• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.115-121
• /
• 2012

If cement could be manufactured with industrial byproducts such as granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and waste lime rather than clinker, there would be many advantages, including the maximization of the use of these industrial byproducts for high value-added resources, the conservation of natural resources and energy by omitting the use of clinker, the minimization of environmental pollution problems caused by $CO_2$ discharge, and the reduction of the production cost. For this reason, in this study, mechanical behavior tests of non-sintered cement concrete were performed, and elasticity modulus and stress-strain relationship of non-sintered cement concrete were proposed. Nine test members were manufactured and tested according to reinforcement ratio and concrete compressive strength. According to the test results, there was no difference between general cement concrete and non-sintered cement concrete in terms of flexure and shear behavior.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.138-143
• /
• 2013

Objective: Building materials can generate radon in indoor environments. This study aims to assess the radon concentrations of studio apartments around a university. Methods: 25 studio apartments around a University in Gyoungsan, Korea were measured for concentrations of radon. We evaluated the radon concentrations by using short-term continuous radon monitors at the studio apartments around the university, and analyzed the correlation between indoor radon concentration and factors affecting it, such as year of construction. Results: The average concentration of radon was 2.03 pCi/L(75.11 $Bq/m^3$)${\pm}1.34$ in the studio apartments. This radon level was lower than the radon standard for public use facilities in Korea and US EPA's standard of 4 pCi/L. However the measured radon levels were much higher than those previously reported in conventional dwellings. There was a statistically correlation between year of construction and radon concentrations in studio apartment buildings. Conclusion: It is suggested that recently built studio apartments might be constructed with phosphogypsum board that features higher radon emissions, and occupants are highly exposed to radon.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.358-370
• /
• 2023

Composting has been proposed for the management of organic waste, and the resulting products can be used as soil amendments and fertilizer. However, the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O produced in composting are of considerable concern. Hence, various additives have been developed and adopted to control the emissions of GHGs. This review presents the different additives used during composting and summarizes the effects of additives on GHGs during composting. Thirty-four studies were reviewed, and their results showed that the additives can reduce cumulative CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emission by 10.5%, 39.0%, and 28.6%, respectively, during composting. Especially, physical additives (e.g., biochar and zeolite) have a greater effect on mitigating N₂O emissions during composting than do chemical additives (e.g., phosphogypsum and dicyandiamide). In addition, superphosphate had a high CO₂ reduction effect, whereas biochar and dicyandiamide had a high N₂O reduction effect. This implies that the addition of superphosphate, biochar, and dicyandiamide during composting can contribute to mitigating GHG emissions. Further research is needed to find novel additives that can effectively reduce GHG emissions during composting.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2014

Phosphate rock, phosphogypsum, and products in phosphate processing facility contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Therefore, they may give rise to enhanced radiation dose to workers due to inhalation of airborne particulates. Internal dose due to particle inhalation varies depending on particle properties. The objective of the present study was to characterize particle properties at the largest phosphate processing facility in Korea. A cascade impactor was employed to sample airborne particulates at various processing areas in the plant. The collected samples were used for characterization of particle size distribution, particle concentration in the air, and shape analysis. Aerodynamic diameters of airborne particulates ranged 0.03-100 ${\mu}m$ with the highest concentration at the particle size range of 4.7-5.8 ${\mu}m$ (geometric mean = 5.22 ${\mu}m$) or 5.8-9.0 ${\mu}m$ (geometric mean = 7.22 ${\mu}m$). Particle concentrations in the air varied widely by sampling area up to more than two orders of magnitude. The large variation resulted from the variability of mechanical operations and building ventilations. The airborne particulates appeared as spheroids or rough spherical fragments across all sampling areas and sampled size intervals. Average mass densities of phosphate rocks, phosphogypsums, and fertilizers were 3.1-3.4, 2.1-2.6, and 1.7 $gcm^{-3}$, respectively. Radioactivity concentration of uranium series in phosphate rocks varied with country of origin, ranging 94-866 $Bqkg^{-1}$. Among the uranium series, uranium was mostly concentrated on products, including phosphoric acid or fertilizers whereas radium was concentrated on byproducts or phosphogypsum. No significant radioactivity of $^{226}Ra$ and $^{228}Ra$ were found in fertilizer. However, $^{40}K$ concentration in fertilizer was up to 5,000 Bq $g^{-1}$. The database established in this study can be used for the accurate risk assessment of workers due to inhalation of airborne particles containing NORM. In addition, the findings can be used as a basic data for development of safety standard and guide and for practical radiation safety management at the facility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.56-63
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to find out the effect of by-product gypsum(phosphogypsum, PG) application on enhancement of turf quality. For the first experiment, 10 ton $ha^{-1}$ PG was applied to 1m${\times}$10m (width${\times}$length) Plots with 4 replicates on a sloping area of fairway where turf(Zoysia japonica L.) was grown. Both top- and sub-soil samples were collected before and after treatment and were analyzed for pH, EC(e1ectrica1 conductivity), Ca and Mg contents. At the same time when soil samples were collected, specific color difference sensor value(SCDSV) that represented chlorophyll contents, fresh and dry weight of the turf were determined to find out the effect of PG treatment on turf growth. SCDSV of turf from PG treated plots measured at 98 and 147 days after treatment were significantly higher than those from control. Considering higher fresh and dry weight of leaf per unit area from PG treated plots than that from control, it was concluded that the elevated Ca and S level of the PG treated plots resulted in vigorous leaf growth of turf. For the second experiment 2, 5 and 10 ton $ha^{-1}$ PG were applied to 1m${\times}$10m(width${\times}$length) Plots with 3 replicates at a closer location as was used for the first experiment to find out the appropriate PG application rate. Before and after treatment soil and plant samples were collected and were analyzed by the same way as the first experiment. The pH of all the soil samples collected from PG treated plots at 38 days after treatment was lower than that from control. This trend changed as time passed. However, the pH of the soil from 10 ton $ha^{-1}$ PG treated plot was lower than that from control during the whole period of the second experiment. SCDSV, fresh and dry weight of leaf from PG treated plots at all 3 rates were higher than those from control for the second experiment. PG application to turf will be beneficial for both mass consumption of by-product gypsum and enhancement of turf quality.