• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.942-948
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• 2010

To predict the potential reduction of $CH_4$ by recovering several types of wastes as of reusable energy sources like RDF, the $CH_4$ emission for each type of waste from Landfill Site 3 of SUDOKWON Landfill was estimated for the period of 2017 to 2024. Without any recovering effort on types of wastes being disposed of at the Landfill, there are producing a total of $526{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$ of $CH_4$; municipal waste of $337{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$, construction waste of $178{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$, and facility waste of $11{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$. It composed of 41.5% to that observed from 2002 to 2009. With properly retrieved by MT(Mechanical Treatment), it released a total of $158{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$ $CH_4$; $127{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$, $28{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$, and $4{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$, respectively. Additionally, when biologically degradable residues can be fully treated by MBT (Mechanical & Biological Treatment) system, the total amount of $CH_4$ emitted from the site will be lowered down as low as $115{\times}10^6\;Nm^3$, which is comparably lower showing only 21.8% to that for without any energy recovery practice. Futhermore, it is far less showing 9.1% to that obtained from 2002 to 2009. It can be decided that predictable amount of $CH_4$ emission reduced could be successfully accomplished and enhanced through ways of energy recovery efforts such as further scale adjustment of LFG treatment capacity in association with currently implemented practices in the landfill site.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.315-321
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• 2004

To compare soil carbon contents by Tyurin method and dry combustion method, we carried out analysis for 212 samples of agricultural land in Korea. The average values of soil carbon contents analyzed by Tyurin method and dry combustion method were $17.47{\pm}10.80$ and $19.91{\pm}10.63g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Both methods were evaluated as acceptable methods for soil carbon contents as the results showed. The results showed that soil texture had little effect on analysis method of carbon contents. Highly significant linear regression equation, Y = 0.846X ($R^2=0.991$), was obtained between carbon contents analyzed by Tyurin method (Y) and dry combustion method (X). As a result of comparison with data of carbon contents of the two methods, about 69% of results at dry combustion method have exceeded to results at Tyurin method. Especially, differences between results at two methods became higher as carbon contents were increasing. Tyurin method has been advantages such as shorter analysis time for one sample, more recognition for carbon analysis, and no need for expensive analyzer, while dry combustion method has simpler procedure, no heavy metal wastes, and more samples for analysis at one time.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.138-149
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• 2008

Rapid accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for the past century leads to acidify the surface ocean and contributes to the global warming as it forms acid in the ocean and it is a green house gas. In order to curb the green house gas emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, various multilateral agreements and programs have been established including UN Convention of Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol for the last decades. Also a number of geo-engineering projects to manipulate the radiation balance of the earth have been proposed both from the science and industrial community worldwide. One of them is ocean fertilization to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the photosynthesis of phytoplankton in the sea. Deliberate fertilization of the ocean with iron or nitrogen to large areas of the ocean has been proposed by commercial sector recently. Unfortunately the environmental consequences of the large scale ocean iron fertilization are not known and the current scientific information is still not sufcient to predict. In 2007, the joint meeting of parties of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 and 1996 Protocol (London Convention/Protocol) has started considering the purposes and circumstances of proposed large-scale ocean iron fertilization operations and examined whether these activities are compatible with the aims of the Convention and Protocol and explore the need, and the potential mechanisms for regulation of such operations. The aim of this paper is to review the current development on the commercial ocean fertilization activities and management regimes in the potential ocean fertilization activities in the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and high seas, respectively, and further to have a view on the emerging international management regime to be London Convention/Protocol in conjunction with a support from the United Nations General Assembly through The United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2012

Disposal of high amount of coal combustion by-products, such as fly ash and bottom ash, is of a great concern to the country, due to the huge treatment cost and land requirement. On the other hand, those coal-ash wastes are considered to have desirable characteristics that may improve physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Especially, compared with fly ash, bottom ash has a larger particle size, porous surface area, and usable amount of micronutrients. In the present study, we examined bottom as a soil amendment for mitigating $CO_2$ emission and enhancing carbon sequestration in soils fertilized with organic matter (hairy vetch, green barely, and oil cake fertilizer). Through laboratory incubation, $CO_2$ released from the soil was quantitatively and periodically monitored with an enforced-aeration and high-temperature respirometer. We observed that amendment of bottom ash led to a marked reduction in $CO_2$ emission rate and cumulative amount of $CO_2$ released, which was generally proportional to the amount of bottom ash applied. We also found that the temporal patterns of $CO_2$ emission and C sequestration effects were partially dependent on the relative of proportion labile carbon and C/N ratio of the organic matter. Our results strongly suggest that amendment of bottom ash has potential benefits for fixing labile carbon as more stable soil organic matter, unless the bottom ash contains toxic levels of heavy metals or other contaminants.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.211-216
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• 2008

The artificial lightweight aggregate (ALA) was manufactured in a rotary kiln at $1125^{\circ}C$ using green body formed by pelletizing the batch powder composing of coal bottom ash (CBA) produced from power plant, clay and dredged soil (DS). The TCLP (Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure) results showed that the dissolution concentration of heavy metal ions of ALA fabricated in this study was below the limitation defined by the enforcement regulations of wastes management law in Korea. The ALA containing 60$\sim$70 wt% CBA had a bulk density of 1.45$\sim$1.49 and a water absorption of 17.2$\sim$18.5 %. The impact values for oven-dry state and saturated-surface dry state of ALA were 27.4$\pm$1.3 and 23.4$\pm$2.6 % respectively. The 28-days compressive strength of concrete made with various ALA was $22.7\sim27.8 N/mm^2$. The slump of concrete with ALA containing CBA 60 and 70 wt% were 7.9 and 14.3 cm respectively. The unit weight of concrete made with any ALA fabricated in this study was satisfied with the standard specifications of lightweight concrete for the civil engineering and construction presented by Korea as below $1.84 ton/m^3$.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.449-457
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• 2015

Objectives: In Korea, the system of management of medical waste largely relies on the incineration method. Our study aimed to identify any regional imbalances between the generation and treatment of medical waste, and provide reference data for future policy in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data on the amount of medical waste from 2,000 hospitals in 2012, 2013, and 2014 obtained from the Korea Environment Corporation. In the Arc GIS program (version 10.2.3), the addresses of hospitals and incinerators were transformed into map coordinates. The amount of waste generated by each hospital and the amount incinerated were represented by density and size of a triangle symbol, respectively. Results: As of 2014, the total amount of medical waste from the top 2,000 hospitals was 136,073 tons, out of which about half (49%) was generated in the capital area. Eleven incineration companies (three in the capital area, two in the Chungcheong Provinces area, one in the Jeolla Provinces area, and five in the Gyeongsang Provinces area) treated this waste. For the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, about 60% of the medical waste generated from the hospitals in the capital area was treated within the capital area and about 40% was transported to other areas, especially the Gyeongsang Provinces area, for treatment. On the other hand, about 90% of the medical waste incinerated in the capital area originated from the capital area. Conclusion: Our results suggest a spatial imbalance between the generation and treatment of medical waste in Korea and warrants multilateral policies, including the expansion of on-site treatment, strengthening regulation of the containment of medical wastes, promoting reductions in medical waste and more.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.381-387
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• 2004

To characterize chemically a spent pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel, an analytical method for trace amounts of tritium ($^3H$) in it has been established. Considering the effective management of radioactive wastes generated through the whole experimental process and the radiological safety for analysts, a separation condition under which $^{14}C$ and $^3H$ can be sequentially recovered from a single fuel sample was optimized using simulated spent PWR fuel dissolved solutions. $^{14}CO_2$ evolved during dissolution of the spent PWR fuels with nitric acid was trapped in an aliquot of 1.5 M NaOH. $^{129}I_2$ which was volatilized along with $^{14}CO_2$ was removed using a silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel absorbent. $^3H$ remaining in the fuel dissolved solution as $^3H_2O$ was selectively recovered by distillation. Its recovery yield was 97.9% with a relative standard deviation of 0.9% (n=3). $^3H$ in a spent PWR fuel with burnup value of 37,000 MWd/MtU was analyzed, reliability of this analytical method being evaluated by standard addition method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.421-428
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• 2012

In this study, PCDD/PCDFs, PAHs and PCBs in wastes from metal, plastic and wastewater treatment facilities were analyzed. The concentrations of PCDD/PCDFs ranged from 7.37~432.20 ng-TEQ/kg in fly ash, 0.51~855.01 ng-TEQ/kg in incinerated ash and 0.37~385.81 ng-TEQ/kg in dust. Dioxin content was lower, compared to data in foreign countries. PAHs concentration was in the range of 0.0075~2.9225 mg/kg for process sludge and 0.0035~1.6716 mg/kg for wastewater sludge, which satisfied all of the two standards (Nap, Ant, B(a)F:4/0.8, Phen, B(a)A:5/1, Flt:10/2.5, B(a)P:4.5/0.9) of the Marine Environment Management Act. PAHs concentration in process sludge and wastewater sludge were slightly lower than those abroad. According to the analysis of seven types of PCBs (in comparison with the first standard, 0.15 mg/kg), concentration was found in the range of 0.0~0.65 mg/kg, while PCB-52, PCB-101, PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180 isomers were detected in excessive value in some machine oil and hydraulic fluid.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.301-311
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ awareness of chemical waste produced in elementary school laboratory experimentation and how this awareness relates to collection and disposal of chemical waste. More specifically, the study looked at the correlation between the handling of chemical waste and factors such as years of teachers’ educational career, class size and amount of waste produced. The target population were 250 elementary school teachers in Gyeongnam area and 237 subjects were responded. Among the 237 responses, 37 cases that did not complete the questionnaire were eliminated. Therefore, 200 responses were analyzed in this study. The survey questionnaire consisted of 15 questions. The categories of the questionnaire were their skills of management and treatment of the chemical waste. The data collected were analyzed by SPSS 10.0, and the relations among variables such as class sizes and years of teaching experience were also analyzed by $x^2-test.$ The results in this study were as follows: First, there were no significant differences between the years of teaching and class sizes in the training experience of chemical waste disposal. Second, there was a significant difference between the science laboratory size and class sizes in the laboratory actual condition. In addition, in the relations between the number of times of experimentation and the years of teaching experience, there was a significant difference. Third, in terms of the discharge amount of chemical waste, there was a significant difference between the years of teaching and class sizes. Fourth, in the simple chemistry waste disposal process in the science laboratory, there also was a significant difference between the kinds of experimental equipments that used in the experimentation and the years of teaching. Based on this study, it was found that great amount of the chemical wastes produced in the science laboratory dumped into the drain and the treatment process of chemical waste was also inattentive. Even the importance of environmental education is emphasized in the elementary education, the basic problems occurred in the science laboratory is disregarded. Therefore, not only students but teachers have to pay attention to the disposal process of chemical waste in the laboratory in order to prevent environment pollution. Furthermore, the efforts of preventing environment pollution are needed such as opening the teacher training course about environment education, minimal use of chemicals, treatment of chemical waste, and so forth.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the typical composition of food waste from municipal solid wastes (MSW) and unit food waste generation rates from different sources in the model cities and to study the food waste management system from unit household to composting facilities. The annual average food waste composition of MSW was determined as 49% in Taejon and 52% in Chungnam Province, respectively. No big difference in food waste composition was found among the different sources. Since the paper waste generally occupied the half of food waste, over 75% of MSW was found to be compostable or biodegradable. Per capita food waste generation rate, 200~250g/capita day was determined by the direct measurement from 32 households, while 380g/capita day for Chungnam Province and 400 g/capita day for Taejon were estimated by the load count analysis In the sanitary landfills. This difference means people contribute generating food waste at outside house approximately twice as much as that at inside house. Per capita food waste generation rates from several sources were determined as follows; 166~215g/capita day at municipalities, 400g/visitor day at a first class hotel, 170g/student day at a university restaurant. Food waste generation from restaurant was strongly dependant upon it's level or quality; 670g/capita day at the high level restaurant, 190g/capita day at the middle class and 60 g/capita day at the lower class restaurant. The food waste reduction rate in a In situ fermentor showed 30~40g/kg day.