Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) has generally been used for the manufacture of animal feed and production of bio fuel. Limited research has been conducted in the utilization of SMS as a co-material for composting. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of composting vegetable waste mixed with various ratios of SMS (30, 40, and 50%). The results showed that the C/N ratio decreased when both sawdust (from 22.0~28.8 to 17.7~20.4) and SMS (from 18.5~19.5 to 12.7~16.8) were applied for composing, owing to increased contents of nitrogen. A maturity test conducted using mechanical (Solvita) and germination tests revealed that both sawdust (92.0~101.9%) and SMS (87.8~89.2%) satisfied a criteria of maturity standard (70%). A correlation analysis between compost maturity and its chemical properties revealed that the C/N ratio and pH were the most dominant parameters for compost maturity. Overall, SMS could be utilized as a compost material and especially, vegetable waste mixed with SMS could provide sufficient nutrients for crop growth.

본 연구에서는 강원도 춘천지역에서 발생하는 환경 오폐수를 시료로 하여 미생물을 혼합하여 제조한 수질정화제를 실제 하천과 호수의 오염환경과 유사한 배양기내에서 생물학적반응을 시켜 오염물질의 정화정도를 측정하고 평가하였다. 사용된 미생물은 식물성 유산균(vegetable Lactobacillus fermentum), 효모(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)와 고초균(Bacillus subtilis)이다. 두 가지의 미생물혼합제를 투입하여 정화정도를 실험하였다. 실제 하천에 투입하여 정화되는 과정과 유사하게 반응을 시키고자 반응 온도는 21(±3)oC로 하였으며 완전교반을 진행하였다. 사용한 시료의 오폐수의 오염도와 미생물에 의한 정화정도를 평가하기 위하여 총질소 함량과 총인 함량을 측정하였다. V.L.F.와 S.C.의 혼합물로 구성된 혼합제의 경우 총질소함량을 감소시키는데 매우 효과적임을 보여주었으며, V.L.F., S.C.,와 B.S.로 구성된 혼합제의 경우 그 총인의 함량을 저감화하는데 효과적임을 알 수 있었다. 본 실험에서 얻어진 실험 데이터를 통하여 V.L.F.와 S.C.의 혼합제가 오폐수의 정화반응에서 나타나는 반응상수값을 도출하였으며 그 값은 0.178 day-1이었다. 본 연구의 결과를 바탕으로 저감화하고자 하는 성분에 따라 미생물의 종류와 그 혼합비를 조절하는 최적화과정이 필수적임을 알 수 있었으며 또한 곡선적합으로 도출한 반응상수값은 미생물을 이용하여 호수와 하천의 정화정도를 simulation함에 필요한 실험인자로서 응용이 가능하게 되었다.

The effect of the metal oxide catalyst in the dimerization of waste vegetable oil was investigated. The high efficiency and recyclability has allowed different metal oxides to be used as catalysts in numerous synthetic reactions. Herein, clay, aluminum, titanium, calcium, magnesium and silicon oxide micro/nanoparticles are used in a Diels-Alder reaction to catalyze the production of the dimer acids. The metal oxides assist the electron transfers during cyclization to produce the desired product. Liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were used to verify the production of dimer acids. For the confirmation of cyclization, compounds were analyzed using the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. From the analysis, silylated or pristine clay showed its effectiveness as a catalyst in dimerization. Furthermore, alumina and alumina/silica composite showed successful performance in the reaction to yield cyclic dimer acids. These result suggested that metal oxides and montmorillonite might be used in synthesis of dimer acids for the recycle of waste vegetable oils.

Esterification of soybean oil with methanol was investigated. First of all, liquid-liquid equilibriums for systems of soybean oil and methanol were measured at temperatures ranging from 40 to 65oC. Profiles of conversion of soybean oil with time were determined from the glycerine content in reaction mixtures for the different kinds of catalysts, such as NaOH, CaO, Ca(OH)2, MgO, Mg(OH)2, and Ba(OH)2. The effects of dose of catalyst, cosolvent and reaction temperature on final conversion were examined. Esterification of waste vegetable oil with methanol was investigated and compared to the case of soybean oil. Solubility of methanol in soybean oil was substantially greater than that of soybean oil in methanol. When the esterification reaction of soybean oil was catalyzed by solid catalyst, final conversion was strongly dependent on the alkalinity of the solid catalyst, and increased with the alkalinity of the metal. Hydroxides from the alkali metals were more effective than oxides. When Ca(OH)2 was used for the esterification catalyst, maximum value of final conversion was measured at dose of 4%. When CHCl3 as a cosolvent, was added into the reaction mixture of soybean oil which catalyzed by Ba(OH)2, maximum value of final conversion was appeared at dose of 3%. When waste vegetable oil was catalyzed by NaOH and solid catalysts, high final conversion, over 90%, and fast reaction rate were obtained.