Radioactive contamination of soil on the site of a nuclear facility has a characteristic that radioactive nuclides are adsorbed into the pores between soil particles, making it quite difficult to decontaminate. For this reason, research on the development of various decontamination processes is being actively conducted. In this study, among various decontamination studies, a soil decontamination process using supercritical carbon dioxide was presented. The decontamination process uses supercritical carbon dioxide as the main solvent, which has a higher penetration power than other materials. Therefore, the process consists of the process of desorbing and extracting the target radionuclides between particles of soil. However, since nuclides exist as ions in the soil, polar chelating ligand material was introduced as an additive to nonpolar supercritical carbon dioxide for smooth chemical reactions in the soil. Thereafter, from the viewpoint of improving process continuity and efficiency, an alcohol material was introduced as an auxiliary solvent for liquefaction of chelating ligand in a solid state. Through prior research on the selection of a solvent for liquefaction of chelating ligand, ethanol and 2-propanol were finally selected based on whether the chelating ligand was dissolved. However, if the auxiliary solvent in which the chelating ligand is dissolved is to be combined with radionuclides in the soil, it must first be well dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide, the main solvent. Therefore, in this study, the solubility of ethanol and 2-propanol in supercritical carbon dioxide was measured and the suitability was evaluated. The temperature conditions were carried out at 40°C, the same as the previously designed decontamination process, and the measurement was conducted by adjusting the pressure and volume through a syringe pump and a variable volume device. In addition, solubility was measured based on the observation of the ‘cloud point’ in which the image becomes cloudy and then bright. As a result of the experiment, several solubility points were measured at a pressure of 150 bar or less. If the flow rate ratio of supercritical carbon dioxide and auxiliary solvent derived from the results is applied to the soil decontamination process, it is expected that the process efficiency will increase in the future.

본 연구에서는 이산화탄소 포집 및 물 재이용을 위한 통합 시스템으로서 정삼투 공정의 적용 가능성에 대한 평가를 수행하였다. 해당 통합 공정은 이산화탄소 배출 저감을 위해 화력발전소에 적용되고 있는 습식 이산화탄소 포집설비에 정삼투 기반 공정을 추가함으로써 이산화탄소 포집뿐만 아니라 물 재이용 및 냉각수 생산을 동시에 달성할 수 있다. CO2를 흡수한 5M의 모노에탄올아민(습식용매)을 유도용액으로 적용한 결과 40 LMH (FO mode) 및 85 LMH (PRO mode)라는 매우 높은 수투과도를 얻을 수 있었다.

본 연구는 저온기 시설 딸기재배에서 연소식 탄산가스 발생기를 이용한 재배효과를 구명하기 위하여 수행하였다. 시설내부 일중 탄산가스 농도는 6시에서 11시 사이에 대조구가 210~600μmol·mol-1 이었고, 탄산가스 시용구는 800~1,100μmol·mol-1 이었다. 그 외 시각에서는 대조구와 유사한 분포를 나타내었다. 온실내 온도는 연소 방식 탄산가스 시용구는 오전 6시 ~ 10시 대조구에 비 해서 1~3oC 높았다. 11시 이후에는 대조구와 차이가 없었다. 초장, 엽장, 엽폭, 관부직경, 생체중, 건물중 등 생육은 처리 간 차이가 없었다. 상품수량은 대조구 3,612kg에 비해서 탄산가스 공급하는 것이 4,131kg으로 519kg 더 무거웠으며 탄산가스 발생기에서 총수량이 대조구에 비해서 17%가 증수 되었다.

본 연구는 기후변화에 대응하기 위한 이산화탄소 포집 및 저장(Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage, CCS)기술의 국내외 추진상황 및 정책마련 현황을 점검하고 국제에너지기구(International Energy Agency, IEA)가 제시한 CCS 규제 프레임워크 가이드라인을 통해 국내 이산화탄소 해양지중저장 실용화 정책에 대한 한계 및 시사점을 제시하였다. 현재 국가차원의 계획이 마련되었으나 실질적인 법개정이나 정책마련은 이루어지지 않았으며 CCS 실용화 추진을 위하여 구성된 총괄협의체는 그 협력체제 및 유연성이 부족하다. 경제성 평가 역시 CCS 과정 별로 분절적으로만 이루어지고 있으며 향후, 실증을 위한 대규모 투자가 예상되나 이를 위한 재정은 마련되지 않고 있다. 또한, CCS 관련 정보공유도 제한적이며 체계적인 대중인식 전략은 마련되지 않은 상황이다. 따라서 성공적인 CCS 실용화 추진을 위해서는 해양환경관리법을 바탕으로 한 신속한 법적체제 마련, CCS 총괄협의체 역할 조정 및 강화, CCS 전주기를 바탕으로 한 다양한 경제 시나리오 분석 및 경제적 인센티브 제도 마련, 대중인식 전략 마련, 그리고 정보교환을 위한 전문기관 설립과 같은 정책적 보완 사항들이 필요함을 본 연구에서 제시하였다.

The aim of this study was to determine the optimum level of carbon dioxide to maximize the quality and yields of strawberries cultivated in a greenhouse. Specifically, two strawberry cultivars, namely, ‘Seolhyang’ and ‘Maehyang’, were subjected to varying concentrations of carbon dioxide and patterns linked to their productivity were noted. Both cultivars showed improvements across various physical variables (i.e., leaf area, crown diameter, plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight) when carbon dioxide concentrations were at 1,500 ppm. The optimum carbon dioxide concentration for increased fruit yields and quality was 1,000 ppm. When carbon dioxide was at 1,000 ppm the yields of ‘Seolhyang’ and ‘Maehyang’ increased by 1.99 and 1.78 times, respectively, compared to control plants. The influence of carbon dioxide on fruit color was negligible. However, the carbon dioxide increased the sugar content and sugar-acid ratio of the experimental fruits compared to control plants. Specifically, the sugar-acid ratio, which is directly related to taste, was at its highest when the concentration of carbon dioxide was at 1,000 ppm (i.e., for both ‘Seolhyang’ and ‘Maehyang’). Overall, the application of carbon dioxide culminated in improved yields and fruit quality for both cultivars of interest.

The effect of CO2 on the opening of stomata in the intact leaf of Commelina communis has been investigated. Full opening of stomatal apertures(around 18 μm) was achieved in the intact leaf by addition of CO2(900 μmol mol-1). At 90 minutes, the stomatal apertures of leaves treated with CO2 free air were reduced. In contrast, stomata opened most widely with the treatment of CO2 air at 90 minutes. The effects of light, CO2 air and CO2 free air on the change of membrane potential difference(PD) were measured. Fast hyperpolarization of guard cell membrane PD was recorded reaching up to -12 mV in response to light. If CO2 free air was given firstly, there was no response. When light was given after CO2 free air, the light effect was very clear. At the onset of CO2 air, the PD showed a dramatic hyperpolarization to about -25 mV. Changes in the pH of apoplast in intact leaves in response to CO2 air were observed. CO2 air caused a change of 0.4 pH unit. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that CO2 flowing could stimulate proton efflux which is a necessary precursor of stomatal opening.