Catalytic combustion of toluene was investigated on CuOx/SnO2-ZrO2, CuOx/SnO2, CuOx/ZrO2 catalysts prepared by impregnation. Characteristics of catalysts loaded on binary support and single support were observed by TPR, TPO, XRD, XPS techniques. The results on catalytic combustion showed that binary supports improve the activity of copper in the combustion of toluene. The reason for high catalytic activity on toluene combustion of CuOx/SnO2-ZrO2 catalyst was ascribed to oxidation·reduction activity at low temperatures and stability of oxidation state after reduction.

Activity of manganese oxide supported on γ-Al2O3 was increased when cerium was added. Also, cerium-added manganese oxide on γ-Al2O3 was more effective in oxidation of toluene than that without cerium. XRD result, it was observed that MnO2+CeO2 crystalline phases were present in the samples. For the used catalyst, a prominent feature has increased by XPS. TPR/TPO profiles of cerium-added manganese oxide on γ-Al2O3 changed significantly increased at a lower temperature. The activity of 18.2 wt% Mn+10.0 wt% Ce/γ-Al2O3 increased at a lower temperature. The cerium added on the manganese catalysts has effects on the oxidation of toluene.

This study was carried out to investigate the correlation between toluene in air and hippuric acid in human urine, which is based in the results of the health check-in and measure of working environment, was investigated for five years. Toluene in air and hippuric acid in urine were checked 116 workers who exposed to toluene in five type of industry. The Mean concentration of toluene in air by type of industry and every year and sex distinction, had positive correlation.(p<0.01) The Mean concentration of hippuric acid in urine by type of industry, every year, sex distinction, disparity of age and term of duty had positive correlation.(p<0.01)

Adsorption characteristics of toluene vapor, which is one of important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), by activated carbon were investigated using a fixed bed adsorption column. The operating parameters such as breakthrough curve, adsorption capacity, mass transfer zone (MTZ), and length of unused bed (LUB) were studied. The experimental results showed that the breakthrough time decreased with increasing inlet toluene concentration and gas flow rate. MTZ and LUB increased with the increase of inlet concentration, gas flow rate, and particle size of activated carbon. The adsorption capacity increased with the increase of inlet toluene concentration, while it decreased with increasing particle size. However, it was kept at constant value regardless of the increase of gas flow rate. Adsorption isotherm of toluene vapor could be represented by the Freundlich adsorption equation fairly well. From the adsorption experiments using some VOC gases such as toluene, xylene, butyl acetate. butanol and acetone, it was also found that the adsorption capacity was higher in the case of gas with higher boiling point and lower vapor pressure.

The relationships between subjective symptoms of toluene exposed workers and concentration of their urinary excretion of hippuric acid were investigated. The exposed groups of 146 workers exposed to toluene and the control groups of 47 workers have never been exposed to toluene in Ulsan area were selected and studied. Hippuric acid was measured by HPLC, and counts of blood cells and liver function test were also performed. The mean value of urinary hippuric acid concentration of the control group was 0.322(±0.267) g/L, while that of the exposed group was 1.260(±0.395) g/L. As the concentration of hippuric acid had statistical proximity in 0.1% level, WBC, GOT, and GPT didn't have any proximity(P>0.05). The exposed group showed lower level of leucocyte counts 6522.40(1710.3) than the control group 6891.50(1483.7). The exposed group showed higher level of GOT(25.75), GPT(27.09) than GOT(23.75), GPT(25.21) of the control group. Dried skin was the highest complained symptom of toluene exposed workers, the second strained eye, the third poor auditory function, and the fourth was headache.

This study was carried out to investigate the correlation between toluene in air and hippuric acid in human urine, which is based on the results of the health check-in and the measure of working environment, was investigated for two years. The concentration of toluene in air for the five working places in Yang-San area were ranged from 39.05±10.31 ppm to 4.04±3.38ppm and the mean value of those was 16.89±14.76ppm. The mean value was 16.89±14.76ppm which is below the permissible limit of toluene. The concentration of hippuric acid(HA) in the worker's urine were between 0.47g/ℓ and 0.76g/ℓ. There was mutual correlation (r=0.94) between the concentration of toluene in air and that of hippuric acid in urine. In case of male workers, the mean value of hippuric acid in urine was 0.56g/ℓ and the female workers was 0.57g/ℓ that showed higher than the male's. However, there was no relationship between the workshop and the distinction of sex. From the mean value of toluene in air(T) and that of hippuric acid(H), we obtained the formula, H= 0.3log T+0.235