세계적으로 환경에 대한 관심이 커지면서, 탄소 저감 및 탄소 중립을 위한 다양한 연구들이 진행되고 있다. 특히 최 근에는 탄소 포집 및 저장 기술인 CCS(Carbon Capture and Storage)에 주목이 높아졌다. 그뿐만 아니라, 대기 중의 탄소를 효과 적으로 저장하는 특성을 가진 바이오차는 탄소 중립에 기여할 수 있는 방안으로 다양한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 건설 산업에서 는 시멘트 대체재를 활용한 탄소 감소 관련 연구가 진행 중이며, 본 연구에서는 바이오차를 콘크리트 및 모르타르의 시멘트 대 체재로 활용하여 시멘트 사용량을 줄이고, 동시에 콘크리트 및 모르타르 내의 탄소를 포집하고 저장하여 탄소 배출량을 감소시 키고자 한다. 이를 위해 바이오차의 시멘트 치환율을 0%, 10%, 20%로 설정하고, 각각의 경우에 대해 콘크리트 및 모르타르의 슬럼프, pH 농도, 그리고 압축강도를 비교하였다.실험 결과에 따르면, 바이오차의 시멘트 치환율이 증가함에 따라 슬럼프와 압 축강도가 감소하는 경향을 보였으며, pH는 유사한 양상을 나타냈다.

본 연구는 방부처리 없이 목재데크에 사용되는 수입 목재들의 자연내후성을 조사하기 위하여 실시되었다. 진주 근교의 야외시험장에서 시행된 4년의 지상근접시험(Ground Proximity Test)을 통해 꾸마루, 말라스, 멀바우, 이페, 자토바의 목재부후균 및 흰개미 저항성을 평가하였다. AWPA E7 방식에 의해 매년 2회 정기점검이 실시되었으며 야외노출시험이 종료된 후 목재 시편의 밀도 프로파일 측정을 통해 부위별 부후 정도가 조사되었 다. 다섯 수종 모두 평가 등급이 9.8 이상으로 목재부후균 및 흰개미에 의한 피해가 거의 발생하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 일부 시편의 경우 목구면 부근에서 밀도가 약간 감소하는 경향을 보여주었지만, 대부분은 밀도 변화가 거의 발생하지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 이들 수종이 방부처리 없이 국내 목재사용환경범주 H3 (실외 비접지 환경)에 사용할 수 있는 충분한 내구성을 가지고 있다는 것을 의미한다.

In this study, in order to develop a method to efficiently inject essential nutrients necessary for plant growth into wood chips, which are simply used as soil covering materials in the agriculture, landscaping and horticultural industries, the atmospheric pressure dipping method and the vacuum pressure impregnating method are used to improve the plant nutrients injectability and impregnation amount were comparatively analyzed. Nutrient ingredients and 8 major heavy metal contents of wood chips injected with nutrients were analyzed, and soil covering effects were examined by covering wood chips injected with nutrients on soil. Comparing the dipping method and the vacuum pressure impregnation method, it took about 48 hours or more to inject 1,500 g or more of the nutrient aqueous solution into 1 kg of wood chips in the dipping method, but the vacuum pressure impregnation method could be impregnated in about 5 minutes. Components of the impregnated nutrients were detected in proportion to the diluted concentration. As a result of covering the wood chips developed in this study on soil, they showed weakly acidic pH, and the heat insulation and moisturizing effects during the winter season were evaluated to be superior to those of uncovered soil. In the future, wood chips impregnated with nutrients are expected to contribute to the more efficient use of waste wood resources and the long-term supply of nutrients essential for plant growth, reducing excessive use of chemical fertilizers and reducing costs.

Insect cuticle is an extracellular matrix formed primarily from two different biopolymers, chitin and protein. During each molt cycle, a new cuticle is deposited simultaneously with degradation of the old cuticle by molting fluid cuticle degrading-enzymes, including epidermal chitinases (CHTs). Insect CHTs, belonging to family 18 glycosylhydrolase (GH18), have been classified into at least eleven subgroups based on phylogenetic analyses, and group I (CHT5) and group II (CHT10) epidermal CHTs present in molting fluid. In this study we report the physiological function of MaCHT5 and MaCHT10 in the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus. RNAi for either MaCHT5 or MaCHT10 resulted in larval-pupal and pupal-adult molting defects, in which the insects were unable to shed completely their old cuticle and died entrapped in their exuviae. Furthermore, TEM analysis revealed a failure of degradation of the old cuticle in both MaCHT5- and MaCHT10-deficient pharate adults. In the old pupal cuticle, the chitinous horizontal laminar and vertical pore canal essentially remained intact in the endocuticular layer. These results indicate that both CHTs are required for turnover of the chitinous old cuticle, which is critical for completion of insect molting. We also discuss the possible function of two spliced variants of MaCHT10, MaCHT10a and MaCHT10b.

Research on alternative fumigants to replace methyl bromide (MB), a harmful ozone-depleting substance and highly toxic pesticide, began in 2007. Initial tests focused on using ethyl formate for fruits and EDN for wood. Subsequently, alternative techniques were developed for a total of 94 plant types using ethyl formate, EDN, and phosphine, demonstrating Korea's superior performance compared to other countries, especially in practical applications. However, when it comes to wood products, the primary users of methyl bromide, EDN is scarcely used due to concerns about worker safety. An emerging alternative to MB is sulfuryl fluoride (SF), widely employed in North America to control wood-damaging pests like termites. SF's advantages include a lower boiling point and higher vapor pressure, making it effective against wood pests. Yet, certain bark beetle eggs require higher doses and longer treatment periods, resulting in established international standards (e.g., 120g/m3 for 48 hours at 20℃), posing challenges for field applications. Recently, the APQA initiated basic research to apply SF to wood. They are assessing SF's effectiveness against various wood-destroying pests, including termites, bark beetles, and long horn beetles, while also evaluating the feasibility of mixed treatments to reduce dosage. Once SF fumigation standards are established, it is expected to significantly reduce methyl bromide use in commonly used wood types, contributing to ozone layer protection and enhancing fumigation work safety.

This study aimed to isolate and identify the new strains which can be utilized in fermentation process for the production of functional materials. Isolation of the new microorganism in wood vinegar, natural liquid material generated from the carbonization of various trees was studied. Marine agar medium was used for the isolation of halo-tolerant bacteria. Using a sterilized toothpick, transfer same shape colonies to agar plates and continuous cultivation of colonies at 37℃ for several days, 2 colonies were isolated. Through the 16S-based ID service, isolated strains were identified as Cytobacillus species. Verifying the industrial values of the two isolated strains, the productivities of various enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease were confirmed. As a result, isolated 2 strains showed amylase and protease activities which means the possibility of applying to biological processes in the food and cosmetic industries.

As the management procedure for self-disposal wastes stored in the radiation controlled area within the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) have been established, and the types and quantities of wastes are increasing. In order to carry out the disposal of wastes with various generation histories, we expanded the processing range from surface contaminated waste, which was already in progress, to volumetric contaminated waste. In this paper, a case study of self-disposal of volumetric contaminated radioactive waste for which final disposal has been completed is described. In order to carry out of self-disposal of volumetric contaminated waste, it is important to collect representative samples and prove their representativenss. Based on this, a treatment plan was established after reviewing the history of the waste to be disposed of, and the treatment work was carried out as follows; waste collection, classification by size and shape, radiation (activity) measurement, sampling of representative samples, radioactivity concentration analysis, notification to regulatory bodies and question-and-answer, final disposal. The waste is judged have no potential for contamination because the polywood used to set the flat floor between the steel frame and floorboards in the experimental greenhouse didn’t come into contact with radioactive material. However, due to the conservative approach to the presence or absence of contamination, the treatment plan was established assuming volumetric contaminated waste. The type of waste is single wood, and the major contaminating radionuclides are Sr-85 and Cs-137. After the waste was collected and sorted by size and shape, it was weighed and a representative sampling amount and sampling method were set up. A direct method of surface contamination was performed on the entire area, and the representative sample was divided into three groups of homogenized population samples using the trisection method, with three points (upper/middle/below) were sampled at a 200:1 ratio, and radioactivity concentration analysis was conducted. After confirming that the concentration was below the allowable concentration for selfdisposal, the final disposal was completed after receiving approval after reporting to the regulatory body. As a result of radioactivity concentration analysis of representative samples, the maximum radioactivity concentration for each nuclide was Sr-85: < MDC (0.00178), Cs-137 : 0.00183 Bq/g (Sr-85 : 1 Bq/g, Cs-137 : 0.1 Bq/g), which meets the nuclide allowable concentration standard. It was confirmed that the total maximum fraction of 0.02 Bq/g satisfies the criteria (In the case of mixed nuclides, the sum of the fraction is less than 1). This paper introduces the establishment and implementation of self-disposal procedures based on the experience of self-disposal of radioactive waste with volumetric contaminants, and is going to utilize it as a basic material for self-disposal of radioactive waste with volumetric contaminants that will continue in the future and contribute to the reduction of radioactive wastes.

In KAERI, Waste storage facility in the radiation management area has stored a large amount of wood waste. The amount of waste is approximately 27,000 kg, it accounts for 17% of the total waste in waste storage facility. Proper disposal of wood waste improves the fire resistance performance, secure storage space and reduce disposal costs. In order to self-disposal of wood waste, it is necessary to satisfy the self-disposal standards stipulated by the domestic Atomic Energy Act and the treatment standards of the Waste Management Act. The main factors of standards are surface contaminant, radionuclide activity and radiation dose effects. To confirm the contamination of wood waste, direct indirect measurement methods and gamma nuclide analysis were performed. To evaluate radiation dose, various computational programs were used. The results of the analysis were satisfied with domestic regulations on the classification and self-disposal of radioactive wastes. Based on this results, KAERI submitted the report on wood waste self-disposal plan to obtain approval. After final approval, wood waste is to be incinerated and incineration ash is to be buried in the designated place. The objective of this study is to provide total procedure of wood waste self-disposal and effective representative sampling method.

2021년 4월부터 8월에 제주시의 비닐하우스에서 재배되는 목이버섯에서 거저리 일종이 발견되었으며, 그를 동정한 결과 제주진주거저리 (Platydema takeii Nakane, 1956)로 확인되었다. 상업적으로 재배되는 버섯에 있어서 거저리 해충으로 인한 우리나라의 첫 번째 피해 사례이다. 여 기서는 이 해충의 피해 증상과 성충 및 유충의 진단형질을 제공하고자 한다.

본 연구는 구리화합물계 목재방부제로 가압방부처리된 난주입수종이 국내 지상부 목재사용환경에서 방부성능을 유지할 수 있는 조건을 파악하기 위하여 수행되었다. 장기간(12년)의 지상부 야외노출시험을 통하여 방부성능이 입증된 방부처리 목재를 대상으로 목재 내부에 존재하는 주요 방부성 분인 구리의 분포 상태를 조사하였다. 구리 정색반응 결과를 살펴보면 변재는 대부분 균일하게 처리되었지만, 심재에서 구리의 침투는 목재 표면에 국한되어 있는 것으로 나타났다. 심재에서 구리의 침투는 국내 방부목 표준규격에서 요구하는 심재의 최소 침윤깊이(8 mm)를 만족하지 못하였다. 그러나 기준을 만족하지 못한 방부처리 시편들도 우수한 방부효능을 가지고 있다는 것을 알 수 있는데 이러한 결과는 난주입수종의 적절한 활용을 위해 국내 규격의 보완이 필요하다는 것을 의미한다.

최근 탄소 중립 정책에 따른 신재생에너지 활용을 위한 노력이 가속화되고 있다. 이를 위하여 본 연구에서는 바이오매스 작물 중 하나인 케나프 (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)를 연료화하기 위하여, 미이용 목재 자원과 폐목재 자원을 혼합하여 고형연료인 펠릿을 제조하고 품질을 분석하였다. 품질을 평가하기 위해 목재 펠릿, 비목재 펠릿과 Bio-SRF의 품질기준을 통해 성형한 펠릿의 품질을 파악하였다. 케나프 펠릿의 경우 겉보기밀도, 발열량 등에서는 목재 펠릿 품질기준을 만족하였으나 회분의 함량이 기준을 초과하였다. 이를 보완하기 위해 목재 자원인 폐목재를 혼합하여 제조한 펠릿의 특성을 조사한 결과, 질소 및 겉보기밀도, 회분, 발열량 등에서 오히려 품질을 저하시키는 경향을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 한편, 미이용 목재를 혼합하여 성형된 펠릿의 품질을 조사한 결과, 겉보기밀도, 함수율, 질소, 황, 발열량의 조건에서 대부분 목재 펠릿의 품질기준을 만족하였다. 다만 회분함량의 경우 비목재 펠릿 및 Bio-SRF의 15% 이하 기준을 만족하고 있지만, 목재 펠릿의 최저 기준인 B등급 2.0% 이하 기준의 경우 만족하는 경우와 만족하지 못하는 경우가 발생하였다. 함수율 15%(w.b.)에서 케나프와 미이용 목재의 혼합비가 2:8인 경우와 함수율 20%(w.b.)에서 케나프와 미이용 목재의 혼합비가 6:4 및 2:8인 경우에 기준을 만족하였고, 그 이외에는 기준을 만족하지 못하였다. 특히, 케나프만을 사용하거나 폐목을 섞은 경우는 모두 기준을 만족하지 못하므로, 목재 펠릿의 기준을 만족하는 연료 이용을 위해서는 케나프와 미이용 목재 자원을 혼합 활용하는 것이 바람직할 것으로 판단된다.