• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2024

Stainless 630 (or 17-4PH) is a precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steel that has excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. These characteristics make the STS630 to be used as a consisting material for various components such as spider, pin, spring, and spring retainer, of the control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). In general, it is well known that the oxide layer of stainless steel consists of a duplex layer, a compact inner layer of FeCr₂O₄ spinel, and a coarse-grained outer layer of Fe₃O₄ spinel in PWR primary coolant condition. However, the characteristics of the oxide layer can be sensitively influenced by various water chemistry conditions such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, dissolved hydrogen, pH, pH adjuster type, and exposure time. In this work, we investigate the corrosion properties of the STS630 as a function of coolant temperature in an NH3 alkaline solution for its boron-free application in a small modular reactor, to confirm the feasibility for usage as a boron-free SMR structural material. As a result, oxide layer of corroded STS630 is consist of double-layer oxides consisting of a Cr-rich dense inner oxide and a Fe-rich polyhedral outer particles like as that in commercial PWR primary coolant. The corrosion rate of STS630 increases with increase in test time and temperature and the corrosion rate-time model equation was developed based on experimental data. Overall, it is expected that the results in this study provides useful data for the corrosion behavior of STS630 in alkaline environments, contributing to the development of selecting suitable materials for SMRs.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

A series of QPAE/TiO₂-x (x = 1, 4, 7 and 10 wt%) organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared as electrolyte membranes for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells by controlling the content of inorganic filler with quaternized poly(arylene ether) (QPAE) random copolymer. Among the prepared QPAE/TiO₂-x organic/inorganic composite membranes, the highest ionic conductivity was 26.6 mS cm^-1 at 30℃ in QPAE/TiO₂-7 composite membrane, which was improvement over the ionic conductivity value of 6.4 mS cm^-1 (at 30℃) of the pristine QPAE membrane. Furthermore, the water uptake, swelling ratio, ionic exchange capacity, and thermal property of QPAE/TiO₂-x composite membranes were improved compared to the pristine QPAE membrane. The results of these studies suggest that the fabricated QPAE/TiO₂-x composite membranes have good prospects for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell applications.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.412-418
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• 2023

The surge in the oil prices, increasing global population, climate change, and waste management problems are the major issues which have led to the development of biofuels from lignocellulosic wastes. Cellulosic or second generation (2G) bioethanol is produced from lignocellulosic biomass via pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation. Pretreatment of lignocellulose is of considerable interest due to its influence on the technical, economic and environmental sustainability of cellulosic ethanol production. In this study, furniture waste sawdust was subjected to alkaline peroxide (H₂O₂) for the production of reducing sugars. Sawdust was pretreated at different concentrations from 1-3% H₂O₂ (v/v) loadings at a pH of 11.5 for a residence time of 15-240 min at 50, 75 and 90 ℃. Optimum pretreatment conditions, such as time of reaction, operating temperature, and concentration of H₂O₂, were varied and evaluated on the basis of the amount of total reducing sugars produced. It was found that the changes in the amount of lignin directly affected the yield of reducing sugars. A maximum of 50% reduction in the lignin composition was obtained, which yielded a maximum of 75.3% total reducing sugars yield and 3.76 g/L of glucose. At optimum pretreatment conditions of 2% H₂O₂ loading at 75 ℃ for 150 min, 3.46 g/L glucose concentration with a 69.26% total reducing sugars yield was obtained after 48 hr. of the hydrolysis process. Pretreatment resulted in lowering of crystallinity and distortion of the sawdust after the pretreatment, which was further confirmed by XRD and SEM results.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.419-425
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to improve the concentration of U(VI) in carbonate solution reasonably, which to improve the application potential of the alkaline reprocessing processes. The dissolution behavior of U₃O₈ in carbonate peroxide solutions was investigated under different conditions, including pH, carbonate concentration, and solid-liquid ratio. The results showed that the dissolution rate of U₃O₈ increased with the increase of pH from 8 to 11 in the mixed carbonate solution containing 0.5 mol/L H₂O₂. The role of carbonate ions in the dissolution of U₃O₈ was further elucidated by observing the dissolution of UO₄⋅4H₂O in carbonate solutions. Furthermore, the concentration of U(VI) in 3 mol/L Na₂CO₃ solution was successfully increased to 350 g/L under ultrasonic-assisted conditions at 60 ℃ and a solid-liquid ratio at 1/2 g/mL. Meanwhile, it is suggested that increasing the concentration of carbonate ions can improve the stability of the dissolved solution containing uranyl peroxycarbonate complex.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2018.11a
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• pp.207-208
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• 2018

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.677-684
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• 2016

Various commercially available gas diffusion layers (GDLs) from different manufacturers were used to prepare an air electrode using $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}CoO_3$ perovskite (LSCP) as the catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline solution. Various GDLs have different physical properties, such as porosity, conductivity, hydrophobicity, etc. The ORR and OER of the resulting cathode were electrochemically evaluated in an alkaline solution. The electrochemical properties of the resulting cathodes were slightly different when compared to the physical properties of GDLs. Pore structure and conductivity of GDLs had a prominent effect and their hydrophobicities had a minor effect on the electrochemical performances of cathodes for ORR and OER.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2021

NiO and Co3O4-doped porous La(CoNi)O3 perovskite oxides were prepared from excess Ni addition by a hydrothermal method using porous silica template, and characterized as bifunctional catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for Zn-air rechargeable batteries in alkaline solution. Excess Ni induced to form NiO and Co3O4 in La(CoNi)O3 particles. The NiO and Co3O4-doped porous La(CoNi)O3 showed high specific surface area, up to nine times of conventionally synthesized perovskite oxide, and abundant pore volume with similar structure. Extra added Ni was partially substituted for Co as B site of ABO3 perovskite structure and formed to NiO and Co3O4 which was highly dispersed in particles. Excess Ni in La(CoNi)O3 catalysts increased OER performance (259 mA/㎠ at 2.4 V) in alkaline solution, although the activities (211 mA/㎠ at 0.5 V) for ORR were not changed with the content of excess Ni. La(CoNi)O3 with excess Ni showed very stable cyclability and low capacity fading rate (0.38 & 0.07 ㎶/hour for ORR & OER) until 300 hours (~70 cycles) but more excess content of Ni in La(CoNi)O3 gave negative effect to cyclability.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2022

Porous mullite-corundum ceramics were prepared using organic foam impregnation method with alumina and silica as raw materials. The influence of alkaline treatment and surfactant modification on polyurethane foam were studied. Effects of sintering process and material composition on porous mullite-corundum ceramics were investigated. The results show that the hang-pulp quantity of polyurethane foam increases with alkaline treatment. After treatment with 3 wt% SDS solution, the hang-pulp quantity of polyurethane foam further improved. Open porosity of sample decreased with elevation of sintering temperature and holding time, and compressive strength of sample showed a trend opposite to the change of porosity. The open porosity of the sample was enhanced by the increase of m(Al₂O₃/SiO₂); the compressive strength decreased with increase of m(Al₂O₃/SiO₂). However, when m(Al₂O₃/SiO₂) was 2.5, the compressive strength of the sample reached 6.23 MPa, and the open porosity of the sample was 80.7 %.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.47-62
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• 2024

Abu Gurdi area is located in the South-eastern Desert of Egypt which considered as volcanic massive sulfide deposits (VMS). The present work aims at investigating the ore mineralogy of Abu Gurdi region in addition to the effectiveness of the hydrometallurgical route for processing these ores using alkaline leaching for the extraction of Zn, Cu, and Pb in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, has been investigated. The factors affecting the efficiency of the alkaline leaching of the used ore including the reagent composition, reagent concentration, leaching temperature, leaching time, and Solid /Liquid ratio, have been investigated. It was noted that the sulfide mineralization consists mainly of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, galena and bornite. Gold is detected as rare, disseminated crystals within the gangue minerals. Under supergene conditions, secondary copper minerals (covellite, malachite, chrysocolla and atacamite) were formed. The maximum dissolution efficiencies of Cu, Zn, and Pb at the optimum leaching conditions i.e., 250 g/L NaCO₃ - NaHCO₃ alkali concentration, for 3 hr., at 250 ℃, and 1/5 Solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, were 99.48 %, 96.70 % and 99.11 %, respectively. An apparent activation energy for Zn, Cu and Pb dissolution were 21.599, 21.779 and 23.761 kJ.mol^-1, respectively, which were between those of a typical diffusion-controlled process and a chemical reaction-controlled process. Hence, the diffusion of the solid product layer contributed more than the chemical reaction to control the rate of the leaching process. High pure Cu(OH)₂, Pb(OH)₂, and ZnCl₂ were obtained from the finally obtained leach liquor at the optimum leaching conditions by precipitation at different pH. Finally, highly pure Au metal was separated from the mineralized massive sulfide via using adsorption method.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.64-71
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• 2014

Accelerated carbonation is a technique that can be used as a CCS technology for $CO_2$ sequestration of approximately 5~20% in a stable solid through the precipitation of carbonate. An alkaline inorganic waste material such as ash, slag, and cement paste are generated from incinerators, accelerated carbonation offers the advantage of lower transport and processing costs at the same generation location of waste and $CO_2$. In this study, we evaluated an amount of $CO_2$ sequestration in various types of inorganic alkaline waste processed by means of accelerated carbonation. A quantitative evaluation of $CO_2$ real sequestration based on a TG/DTA analysis, the maximum 118.88 $g/kg_{-waste}$ of $CO_2$ in paper sludge fly ash, the maximum 134.46 $g/kg_{-waste}$ of $CO_2$ in municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash, the maximum 9.72 $g/kg_{-waste}$ of $CO_2$ in industrial solid waste incinerator fly ash, and the maximum $18.19g/kg_{-waste}$ of $CO_2$ in waste cement paste.