• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 한국방사성폐기물학회 2005년도 춘계 학술대회
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• pp.211-220
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• 2005

The concrete structure is being considered for the main engineered barrier of low and intermediate level radwaste disposal facility. Concrete of low permeability can minimize infiltration of water and effectively prevent release of nuclide to ecosystem. But if concrete degrades, structural stability of disposal structure will decrease while permeability increase, resulting in increased possibility of nuclide release due to water infiltration. Therefore disposal concrete structure degradation shall be minimized to maintain capacity of nuclide isolation. The typical causes of concrete structure degradation are sulfide attack, reinforcement corrosion due to chloride attack, leaching of calcium hydroxide, alkali-aggregate reaction and repeated freezing-thawing. The common cause of these degradation processes is infiltration of water or adverse chemicals into concrete. Based on the study of these degradation characteristics and mechanisms of concrete structure, the methodology of design and service life evaluation of concrete structure as an engineered barrier are reviewed to ensure its long-term durability.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.487-492
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• 2013

Transesterifications of waste oils mixed with animal tallows and vegetable oil by ultrasonic energy were examined over various catalysts for biodiesel production. Reaction activities of the transesterification were evaluated to the ultrasonic energy and thermal energy. The physicochemical properties of feedstock and products were also investigated to the biodiesels produced from the oils in the reaction using ultrasonic energy. The highest fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was obtained on the potassium hydroxide catalyst in the transesterification by ultrasonic irradiation. The effective reaction conditions by ultrasonic energy were 0.5 wt% catalyst loading and 6:1 molar ratio of methanol to the mixed oils. The reaction rate of the transesterification by ultrasonic energy was faster than that by thermal energy. The highest yields of FAME were obtained as 80% in 5 min and the reaction equilibrium reached at that time.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2010

In this study, the adsorption reactions in the binary component system such as kaolinite-humic acid, kaolinite-americium and humic acid-americium were investigated. After performing the basic physico-chemical properties of the kaolinite, the adsorption reactions of the humic acid on the kaolinite were carried out with varying concentration of humic acid and ion strength, and pH. With increasing HA concentration and pH, the sorption of HA onto KA decreased, while the sorption of HA onto KA increased with increasing ionic stre ngth. Also, with varying pH, the adsorption reactions of the americium-kaolinite and americium-humic acid were studied. In the acid and neutral region, Am easily adsorbed on the HA, while the sorption of Am on the HA in the alkali region decreased because of electrostatic repulsion. The results from these studies make it possible to understand the characteristics of adsorption behaviour of the americium by the humic acid in the water environment.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.867-874
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• 2009

Solubility of a radionuclide is important for defining the release source term of a radioactive waste in the safety and performance assessments of a radioactive waste repository. When the pH and redox potential of the KURT groundwater were changed by an electrical method, the concentrations of uranium and thorium released from $UO_2$(cr) and $ThO_2$(cr) at alkali pH(8.1 ${\sim}$ 11.4) and reducing potential (Eh < -0.2 V) conditions were less than $10^{-7}mole/L$. Unexpectedly, the concentration of tetravalent thorium is slightly higher than that of uranium at pH = 8.1 and Eh= -0.2 V conditions, and this difference may be due to the formation of hydroxide-carbonate complex ions. When $UO_2$(s) and $UO_2$(am, hyd.), and $ThO_2$(s) and $Th(OH)_4(am)$ were assumed as solubility limiting solid phases, the concentrations of uranium and thorium in the KURT groundwater calculated by the PHREEQC code were comparable to the experimental results. The dominating aqueous species of uranium and thorium were presumed as $UO_2(CO_3)_3^{4-}$ and $Th(OH)_3CO_3^-$ at pH = 8.1 ${\sim}$ 9.8, and $UO_2(OH)_3^-$ and $Th(OH)_4(aq)$ at pH = 11.4.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.132-138
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• 2019

In this study, we demonstrate the effects of the acidic properties of montmorillonite (MMT), which is commonly used as a catalyst, on the conversion and selectivity of the dimer acid methyl ester (DAME) synthesis. We synthesize DAME by the dimerization of conjugated linoleic acid methyl ester (CLAME) and oleic acid methyl ester using MMT KSF. Incidentally, trimer acid methyl ester was formed as a by-product during the DAME synthesis. There is a necessity to adequately adjust the strength and quantity of the acid site to control the selectivity of DAME. Therefore, we vary the pH of the MMT acid by using various metal hydroxides. The purpose of this study is to increase the yield of monocyclic dimer acid methyl ester, which is a substance with adequate physical properties for industrial applications (e.g., lubricant and adhesive, etc.), using a heterogeneous catalyst. We report the dimerization of fatty acid methyl ester by using base treated-KSF, and apply it to conjugated soybean oil methyl ester. Then, we transmute the acid site properties of KSF, such as pH of 5 wt.% slurry KSF and various alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Ca). Characterization of base treated-KSF using a pH meter, x-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface analysis, and temperature-programmed desorption. We conduct an analysis of CLAME and DAME using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and gel permeation chromatography. Through these experiments, we demonstrate the effects of the acidic properties of KSF on the conversion and selectivity of the DAME synthesis, and evaluate its industrial potential by application to waste vegetable oil.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2005

Many different kinds of radwastes are discharged from the nuclear power plants, and $^{129}$I is included in these radwastes. Recovery test of $^{129}$I was evaluated for different radwastes(dry active waste, sludge, spent resin and simulated evaporator bottom). Recovery of $^{129}$I for dry active waste by acid leaching with $1.8\%$ NaClO was $74.3\%$$(RSD,\;2.2\%)$ and l291 for spent rein by alkali fusion method with KOH as a flux agent was $87.7\%$$(RSD,\;0.9\%$), respectively. iodide in simulated evaporator bottom containing a high concentration of borate was adsorbed with anion exchange resin at pH 7 phosphate buffer solution. Recovery of $^{129}$I for anion exchange resin was $92.5\%$ and not affected up to 1,200 $\mu$g/mL $H_3BO)3$(as a Boron). Recovery of $^{129}$I for the spent resin from nuclear power plant was $87.2\%$ $(RSD,\;1.2\%)$.

• Resources Recycling
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

Recently rapid economic growth and technological development have led to an increase in the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). As the amount of electric and electronic waste generated increases, the importance of processing waste printed circuit boards (PCB) is also increasing. Various studies have been conducted to recycle various valuable metals contained in a waste PCB in an environmentally friendly and economical manner. To get anode slime containing Ag and Au, Anode copper prepared from PCB scraps was used by means of electro-refining. Ag and Au recovery was conducted by leaching, direct reduction, and ion exchange method. In the case of silver, the anode slime was leached at 3 M $HNO_3$, 100 g/L, $70^{\circ}C$, and Ag was recovered by precipitation, alkali dissolution, and reduction method. In the case of gold, the nitrate leaching residues of the anode slime was leached at 25% aqua regia, 200 g/L, $70^{\circ}C$, and Au was recovered by pH adjustment, ion exchange resin adsorption, desorption and reduction method. The purity of the obtained Au and Ag were confirmed to be 99.99%.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2007

This study suggested a new method to stabilize molten salt wastes generated from the pyre-process for the spent fuel treatment. Using conventional sol-gel process, $SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$ (SAP) inorganic material that is reactive to metal chlorides were prepared. In this paper, the reactivity of SAP with the metal chlorides at $650{\sim}850$, the thermal stability of reaction products and their leach-resistance under the PCT-A test method were investigated. Alkali metal chlorides were converted into metal aluminosilicate($LixAlxSi1-_xO_{2-x}$) and metal phosphate($Li_3PO_4\;and\;Cs_2AlP_3O_{10}$) While alkali earth and rare earth chlorides were changed into only metal phosphates ($Sr_5(PO_4)_3Cl\;and\;CePO_4$). The conversion rate was about $96{\sim}99%$ at a salt waste/SAP weight ratio of 0.5 and a weight loss up to $1100^{\circ}C$ measured by thermogravimetric analysis were below 1wt%. The leach rates of Cs and Sr under the PCT-A test condition were about $10^{-2}g/m^2\;day\;and\;10^{-4}g/m^2\;day$. From these results, it could be concluded that SAP can be considered as an effective stabilizer for metal chlorides and the method using SAP will give a chance to reduce the volume of salt wasteform for the final disposal through further researches.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.335-339
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• 2008

Biodiesel is an alternative and renewable energy source, which is hoped to reduce global dependence on petroleum and environmental problem. Biodiesel produced from a variety of oil sources such as vegetable oil, animal fat and waste oils, and has properties similar to those associated with petro-diesel, including cetane number, volumetric heating value, flash point, viscosity and so on. In this study, we investigate the effect of quality of raw materials on alkali-catalyzed transesterification for producing of biodiesel. The increase of content of free fatty acid and water in oil were caused the sharp decrease of conversion yield. Also, the low purity of methanol in reactant was inhibited the reaction rate. In the case of addition of sodium sulfate as absorbent to prepare catalyst solution, the content of fatty acid methyl ester in product was increased more about 1.6% than that of control. However, the addition of zeolite, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate as absorbent in reactant to remove water generated from reaction did not show any enhancement in the reaction yield. This result may provide useful information with regard to the choice and preparation of raw materials for more economic and efficient biodiesel production.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Purpose: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are natural polymers that have been promoted as a next generation of new, sustainable materials. CNCs are invaluable as reinforcing materials for composites because they can impart improved mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties and they are biodegradable. The purpose of this review is to provide researchers with information that can assist in the application of CNCs extracted from waste agricultural byproducts (e.g. rice husks, corncobs, pineapple leaves). Methods & Results: This paper presents the unique characteristics of CNCs based on agricultural byproducts, and lists processing methods for manufacturing CNCs from agricultural byproducts. Various mechanical treatments (microfluidization and homogenization) and chemical treatments (alkali treatment, bleaching and hydrolysis) can be performed in order to generate nanocellulose. CNC-based composite properties and various applications are also discussed. Conclusions: CNC-based composites from agricultural byproducts can be combined to meet end-use applications such as sensors, batteries, films, food packaging, and 3D printing by utilizing their properties. The review discusses applications in food engineering, biological engineering, and cellulose-based hydrogels.