In this paper, nitrogen (N)-doped ultra-porous carbon derived from lignin is synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization, KOH activation, and post-doping process for CO2 adsorption. The specific surface areas of obtained N-doped porous carbons range from 247 to 3064 m2/g due to a successful KOH activation. N-containing groups of 0.62–1.17 wt% including pyridinic N, pyridone N, pyridine-N-oxide are found on the surface of porous carbon. N-doped porous carbon achieves the maximum CO2 adsorption capacity of 13.6 mmol/g at 25 °C up to 10 atm and high stability over 10 adsorption/desorption cycles. As confirmed by enthalpy calculation with the Clausius–Clapeyron equation, an adsorption heat of N-doped porous carbon is higher than non-doped porous carbon, indicating a role of N functionalities for enhanced CO2 adsorption capability. The overall results suggest that this carbon has high CO2 capture capacity and can be easily regenerated and reused without any clear loss of CO2 adsorption capacity.

Chlorella-derived activated carbon (CDAC) with a high specific surface area and hierarchical pore structure was prepared as a CO2 adsorbent and as a supercapacitor electrode material. During KOH activation of Chlorella-derived carbon, metallic K gas penetrated from the outer walls to the inner cells, and pores formed on the outer frame and the inner surface. Micropores were dominant in CDAC, contributing toward a high specific surface area (> 3500 m2/g) and a hierarchical pore structure owing to the cell walls. Consequently, CDAC exhibited a high CO2 adsorption capacity (13.41 mmol/g at 10 atm and room temperature) and afforded high specific capacitance (142 F/g) and rate capability (retention ratio: 91.5%) in supercapacitors. Compared with woody- and herbaceous-biomass-derived activated carbons, CDAC has a superior specific surface area when the precursors are used without any pretreatment under the same conditions due to their soft components such as lipids and proteins. Furthermore, developing microalgae into high-value-added products is beneficial from both economic and environmental perspectives.

Hierarchically porous, chemically activated carbon materials are readily derived from biomass using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and chemical activation processes. In this study, empty fruit bunches (EFB) were chosen as the carbon source due to their sustainability, high lignin-content, abundance, and low cost. The lignin content in the EFB was condensed and carbonized into a bulk non-porous solid via the HTC process, and then transformed into a hierarchical porous structure consisting of macro- and micropores by chemical activation. As confirmed by various characterization results, the optimum activation temperature for supercapacitor applications was determined to be 700°C. The enhanced capacitive performance is attributed to the textural property of the extremely high specific surface area of 2861.4 m2 g–1. The prepared material exhibited hierarchical porosity and surface features with oxygen functionalities, such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, suitable for pseudocapacitance. Finally, the as-optimized nanoporous carbons exhibited remarkable capacitive performance, with a specific capacitance of 402.3 F g–1 at 0.5 A g–1, a good rate capability of 79.8% at current densities from 0.5 A g–1 to 10 A g–1, and excellent life cycle behavior of 10,000 cycles with 96.5% capacitance retention at 20 A g–1.

근접방사선치료는 일반적으로 외부방사선치료와 병행하여 수행되고 치료단계가 매우 복잡하며 이로 인 해 방사선 사고가 발생될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 이를 해결하기 위해 근접방사선치료에 사고유형과 영향 분석(Failure mode and effects analysis, FMEA) 방법을 적용하여 프로세스 맵을 구성하고 이를 기반으로 각 치료단계에 대한 위해도를 산출하였다. 프로세스 맵은 “외래 및 진료”와 “근접방사선 모의치료”, “CT 모의 치료”, “근접방사선치료계획”, “방사선치료”로 총 5단계로 구성하였으며, 각 치료단계를 세분화하여 세부단 계를 작성하였다. 위해도를 산출하기 위해 의사와 의학물리사, 선량설계사, 방사선사, 간호사가 참여하여 세부단계마다 발생빈도와 심각도, 불검출도를 평가하였다. 전반적으로 프로세스 맵은 각 치료단계마다 환 자 신원 확인 절차가 우선적으로 수행되며, 이는 다른 환자로 오인하여 서로 다른 치료계획이 수립되어 방 사선사고가 발생될 우려가 있다. 프로세스 맵을 기반으로 작성한 세부단계에 대해 위해도를 평가한 결과, 전반적으로 “외래 및 진료”와 “근접방사선치료계획” 과정이 높은 위해도로 평가되었다. 직종마다 평가한 위해도는 서로 다른 경향을 보였으며, 간호사는 방사선치료를 제외한 모든 과정이 55점 이상의 위해도를 보였으며, “근접방사선 모의치료” 과정이 88.8점으로 가장 높았다. 방사선치료를 수행하는 의료기관마다 치 료단계가 다소 차이가 있으므로 해당 기관에 대한 프로세스 맵을 작성하고 위해도를 산출하여 중점관리 항목을 집중적으로 리스크 관리가 수행되어야 할 것으로 생각된다.