• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.445-449
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• 2012

We investigate the effects of redox reaction on preparation of high purity ${\alpha}$-alumina from selectively ground aluminum dross. Preparation procedure of the ${\alpha}$-alumina from the aluminum dross has four steps: i) selective crushing and grinding, ii) leaching process, iii) redox reaction, and iv) precipitation reaction under controlled pH. Aluminum dross supplied from a smelter was ground to separate metallic aluminum. After the separation, the recovered particles were treated with hydrochloric acid(HCl) to leach aluminum as aluminum chloride solution. Then, the aluminum chloride solution was applied to a redox reaction with hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$). The pH value of the solution was controlled by addition of ammonia to obtain aluminum hydroxide and to remove other impurities. Then, the obtained aluminum hydroxide was dried at $60^{\circ}C$ and heat-treated at $1300^{\circ}C$ to form ${\alpha}$-alumina. Aluminum dross was found to contain a complex mixture of aluminum metal, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, and spinel compounds. Regardless of introduction of the redox reaction, both of the sintered products are composed mainly of ${\alpha}$-alumina. There were fewer impurities in the solution subject to the redox reaction than there were in the solution that was not subject to the redox reaction. The impurities were precipitated by pH control with ammonia solution, and then removed. We can obtain aluminum hydroxide with high purity through control of pH after the redox reaction. Thus, pH control brings a synthesis of ${\alpha}$-alumina with fewer impurities after the redox reaction. Consequently, high purity ${\alpha}$-alumina from aluminum dross can be fabricated through the process by redox reaction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.408-417
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• 2013

Objectives: Phthalates are used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. As phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to the PVC, they can leach, migrate or evaporate into indoor air and atmosphere, foodstuffs, other materials, etc. Therefore, humans are exposed through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure over their entire lifetime, including during intrauterine development. In particular, university students have a great number of opportunities to contact products including phthalates during campus life (food packaging, body care products, cosmetic, lotions, aftershave, perfume etc.). The purpose of this study was to examine levels of phthalate exposure as undergraduate students begin to use pharmaceuticals and personal care products including phthalates. Methods: Phthalate metabolites, mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-2- ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), {(mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP}, and mono-(2-ethlyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP} were examined. 80 urine samples collected from university students were analyzed using LC/MS/MS(API 4000, Applied Bioscience) with on-line enrichment and columnswitching techniques. This study was carried out at Y university located in Gyonggi Province from 2008 to 2011. Results: The detection limit of phthalate metabolites were 0.03 ng/mL for MEP, 0.11 ng/mL for MnBP, 0.08 ng/mL for MiBP, 0.93 ng/mL for MEHP, 0.19 ng/mL for MEOHP and 0.16ng/mL for MEHHP. MnBP showed the highest urinary levels (median: 31.6 ug/L, 24.8 ug/g creatinine (cr)). Concentrations were also high for MEHHP (median: 24.1 ug/L, 19.0 ug/g cr), followed by MEOHP (median: 22.8 ug/L, 17.9 ug/g cr). In individual cases, the maximum level reached up to 348 ug/L, and 291 ug/g cr, respectively. The urinary and creatinine adjusted levels of MEP were lower than those for DBP and DEHP metabolites, but were higher in 95th percentiles. As a result, the mean daily DEP intake value was 2.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day, 3.5 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for DEHP and 4.9 ${\mu}g/kg$ bw/day for DBP. Conclusion: These students' phthalate exposure levels were below the international safe level set by the EU, but higher than the 2012 KFDA survey of the age group from 3 to 18.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.1609-1622
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• 2009

In wireless sensor networks, a clustering protocol is an efficient method to prolong network lifetime. In general, it results in more energy consumption at the cluster-head node. Hence, such a protocol must changes the cluster formation and cluster-head node in each round to prolong the network lifetime. But, this method also causes large amount of energy consumption during the set-up process of cluster formation. In order to improve energy efficiency, in this paper, we propose a new clustering algorithm. In this algorithm, we exclude duplicated data of adjacent nodes and transmits the threshold value. We define a group as the sensor nodes within close proximity of each other. In a group, a node senses and transmits data at a time on the round-robin basis. In a view of whole network, group is treated as one node. During the setup phase of a round, intra clusters are formed first and then they are re-clustered(network cluster) by choosing cluster-heads(group). In the group with a cluster-head, every member node plays the role of cluster-head on the round-robin basis. Hence, we can lengthen periodic round by a factor of group size. As a result of analysis and comparison, our scheme reduces energy consumption of nodes, and improve the efficiency of communications in sensor networks compared with current clustering methods.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2017

KAERI is conducting research on spent cladding hulls and additive metals to generate a solidification host matrix for the noble metal fission product waste in anode sludge from the electro-refining process to minimize the volume of waste that needs to be disposed of. In this study, alloy compositions Zr-17Cr, Zr-22Cr, and Zr-27Cr were prepared with or without eight noble metals representing fuel waste using induction melting. The microstructures of the resulting alloys were characterized and electrochemical corrosion tests were conducted to evaluate their corrosion characteristics. All the compositions had better corrosion characteristics than other Zr-based alloys that were evaluated for comparison. Analysis of the leach solution after the corrosion test of the Zr-22Cr-8NM specimen indicated that the noble metals were not leached during corrosion under 500 mV imposed voltage, which simulates a highly oxidizing disposal environment. The results of this study confirm that Zr-Cr based compositions will likely serve as chemically stable waste forms.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2002

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) may be released from plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) articles. In the cases of various methods for the quantitative analysis of migrating DEHP, there are much differences in migrating quantity according to the experimental methods. It is therefore important to make the comparison and analysis between these two results. A study of DEHP migration from blood and infusion bags has been carried out in different methods to evaluate the amount of DEHP migration using gas chromatograph and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Five PVC bags were cut into plane sheets in size of $40{\times}10{\times}0.4mm$, then were immersed in extraction solvent for an hour to release DEHP. It was determined by a gas chromatograph that $23.2{\sim}70.9{\mu}g/mL$ of DEHP was extracted. While extraction solvent was injected into PVC bags which were then placed for an hour to leach DEHP out. It was checked by a UV-vis spectrophotometer that the concentration of DEHP in extraction solvent was $24.8{\sim}41.3{\mu}g/mL$. Two results show different values according to the extraction conditions and experimental methods and the gas chromatographic results were converted into UV-vis spectroscopic results on condition that DEHP would be extracted equally per unit time and unit contact area. It was concluded that DEHP migrating amounts are approximately equal in two analytical methods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.418-425
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• 2017

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are mainly used in semiconductors, solar cells, biosensors, and cosmetics (sunscreen). In this study, we investigated the behavior of ZnO NPs in aquatic and soil environments and their effects on plants (Artemisia annua L.) in hydroponic cultivation. It was confirmed that the ZnO NPs size increased and their dissolution decreased with increasing in pH. Leaching distance of ZnO NPs was less than 2.5 cm, indicating that ZnO NPs had a little potential to leach into deeper soil layers. When ZnO NPs were exposed to plant, the total weights of plants decreased. The effects on the length of root and shoot were not observed. In addition large amount of ZnO NPs were adsorbed on the surface of plant root and didn't translocate into shoot. These results suggest that ZnO NPs block the pores of the root cell wall and decrease the bioavailability of plant nutrients. Therefore it can be speculated that the particles increase in size and settle down in the water environment and may adversely affect the plant growth by firmly adhering to the root surface when the ZnO NPs are exposed to the environment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the changes of heavy metals in percolated water of paddy soil in which rice was cultivated in conditions of 0%, 5%. 30% addition of bituminous and anthracite fly ash respectively. In cultivated plot, the contents of Fe in percolated water increased gradually during the cultivation. But there was no sharp difference of Fe contents in fly ash treated plots. The contents of Mn in percolated water increased gradually during the cultivation and was high in the cultivated plot. But difference in the contents of Mn among plots not clear. The contents of Zn in percolated water was highest during 20-25 days in the cultivation, thereafter decreased gradually. The fly ash did not cause to increase the contents of Zn in percolated water. The contents of Cu in percolated water decreased through the cultivation. Fly ash treatment did not cause to increase the contents of Cu in percolated water. The contents of Pb in percolated water decreased gradually over the cultivation. Fly ash treatment did not largely influence to Pb percolation. In mid-July. Pb did not almost appeared in percolated water. The contents of Cd was highest about 15 days of the transplant, thereafter decreased gradually. After 40 day of the cultivation, leach of Cd stopped. When fly ashes were applied in paddy soil, the contents of heavy metals in percolated water was not so much compared with control plot. It seems that originally low contents of heavy metals in fly ash and decrease in solubility of heavy metals in a relatively high soil pH make it possible to use fly ash as a soil conditioner.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.355-367
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• 2016

Soil salinization refers to the buildup of salts in soil to a level toxic to plants. The major factors that contribute to soil salinity are the quality, the amount and the type of irrigation water used. The presented review discusses the different sources and causes of soil salinity. The effect of soil salinity on biological processes of plants is also discussed in detail. This is followed by a debate on the influence of salt on the nutrient uptake and growth of plants. Salinity decreases the soil osmotic potential and hinders water uptake by the plants. Soil salinity affects the plants K uptake, which plays a critical role in plant metabolism due to the high concentration of soluble sodium ($Na^+$) ions. Visual symptoms that appear in the plants as a result of salinity include stunted plant growth, marginal leaf necrosis and fruit distortions. Different strategies to ameliorate salt stress globally include breeding of salt tolerant cultivars, irrigation to leach excessive salt to improve soil physical and chemical properties. As part of an ecofriendly means to alleviate salt stress and an increasing considerable attention on this area, the review then focuses on the different plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) mediated mechanisms with a special emphasis on ACC deaminase producing bacteria. The various strategies adopted by PGPB to alleviate various stresses in plants include the production of different osmolytes, stress related phytohormones and production of molecules related to stress signaling such as bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) derivatives. The use of PGPB with ACC deaminase producing trait could be effective in promoting plant growth in agricultural areas affected by different stresses including salt stress. Finally, the review ends with a discussion on the various PGPB activities and the potentiality of facultative halophilic/halotolerant PGPB in alleviating salt stress.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.115-124
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• 2014

In order to leach Au and Ag from gold-silver bearing sulfide concentrate, the sulfide concentrate was ground in a ball mill for a dry pre-treatment and a wet pre-treatment process. Mineralogical studies and thiourea leaching experiments were carried out with the pre-treated sulfide concentrate. The results of the pre-treatment with the concentrate samples showed the mean particle size and iso-electrical potential was smaller in the dry pre-treatment sample than in the concentrate sample, and the contents was lower in the wet pre-treatment sample than in the dry pre-treatment sample. In XRD analysis, amorphous properties were only shown in the wet pretreatment sample. The results of the concentrate sample leaching experiments showed that the best Au, Ag leaching parameters were when the addition of thiourea was at a 1.0 g concentration, ferric sulfate was 1.0 M, sulfuric acid was 2.0 M and the leaching temperature was at $60^{\circ}C$. The Au, Ag leaching rate was always much greater and faster with the wet pre-treatment samples than with the dry pre-treatment samples. Accordingly, it is expected that more Au, Ag can be leached in an eco-friendly methodology using wet pre-treatment. The pre-treatment could be improved with an optimized grinding additive reagent and through researching grinding time in future non-cyanide processes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-321
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• 2006

Atmospheric Acid Deposition: Nitrogen Saturation of Forests: Volume weighted annual average wet deposition of nitroge at 33 sites in Korea during 1999-2004 ranged 7.28 to $21.05kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ with average $12.78kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, which values are similar level with nitrogen deposition of Europe and North America. The temperate forests that suffered long-term high atmospheric nitrogen deposition are gradually saturated with nitrogen. Such nitrogen saturated forest watersheds usually leach nitrate ion ($NO_3^-$) in stream water and soil solution. It may be likely that Korean forest ecosystems are saturated by much nitrogen deposition. In leaves with nitrogen saturation ratios of N/P, N/K and N/Mg are so enhanced that mineral nutrient system is disturbed, suffered easily frost damage and blight disease, reduced fine-root vitality and mycorrhizal activity. Consequently nitrogen saturated forests decrease primary productivity and finally become forest decline. Futhermore understory species are replaced the nitrophobous species by the nitrophilous one. In soil with nitrogen saturation uptake of methane ($CH_4$) is reduced and emission of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrous oxide ($N_{2}O$) are increased, which gases are greenhouse gas accelerating global warming.