It was found in this study that fluorinated microporous carbon aerogels with enhanced hydrophobicity could be successfully prepared by direct fluorination to separate water-in-oil emulsions at high flux. The fluorinated carbon aerogel (F-CA) surface treated by the fluorination method had a water contact angle of 151.2° and could immediately absorb oil. In addition, the unique network structure of F-CA and its hydrophobicity allow surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions to be effectively and simply separated under gravity without requiring external forces such as vacuum or pressurization. The network structure of F-CAs consists of randomly connected spherical particles that form fluorinated permeation channels, which induce high flux during emulsion separation. The F-CA spherical particles have nanosized pores and high hydrophobicity, which repel and trap water droplets to increase the separation purity. Therefore, F-CA exhibited excellent performance, such as high filtrate purity (up to 99.9954%) and flux (up to 11,710 L/m2h). Furthermore, F-CA reusability was demonstrated as it did not lose its hydrophobicity and maintained its performance even after repeated use. This type of aerogel has great potential to be utilized throughout various environmental fields, including oil remediation.

In this study, we undertook detailed experiments to increase hydrogen production efficiency by optimizing the thickness of titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films. TiO2 films were deposited on p-type silicon (Si) wafers using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. The main goal was to identify the optimal thickness of TiO2 film that would maximize hydrogen production efficiency while maintaining stable operating conditions. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the TiO2 films of different thicknesses were evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis. These techniques play a pivotal role in evaluating the electrochemical behavior and photoactivity of semiconductor materials in PEC systems. Our results showed photovoltage tended to improve with increasing thickness of TiO2 deposition. However, this improvement was observed to plateau and eventually decline when the thickness exceeded 1.5 nm, showing a correlation between charge transfer efficiency and tunneling. On the other hand, LSV analysis showed bare Si had the greatest efficiency, and that the deposition of TiO2 caused a positive change in the formation of photovoltage, but was not optimal. We show that oxide tunneling-capable TiO2 film thicknesses of 1~2 nm have the potential to improve the efficiency of PEC hydrogen production systems. This study not only reveals the complex relationship between film thickness and PEC performance, but also enabled greater efficiency and set a benchmark for future research aimed at developing sustainable hydrogen production technologies.

In this study, in order to analyze the water purification efficiency according to the influent water conditions of artificial wetlands, the purification efficiency was compared at two points where sewage treatment water flows in and one point where good effluent flows in. As a result of reviewing the results of the analysis of influent and effluent and the removal efficiency, the T-N and T-P removal efficiency was calculated at 54.7% and 77.4%, respectively, for the two points where sewage treatment water was treated, the treatment efficiency of SS 90.8%, BOD 51.1%, TOC 30.6%, T-N 38.8%, T-P 55.3% was shown. As a result, the efficiency of removing pollutants in the artificial wetland was found to be proportional to the concentration of influent water, and in order to create an efficient artificial wetland, it is judged that thorough review and management at the design stage are necessary considering that the removal efficiency of high-concentration contaminated water was high.

The spectrum of this study was research on the closed hydroponic cultivation of netted melons (Cucumis melo L.) using coir substrate, analyzing the impact of this cultivation method on melon yield, fruit quality, and the efficiency of water and nutrient usage. The experimental results showed that the average fruit weight of the melons grown in a closed system was 71.4 g higher than that of the open system, and the fruit width was on average 0.2 cm larger, showing a statistically significant difference. However, there was no difference in the average sugar content of the fruit flesh and height. Although there is no substantial commercial difference, it is conjectured that the change in the macronutrients ratio in the irrigation has played a role in the statistically significant increase in fruit weight, which is attributed to changes in the crops' nutrient uptake concentrations. This necessitates further research for a more comprehensive understanding. In terms of the productivity of irrigation required to produce the fruit, applying the closed system resulted in an increase of 7.6 kg/ton compared to the open system, saving 31.6% of water resources. Additionally, in terms of nutrients, cultivating in a closed system allowed for savings of approximately 59, 25, 55, 83, 76, and 87% of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, respectively, throughout the entire cultivation period. As the drainage was reused, the ratios of NO3 - and Ca2+ increased up to a maximum of 9.6 and 9.1%, respectively, while the ratios of other ions gradually decreased. In summary, these results suggest that closed hydroponic cultivation can effectively optimize the use of water and fertilizer while maintaining excellent fruit quality in melon cultivation.

This study focused on using indirect filtration through riverbeds to produce high-quality drinking water. Data on water quality from a water intake facility(capacity 10,000 m3/day) and nearby rivers were collected over a three-year period. The average intake facility specifications were found to be a specific surface area of 58 balls/m2, a mean particle size of 24 mm, an inflow velocity of 2.2 cm/sec, and a burial depth of 5 m. The water quality improvement rate was assessed as grade Ia, surpassing the adjacent river’s water quality. Correlation analysis showed a weak correlation between opening ratio, Suspended Solid (SS), and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) compared to total coliforms and fecal coliforms. The correlation coefficient R value of SS was -0.614, BOD was –0.588, total coliforms -0.870, and fecal coliforms -0.958. The R value shows a negative value, which showed that the larger the opening rate, the lower the removal rate of water pollutants. The correlation coefficient R values according to the depth of burial were found to be BOD 0.914, SS-0.124, total coliforms 1.000, and fecal coliforms 0.866. The deeper the burial depth, the higher the removal rate of BOD and microbial groups.

Drought stress is a condition that occurs frequently in the field, it reduces of the agricultural yield of field crops. The aim of the study was to screen drought-adapted genotype of Italian rye grass. The experiments were conducted between the two Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cultivars viz. Hwasan (H) and Kowinearly (KE). The plants were exposed to drought for 14 days. The results suggest that the morphological traits and biomass yield of KE significantly affected by drought stress-induced oxidative stress as the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level was induced, while these parameters were unchanged or less affected in H. Furthermore, the cultivar H showed better adaptation by maintaining several physiological parameter including photosystem-II (Fv/Fm), water use efficiency (WUE) and relative water content (RWC%) level in response to drought stress. These results indicate that the cultivar H shows improved drought tolerance by generic variation, improving photosynthetic efficiency and reducing oxidative stress damages under drought stress. These findings can be useful to the breeder and farmer for improving drought tolerance in Italian rye grass through breeding programs.

This study set up the estimates of leakage management efficiency evaluation and leakage management goal that could be used in local water distribution networks efficiency business and modernization business. The data were analyzed using data envelopment analysis and multiple regression analysis. To this end, with leakage management input indices concerning leakage reduction activities (e.g., aged pipe replacement, water meter replacement, leakage restoration, and leakage detection) and leakage management calculation indices (e.g., the increase of revenue water ratio and the reduction of leakage ratio), the data on 22 K-water consignment local water supply systems were analyzed for the years from 2004 through 2018. Using the results of efficiency analysis by data envelopment analysis, the other DMUs (Decision Making Unit) benchmarked the DMU with the highest efficiency to maximize the leakage management efficiency for all DMUs. Through this, leakage management goal estimates were drawn with the input indices of four leakage reduction activities and calculation indices of the increase of revenue water ratio and the reduction of leakage ratio by multiple regression analysis for each group based on the revenue water ratio and leakage ratio. The correlation coefficients of the leakage management goal estimate for the criteria for the revenue water ratio amounted to 0.553 and 0.771. The correlation coefficients of the leakage management goal estimate for the criteria for leakage ratio were 0.397 and 0.865. Accordingly, we estimated the quantity and priority of four leakage reduction activities for the target leakage ratio and revenue water ratio.

Smart farm is a breakthrough technology that can maximize crop productivity and economy through efficient utilization of space regardless of external environmental factors. This study was conducted to investigate the optimal growth and physiological conditions of Chinese matrimony vine (Lycium chinense) with LED light sources in a smart farm. The light source was composed of red+blue and red+blue+white mixed light using a LED system. In the red+blue mixed light, red and blue colored LEDs were mixed at ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, and 10:1, with duty ratios varied to 100%, 99%, and 97%. The experimental results showed that the photosynthetic rate according to the types of light sources did not show statistically significant differences. Meanwhile, the photosynthetic rate according to the mixed ratio of the red and the blue light was highest with the red light and blue LED ratio of 1:1 while the water use efficiency was highest with the red and blue LED ratio of 2:1. The photosynthetic rate according to duty ratio was highest with the duty ratio of 99% under the mixed light condition of red+blue+white whereas the water use efficiency was highest with the duty ratio of 97% under the mixed light of red+blue LED. The results indicate that the light source and light quality for the optimal growth of Lycium chinense in the smart farm using the LED system are the mixed light of red+blue (1:1) and the duty ratio of 97%.

Indirect oxidation using chlorine species oxidizing agents is often effective in wastewater treatment using an electrochemical oxidation process. When chlorine ions are contained in the wastewater, oxidizing agents of various chlorine species are produced during electrolysis. In a ballast water management system, it is also used to treat ballast water by electrolyzing seawater to produce a chlorine species oxidizer. However, ballast water in the brackish zone and some wastewater has a low chlorine ion concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to study the chlorine generation current efficiency at various chlorine concentration conditions. In this study, the chlorine generating current efficiency of a boron-doped diamond(BDD) electrode and insoluble electrodes are compared with various chloride ion concentrations. The results of this study show that the current efficiency of the BDD electrode is better than that of the insoluble electrodes. The chlorine generation current efficiency is better in the order of BDD, MMO(mixed metal oxide), Ti/RuO2, and Ti/IrO2 electrodes. In particular, when the concentration of sodium chloride is 10 g/L or less, the current efficiency of the BDD electrode is excellent.

본 연구는 비용매 상분리법(nonsolvent induced phase separation, NIPS)을 사용하여 제조한 분리막의 배출수 처리 현장 적용성 test를 위한 최적 유효막 길이 선정 하기 위해, 동일한 원수, 기본 공정 조건으로 유효막 길이를 변화시켜 운전에 따른 역세 효율 및 운전압을 관찰하였다. 동일한 공정조건에서 유효막 길이의 변화를 주어 500㎜, 1,000㎜, 1,500㎜의 유효막 길이에 따라 1.5일간 고탁도의 가혹한 조건에서 공정을 지속하여 측정을 실시하였다. 유효막 길이별 운전 결과 유효막 길이에 따른 역세에 의한 효율차이를 확인할 수 있었으며 고탁도의 원수를 사용하여 중공사 막의 내부 폐색이 진행되었으며 유효막 길이가 길수록 폐색되지 않은 bore쪽으로만 역세가 진행되어 여과 후 역세에 의한 회복이 현저히 떨어짐을 확인하였다.