• Title/Summary/Keyword: sustainable chemistry

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Fuel-Flexible Anode Architecture for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

  • Hwan Kim;Sunghyun Uhm
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.226-240
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    • 2023
  • This paper provides an overview of the trends and future directions in the development of anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using hydrocarbons as fuel, with the aim of enabling a decentralized energy supply. Hydrocarbons (such as natural gas and biogas) offer promising alternatives to traditional energy sources, as their use in SOFCs can help meet the growing demands for energy. We cover several types of materials, including perovskite structures, high-entropy alloys, proton-conducting ceramic materials, anode on-cell catalyst reforming layers, and anode functional layers. In addition, we review the performance and long-term stability of cells based on these anode materials and assess their potential for commercial manufacturing processes. Finally, we present a model for enhancing the applicability of fuel cell-based power generation systems to assist in the realization of the H2 economy as the best practice for enabling distributed energy. Overall, this study highlights the potential of SOFCs to make significant progress toward a sustainable and efficient energy future.

Study on Lithium Extraction Using Cellulose Nanofiber ( 셀룰로오스 나노 섬유를 활용한 리튬 흡착 및 추출 연구)

  • Raeil Jeong;Jinsub Choi
    • Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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    • v.57 no.1
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    • pp.31-37
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    • 2024
  • The surge in demand for lithium is primarily fueled by the expanding electric vehicle market, the necessity for renewable energy storage, and governmental initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. This study proposes a straightforward method for lithium extraction utilizing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) via a vacuum filtration process. This approach yields a porous CNF film, showcasing its potential utility as a lithium extractor and indicator. Given its abundance and eco-friendly characteristics, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) emerges as a material offering both economic and environmental advantages over traditional lithium extraction techniques. Hence, this research not only contributes to lithium recovery but also presents a sustainable solution to meet the growing demand for lithium in energy storage technologies.

Rechargeable Zn-air Energy Storage Cells Providing High Power Density (고출력.고에너지 밀도의 아연금속-공기전지)

  • Park, Dong-Won;Kim, Jin Won;Lee, Jae Kwang;Lee, Jaeyoung
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.359-366
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    • 2012
  • Zn-Air energy storage cell is an attractive type of batteries due to its theoretical gravimetric energy density, cost-effective structure and environmental-friendly characteristics. The chargeability is the most critical in various industrial applications such as smart portable device, electric vehicle, and power storage system. Thus, it is necessary to reduce large overpotential of oxygen reduction/evolution reaction, the irreversibility of Zn anode, and carbonation in alkaline electrolyte. In this review, we try to introduce recent studies and developments of bi-functional air cathode, enhanced charge efficiency via modification of Zn anode structure, and blocking side reactions applying hybrid organic-aqueous electrolyte for high power density rechargeable Zn-Air energy storage cells.

Sustainable Block Copolymer-based Thermoplastic Elastomers (지속 가능한 블록 공중합체 기반 열가소성 탄성체)

  • Shin, Jihoon;Kim, Young-Wun;Kim, Geon-Joong
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.121-133
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    • 2014
  • Block copolymers including ABA triblock architectures are useful as thermoplastic elastomers and toughened plastics depending on the relative glassy and rubbery content. These materials can be blended with other polymers and utilized as additives, toughening agents, and compatibilizers. Most of commercially available block copolymers are derived from petroleum. Renewable alternatives are attractive considering the finite supply of fossil resources on earth and the overall economic and environmental expenses involved in the recovery and use of oil. Furthermore, tomorrow's sustainable materials are demanding the design and implementation with programmed end-of-life. The present review focuses on the preparation and evaluation of new classes of renewable ABA triblock copolymers and also emphasizes on the use of carbohydrate-derived poly(lactide) or plant-based poly(olefins) having a high glass transition temperature and/or high melting temperature for the hard phase in addition to the use of bio-based amorphous hydrocarbon polymers with a low glass transition temperature for the soft components. The combination of multiple controlled polymerizations has proven to be a powerful approach. Precision-controlled synthesis of these hybrid macromolecules has led to the development of new elastomers and tough plastics offering renewability, biodegradability, and high performance.

Progresses and new perspectives of integrated operations for a sustainable industrial growth

  • Drioli, Enrico
    • Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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    • 1998.10a
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    • pp.11-14
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    • 1998
  • 1. Introduction : Research progresses in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering have been made during the last decades with important contributions to the industrial development and to the quality of our life. An interesting case is related to the membrane science and technology continuous impact to innovative processes and products, particularly appropriate for a sustainable industrial growth. Membrane operations have been familiar for many years to biologists and chemists working in their laboratorier or studying biological phenomena. Only recently engineers started to operate in' this area. The preparation of asymmetric CA membranes at University of California, Los Angeles in the early 60s is generally recognized as a crucial moment for membranology (1). Loeb and Sourirajan with their discovery of how to increase significantly the permeability of polymeric membranes without significant changes in their selectivity, made realistic the possibility of their use in large scale operations for desalting brackish and sea water by reverse osmosis and for various other molecular separations in different industrial areas. Reverse osmosis is today a well recognized basic unit operations, togheter with ultrafiltration, crossflow microfiltration,. nanofiltration, all pressure driven membrane processes. Already in 1992 more than 4 milIions m$^3$/day were the total capacity of RO desalination plants and in 1995 more than 180.000 m$^2$ of ultrafiltration membranes were installed for the treatment of wheys and milk (2) (3).

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Clinical safety and efficacy of a novel marine source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids

  • Park, Joung-Hyun;Musa-Veloso, Kathy;Ji, Ho-Seok
    • Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.43-50
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    • 2022
  • Squid is a sustainable source of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids. This study aims to assess the safety and triglyceride-lowering efficacy of refined oil derived from the squid(Todarodes pacificus) viscera. Male and female participants with elevated fasting serum lipids (i.e., total cholesterol of ≥5.2 mmol/L or fasting serum triglyceride of ≥1.65 mmol/L) were randomly allocated to the control (n = 52) or squid oil group (n = 52), and participants in the latter group were instructed to consume 3 g of squid oil daily for 60 days. None of the subjects reported adverse events associated with the consumption of squid oil. Baseline clinical chemistry and hematological parameter values and those toward the end of the treatment period were similar, and all values were within the normal range. Fasting cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the control and squid oil groups were similar; however, toward the end of the 60 day study period, these levels significantly reduced in the squid oil group relative to those in the control group (P< 0.01). However, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol remained unchanged in both groups. Thus, it can be inferred that squid oil is a safe source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and has beneficial effects on the blood lipid levels. This is the first clinical study on squid oil usage, and suggests that it could be a sustainable source of omega 3 fatty acids.

DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE CEMENTLESS MORTARS

  • Keun-Hyeok Yang;Seol Lee;Sang-Ho Nam
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
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    • 2009.05a
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    • pp.1630-1636
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    • 2009
  • Nine alkali-activated (AA) mortars were mixed and cured at water or air-dried conditions to explore the significance and limitation for the application of the combination of Ba and Ca ions as an alkali-activator. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) was used for source materials, and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2) were employed as alkali activators. Test results clearly showed that the water curing condition was more effective than the air-dried curing condition for the formation of the denser calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels that had a higher molar Si/Ca ratio, resulting in a higher strength development. At the same time, the introduction of Ba(OH)2 led to the formation of 2CaO·Al2O3·SiO2·8H2O (C2ASH8) hydrates with higher molar Si/Al and Ca/Al ratios. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that the developed cementless mortars have highly effective performance and high potential as an eco-friendly sustainable building material.

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Effects of nutrient-coated biochar amendments on the growth and elemental composition of leafy vegetables

  • Jun-Yeong Lee;Yun-Gu Kang;Jun-Ho Kim;Taek-Keun Oh;Yeo-Uk Yun
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.50 no.4
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    • pp.967-976
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    • 2023
  • Biochar is emerging as a promising substance for achieving carbon neutrality and climate change mitigation. It can absorb several nutrients via ion bonding on its surface functional groups, resulting in slow dissociation of the bonds. Biochar, like organic fertilizers, contributes to sustainable nutrient management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrient-coated biochar amendments on leafy vegetables production and soil fertility. The nutrient-coated biochar was produced by soaking rice husk biochar in a nutrient solution containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus, and potassium for 24 hours. Nutrient-coated biochar and organic fertilizers were applied to soil at a rate of 120 kg·N·ha-1. The growth components of the leafy vegetables showed that nutrient-coated biochar led to the highest fresh weight (FW) of both lettuce and kale (i.e., 146.67 and 93.54 g·plant-1 FW, respectively). As a result, nutrient-coated biochar amendments led to superior yield compared to the control treatment and organic fertilization. The elemental composition of leafy vegetables revealed that soil amended with nutrient-coated biochar resulted in higher nutrient contents, which was attributed to the high nutrient contents supplied by the rice husk biochar. Soil amendment with nutrient-coated biochar positively enhanced the soil fertility compared to amendment with organic fertilizer. Therefore, nutrient-coated biochar is a promising substance for enhancing agronomic performance of leafy vegetables and improving soil fertility.

Effects of organic amendments on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and soil chemical properties in acidic and non-acidic soils

  • Yun-Gu Kang;Jun-Yeong Lee;Jun-Ho Kim;Taek-Keun Oh;Yeo-Uk Yun
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.50 no.4
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    • pp.713-721
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    • 2023
  • Soil acidification challenges global food security by adversely influences soil fertility and agricultural productivity. Carbonized agricultural residues present a sustainable and ecofriendly way to recycle agricultural waste and mitigate soil acidification. We evaluated the effects of organic amendments on lettuce growth and soil chemical properties in two soils with different pH levels. Carbonized rice husk was produced at 600℃ for 30 min and rice husk was treated at 1% (w·w-1). Carbonized rice husk increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, total carbon content, and nitrogen content compared with untreated and rice husk treatments. Furthermore, this study found that lettuce growth positively correlated with soil pH, with increasing soil pH up to pH 6.34 resulting in improved lettuce growth parameters. Statistical correlation analysis also supported the relationship between soil pH and lettuce growth parameters. The study findings showed that the use of carbonized rice husk increased the constituent elements of lettuce, such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate content. The potassium content of lettuce followed a similar trend; however, was higher in acidic soil than that in non-acidic soil. Therefore, improving the pH of acidic soil is essential to enhance agricultural productivity. It is considered advantageous to use agricultural residues following pyrolysis to improve soil pH and agricultural productivity.