• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2013

The objectives of this study were to identify the characteristics of groundwater in the petroleum contaminated site and to evaluate the applicability of house-type landfarm facilities heated with briquette stoves in winter season. The six monitoring wells were installed at the site where pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were all measured. Also groundwater contaminants, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and total petroleum hydrocarbon, were analyzed twice. House-type two landfarm facilities ($12m{\times}40m{\times}4.8m$) each installed with four briquette stoves were constructed. During four rounds treatment process, VOCs, moisture, temperature were monitored and soil contaminants were analyzed. The pH was 6.37 and considered subacid and DO was measured to be 3.12 mg/L. The temperature of groundwater was measured to be $9.48^{\circ}C$. The groundwater contaminants were detected only in the monitoring wells within the contaminated area or close to it showing that the groundwater contaminated area was similar to the soil contaminated area. During the landfarm process, 73.3% of VOCs concentration in interior gas was decreased and moisture was lowered from 17.7% to 13.4%. In the morning, at 8:00 am, the temperature was decreased showing soil ($5.5^{\circ}C$) > interior ($4.8^{\circ}C$) > exterior ($3.5^{\circ}C$). In the afternoon, at 2:00 pm, the temperature was soil ($8.6^{\circ}C$) < interior ($9.9^{\circ}C$) < exterior ($11.5^{\circ}C$) with solar radiation. The temperature difference between interior and exterior was $0.7^{\circ}C$ in the morning, but it was $1.6^{\circ}C$ in the afternoon. A total of 130 days were taken for four round landfarm processes. Each process was completed within 33 days showing 80% of cleanup efficiency ($1^{st}$ order dissipation rate(k) = 0.1771).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.384-397
• /
• 2021

Background: With volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene that can adversely affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems when a certain concentration is reached, it is important to accurately evaluate the source and the corresponding health risk effects. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide scientific evidence for the city of Seoul's VOC reduction measures by confirming the risk of each VOC emission source. Methods: In 2020, 56 VOCs were measured and analyzed at one-hour intervals using an online flame ionization detector system (GC-FID) at two measuring stations in Seoul (Gangseo: GS, Bukhansan: BHS). The dominant emission source was identified using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, and health risk assessment was performed on the main components of VOCs related to the emission source. Results: Gasoline vapor and vehicle combustion gas are the main sources of emissions in GS, a residential area in the city center, and the main sources are solvent usage and aged VOCs in BHS, a greenbelt area. The risk index ranged from 0.01 to 0.02, which is lower than the standard of 1 for both GS and BHS, and was an acceptable level of 5.71×10^-7 to 2.58×10^-6 for carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: In order to reduce the level of carcinogenic risk to an acceptable safe level, it is necessary to improve and reduce the emission sources of vehicle combustion and solvent usage, and eco-car policies are judged to contribute to the reduction of combustion gas as well as providing a response to climate change.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.131-143
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the atmospheric concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the urinary concentration of biomarkers in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex to compare them with those of residents in a control area. Methods: Hazardous air pollutants (PAHs and VOCs) were measured in an exposure area (two sites) and a control area (one site). Urine samples were collected from residents near the industrial complex (184 persons) and residents in the control area (181 persons). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify which factors affected the concentration of PAHs and VOCs metabolites. Results: The average atmospheric concentration of PAHs in Shinpyeong-dong and Jangrim-dong was 0.45 and 0.59 ppb for pyrene, 0.15 and 0.16 ppb for benzo[a]pyrene, and 0.29 and 0.35 ppb for dibenz[a,h]anthracene. The average atmospheric concentration of VOCs was 1.10 and 0.99 ppb for benzene, 8.22 and 11.30 ppb for toluene, and 1.91 and 3.05 ppb for ethylbenzene, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs and VOCs in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex were higher than those of residents in the control area. Geometric means of urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxypyrene, methylhippuric acid, and mandelic acid concentrations were 0.45, 0.22, 391.51, and 201.36 ㎍/g creatinine, respectively. Those levels were all significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). In addition, as a result of multiple regression analysis, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as gender and smoking, the concentration of metabolites in urine was high in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex. Conclusion: The results of this study show the possibility of human exposure to VOCs in residents near the Shinpyeong·Jangrim Industrial Complex. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the local community is required for the management of environmental pollutant emissions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2019

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are toxic carcinogenic compounds found in wastewater. VOCs require rapid removal because they are easily volatilized during wastewater treatment. Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes(EAOPs) are considered efficient for VOC removal, based on their fast and versatile anodic electrochemical oxidation of pollutants. Many studies have reported the efficiency of removal of various types of pollutants using different anodes, but few studies have examined volatilization of VOCs during EAOPs. This study examined the removal efficiency for VOCs (chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene and toluene) by oxidization and volatilization under a static stirred, aerated condition and an EAOP to compare the volatility of each compound. The removal efficiency of the optimum anode was determined by comparing the smallest volatilization ratio and the largest oxidization ratio for four different dimensionally stable anodes(DSA): Pt/Ti, $IrO_2/Ti$, $IrO_2/Ti$, and $IrO_2-Ru-Pd/Ti$. EAOP was operated under same current density ($25mA/cm^2$) and electrolyte concentration (0.05 M, as NaCl). The high volatility of the VOCs resulted in removal of more than 90% within 30 min under aerated conditions. For EAOP, the $IrO_2-Ru/Ti$ anode exhibited the highest VOC removal efficiency, at over 98% in 1 h, and the lowest VOC volatilization (less than 5%). Chloroform was the most recalcitrant VOC due to its high volatility and chemical stability, but it was oxidized 99.2% by $IrO_2-Ru/Ti$, 90.2% by $IrO_2-Ru-Pd/Ti$, 78% by $IrO_2/Ti$, and 75.4% by Pt/Ti anodes The oxidation and volatilization ratios of the VOCs indicate that the $IrO_2-Ru/Ti$ anode has superior electrochemical properties for VOC treatment due to its rapid oxidation process and its prevention of bubbling and volatilization of VOCs.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.229-236
• /
• 2019

Background: Emerging reports suggest the potential for adverse health effects from exposure to emissions from some additive manufacturing (AM) processes. There is a paucity of real-world data on emissions from AM machines in industrial workplaces and personal exposures among AM operators. Methods: Airborne particle and organic chemical emissions and personal exposures were characterized using real-time and time-integrated sampling techniques in four manufacturing facilities using industrial-scale material extrusion and material jetting AM processes. Results: Using a condensation nuclei counter, number-based particle emission rates (ERs) (number/min) from material extrusion AM machines ranged from $4.1{\times}10^{10}$ (Ultem filament) to $2.2{\times}10^{11}$ [acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate filaments). For these same machines, total volatile organic compound ERs (${\mu}g/min$) ranged from $1.9{\times}10^4$ (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate) to $9.4{\times}10^4$ (Ultem). For the material jetting machines, the number-based particle ER was higher when the lid was open ($2.3{\times}10^{10}number/min$) than when the lid was closed ($1.5-5.5{\times}10^9number/min$); total volatile organic compound ERs were similar regardless of the lid position. Low levels of acetone, benzene, toluene, and m,p-xylene were common to both AM processes. Carbonyl compounds were detected; however, none were specifically attributed to the AM processes. Personal exposures to metals (aluminum and iron) and eight volatile organic compounds were all below National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-recommended exposure levels. Conclusion: Industrial-scale AM machines using thermoplastics and resins released particles and organic vapors into workplace air. More research is needed to understand factors influencing real-world industrial-scale AM process emissions and exposures.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of milling of boron (B), which is one of raw materials of $MgB_2$, on the critical current density ($J_c$) of $MgB_2$. B powder used in this study is semi-amorphous B (Pavezyum, Turkey, 97% purity, 1 micron). The size of B powder was reduced by planetary milling using $ZrO_2$ balls (a diameter of 2 mm). The B powder and balls with a ratio of 1:20 were charged in a ceramic jar and then the jar was filled with toluene. The milling time was varied from 0 to 8 h. The milled B powders were mixed with Mg powder in the composition of (Mg+2B), and the powder mixtures were uniaxially pressed at 3 tons. The powder compacts were heat-treated at $700^{\circ}C$ for 1 h in flowing argon gas. Powder X-ray diffraction and FWHM (Full width at half maximum) were used to analyze the phase formation and crystallinity of $MgB_2$. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) and $J_c$ of $MgB_2$ were measured using a magnetic property measurement system (MPMS). It was found that $B_2O_3$ was formed by B milling and the subsequent drying process, and the volume fraction of $B_2O_3$ increased as milling time increased. The $T_c$ of $MgB_2$ decreased with increasing milling time, which was explained in terms of the decreased volume fraction of $MgB_2$, the line broadening of $MgB_2$ peaks and the formation of $B_2O_3$. The $J_c$ at 5 K increased with increasing milling time. The $J_c$ increase is more remarkable at the magnetic field higher than 3 T. The $J_c$ at 5 K and 4 T was the highest as $4.37{\times}10^4A/cm^2$ when milling time was 2 h. The $J_c$ at 20 K also increased with increasing milling time. However, The $J_c$ of the samples with the prolonged milling for 6 and 8 h were lower than that of the non-milled sample.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.139-145
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study is to recover valuable metals from spent batteries using a dry process. We focused on the effect of the smelting temperature on the composition of recovered solid and liquid products and collected gaseous products. After removal of the cover, the spent battery was left in NaCl solution and discharged. Then, the spent battery was made into a powder form through a crushing process. The smelting of the spent battery was performed in a tubular electric furnace in an oxygen atmosphere. For spent lithium-ion batteries, the recovery yield of the solid product was 80.1 wt% at a reaction temperature of 850 ℃, and the final product had 27.2 wt% of cobalt as well as other metals such as lithium, copper, and aluminum. Spent nickel-hydrogen batteries had a recovery yield of 99.2 wt% at a reaction temperature of 850 ℃ with about 37.6 wt% of nickel and other metals including iron. For spent nickel-cadmium batteries, the yield decreased to 65.4 wt% because of evaporation with increasing temperature. At 1050 ℃, the recovered metals were nickel (41 wt%) and cadmium (12.9 wt%). Benzene and toluene, which were not detected with the other secondary waste batteries, were detected in the gaseous product. The results of this study can be used as basic data for future research on the dry recycling process of spent secondary batteries.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.583-592
• /
• 2020

This study assessed source depletion in the vadose zones of contaminated sites. The possible range of infiltration rate in Korea was statistically analyzed. The results showed a trend of decreasing leachate concentration of 13 pollutants used for risk assessment. Among them, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene showed a lower leachate concentration in groundwater over time due to their low distribution coefficient and also possible biodegradation effects. The average values of the relative concentration could be taken as a default index due to a very small range of uncertainties. In the case of heavy metals, it was shown that the leachate concentration in a pollutant does not decrease over time. Considering the annually different infiltration, a site-specific source-depletion scenario was applied to Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province. The result was expressed as a time series of the relative concentration of the leachate concentration, and this was compared to the trend by averaged Korean infiltration. Finally, an open-source code that used Python was used to help calculate the leachate concentration by this site-specific infiltration scenario.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.64 no.6
• /
• pp.327-333
• /
• 2020

Performance of a portable GC that can be utilized for the real time determination of volatile organic compounds in air was evaluated. It employs purified/compressed ambient air as the carrier gas eliminating the need for high pressure gas tanks. The compact system with dimensions of 35 × 26 × 15 ㎤ and weight of 5 kg is powered by either a 24 V DC external adapter or battery pack. Chromatograms of the mixture sample including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and oxylene at concentrations of 1 ppmv and 20 ppmv represent a good reproducibility: 3.79% and 0.48% relative standard deviations (RSDs) for peak area variations; 0.40% and 0.08% RSDs for retention times. The method detection limit was 0.09 ppmv. A 30 m long, 0.28 mm I.D. column operated at an optimal condition yielded a peak capacity of 61 with good resolution for a 10 min isothermal analysis. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of the peak area variations and retention times during consecutive measurements over 27 h were less than 2.4%RSD and 0.5%RSD, respectively. Thus, this instrument makes it suitable for continuous and field analysis of low-concentration VOC mixtures in the indoor/outdoor environment as well as the spillage accident of hazardous chemicals.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 2021

Petroleum is the most consumed energy source in Korea with a usage rate of 38.7% among the available primary energy sources. The price of liquid petroleum products in Korea includes taxes such as transportation·environment·energy tax. Thus, illegal production and distribution of liquid petroleum is widespread because of its huge price difference from that of the normal product and its tax-free nature. Generally, the illegal petroleum product is produced by mixing liquid petroleum with other similar petroleum alternatives. The two kinds of gasoline, common gasoline and premium gasoline, are being distributed in Korea. The premium gasoline is often adulterated with cheaper common gasoline that lowers the octane number of gasoline. It is possible to distinguish them with their color difference, green and yellow for different grade gasoline. However, when small volume of common gasoline is added to premium gasoline, it is difficult to determine whether premium gasoline contained common grade or not. In this study, we inspect gasoline, which is illegally produced by mixing common gasoline to premium gasoline. When the ratio of mixing common gasoline is increased, premium gasoline shows decreasing absorbance at 600 nm and 650 nm under UV-Vis spectrometer. Moreover, the detected intensity (mV·s) of green dye in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was decreased by common gasoline under 0.99 correlation value. The more the common gasoline is mixed, the more olefin and naphthene are detected by gas chromatography. In addition, trimethyl pentane as octane improver, paraffin and toluene are decreased by common gasoline mixing. The findings of this study suggests that illegal petroleum can be identified by analysis of components and simulated samples.