• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.447-455
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• 2022

Currently, the problem of pollution of the marine environment by microplastics is emerging seriously internationally. In this study, to develop a lightweight portable microplastic collection device, the types and number of microplastics in 21 coastal areas nationwide in Korea were investigated. And CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic), GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene copolymer) and aluminum were applied for design and analysis of microplastic collection device to have the durability, corrosion resistance and lightweight. As a result of sample collection and classification from the shore, it was confirmed that microplastics were distributed the most in Hamdeok beach, and the polystyrene was found to be mainly distributed microplastics. Particle information through coastal field survey and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis were used to analyze the flow rate and distribution of particles such as sand and impurities, which were applied to the structural analysis of the cyclone device using the finite element method. As a result of structural analysis considering the particle impact inside the cyclone device, the structural safety was examined as remarkable in the order of CFRP, GFRP, aluminum, and ABS. In the view of weight reduction, CFRP could be reduced in weight by 53%, GFRP by 47%, and ABS by 61% compared to aluminum for the cyclone device.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2023

Microplastic particles are ubiquitous in the environment and not standardized particles of size, shape, or type. Therefore, it is very limited to establish a risk assessment framework that accurately evaluated and manage the multi-dimension of marine environment including seawater and sediment based on toxic data. In the study, we review the characteristics and effects of marine environmental microplastic and suggest risk assessment framework (draft) based on the distribution and impact of marine environmental microplastics. Although, the characteristics of environmental microplastic are very widely but the most abundant toxic data are concentrated on unique shape and type, and there are also large gaps of test organism between laboratory-exposed organisms and resident species. Great limitations with respect to toxicity data quality also exist for traditional effect assessment methods, which in reliability of the resulting risk characterizations. However, considering the fact that the international community's movement on microplastics management is gradually strengthening and the pollution level of microplastics in marine environment is increasing, further research on environmental relevant risk assessment technique should be proposed based on the characteristics of microplastics in the marine environment.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2023

Various performances of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) applied with microplastics and expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads were evaluated. CompressIve and flexural strength, performance after ignition, flow-down in fresh state, and effective bond strength were evaluated. Designed weight of the cement panel with these mixtures was calculated based on the flexural strength. As a result of the experiments, it was confirmed that the EPS could reduce the density of UHPC with largest range. By maximum addition of EPS beeds, the density of UHPC decreased to 1300 kg/m³, and the compressive and flexural strengths for this mixtures were in ranges of 20-30 MPa and 15-20 MPa, respectively. On the other hand, lightest cement panel could be designed with UHPC having a density ranges about 2.0 g/cm³.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.15-27
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• 2020

Microplastics are recognized as critical and serious environmental problem in worldwide. Plastics are inexpensive, lightweight, excellent in processability, and various in material-specific properties. Along industrial development, the production and disposal amount of plastics are also rapidly increasing. In particular, abundant plastic wastes are eventually disposed into marine environment with harmful impacts on the ecosystem. Therefore, lots of relevant studies were recently progressed in various fields. However, many studies are being just conducted due to its difficulty in applying a general treatment method for those small particle sizes and their various characteristics. In the meantime, lots of researches are being conducted on applying methods using physical properties such as specific gravity, magnetic, and electrostatic separation, which are beneficiation processes of minerals. However, since it is still in the laboratory stage, the development of larger scale separation technology for efficient treatment is urgent.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2021

Commercially used disposable cups undergo fragmentation in the environment and become microplastics (MPs). These MPs can be ingested by aquatic organisms and cause a range of adverse effects. We assessed the acute and chronic toxicity of disposable cup-derived MP fragments in Daphnia magna. MP fragments were identified as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragment with a size of 33.18 ± 7.76 ㎛. The presence of three additives including 1- Propanone. 1-phenyl-3-[2-(phenylmethoxy)phenyl]-, p-Xylene and ethylbenzene was analyzed from MP fragments. The 48 h acute toxicity revealed that 20 % of immobilization and mortality were found at the highest concentration of PET MP (200 mg L^-1). The 21 d chronic toxicity revealed that PET MP fragments significantly (p < 0.05) more reduced survival rate (31 %), total offspring (52 %) in D. magna compared with control group. The developmental abnormality of offspring (3.5%) by PET MP fragments was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than control groups (0.3%). These results are possibly induced by gut blocking by ingestion of MP fragments and their longer retention time. These findings indicate that the fragmentation of disposable cups (PET polymers) into small-sized MP fragments pose a significant ecological risk to aquatic organisms. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying toxicity mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: In recent years, studies on microplastics have focused on their decomposition in the ocean. However, no studies have been reported on the interaction between microplastics and metal ions in aqueous solutions. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacity of cadmium(Cd) by polypropylene (PP) in aqueous solution. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cadmium adsorption characteristics of PP in aqueous solution were evaluated through various conditions including initial Cd concentration(1.25-25 mg/L), contact time(0.5-24 h), initial pH(2-6) and temperature($20-50^{\circ}C$). Cadmium adsorption fit on PP was well described by Freundlich isotherm model with adsorption capacity(K) of 0.028. The adsorption amount of Cd by PP increased with increasing contact time, indicating that adsorption of PP by Cd was dominantly influenced by contact time. Especially, the removal efficiency of Cd by PP was highest at high temperature. However, the surface functional groups of PP before and after adsorption of Cd were similar, suggesting that adsorption of Cd by PP is not related to surface functional groups. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that PP affects the behavior of Cd in aqueous solution. However, in order to clarify the specific relationship between microplastics and metal ions, mechanism research should be carried out.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.314-324
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• 2022

This study is aimed to design a membrane process that systematically removes contaminants including microplastics in sun-dried salt using a separation membrane. In this study, we selected the separation membrane material, pore size, and module suitable for the sun-dried salt fields, and proceeded with the experiments under the salt fields and laboratory conditions. A pilot plant was constructed and tested in our lab and in the actual saltern with the selected 200 kDa, 4 kDa ultrafiltration membranes, and 3 kDa nanofiltration membranes. Most of the impurities in the sea salt were 0.1 ㎛ in size, and more than 7 types of various microplastics were detected in the impurities. After that, as a result of checking the filtered water through the separation membrane process, no impurities were detected. As a result of comparing the existing sea salt component and the sea salt component prepared with separation membrane filtrate, impurities were effectively removed without change in the sea salt component.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2020

Background: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is gaining attention as an efficient decomposer of food waste. However, recalcitrant compounds such as plastics mixed into food waste may have negative effects on its growth and survival. Moreover, its efficiency of food waste degradation may also be affected by plastics. In addition, salt (NaCl) can also be present in high concentrations, which also reduces the efficiency of H. illucens-mediated food waste treatment. In this study, we assessed the growth of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) reared on food waste containing polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) and NaCl. The weight of BSFL was measured every 2-4 days. Survival and substrate reduction rates and pupation ratio were determined at the end of the experiment. Results: The total larval weight of Hermetia illucens reared on food waste containing PS was greater than that of the control on days 20 and 24. However, the survival rate was lower in the group treated with 5% PS, as was substrate reduction in all PS-treated groups. The weight of BSFL reared on food waste containing PE was lower than that of the control on day 6. PE in food waste did not affect the survival rate, but the pupation ratio increased and substrate consumption decreased with increasing PE concentrations. Regardless of the plastic type, the addition of NaCl resulted in decreased larval weight and pupation ratio. Conclusions: Larval growth of black soldier fly was inhibited not by plastics but by substrate salinity. Additional safety assessments of larvae reared on food waste containing impurities are needed to enable wider application of BSFL in vermicomposting.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2021

In the flotation process to remove microplastic (MP) particles, the attachment and separation efficiency is determined by the basic physicochemical characteristics of MP particles as well as bubbles. To evaluate the flotation characteristics of MP particles, we carried out a series of simulations using the population balance (PB) model. The initial attachment coefficient (αo) of MP particles was in the range of 0.2-0.275, and it was slightly lower than that of typical particles, such as clay, debris and algae particles, which exist in water bodies, αo, 0.3-0.4. The relative bubble number (RBN) attached to the surface of the typical number of bubbles was 0.30 and 0.32 for MP 30 ㎛ and MP 58 ㎛, respectively. In comparison, the RBN of larger MP particles (138 ㎛) was as high as 0.53. Furthermore, smaller microbubbles were required to separate properly or additional treatment needed to be applied to enhance collision and attachment efficiency since the flotation of MP particles was found to be difficult to treat as high-rate. As a result of comparing the removal rate (experimental value) of MP particles obtained from the batch-type flotation apparatus and the flotation removal rate (predicted value) of MP obtained through the PB model, the final particles by the particle size of MP overall except for the initial separation time area. With respect to the removal efficiency, the observed and predicted values were similar, and it was confirmed that the floating separation characteristics and evaluation of the MP particles through the PB model could be possible.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2024

Background: Despite many environmental problems, plastic waste emissions have been a significant surge during last few decades in the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has lead to an increased use and disposal of plastic waste worldwide. This paper tried to present summarized data related to the production and disposal of plastics especially before and after the COVID-19 pandemic with environmental impacts of plastics. Also, review of plastic waste reduction policies and feasible policies to promote an act for a safe, sustainable environment are presented. Results: Plastics cause many environmental problems due to their non-degrading properties and have a huge direct and indirect impact on Ecosystems and Public Health. Microplastics need a lot of attention because their environmental effects are not yet fully identified. Despite plastic's significant impact on climate change, the impact is not yet widely known to the public. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of plastic has surged and recycling has decreased due to the increase in delivery food and online shopping. Korea is introducing very active plastic and waste management policies, but it is necessary to implement more active policies by referring to the cases of other countries. Conclusions: In this article, we have scrutinized the evolution of plastic waste generation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and delved into policy frameworks adopted by other nations, which South Korea can draw valuable lessons from. The formidable challenges posed by plastic waste, the remarkable shifts witnessed during the COVID-19 era, and the multifaceted response strategies elucidated in this paper all play a pivotal role in steering South Korea toward a sustainable future.