Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can adversely affect human and plant health by generating secondary pollutants such as ozone and fine particulate matter, through photochemical reactions, necessitating systematic management. This study investigated the distribution characteristics of gaseous VOCs in ambient air, with a focus on interpreting data from a photochemical pollution perspective. This paper analyzed the presence and concentration distribution of VOCs in industrial areas, identifying toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, and n-octane as the most frequently detected components. Particularly, toluene was found to significantly contribute to the formation of ozone and fine particulate matter, highlighting the need for stricter regulation of this compound. Although n-octane and styrene were present in relatively low concentrations overall, their significant contributions to ozone generation and secondary organic aerosol formation, respectively, emphasize their importance in air pollution management.

This study evaluated the importance of assessing personal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by monitoring indoor, outdoor, and personal VOC levels in 15 Seoul residents over a 3-month period using passive samplers. Results indicated that limonene had the highest concentrations across indoor, outdoor, and personal samples, with this compound primarily originating from household cleaners and air fresheners. Other VOCs, such as 2-butanone and toluene, also varied by location. Health risk assessments showed that most VOCs had a Hazard Index (HI) below 1, while the HI of individual exposures were relatively higher. Notably, cancer risk assessments for chloroform and ethylbenzene exceeded permissible levels in some scenarios, suggesting potential cancer risks. This underscores the importance of diverse microenvironment monitoring for accurate health risk evaluations, as relying solely on indoor and outdoor levels can underestimate actual exposure risks. This study highlights the need for future research to monitor VOC levels in various microenvironments, in addition to the necessity of investigating personal activity patterns in depth to accurately assess personal exposure levels. Such an approach is crucial for precise health risk assessments, and it provides valuable foundational data for evaluating personal VOC exposures.

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 °C is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

The aim of this study was to improve the chemical stability of cycloserine containing organic and inorganic compounds. Composite particles were manufactured with a 1:1 weight ratio of organic/inorganic compounds and cycloserine. The influence of organic/inorganic compounds on the stability of cycloserine was investigated under accelerated stress conditions at 60°C/75% RH for 24 hours. In addition, the properties of the composite particles were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the dissolution of the drug was assessed by preparing it as a hard capsule. Among the organic and inorganic compounds investigated, calcium hydroxide most improved the stability of cycloserine under accelerated stress conditions (53.3 ± 2.2% vs 1.7 ± 0.2%). DSC results confirmed the compatibility between calcium hydroxide and the cycloserine, and SEM results confirmed that it was evenly distributed around the cycloserine. Calcium hydroxide also showed more than 90% cycloserine dissolution within 15 minutes. Therefore, the calcium hydroxide and cycloserine composite particles may be candidates for cycloserine oral pharmaceuticals with enhanced drug stability.

We report the effect of plastic deformation on the thermoelectric properties of n-type Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 compounds. N-type Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 powders are synthesized by an oxide-reduction process and consolidated via sparkplasma sintering. To explore the effect of plastic deformation on the thermoelectric properties, the sintered bodies are subjected to uniaxial pressure to induce a controlled amount of compressive strains (-0.2, -0.3, and -0.4). The shaping temperature is set using a thermochemical analyzer, and the plastic deformation effect is assessed without altering the material composition through differential scanning calorimetry. This strategy is crucial because the conventional hotforging process can often lead to alterations in material composition due to the high volatility of chalcogen elements. With increasing compressive strain, the (00l) planes become aligned in the direction perpendicular to the pressure axis. Furthermore, an increase in the carrier concentration is observed upon compressive plastic deformation, i.e., the donorlike effect of the plastic deformation in n-type Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 compounds. Owing to the increased electrical conductivity through the preferred orientation and the donor-like effect, an improved ZT is achieved in n-type Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 through the compressive-forming process.

Considering the characteristics of aldehydes among volatile organic compounds, a combined process was established by linking an absorbent and a photocatalytic reactor. Experiments to find the optimal operating conditions of the combined process showed that as the amount of photocatalyst coating increases, the wavelength of the ultraviolet lamp used becomes shorter, the photodegradation rate becomes faster, and the removal efficiency increases. It was also demonstrated that by controlling the relative humidity during the connection process of the combined process, the re-evaporation phenomenon at the front end (absorption area) of the hybrid process can be improved and the removal efficiency at the back end (photocatalytic reaction area) can be significantly enhanced. This confirmed the need for a combined process that complements the advantages and disadvantages of each process.

나리(Lilium spp.)는 절화, 정원 식물 및 화분 식물과 같은 관상용 가치로 인해 가장 중요한 화훼 작물 중 하나이다. 나 리는 연작으로 인한 환경 스트레스에 민감하며, 환경 스트레 스의 원인 중 하나로는 염 스트레스가 있다. 본 연구는 분홍 색 오리엔탈 나리 'Medusa', 'Lake Carey', 'Ovada'의 생 육 시기별 염스트레스에 따른 표현형 및 색 관련 화합물 함 량 변화를 조사하였다. 염 처리는 생육 시기에 따라 다양한 처리기간(무처리, 발아 전, 발아 후, 전체 생육기간)에 주 1 회 염(8dS･m-1)처리를 실시하였다. 생육 시기별 염스트레스 에 의한 개화의 차이가 있었지만, 전체 생육기간동안 염 스 트레스 처리시 모든 품종에서 개화가 이루어지지 않았다. 염 스트레스 처리 시기에 따라 초장과 꽃의 크기가 감소율이 달 랐으며 'Medusa', 'Lake Carey'는 발아 후 염 처리에서 정 상 개화하였다. 또한, 염스트레스는 꽃과 같은 식물에서 생성 되는 색 관련 화합물인 페놀과 플라보노이드 함량도 시기별 로 차이가 있었다. 품종마다 차이는 있지만, 발아 전이 발아 후 염 처리보다 총 페놀과 총 플라보노이드 함량이 더 낮은 것을 확인하였다. 이 결과는 생육 시기에 따라 염 스트레스 에 의한 나리의 표현형과 화색 관련 화합물의 함량의 변화에 차이가 있었으며 생육초기 염스트레스에 의한 피해가 높은 것으로 판단된다.

Invasive predators are one of the most damaging species groups to biodiversity. In the Nakdong River, the lake skygazer Chanodichthys erythropterus is a dominant species that is fiercely carnivorous and a concern for commercial fish. Although it is important to understand the ecological characteristics related to the feeding habit, studies on the diets of lake skygazer in Nakdong River have been limited to studies of gut contents. In this study, the trophic position (TP) and feeding habits of C. erythropterus were studied by calculating TPs using samples collected from 13 sites throughout the Nakdong River. Compound-specific isotopic analysis of amino acids provided reliable TPs from the muscle of Lake skygazer C. erythropterus without any isotope baseline. The results were approximately 3 to 3.6 and suggesting a carnivorous but size-dependent prey variation. In particular, the TP variability of C. erythropterus observed in the Nakdong River showed that it had a selective feeding habit compared to carnivorous fish species of relatively similar trophic levels.

In this study, we analyzed the changes in concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA), phenols, and indoles, as well as odor contribution in pig slurry. The pig slurry was stored for approximately two months after the manure excretion of pigs which had been fed 3% level of peat moss additive. The investigation was carried out through lab-scale experiments simulating slurry pit conditions within pig house. Throughout the storage period, the concentration of VFA exhibited a tendency to be 11%-32% higher in the pig manure treated with peat moss as compared to the control group. From a concentration perspective, phenol and acetic acid accounted for the majority of the total odor compounds produced during the pig slurry storage period. However, their significance diminished when the concentration of odoros compounds are converted into odor activity value and odor contribution. Despite the odor reduction effect of the ammonia (NH3) adsorption by peat moss, if it cannot effectively reduce the high odor-contributing compounds such as indoles and p-cresol, the sole use of peat moss may not be considered an effective means of mitigating odors produced by pig slurry. According to this study, indoles, p-cresol, skatole, and valeric acid were consistently revealed as major odor-contributing substances during the two-month storage of pig slurry. Therefore, a comprehensive odor mitigation methodology should be proposed, taking into consideration the odor generation characteristics (including temporal concentration and odor contribution) of pig slurry-derived odors during storage.

최근 우리는 Hg2+에 대한 높은 선택성을 가지며 Hg2+와 결합하여 밝은 녹색 형광을 보이는 tetraphenylethylene-bis(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)amine (TPE-BTA)의 착화합물(TPE-BTA-2Hg2+)의 구조를 밝혀내기 위해 시 간 의존적(time-dependent, TD) 밀도 함수 이론(DFT)을 이용하였다. 그러나 우리는 이 과정 속에서 Hg2+ 이온에 대한 모든 전자(all electron, AE) basis set인 x2c-TZVPPall만이 실험 스펙트럼에 가까운 흡수 및 형광 스펙트럼을 성공적으 로 재현한다는 것을 발견했다. 많이 알려져 있는 effective core potential (ECP) 기반인 LANL2DZ는 형광스펙트럼 계산 과 관련된 들뜬 상태의 구조 최적화 계산을 모두 실패했으며 또한, LANL2DZ는 첫 번째 들뜬 상태의 최적화 과정에서 너무 작은 형광 에너지를 제공했다. 이때 LANL2DZ는 리간드와 Hg2+ 사이의 거리가 증가함에 따라 빠르게 감소하는 HOMO-LUMO gap을 제공하는 반면, x2c-TZVPPall은 점진적으로 감소하는 안정적인 HOMO-LUMO gap을 보여줬다. 우리는 적어도 Hg2+ 이온을 포함하는 착화합물 시스템에서 ECP에서 발생하는 기하학적 문제들을 피하기 위해서는 모 든 전자 기본 세트를 사용하거나 새로운 ECP를 만들어야 된다고 조심스럽게 제안한다.

We used the measurement data derived from a proton transfer reaction time-offlight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) to ascertain the source profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 4 major industrial classifications which showed the highest emissions from a total of 26 industrial classifications of A industrial complex. Methanol (MOH) was indicated as the highest VOC in the industrial classification of fabricated metal manufacture, and it was followed by dichloromethane (DM), ethanol (EN) and acetaldehyde (AAE). In the industrial classification of printing and recording media, the emission of ethylacetate (EA) and toluene (TOL) were the highest, and were followed by acetone (ACT), ethanol (EN) and acetic acid (AA). TOL, MOH, 2-butanol (MEK) and AAE were measured at high concentrations in the classification of rubber and plastic manufacture. In the classification of sewage, wastewater and manure treatment, TOL was the highest, and it was followed by MOH, H2S, and ethylbenzene (EBZ). In future studies, the source profiles for various industrial classifications which can provide scientific evidence must be completed, and then specified mitigation plans of VOCs for each industrial classification should be established.

In order to broaden the range of application of light weight aluminum alloys, it is necessary to enhance the mechanical properties of the alloys and combine them with other materials, such as cast iron. In this study, the effects of adding small amounts of Cu and Zr to the Al-Si-Mg based alloy on tensile properties and corrosion characteristics were investigated, and the effect of the addition on the interfacial compounds layer with the cast iron was also analyzed. Although the tensile strength of the Al-Si-Mg alloy was not significantly affected by the additions of Cu and Zr, the corrosion resistance in 3.5 %NaCl solution was found to be somewhat lowered in this research. The influence of Cu and Zr addition on the type and thickness of the interfacial compounds layer formed during compound casting with cast iron was not significant, and the main interfacial compounds were identified to be Al5FeSi and Al8Fe2Si phases, as in the case of the Al-Si-Mg alloys.

Starfish are creatures that destroy marine ecosystems due to their high reproductive rate and predatory nature. Instead of mass incineration, this study attempted to utilize them as functional adsorbents to control odorous organic compounds. This waste starfishbased adsorbent showed a high aldehyde capture efficiency of 91.1%. The maximum specific surface area of the prepared waste starfish adsorbent was 2.19m2/g, and the adsorption amount was 101.66mg/g. Therefore, it was confirmed that the waste starfish had the ability to perform well as an adsorbent.