수은은 실생활에서 형광등, 전지, 치과용 아말감이나 시약 및 의약품 등에 많이 사용되고 산업적으로도 전기스위치 등에 중요하게 사용된다. 수은은 증기형태로 흡입할 경우, 폐렴을 일으키고 중추신경계 및 신장에 매우 유해하여 전 세계적으로 수은 및 수은 화합물의 사용이 금지되거나 제한을 받고 있으며 대체물질과 대체 공정에 대한 개발이 이루어지고 있다. 최근 몇 년 사이에 병원이나 학교에서의 혈압계나 온도계의 수은 누출사고와 형광등 생산시설의 해체 및 철거 중 근로자의 수은 중독 및 환경오염 사고와 비철금속업체의 수은 폐기물 처리문제에 대한 논쟁이 불거지게 되었다. 전국 병원 2,500개소 설문조사 결과, 143개 병원에서 혈압 및 체온계의 약 4천여개 (약 140 kg-Hg)가 회수와 폐기가 필요한 것으로 조사되었다. 또한 미나마타협약에서 요구되는 수은 수출･입, 공급원 파악, 임시보관 및 유통･보관, 회수, 처리 등 단계별 수은의 회수, 유통, 관리에 대한 체계 구축이 미흡하다. 수은 폐기물은 미나마타협약에 의하여 ‘수은 구성 폐기물’, ‘수은 함유 폐기물’, ‘수은 오염 폐기물’로 나눠지고 본 연구에서는 ‘수은 및 수은화합물’을 포함하여 수은 제품 및 폐기물에 대하여 수출입, 유통, 회수, 폐기 등 전과정 단계별 흐름 분석을 통하여 수은의 국내 흐름을 파악하고 관련 법 제도의 문제점을 분석하고자 함에 있다. 또한 수은 관련 유통량을 조사하고 폐기물의 처리 공정을 파악하여 대상 물질, 원료 사용량, 시스템 경계설정, 데이터 수집 및 분석, 계산과 검증 등의 절차를 걸쳐 물질수지에 근거하여 ‘물질흐름도’를 작성하여 도출하였다. 물질흐름분석을 보다 쉽게 활용하고 적용할 수 있도록 ‘물질흐름분석 소프트웨어(STAN 2.5)를 활용하여 공정 내의 데이터 유입과 유출을 Shankey diagram 형태로 표현하였다. 수은의 정적물질흐름분석 결과, 2015년 기준 국내 유입량은 약 3톤(제조량: 0 ton, 수입량: 2.2 ton)으로 집계되고 수입된 수은은 대부분 형광램프 제조, 시약 및 촉매 제조 등의 용도로 사용된 것으로 나타났다. 수은의 국내 회수 가능량은 대략 0.6 ton/yr으로 보인다. 수은의 동적 물질흐름분석 결과, 국내 형광등은 2013년 기점으로 감소하고 향후 LED 램프로 교체될 것으로 예상된다. 수은 배출량 역시 2020년 약 758 kg-Hg으로 예상되었고 2030년에는 약 22 kg-Hg에 불과할 것으로 예상된다.

급격한 경제적･사회적 변화에 따라 제조업에서 발생하는 폐기물의 종류와 발생량 역시 다양하고 복잡하게 변화하고 있다. 사업장폐기물은 위해성에 따라 사업장일반폐기물과 지정폐기물로 분류되며, 지정폐기물은 사업장폐기물 중 주변 환경을 오염시킬 수 있거나 오염성 폐기물 등 인체에 위해를 줄 수 있는 유해성분을 지니고 있는 폐기물로써, 적정한 처리를 위해 관리 및 감시 등의 조치가 필요하다. 이러한 이유로 폐기물관리법에서는 올바로시스템을 통하여 지정폐기물의 발생량과 처리량 통계조사를 1년마다 실시토록 하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 지정폐기물 통계조사를 효과적으로 활용하기 위하여 물질의 흐름을 분석하여 정량적이고 체계적으로 평가하였다. 올바로시스템를 통하여 통계자료를 수집하였으며 2007년에서 2012년 사이의 자료는 통계방식이 다소 상이함으로 2005년과 2015년에 대하여 발생량과 처리량을 비교 분석하였다. 이에 본 연구에서는 국내 제조업에서 발생하는 지정폐기물에 대한 업종별 물질흐름분석을 통해 주요 발생물질과 발생원을 파악하고 지정폐기물 관리 및 정책 수립의 기초자료를 제공을 목적으로 한다.

Background: Glycyrrhiza uralensis Radix (GR) is a crude drugs used in Asian countries that has been reported to prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The present study examined whether GR and its active compounds, glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and isoliquiritigenin (IL), exerted protective effects on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in C6 glial cells. Methods and Results: We exposed C6 glial cells to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 24 h and investigated the cellular response to GR and its active compounds by evaluating cell viability, reactivie oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis-related protein expression. GR successfully mitigated the reduced cell viability and ROS production induced by H2O2 in C6 glial cells, IL and GA significantly increased the cell viability and decreased ROS production. In addition, IL and GA down-regulated apoptotic Baxdependent caspase-3 activation, but each compound exerted different mechanisms, i.e., IL dose-dependently decreased ROS production and, GA up-regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that GR and its active components, IL and GA, exhibit potential for use as natural neurodegenerative agents for the modulation of apoptosis in C6 glial cells.

Hazardous waste is also becoming more important as opportunities for industrial waste recycling are extended. Some hazardous industrial wastes that contain many inorganic materials and heavy metals can be reused as resources: Heavy metal recovery, heat energy, etc. To facilitate the waste-to-energy system, waste generation characteristics should be defined and managed by analyzing hazardous material content. This study examines the inorganic materials (Pb, Cu, As, Hg, Cd, Cr6+, CN, Ni, Zn, F, and Ba) of industrial wastes and the generation process (case of the Korean Standard Industrial Classification) using Absolutely Hazardous (AH) Waste Lists (LoW and EU). In particular, manufacture classification was a main waste generation process (82% for “AH”). Moreover, these 10 components (Pb, Cu, As, Hg, Cd, Cr6+, CN, Ni, Zn, and F, but not Ba) are compared with the regulatory limits on heavy metals in soil: Hg and As must be under the limit of the 3 Level (0.3 ~ 7.3 mg/kg).

In order to promote the resource circulation and upcycling of waste refrigerators, it is necessary to analyze the material flow of recovered valuable resources and low-value residues after they are discharged. This study divided the flow of waste refrigerators into the five steps of discharge, collection, pretreatment, resource recovery, and sale/export/disposal and conducted material flow analysis (MFA) in each step. Waste refrigerators are treated via official (formal sectors, 65.6% of total amount) and unofficial (informal sectors, 34.4% of total amount) channels. Officially, waste refrigerators are collected through free collection by national and local governments, recovery by product producers and distributors, and waste collection·transportation·recycling companies and are recycled at public and private recycling centers. Unofficially, waste refrigerators are collected through junk shops and individual collectors. Waste refrigerators recycled in the formal sectors undergo pretreatment processes such as the disassembly, shredding, and separation and recovery of resources such as scrap irons, plastics, PCB (printed circuit board), cables, glasses, waste refrigerants, urethane, etc. Waste refrigerators recycled in informal sector treated through disassembly of the exterior, the shredding process by the excavators in illegal facilities and recovered waste refrigerants, plastics, glasses, scrap irons, copper, nickel silver, PCB, urethane, etc. MFA results show that in 2015, the amount of waste refrigerators collected from formal sectors reached 121,642 ton/year, the amount of recycling was 107,684 ton/year, and the amount of residues was 13,955 ton/year respectively. Thus, actual recycling rate per a waste refrigerator was estimated 88.15% in 2015. To promote the resource circulation and upcycling of waste refrigerators, it is necessary to find a way to improve the recycling of urethane, which accounts for 10.8% of the total weight of a refrigerator.

With the increase in food consumption, the amount of animal and plant residues in food manufacturing has continued to increase. In particular, the residues generated from food manufacturing industries have a high recycling value because they are generated in large quantities, are homogeneous, and their recycling costs are less than that of households or small restaurants. In this study, we selected industries that produce large amounts of homogeneous animal and plant residues, including manufacturers of animal oils and fats, vegetable oils and fats, starches and glucose or maltose, and conducted material flow analysis using statistical data, field surveys, and questionnaires. In the results of material flow analysis, the amount of raw materials used in the surveyed industries was 3,029,830 tons per year, and 8,487 tons of animal and plant residues were generated through manufacturing and processing. In addition, the import substitution effect of recycling byproducts from industries into animal feed or similar was estimated to be ₩847,007 million KRW per year.

In South Korea, the “Waste Control Act” regulates the use and purpose of recycling waste and specifies recycling methods and specific standards. However, these processes requires a long time and large budget, because they need to be reviewed based on data specific to the type of waste involved. The use and purpose of recycling can be considered by its functional and environmental aspects. The functional aspect of recycling may vary widely, depending on product characteristics In contrast, environmental standards will have more points in common. Recycling standards that consider the environmental impact and characteristics of waste are not prepared specifically. Therefore, when a large amount of waste is recycled, or recycling standards are applied to a new type of waste, the methodology for review of its environmental characteristics can be controversial. This study is meant to recognize the necessity of recycling standards and to prepare environmental standards and new recycling purposes for waste related to recycling three types of gypsum waste (phospho, titan, desulfurization). Several companies were selected for this study. In the gypsum waste-generating company, gypsum waste samples were collected and analyzed for pH, heavy metal content, water content, hazardous substance content, etc. In addition, we attempted to obtain the company's opinions on waste recycling. We determined the hazardous materials found in these three types of gypsum waste, raised awareness of waste, and confirmed that industry waste can be efficiently recycled for new uses under the improved.

In this study, we investigated the distribution of domestic nanomaterials. Zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles, as well as carbon (C) nanotubes, were selected, and their circulation and quantity in use was investigated. We also analyzed leaching and of heavy metals in nanowaste. Chemical composition was determined using Xray diffraction and fluorescence (XRD and XRF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using XRF and XRD analysis, sludge from a facility using zinc oxide was found to have silicon dioxide (SiO2) and TiO2 as its main components. Sludge from a facility using TiO2 was found to have TiO2 as its main component. Samples of Ag nanoparticle and C nanotubes manufacturer measured elemental components of Ag and C, respectively. TEM analysis showed Si O2 in the form of dust sample from a facility manufacturing ZnO. Carbon nanotube samples of manufacturers were in the form of fibers. Leaching test results showed low concentrations compared to the regulation criteria of the Wastes Control Act. Content result of Zn was detected at -111.7 ~ 24,843.4 mg/kg in ZnO samples. Content result of Ti was detected at 1.51 ~ 35.28 mg/kg in TiO2 samples. Oil mop samples of Ag nanoparticle were detected in Ag (29,643.07 mg/kg) and Cu (15,600.8 mg/kg).

Since power plants are primarily using seawater as cooling water, they have been severely damaged quite often by various marine organisms inflow in power plants. So, various screen system - bar screen, travelling screen, drum screen and debris filter - have been used as a facility preventing harmful substances into the water intake of power plants. However, it is not enough to prevent too small organisms such as krill shrimp and large mucilages such as jellyfish. Therefore, it is necessary to study the screen system that can prevent harmful substances more efficiently. In the present study, the principal and shape of a air bubble barrier system was proposed as a screen system for preventing harmful substances. Then, analytical studies were carried out to evaluate environmental loading acting on the barrier structure.

내분비계 교란물질은 환경으로 방출되어 다양한 경로를 통해 조직에 축적되며, 각종 형태의 교란을 일으킴으로써 생식 이상과 성장억제 등을 초래한다. 본 연구에서는 내분비계 교란물질로 분류되는 Phthalate 및 대체물질 안전성 평가를 위해 TG407 실험을 수행하였다. TG407에 따라 (8주령) 수컷 Mouse에 Sonde를 이용하여 Phthalate (DEHP, 양성대조군; 4, 400 mg/kg/day) 및 대체후보물질 2종 (ATEC; 4, 40, 400 mg/kg/day), (ATHC; 400 mg/kg/day)를 28일 동안 경구투여 하였으며, 경구투여 종료 후 Sampling, 혈당 측정, CBC 측정, 호르몬 측정을 수행하였다. CBC와 혈당, Insulin 측정 및 뇌, 뇌하수체, 심장, 부정소, 정낭의 무게 측정 결과, 대조군과의 차이를 보이지 않았으며, T4와 T3의 농도는 ATHC를 제외하고는 대조군과의 차이를 보이지 않았다. ATHC(400 mg/kg)를 처리한 경우, 대조군에 비해 T4가 높았으며, T3는 낮았다. 간의 경우 DEHP(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였다. 신장의 경우, DEHP(400 mg/kg), ATHC(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였으며, 부신의 경우, DEHP(400 mg/kg), ATEC(40, 400 mg/kg), ATHC(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였다. 흉선의 경우 DEHP(400 mg/kg), ATHC(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였으며, 비장의 경우, DEHP(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였다. 정소의 경우, DEHP(400 mg/kg), ATEC(40, 400 mg/kg), ATHC(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였으며, 전립선의 경우, DEHP(400 mg/kg), ATHC(400 mg/kg)을 처리했을 때 대조군에 비해 무게가 증가하였다. 간, 신장, 부신, 비장, 정소, 부정소, 전립선을 대상으로 조직학적 분석을 진행하였으며, 특이적인 소견을 보이지 않았다. 본 연구를 통해 ATEC가 가장 독성이 낮은 것으로 사료되며, 따라서 ATEC와 같은 대체소재가 향후 플라스틱 시장에서 Phthalate를 대체할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

Waste lead-acid batteries are recycled and turned into lead and plastics (polypropylene and ABS etc.) through collection, disassembly, crushing, sorting, and washing. In particular, lead is recovered from the scrap by recycling companies and used as raw material in a smelter. Refined lead from smelters is reused as a raw material in new products. It is highly valuable to recover effective metals from waste lead-acid batteries that contain a significant amount of lead under environmentally sound management. In this study, we investigated the composition change and its cause in the process of use and phased out products to understand the discharge characteristics of waste lead-acid batteries. We also suggest examining the correlation between the waste lead-acid battery and the recovered lead to estimate the potential amount of recoverable lead. Finally, we produced a strategic method for accelerating national resource circulation by comprehending the flow of resources and their residues from wastes and propose it as a policy in baseline data.

Domestic industrial waste small-scale industrial incinerators produce less than 200 kg/hr; this study chose 13 of the 249 potential facilities. The target average emissions for air pollutants resulting from the facilities were SOx 13.56 ppm, NOx 82.74 ppm, NH3 19.95 ppm, HCl 54.33 ppm, HF 0.84 ppm, Hg N.D, As 0.1 ppm, H2S N.D. Dust and heavy metal analysis results for the facilities revealed Dust 32.51 mg/Sm3, Cd 0.04 mg/Sm3, Pb 0.20 mg/Sm3, Cr 0.08 mg/Sm3, and Cu 0.03 mg/Sm3. Combustion indicators were O2 11.58% and CO 271.20 ppm. Average PCDDs/DFs were 17.87 ng ITEQ/ ton. The target facilities were equipped with anti-pollution facilities. However, some items were found to exceed the emission standards. These results are even equipped with control facilities due to manual limitation actions of the management personnel. Therefore, it is determined that the emission control of contaminants is difficult.

The recyclability of waste generated in Korea was determined by sampling ten kinds of sludge to analyze its chemical composition and organic content. We also analyzed the regulatory items for waste control laws and soil environmental laws. Investigation of the leaching property revealed that all sludge samples were classified as general waste and the sludge samples were not types of waste that are prohibited or restricted from being recycled. The S1 sample was evaluated as organic sludge upon measuring the organic content and finding it to be 40% or higher; the other samples were deemed inorganic. Organic sludge S2 exceeded the Zn in the second regional standard of soil environmental laws. Among the inorganic sludge samples, S2 and S8 were considered most likely to be recycled because there were no hazardous substances that exceeded the standard. However, they should be recycled safely after the evaluation of their recyclability according to the recycling purpose and method. Especially the S5 sample was deemed difficult to recycle because it exceeded the third regional standard, which is the highest soil standard.

Background : Native oak tree species dominated the deciduous forests of South Korea. The acorns of them represent the main food source for wildlife species as well as human being, and they have 28 species. We analyzed and compared to the antioxidants including total phenolics and functional nutrients components among the acorns of nine kinds of oak trees (Quercus acutissima, Q. aliena, Q. mongolica, Q. variabilis, Q. serrata, Q, palustris, Q. rubra, Q. glauca, and Q. acuta). Methods and Results : Acorns were collected from each tree species, which were grown in a seed orchard. Contents of both total phenolic content (TPC) in acorns of Q. serrata were higher than others. Interestingly, Q. serrata contained the highest amount of water soluble tannins and the lowest levels of water insoluble tannins among 9 oak species, resulting that acorns of Q. serrata had the lowest proportion of insoluble tannins. Among 9 oak species tested, Q. aliena acorns contained the highest levels of total flavonoids content (TFC). Conclusion : Our result showed that nutritional composition of acorns was significantly different between oak species, indicating that tastes or nutritional values might be different as well among major oak species in Korea.

Background : Pachyrhizus erosus (Leguminosae), locally called as “Yam bean” is a traditional medical plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical region. The root of P. erosus is used by the local people to treat insomania, treatment of osteoporosis and extracts of this plant have shown antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory activity, tyrosinase inhibitionby, antitumour properties and cardiovascular benefit. Methods and Results : Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as standard antioxidants. The radical scavenging activity was measured using the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl–2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS assay. Total phenolic content was determined by following Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method and Total flavonoids were determined using aluminium chloride calorimetric methods. Phenolic compound concentration and compositions were determined by HPLC-MS/MS system. Seedlings grown under the flourescent light (Fl) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity when compared to the plants treated with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and light emitting plasma (LEP). LED-Blue showed the higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS concentration of PE compared to other LEDs. The accumulation of phenolic compounds increased under different white-LEDs conditions as compared to LEP and FL light conditions. Conclusion : In this study, antioxidant activity and phenolic compound composition of P. erosus was improved by the application of LED and LEP.

Background : Extraction is the first and the most important step in the recovery and purification of bio-active compounds from plant materials. Many important factors such as solvent, solvent composition, solvent to solid ratio, pH, and temperature significantly influence the extraction efficiency of bio-active compounds. Factorial design of a limited set of variables is advantageous when compared to the conventional method which varies a single parameter per trial. Methods and Results : The objective of this study was to screen independent factors, namely, ethanol concentration (60 – 100%), extraction temperature (40 – 80℃), time (6 – 18 hours), and liquid to solid ratio (10 – 50 ㎖/g) on the recovery of the extract yield, antioxidant capacity, phenolic and flavonoid contents from Dendropanax morbifera leaf using factorial design. Total flavonoid content of extract was determined by colorimetric method with aluminum chloride, while antioxidant activity was screened using the DPPH radical scavenging activity, TEAC and FRAP assays. Full factorial design was employed to determine the significant contribution of the above factors towards antioxidant capacity (TEAC, DPPH and FRAP), and flavonoid contents. Among, all the factors examined, ethanol concentration and extraction temperature are very significant (p < 0.0001), in obtaining higher antioxidant activity, total flavonoid contents. Conclusion : Two level full factorial design screening was successfully employed to determine the significant factors, which are ethanol concentration, temperature, time and liquid to solid ratio in contributing to high antioxidant capacity (TEAC, DPPH and FRAP), and flavonoid content determination from Dendropanax morbifera leaf. From the results obtained, ethanol concentration and temperature was very significant (p < 0.0001), in obtaining higher antioxidant activity and flavonoid contents. Further work on optimization using these significant factors are in progress.

Background : Although ginseng has various bioactive compounds in it, there is lack of study on the variations of bioactive compounds in ginseng according to the cultivation soil and the applied fertilizer types (or amount). Therefore, this study aims to examine the variations of 37 fatty acids (FA) and 8 vitamin E (Vit-E) vitamers in 6-year-old ginseng root cultivated in different soil types with different fertilizers regimes. Methods and Results : The profiling of 37 FAs and 8 Vit-E vitamers in 6-year-old ginseng roots was measured by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector, and then these results were statistically analyzed with chemometrics. The FA and Vit-E content in ginseng roots varied significantly with respect to soil cultivation conditions due to organic fertilizer types and amounts used. Unsaturated FA in ginseng is approximately 2.7 fold higher than the saturated FA. Linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids were the most abundant FAs found in the ginseng roots. Also, the major Vit-E vitamer found in ginseng root is α-tocopherol. In particular, the application of rice straw compost or food waste fertilizer was increased to create nutritionally desirable FAs and bioactive Vit-E in ginseng root. In addition, phytonutrient profiling coupled with chemometrics can be used to discriminate the cultivation conditions of ginseng. Conclusion : This study extends our understanding about the variations of FA and Vit-E in ginseng root depending on cultivation conditions. Hence, these results can be useful as basic information for reliable ginseng production containing high amounts of phytonutrients in a paddy-converted field.

Background : The study about cultured wild ginseng root (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) have been reported mainly ginsenosides in saponins family. However metabolites of fermented wild ginseng roots by microorganisms was not reported yet. Methods and Results : Cultured wild ginseng roots were used for fermentation of ginseng roots using Pediococcus pentosaceus and other bacterial strains. We analyzed different types of ginsenoside contents, metabolite and enzyme contents, and gene expression by using microorganisms. Results showed considerable differences in ginseonoside contents specially Rk1 and Rg5. The highest enzyme activity level was by Glutathione reductase (GR) and Glutathione S transferase (GST) in fermented ginseng roots than control (non-fermented), whereas Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Peroxidase (POD) contents were reduced. Score plots and loading plots of principal components 1 of the PCA result obtained from the data on 43 metabolites in fermented wild ginseng root of five conditions. The concentration of metabolite such as β-alanin and 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is used to improve memory were increased in fermented ginseng roots than control. We found functional gene in wild ginseng root related with metabolic process. The APX gene expression gradually increased in fermented ginseng root with respect to fermentation times. Conclusion : In this study, accumulation of functional metabolite in cultured ginseng r