specimen collection for large-diameter water butterfly valves, and the depth of corrosion inside the valve body can be determined by array ultrasound and the tensile strength can be measured by instrumented indentation test. The reliability of each of these non-destructive techniques is high, and they can be widely used to evaluate the condition of steel or cast iron pipes that are significantly smaller in thickness than valves. Evaluation of blocking function of the valves with mixed gas showed that it can be detected even when a very low flow rate of mixed gas passes through the disk along with the water flow. Finally, as a result of evaluating the field applicability of non-destructive technologies for three old butterfly valves installed in the US industrial water pipeline, it was found that it is possible to check the material and determine the suitability of large-diameter water valves without taking samples, and to determine the corrosion state and mechanical strength. In addition, it was possible to evaluate safety through the measurement results, and it is judged that the evaluation of the blocking function using mixed gas will help strengthen preventive response in the event of an accident.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4447-4464
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• 2023

This paper focuses on the development of a new computational model of the CNESTEN's TRIGA Mark II research reactor using the 3D continuous energy Monte-Carlo code TRIPOLI-4 (T4). This new model was developed to assess neutronic simulations and determine quantities of interest such as kinetic parameters of the reactor, control rods worth, power peaking factors and neutron flux distributions. This model is also a key tool used to accurately design new experiments in the TRIGA reactor, to analyze these experiments and to carry out sensitivity and uncertainty studies. The geometry and materials data, as part of the MCNP reference model, were used to build the T4 model. In this regard, the differences between the two models are mainly due to mathematical approaches of both codes. Indeed, the study presented in this article is divided into two parts: the first part deals with the development and the validation of the T4 model. The results obtained with the T4 model were compared to the existing MCNP reference model and to the experimental results from the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR). Different core configurations were investigated via simulations to test the computational model reliability in predicting the physical parameters of the reactor. As a fairly good agreement among the results was deduced, it seems reasonable to assume that the T4 model can accurately reproduce the MCNP calculated values. The second part of this study is devoted to the sensitivity and uncertainty (S/U) studies that were carried out to quantify the nuclear data uncertainty in the multiplication factor k_eff. For that purpose, the T4 model was used to calculate the sensitivity profiles of the k_eff to the nuclear data. The integrated-sensitivities were compared to the results obtained from the previous works that were carried out with MCNP and SCALE-6.2 simulation tools and differences of less than 5% were obtained for most of these quantities except for the C-graphite sensitivities. Moreover, the nuclear data uncertainties in the k_eff were derived using the COMAC-V2.1 covariance matrices library and the calculated sensitivities. The results have shown that the total nuclear data uncertainty in the k_eff is around 585 pcm using the COMAC-V2.1. This study also demonstrates that the contribution of zirconium isotopes to the nuclear data uncertainty in the k_eff is not negligible and should be taken into account when performing S/U analysis.