누출, 폭발, 취급 및 운송 등의 화학사고가 일어나면 다양한 화학 물질이 방출된다. 방출 된 화학 물질 또는 1차 방제 처리 후 얻게 되는 폐기물에는 유해하거나 독성이 있는 화학물질이 포함될 수 있다. 이러한 폐기물들을 처리 할 수 있는 구체적인 지침이나 기준이 없기 때문에 적절한 처리 방법을 찾기가 어렵다. 따라서 유해화학물질 사고 처리로 얻은 화학물질 또는 폐기물의 대부분은 지정폐기물로 처리하여 많은 비용이 든다. 이 연구는 유해화학물질의 사고 또는 누출이 발생하였을 때 1차 처리를 하면서 발생한 화학 물질 또는 화학 물질에 오염된 폐기물에 대한 지정폐기물, 일반폐기물 판정 기준을 제안하고자 한다. NFPA 등급, pH 등급 및 폐기물 발생량에 따라 점수를 부여하여 화학폐기물을 분류하는 정량화 된 방법을 제시한다. 보다 객관성 있는 판정기준을 마련하기 위해서 미국 국제화재방호협회(National Fire Protection Association : NFPA)에서 발표한 소방관련 국제 규격인 NFPA 704코드를 활용하여 판정기준을 마련한다. NFPA 704코드는 화학물질에 대한 건강위험성(Health Hazard), 화재위험성(Flammability Hazard), 불안정성 위험성(Instability Hazard)에 대한 정도를 0~4등급 까지 세분화 되어 있다. 추가적으로 산성 또는 염기성 화학물질에 대한 판정방법으로, 기존에 지정폐기물분류 기준에 활용되고 있는 오염물질의 pH를 판정기준에 활용한다. 또한 산업안전보건법에 따른 유해･위험물질 규정량, 또는 폐기물의 일일 처리량도 고려한다. 최종적으로 화학 물질 또는 폐기물은 제안된 분류 방법 또는 절차에 따라 얻은 통합 점수에 따라 지정폐기물 또는 일반폐기물로 분류할 수 있다.

High-rank coals are limited, while low-rank coals are abundant. However, the low-rank coals needs upgradation so as to improve their quality. If not, the utilization of low-rank coals will lead to many operational difficulties. As this study was made in South Korea, this article discusses the energy and coal scenario of South Korea. The critique discusses the concerns of utilizing low-grade coal and the need for upgrading low-grade coal. The article also briefly discusses the currently practiced low-rank coal upgradation techniques. Also, the review paper suggests some best upgradation techniques.

This pilot study evaluated fueling feasibility of sewage sludge, which contains a large amount of water content, by applying melting of thermoplastic polyethylene (PE). This study has identified a simultaneous achievement of drying and heating value improvement of the sewage sludge. The sewage sludge collected from a sewage sludge treatment plant during a winter period had a water content of 83.7 wt%, a combustible volatile content of 12.5 wt%, and an ash content of 3.8 wt%. The higher heating value (HHV) of the dried sewage sludge, before impregnation or coating of PE, was 4,600 kcal/kg. The collected sewage sludge was immersed into the melted PE solution, which had a HHV of 11,070 kcal/kg, and kept immersing with increasing reaction time. As the reaction (immersing or coating or impregnation) time increased, the water content of the sludge decreased. However, the HHV of the sludge increased with increasing the reaction time. The HHVs of the sewage sludge immersed or dipped into the melted PE solution for 15 min ranged from 6,780 to 8,170 kcal/kg with water content less than 7 wt%. This result indicates the melted PE solution can be utilized as an improvement technology for dryness and heating value of the sewage sludge with high water content. The sewage sludge impregnated or coated with melted PE can be utilized as potential fuel or energy resources.

This study analyzed concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from incineration of papers at 600 ℃. The papers used in this study included A4 papers (new, printed with ink-jet, printed with carbon), newspapers (printed with bean oil, printed with a general newspaper ink), packaging box, document envelope, single-use paper cup, and cosmetic tissue. Papers were heated from room temperature upto 600℃ providing air inside of the electric furnace and then they were oxidized for 80 minutes at 600℃ maintaining the same air supply. VOCs emitted from the incineration process were sampled using an air sampling pump and bags for 160 minutes and then the components and concentrations of the VOCs were analyzed by a GC-MS. The most prominent chemical structure of the Vous identified from incineration of the papers was furans and then furans were followed by aromatics and aliphatic alkenes. About 40 % of the identified VOCs contained double bonds, which have relatively a high ozone (ground level) formation potential, within their molecular structure. Also, some cancer suspecting compounds like benzene, dichloromethane and chloroform were identified.