• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.3-14
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• 2019

Copper is one of the first metals utilized by humankind about 11,500 years ago. But copper is not plentiful metallic element in the earth's crust. Copper has a high thermal and electric conductivity and is relatively corrosion resistant. In principle copper is virtually 100 % recyclable as an element without loss of quality. The recycling of copper scrap reduces the energy consumption and environmental burden, comparing to the primary metal production. Currently, approximately 30% of the global copper supply provides by recycling. Copper scrap is smelted in primary and secondary smelter. Type of furnace and process steps depend on the quality and grade of scrap. Depending on copper content of the secondary raw material, refining is required, which is usually done through electrorefining. This work provides an overview of the primary copper production and recycling process.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.193-206
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• 2019

Although concrete is the most widely used construction material, its deficiency in shrinkage and low tensile resistance is undeniable. However, the aforementioned defects can be partially modified by addition of fibers. On the other hand, possibility of adding waste materials in concrete has provided a new ground for use of recycled concrete aggregates in the construction industry. In this study, a constant combination of recyclable coarse and fine concrete aggregates was used to replace the corresponding aggregates at 50% substitution percentage. Moreover, in order to investigate the effects of fibers on mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete, the amounts of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% steel fibers (ST) and 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.15% polypropylene (PP) fibers by volumes were used individually and in hybrid forms. Compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), water absorption, toughness, elastic modulus and shrinkage of samples were investigated. The results of mechanical properties showed that PP fibers reduced the compressive strength while positive impact of steel fibers was evident both in single and hybrid forms. Tensile and flexural strength of samples were improved and the energy absorption of samples containing fibers increased substantially before and after crack presence. Growth in toughness especially in hybrid fiber-reinforced specimens retarded the propagation of cracks. Modulus of elasticity was decreased by the addition of PP fibers while the contrary trend was observed with the addition of steel fibers. PP fibers decreased the ultrasonic pulse velocity slightly and had undesirable effect on water absorption. However, steel fiber caused negligible decline in UPV and a small impact on water absorption. Steel fibers reduce the drying shrinkage by up to 35% when was applied solely. Using fibers also resulted in increasing the ductility of samples in failure. In addition, mechanical properties changes were also evaluated by statistical analysis of MATLAB software and smoothing spline interpolation on compressive, flexural, and indirect tensile strength. Using shell interpolation, the optimization process in areas without laboratory results led to determining optimal theoretical points in a two-parameter system including steel fibers and polypropylene.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.3-14
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• 2019

Lead is one of the common non-ferrous metals used in modern industry. The usage of lead continues to increase and has risen from 5 million tonnes per year worldwide in the 1970s to 11 million tonnes in the 2010s. In principle lead is virtually 100 % recyclable as an element without loss of quality. The recycling of lead scrap reduces the energy consumption and environmental burden, comparing to the primary metal production. Therefore production of secondary lead from scrap has been steadily growing and at present it meets approximately 60 % of usage worldwide. Lead scrap (mainly lead-acid battery) is smelted in primary and secondary smelter. Most secondary lead smelting were performed in a shaft-type furnace (blast furnace), rotary furnace and reverberatory furnace. The lead bullion is either cast into ingots and re-melted in refining kettles or refining is performed on the hot lead bullion immediately after production. This work provides an overview of the primary lead production and recycling process.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.449-456
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• 2019

Recent developments in architectural technologies and programs have enabled architects to think creatively and design free-form architecture. however, there are many problems in the production technology of FCP(Free-Form Concrete Panel). In particular, reduced accuracy due to lack of free-form panel production technology can lead to redesign of buildings as a result, problems such as an increase in construction cost and period. Therefore, this experiment aimed to compensate the decrease of the accuracy according to the displacement difference and to derive the proper mixing ratio for maintaining the shape during the free-form panel curing. In this study, molds were made using paraffin that is a recyclable phase change material. Concrete Panel is usually produced from Portland cement, dead burn magnesia, phosphate, borax and fine aggregate. In this study, four mixing ratios of FCP were selected after each material was blended to determine the proper blending ratio of the fluidity phase, the water absorption rate and the water content of the test piece. FCP was fabricated on the basis of the selected four compounding ratios and thickness and error rate were measured. Based on the error rate of the measured FCP, the quality standard was satisfied among the four compounding ratios.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.174-181
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• 2021

Lightweight geopolymers were fabricated by using IGCC (integrated gasification combined cycle) slag and Si sludge which are classified as general wastes (recyclable resources). Three curing methods were tried to investigate the changes in compressive strength and density according to the curing method and immersion time. Immersion period was tried up to 21 days to observe long-term performance in water. Compressive strength of the specimens cured in oven decreased abruptly with an increase in immersion time. Compressive strength of the specimen cured in autoclave was low after 3 and 7 day immersion; however, increased rapidly after 21 day immersion. On the contrary, compressive strength of the specimen cured in autoclave and oven was high but substantially decreased after 21 day immersion. Conclusively, it was speculated that oven curing is effective for the compressive strength development at early age; however, autoclave curing is more desirable for the long-term performance in water.

• Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.785-798
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• 2018

Since the Framework Act on Resource Circulation was enacted in 2018, the government should establish a National Resource Circulation Master Plan every 10 years, which defines mid- to long-term policy goals and directions on the efficient use of resources, prevention of waste generation and recycling of waste. In addition, we must set mid- to long-term and stepwise targets for the final disposal rate, recycling rate (based on sorted recyclable materials and recycled products), and energy recovery rate of wastes, and relevant measures should be taken to achieve these targets. However, the current industrial waste (IW) statistics have limitations in setting these targets because the final disposal rate and recycling rate are calculated as the ratio of the recycling facility input to the IW generation. In this study, the material flow from the collection stage to the final disposal of industrial waste was analyzed based on the generation of 2016, and the actual recycling amount, actual incineration amount, final disposal amount and their rates were calculated. The effect on the recycling, incineration and final disposal rates was examined by changing the treatment method of nonhazardous wastes from the factory and construction and demolition wastes, which were put in landfills in 2016. In addition, the variation of the waste treatment charge was investigated according to the change of treatment methods. The results of this study are expected to be effectively used to establish the National Resource Circulation Master Plan and industrial waste management policy in the future in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.436-443
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• 2020

In this paper, we tried to examine the composition ratio of plastic waste from households according to the generated city and the qualities according to the production time of material recycling products. As a result, the composition ratio of recyclable plastic waste among the total plastic waste according to the generated cities is 64.5~90.4%, showing a big difference by city. In addition, the quality evaluation of material recycling products by production time for four months showed that the average tensile strength was 12.33MPa, the average elongation rate was 5.94%, the average density was 1.35g/㎤ and the average ash content was 3.66%.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2021

In the present study, novel chitosan coated magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were successfully biosynthesized from mushroom, Agaricus campestris, extract. The obtained bio-nanocomposite material was used to investigate ultra-fast and highly efficient for removal of Ni2+ ions in a fixed-bed column. Chitosan was treated as polyelectrolyte complex with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and a Fungal Bio-Nanocomposite Material (FBNM) was derived. The FBNM was characterized by using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) techniques and under varied experimental conditions. The influence of some important operating conditions including pH, flow rate and initial Ni2+ concentration on the uptake of Ni2+ solution was also optimized using a synthetic water sample. A Central Composite Design (CCD) combined with Response Surface Modeling (RSM) was carried out to maximize Ni2+ removal using FBNM for adsorption process. A regression model was derived using CCD to predict the responses and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and lack of fit test was used to check model adequacy. It was observed that the quadratic model, which was controlled and proposed, was originated from experimental design data. The FBNM maximum adsorption capacity was determined as 59.8 mg g-1. Finally, developed method was applied to soft drinks to determine Ni2+ levels. Reusability of FBNM was tested, and the adsorption and desorption capacities were not affected after eight cycles. The paper suggests that the FBNM is a promising recyclable nanoadsorbent for the removal of Ni2+ from various soft drinks.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.139-144
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• 2023

Stone papers made of inorganic filler and plastic polymer do not use pulp, which is the main raw material of existing papers, so they contribute to the preservation of nature and can be used as more eco-friendly materials when they have biodegradability. Since most stone papers are manufactured by hot extrusion, the amount of ceramic fillers and related physical properties are limited to control manufacturing workability. In this study, the stone paper composition was prepared in a liquid form using solvents, so that there was little limitation on the amount of ceramic filler added and it was also easy to add additives to control biodegradability. They were fabricated from eco-friendly raw materials using waste oyster shells as an inorganic filler and (recyclable) PVC materials as an organic binder. After making a solution using common solvents for PVC, inorganic filler and cellulose to impart biodegradability were mixed and processed into sheets to prepare solvent-based stone papers, and their paper properties were evaluated.

• Composites Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2009

Natural fiber reinforced composites are emerging as low-cost, lightweight, recyclable, and eco-friendly materials. These are biodegradable and non-abrasive. Due to eco-friendly and biodegradable characteristics of natural fibers, they are being considered as potential candidates to replace the conventional fibers. The chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of natural fibers have distinct features depending upon the cellulose content of the fibers which varies from fiber to fiber. The mechanical properties of composites are influenced mainly by the adhesion between matrix and fibers. Several chemical and physical modification methods of fiber surface were incorporated to improve the tiber-matrix adhesion resulting in the enhancement of mechanical properties of the composites. This paper outlines the works reported on natural tiber reinforced composites with special reference to the type of fibers, polymer matrix, processing techniques, treatment of fibers, and fiber-matrix interface.