Organic-inorganic hybrid coating films have been used to increase the transmittance and enhance the physical properties of plastic substrates. Sol-gel organic-inorganic thin films were fabricated on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates using a dip coater. Metal alkoxide precursor tetraethylsilicate (TEOS) and alkoxy silanes including decyltrimethoxysilane (DTMS), 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS), 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) were used to synthesize sol-gel hybrid coating solutions. Sol-gel synthesis was confirmed by the results of FT-IR. Cross-linking of the Si-O-Si network during synthesis of the sol-gel reaction was confirmed. The effects of each alkoxy silane on the coating film properties were investigated. All of the organicinorganic hybrid coatings showed improved transmittance of over 90 %. The surface hardness of all coating films on the PMMA substrate was measured to be 4H or higher and the average thickness of the coating films was measured to be about 500 nm. Notably, the TEOS/DTMS coating film showed excellent hydrophobic properties, of about 97°.

The large rectangular and cylindrical concrete drums are stored in nuclear power plant (NPP) for a long time. At the early stage of NPP operation, the treatment technology of boron concentrates and spent resin was not well developed, when compared to current system. Since the waste acceptance criteria (WAC) of the disposal facility was not established, the boron concentrates and spent resins were packaged in 200 L drum. Some of the 200 L drums, which contain relatively high dose rate radioactive waste, were stored in large concrete drum. The concrete drum offers superior shielding effect and allows reduction of radiation exposure to workers. The WAC requires various characteristics: radiological characteristics, physical characteristics, chemical characteristics, etc. The non-destructive method allows the rapid evaluation and estimation of the concrete structure. Also, it is expected that the large concrete exhibits integrity after the measurements. In this paper, the non-destructive method to understand the large rectangular and cylindrical drum is systematically studied. The advantage and disadvantage of the non-destructive methods were compared in this paper. In addition, the optimized methodology to characterize the radioactive waste containing large rectangular and cylindrical drum will be discussed in this paper.

As the importance of radioactive waste management has emerged, quality assurance management of radioactive waste has been legally mandated and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) established the “Waste Acceptance Criteria for the 1st Phase Disposal Facility of the Wolsong Lowand Intermediate-Level Waste Disposal Center (WAC)”, the detailed guideline for radioactive waste acceptance. Accordingly, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) introduced a radioactive waste quality assurance management system and developed detailed procedures for performing the waste packaging and characterization methods suggested in the WAC. In this study, we reviewed the radioactive waste characterization method established by the KAERI to meet the WAC presented by the KORAD. In the WAC, the characterization items for the disposal of radioactive waste were divided into six major categories (general requirements, solidification and immobilization requirements, radiological, physical, chemical, and biological requirements), and each subcategories are shown in detail under the major classification. In order to satisfy the characterization criteria for each detailed item, KAERI divided the procedure into a characterization item performed during the packaging process of radioactive waste, a separate test item, and a characterization item performed after the packaging was completed. Based on the KAERI’s radioactive waste packaging procedure, the procedure for characterization of the above items is summarized as follows. First, during the radioactive waste packaging process, the characterization corresponding to the general requirements (waste type) is performed, such as checking the classification status of the contents and checking whether there are substances unsuitable for disposal, etc. Also, characterization corresponding to the physical requirements is performed by checking the void fraction in waste package and visual confirmation of particulate matter, substances containg free water, ect. In addition, chemical and biological requirements can be characterized by visually confirming that no hazardous chemicals (explosive, flammable, gaseous substances, perishables, infectious substances, etc.) are included during the packaging process, and by taking pictures at each packaging steps. Items for characterization using separate test samples include radiological, physical, and chemical requirements. The detailed items include identification of radionuclide and radioactivity concentration, particulate matter identification test, free water and chelate content measurement tests, etc. Characterization items performing after the packaging is completed include general requirements such as measuring the weight and height of packages and radiological requirements such as measurements of surface dose rate and contamination, etc. All of the above procedures are proceduralized and managed in the radioactive waste quality assurance procedure, and a report including the characterization results is prepared and submitted when requesting acceptance of radioactive waste. The characterization of KAERI’s radioactive waste has been systematically established and progressed under the quality assurance system. In the future, we plan to supplement various items that require further improvement, and through this, we can expect to improve the reliability of radioactive waste management and activate the final disposal of KAERI’s radioactive waste.

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) are considered of great importance due to their high catalytic and antimicrobial activities. This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of CuNPs, and on their antibacterial/antifungal activities. A copper salt (copper sulfate pentahydrate) as precursor, starch as stabilizing agent, and ascorbic acid as reducing agent were used to fabricate CuNPs. The resulting product was characterized via different techniques such as X-ray diffractrometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm its characteristic properties. Employing the Scherrer formula, the mean crystallite sizes of copper (Cu) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanocrystals were found to be 29.21 and 25.33 nm, respectively, as measured from the main X-ray diffraction peaks. The functional groups present in the resulting CuNPs were confirmed by FTIR. In addition, the engineered CuNPs showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against tested pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains.

A well-established characterization method is required in powder bed fusion (PBF) metal additive manufacturing, where metal powder is used. The characterization methods from the traditional powder metallurgy process are still being used. However, it is necessary to develop advanced methods of property evaluation with the advances in additive manufacturing technology. In this article, the characterization methods of powders for metal PBF are reviewed, and the recent research trends are introduced. Standardization status and specifications for metal powder for the PBF process which published by the ISO, ASTM, and MPIF are also covered. The establishment of powder characterization methods are expected to contribute to the metal powder industry and the advancement of additive manufacturing technology through the creation of related databases.

The radionuclide inventory in radioactive waste from nuclear power plants should be determined to secure the safety of final repositories. As an alternative to time-consuming, labor-intensive, and destructive radiochemical analysis, the indirect scaling factor (SF) method has been used to determine the concentrations of difficult-to-measure radionuclides. Despite its long history, the original SF methodology remains almost unchanged and now needs to be improved for advanced SF implementation. Intense public attention and interest have been strongly directed to the reliability of the procedures and data regarding repository safety since the first operation of the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Gyeongju, Korea. In this review, statistical methodologies for SF implementation are described and evaluated to achieve reasonable and advanced decision-making. The first part of this review begins with an overview of the current status of the scaling factor method and global experiences, including some specific statistical issues associated with SF implementation. In addition, this review aims to extend the applicability of SF to the characterization of large quantities of waste from the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

In this study, the grid field olfactory odor method was supplemented to the domestic situation in the surrounding areas of a domestic science industrial complex. The actual condition of the occurrence of odor frequency in the field was then investigated over the first period of late spring to summer and the second period of autumn in 2017. The frequency of odor occurrence in the area around the science industrial complex was increased as odor discharge facilities in the nearby area were concentrated. The odor occurrence frequency of the total period was 0.09~0.28, that of the first period was 0.08~0.32, and that of the second period was 0.05~0.25. The odor occurrence frequency in summer was higher than in autumn. The frequency by which the measurement of odor occurrence by smell type was most dominant was mainly smell of chemicals, plastics, and livestock houses during the first period, and the smell of chemicals, burning gases, and plastics during the second period. And the frequency of each smell type was judged to be different according to season. The odor occurrence frequency was measured as higher than 0.15, which is the standard of Germany's odor frequency in an industrial area, and it was judged that measures for odor management in the region were necessary. Since most of the odor discharge facilities are non-continuous systems and the odor generation frequency is more important than the concentration of the minimum detection concentration, it was judged that the German grid method can reflect the odor occurrence characteristics of the odor complaints or receptors for a certain period of time compared to the domestic measurement method. In the future, it was judged that the field olfactory odor method would be able to replace the evaluation method of odor assessment in Korea with the survey method of odor assessment under actual conditions in areas where it is difficult to access the odor discharge source or the receptor where odor complaints occur.

Spherical Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) and carbon-coated LVP with a monoclinic phase for the cathode materials are synthesized by a hydrothermal method using N2H4 as the reducing agent and saccharose as the carbon source. The results show that single phase monoclinic LVP without impurity phases such as LiV(P2O7), Li(VO)(PO4) and Li3(PO4) can be obtained after calcination at 800 oC for 4 h. SEM and TEM images show that the particle sizes are 0.5~2 μm and the thickness of the amorphous carbon layer is approximately 3~4 nm. CV curves for the test cell are recorded in the potential ranges of 3.0~4.3 V and 3.0~4.8 V at a scan rate of 0.01 mV s–1 and at room temperature. At potentials between 3.0 and 4.8 V, the third Li+ ions from the carbon-coated LVP can be completely extracted, at voltages close to 4.51 V. The carbon-coated LVP exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of 118 mAh g–1 in the voltage region of 3.0 to 4.3 V at a current rate of 0.2 C. The results indicate that the reducing agent and carbon source can affect the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the cathode materials.

In this study, we conducted a survey on odor characteristics of single odor and collective odor facilities using the German olfactory odor method and carried out the odor frequency modeling. The influence of the odor from a sewage treatment plant, which is a single discharge facility, was strong in the eastern and northern parts of the plant and appeared to be in good agreement with the areas where the odor complaints were frequent. The German olfactory method reflects the odor complaints and odor occurrence characteristics of the receptors as compared with the domestic odor measurement method. The influence of the odor from the odor control area, which is a collecting and discharging facility, showed a tendency in which the sum of the odor occurrence frequency increased with the proximity of the odor discharge facility to the dense industrial complex. Furthermore, it was judged that it is not easy to extract the odor frequency results for individual facilities because the survey subject is the group discharge facility area. Therefore, it will be necessary to introduce a method to manage odor in the future. In this study, the measurement of odor frequency using the German olfactory odor method is partially applied to some odor sources. Appropriately, it is not applicable to various emission sources. However, the odor measurement method based on odor occurrence frequency and odor sensory can be used for investigation of the actual condition, permits of odor discharge facilities and the environmental review.

Nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-doped TiO2) is attracting continuously increasing attention as a material for environmental photocatalysis. The N-atoms can occupy both interstitial and substitutional positions in the solid, with some evidence of a preference for interstitial sites. In this study, N-doped TiO2 is prepared by the sol–gel method using NH4OH and NH4Cl as N ion doping agents, and the physical and photocatalytic properties with changes in the synthesis temperature and amount of agent are analyzed. The photocatalytic activities of the N-doped TiO2 samples are evaluated based on the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. The addition of 5 wt% NH4Cl produces the best physical properties. As per the UV-vis analysis results, the N-doped TiO2 exhibits a higher visible-light activity than the undoped TiO2. The wavelength of the N-doped TiO2 shifts to the visible-light region up to 412 nm. In addition, this sample shows MB removal of approximately 81%, with the whiteness increasing to +97 when the synthesis temperature is 600℃. The coloration and phase structure of the N-doped TiO2 are characterized in detail using UV-vis, CIE Lab color parameter measurements, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Ni wires with a diameter and length of 0.4 and 100 mm, respectively, and a purity of 99.9% are electrically exploded at 25 cycles per minute. The Ni nanopowders are successfully synthesized by a pulsed wire evaporation (PWE) method, in which Ar gas is used as the ambient gas. The characterization of the nanopowders is carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a high-resolution transmission electronmicroscope (HRTEM). The Ni nanopowders are classified for a multilayer ceramic condenser (MLCC) application using a type two Air-Centrifugal classifier (model: CNI, MP-250). The characterization of the classified Ni nanopowders are carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and particle size analysis (PSA) to observe the distribution and minimum classification point (minimum cutting point) of the nanopowders.

This study synthesized pure anatase carbon doped TiO2 photocatalysts supported on a stainless steel mesh using a sol-gel solution of 8% polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/dimethylformamide (DMF)/TiCl4. The influence of the pyrolysis temperature and holding time on the morphological characteristics, particle sizes and surface area of the prepared catalyst was investigated. The prepared catalysts were characterized by several analytical methods: high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD patterns showed that the supported TiO2 nanocrystals are typically anatase, polycrystalline and body-centered tetragonal in structure. The EDS and XPS results complemented one another and confirmed the presence of carbon species in or on the TiO2 layer, and the XPS data suggested the substitution of titanium in TiO2 by carbon. Instead of using calcination, PAN pyrolysis was used to control the carbon content, and the mesoporosity was tailored by the applied temperature. The supported TiO2 nanocrystals prepared by pyrolysis at 300, 350, and 400ºC for 3 h on a stainless steel mesh were actual supported carbon doped TiO2 nanocrystals. Thus, PAN/DMF/TiCl4 offers a facile, robust sol-gel related route for preparing supported carbon doped TiO2 nanocomposites.

The Automobile HVAC system is a habitat for odor-associated fungal communities. We investigated the odorassociated fungal community in an automobile HVAC system using a high-throughput DNA sequencing method. The fungal community structure was evaluated via metagenome analysis. At the phylum level, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were detected, accounting for 43.41% and 56.49% of the fungal community in the HVAC system, respectively. Columnosphaeria (8.31%), Didymella (5.60%), Davidiella (5.50%), Microxyphium (4.24%), unclassified Pleosporales (2.90%), and Cladosporium (2.79%) were abundant at phylum of Ascomycota and Christiansenia (36.72%), Rhodotorula (10.48%), and Sporidiobolus (2.34%) were abundant at phylum of Basidiomycota. A total of 22 genera of fungi were isolated and identified from the evaporators of the HVAC systems which support fungal growth and biofilm formation. Among them, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Alternaria are the most representative odor-associated fungi in HVAC systems. They were reported to form biofilm on the surface of HVAC systems with other bacteria by hypha. In addition, they produce various mVOCs such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, acetic acid, butanoic acid, and methyl isobutyl ketone. Our findings may be useful for extending the understanding of odor-associated fungal communities in automobile HVAC systems.

본 연구에서는, 전기방사를 위하여 알지네이트와 키토산을 이용하여 알지네이트/poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)와 키 토산/PEO 용액을 준비하였다. 준비된 용액을 10 mL 플라스틱 주사기에 넣고 금속 노즐에 높은 전압을 공급하였다. 키토산과 알지네이트 용액은 고분자 농도, 온도, 상대습도, 인가전압, 노즐과의 거리, 그리고 용액 속도에 의해 컨트롤되었다. 제조된 나노섬유막은 전자주사현미경을 이용하여 모폴로지를 관찰하였다. 알지네이트 전기방사를 위한 나노 섬유막의 최적화된 조건 은 2 wt% 알지네이트, 2 wt% PEO, 60°C, 노즐과의 거리 15 cm, 20~24 kV, 8 μm/min이었으며, 키토산 섬유막의 최적화 조 건은 2 wt% 키토산, 2 wt% PEO, 25°C, 노즐과의 거리 15 cm, 24 kV, 8 μm/min이었다. 복합 나노섬유 제조조건은 노즐과의 거리 20 cm, 8 μm/min, 26 kV이었다.

입자 크기가 약 16 및 5 nm인 두 다른 크기의 TiO2 나노입자들과 titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) binder 와 ethanol 용매만으로 제조된 코팅액을 사용하여 130 oC 저온 열처리로 ITO/PEN substrate 위에 메조다공성 TiO2 박막들을 형성하였다. 이들 TiO2/ITO/PEN 박막들을 활용한 유연 염료감응 태양전지들을 제작하여 광변환 특성을 비교 연구하였다. 크기가 다른 두 TiO2 나노입자들을 각각 단독으로 사용하여 제작된 cell들의 경우에 크기가 16 nm 인 TiO2 나노입자 cell이 5 nm인 나노입자 cell에 비해 박막의 porosity가 훨씬 크고 같은 질량에서 표면적이 훨씬 넓어 광변환 효율이 훨씬 높으나 염료 흡착량에 대해 상대적으로 작은 광전류는 입자간의 연결성에 기인되며 큰 입 자에 작은 입자를 10% 정도 혼합한 경우에 표면적 증가와 함께 입자간의 연결성을 강화시켜 큰 입자 단독으로 제작 된 cell에 비해 광변환 효율이 크게 증가됨을 확인하였다.