• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.297-310
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• 1998

Geochemical characteristics of environmental toxic elements at the Narim mine area were investigated on the basis of major, minor, rare earth element geochemistry and mineralogy. Ratios of $Al_2O_3/Na_2O$ and $K_2O/Na_2O$ in soils and sediments range from 11.57 to 22.21 and from 1.86 to 3.93, and are partly negative and positive correlation against $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ (3.41 to 4.78), respectively. These suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss could be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Characteristics of some trace and rare earth elements of V/Ni (0.33 to 1.95), Ni/Co (2.00 to 6.50), Zr/Hf (11.27 to 53.10), La/Ce (0.44 to 0.55), Th/Yb (4.07 to 7.14), La/Th (2.35 to 3.93), $La_N/Yb_N$ (6.58 to 13.67), Co/Th (0.63 to 2.68), La/Sc (3.29 to 5.94) and Sc/Th (0.49 to 1.00) are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by simple source lithology. Major elements in all samples are enriched $Al_2O_3$, MgO, $TiO_2$ and LOI, especially $Fe_2O_3$ (mean=7.36 wt.%) in sediments than the composition of host granitic gneiss. The average enrichment indices of major and rare earth elements from the mining drainage are 2.05 and 2.91 of the sediments and are 2.02 and 2.60 of the soils, normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, respectively. Average composition (ppm) of minor and/or environmental toxic elements in sediments and soils are Ag=14 and 1, As=199 and 14, Cd=22 and 1, Cu=215 and 42, Pb=1770 and 65, Sb=18 and 3, Zn=3333 and 170, respectively, and extremely high concentrations are found in the subsurface sediments near the ore dump. Environmental toxic elements were strongly enriched in all samples, especially As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn. The level of enrichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. Based on the EPA value, enrichment index of toxic elements is 8.63 of mining drainage sediments and 0.54 of soils on the mining drainage. Mineral composition of soils and sediments near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, amphibole, chlorite and clay minerals. From the gravity separated mineralogy, soils and sediments are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, goethite and various hydroxide minerals.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 1990

The PIXE (Proton Induced X-ray Emission) method is applied to the quantitative analysis of trace elements in tap water, red wine, urine and old black powder samples. Sample irradiations are performed with a 1.202 MeV proton beam from the SNU 1.5-MV Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator, and measurements of X-ray spectra are made by the Si(Li) spectrometer To increase the sensitivity of analysis tap water is preconcentrated by evaporation method. As an internal standard, Ni powder is mixed with black powder sample and yttrium solution is added to the other samples. The analyses of the PIXE spectra are carried out by using the AXIL (Analytical X-ray Analysis by Iterative Least-squares) computer code, in which the routine for least-squares method is based on the Marquardt algorithm. The elements such as Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Fe and Zn are analyzed at sub-ppm levels in the tap water sample. In the red wine sample prepared without preconcentration. the element Ti is detected in the amount of 3ppm. In conclusion, the PIXE method is proved to be appropriate for the analysis of liquid samples by relative measurements using the internal standard. and is expected to be improved by the use of evaluated X-ray production cross-sections and the development of sample preparation techniques.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-49
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• 1997

The coal formation of the Deokpyeong area are interbedded along metapelites of the Ogcheon Supergroup, which are composed mainly of graphite, quartz, muscovite and associated with small amounts of biotite, chlorite, pyrite and barite. The ratios of $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$, $Al_2O_3/Na_2O$ and $K_2O/Na_2O$ of the coaly metapelite are variable and wide range from 1.80 to 10.21, from 27.8 to 388.8 and from 7.6 to 61.8, respectively. These coal formation were deposited in basin of marine environments, and the REE of these rocks are not influenced with metamorphism and hydrothermal alterations on the basis of $Al_2O_3$ versus La, La against Ce, the ratios of La/Ce (0.19 to 0.99) and Th/U (0.02 to 4.75). These rocks also show much variation in $La_N/Yb_N$ (1.19 to 22.89), Th/Yb (0.14 to 21.43) and La/Th (0.44 to 13.67), and their origin is explained by derivation from a mixture of sedimentary and igneous rocks. The wide range in trace and REE element characteristics as Co/Th (0.12 to 2.78), La/Sc (0.33 to 10.18), Sc/Th (0.57 to 5.73), V/Ni (8 to 2347), Cr/V (0.02 to 0.67) and Ni/Co (1.56 to 32.95) of these coaly metapelites argues for inefficient mixing of the various source lithologies during sedimentation. Deep to pale green barium-vanadium muscovites (vanadium-oellacherite) have been found in this coal formations. Modes of occurrence and grain size of muscovite are heterogeneous, but most of the barium and vanadium-bearing muscovites occur along the boundaries between graphite and quartz grains, ranging from 200 to $350{\mu}m$ in length and from 40 to $60{\mu}m$ in width. Results of X-ray diffraction data of the minerals characterized to be monoclinic system with $a=5.249{\AA}$, $b=8.939{\AA}$, $c=20.924{\AA}$ and ${\beta}=95.894^{\circ}$. Representative chemical formula of the muscovite was $(Na_{0.09}K_{1.44}Ba_{0.46})(Al_{2.75}Ti_{0.07}V_{0.56}Fe_{0.08}Mg_{0.50})(Si_{6.12}Al_{1.88})O_{22}$. The V possibly substitute octahedral Al, and the Ba is coupled substitution of $K^+Si^{4+}=Ba^{2+}Na^+Ca^{2+}$, which compositional ranges of V and Ba are from 0.42 to 0.69 and from 0.34 to 0.56 based on $O_{22}$, respectively. Formation mechanism of the barium-vanadium muscovites in the coaly metapelite is shown that the formed by high pressure and temperature from regional metamorphism origanated during diagenesis at the interface between a basinal brine and organic matter.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.223-238
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• 2015

The $PM_{2.1}$ was collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) during Group-A Period (September 1990 to December 2012) and the $PM_{2.5}$ was collected by HVAS (high volume air sampler) during Group-B Period (September 2009 to April 2012) at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The 8 water-soluble ions ($Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $ NO_3{^-}$, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$) were analyzed by IC, and the 14 inorganic elements (Al, Mn, Si, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Ba, Zn, Ti, Ag) were analyzed by XRF and ICP-AES after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. The average total mass fractions of $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$+ to $PM_{2.5}$ samples during Group-B Period were 0.39 in normal days, 0.44 in haze days, and 0.27 in Asian dust days, respectively; however, the average total mass fractions of Al, Fe, and Si to $PM_{2.5}$ mass were 0.043 in normal days, 0.021 in haze days, and 0.036 in Asian dust days, respectively. Especially the concentration of Pb was significantly decreased during Group-B Period rather than during Group-A Period, while Cr and Ni was increased during Group-B Period. In this study, we intensively compared the annual and seasonal patterns of major chemical species among normal days, haze days, and Asian dust days. Further we developed mass fraction profiles by collecting episode cases of haze days and Asian dust days, which were consisting of 22 chemical species. Those profiles are considered to be useful when applying various receptor models and establishing air quality management plans near future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.6-6
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• 1996

Ceramic based nanocomposite, in which nano-sized ceramics and metals were dispersed within matrix grains and/or at grain boundaries, were successfully fabricated in the ceramic/cerarnic and ceramic/metal composite systems such as $Al_2O_3$/SiC, $Al_2O_3$/$Si_3N_4$, MgO/SiC, mullite/SiC, $Si_3N_4/SiC, $Si_3N_4$/B, $Al_2O_3$/W, $Al_2O_3$/Mo, $Al_2O_3$/Ni and $ZrO_2$/Mo systems. In these systems, the ceramiclceramic composites were fabricated from homogeneously mixed powders, powders with thin coatings of the second phases and amorphous precursor composite powders by usual powder metallurgical methods. The ceramiclmetal nanocomposites were prepared by combination of H2 reduction of metal oxides in the early stage of sinterings and usual powder metallurgical processes. The transmission electron microscopic observation for the $Al_2O_3$/SiC nanocomposite indicated that the second phases less than 70nm were mainly located within matrix grains and the larger particles were dispersed at the grain boundaries. The similar observation was also identified for other cerarnic/ceramic and ceramiclmetal nanocornposites. The striking findings in these nanocomposites were that mechanical properties were significantly improved by the nano-sized dispersion from 5 to 10 vol% even at high temperatures. For example, the improvement in hcture strength by 2 to 5 times and in creep resistance by 2 to 4 orders was observed not only for the ceramidceramic nanocomposites but also for the ceramiclmetal nanocomposites with only 5~01%se cond phase. The newly developed silicon nitride/boron nitride nanocomposites, in which nano-sized hexagonal BN particulates with low Young's modulus and fracture strength were dispersed mainly within matrix grains, gave also the strong improvement in fracture strength and thermal shock fracture resistance. In presentation, the process-rnicro/nanostructure-properties relationship will be presented in detail. The special emphasis will be placed on the understanding of the roles of nano-sized dispersions on mechanical properties.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.108-116
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Certain crop-based waste materials have been recognized as cost-effective and highly efficient adsorbents for removal and recovery of different kind of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The ability is strongly attributed to the carboxyl functional group of some pectin substances such as galacturonic acid often found in fruit peels. The present manuscript was aimed at assessing the potential applicability of banana peel for metal removal from contaminated waters. METHODS AND RESULTS: As revealed by laboratory investigations, banana peel contains pectin (10-21%), lignin (6-12%), cellulose (7.6-9.6%), and hemicelluloses (6.4-9.4%). The pectin extraction is reported to have glucose, galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, xylose, and galactouroninc acid. Several studies conducted under different conditions proved that banana peel is capable of adsorbing 5.71, 2.55, 28.00, 6.88, 7.97, and 5.80 mg/g of $Cd^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$, and $Zn^{2+}$, respectively, from aqueous solutions. Adsorption capacity is, however, dependent upon several factors including solution pH, dose of adsorbent and metal concentration, contact time and shaking speed. CONCLUSION(S): Since the annual world production of banana exceeds 100 million tons, about 40 million tons of banana peel (40% of total weight of the fresh fruit) remains vastly unused. Exploring a sound technology with banana peel would therefore, not only address the much needed sustainable tool for cleaning contaminated waters, but of course bring an additional value to the banana industry worldwide.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.1061-1070
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• 2023

Over the last few years, lead-free inorganic metal perovskites have gained impressive ground in empowering satellites in space exploration owing to their material stability and performance evolution under extreme space environments. The present work has examined the versatility of eight such perovskites as space radiation shielding materials by computing their photon, charged particles and neutron interaction parameters. Photon interaction parameters were calculated for a wide energy range using PAGEX software. The ranges of heavy charged particles (H, He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Si and Fe ions) in these perovskites were estimated using SRIM software in the energy range 1 keV-10 GeV, and that of electrons was computed using ESTAR NIST software in the energy range 0.01 MeV-1 GeV. Further, the macroscopic fast neutron removal cross-sections were also calculated to estimate the neutron shielding efficiencies. The examined shielding parameters of the perovskites varied depending on the radiation type and energy. Among the selected perovskites, Cs₂TiI₆ and Ba₂AgIO₆ displayed superior photon attenuation properties. A 3.5 cm thick Ba₂AgIO₆-based shield could reduce the incident radiation intensity to half its initial value, a thickness even lesser than that of Pb-glass. Besides, CsSnBr₃ and La_0.8Ca_0.2Ni_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ displayed the highest and lowest range values, respectively, for all heavy charged particles. Ba₂AgIO₆ showed electron stopping power (on par with Kovar) better than that of other examined materials. Interestingly, La_0.8Ca_0.2Ni_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ demonstrated neutron removal cross-section values greater than that of standard neutron shielding materials - aluminium and polyethylene. On the whole, the present study not only demonstrates the employment prospects of eco-friendly perovskites for shielding space radiations but also suggests future prospects for research in this direction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1944-1953
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• 2015

A novel alkaline protease from Streptomyces sp. M30, SapHM, was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, with a yield of 15.5% and a specific activity of 29,070 U/mg. Tryptic fragments of the purified SapHM were obtained by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the gene sapHM contained 1,179 bp, corresponding to 392 amino acids with conserved Asp156, His187, and Ser339 residues of alkaline protease. The first 24 amino acid residues were predicted to be a signal peptide, and the molecular mass of the mature peptide was 37.1 kDa based on amino acid sequences and mass spectrometry. Pure SapHM was optimally active at 80℃ in 50 mM glycine-NaOH buffer (pH 9.0), and was broadly stable at 0-50℃ and pH 4.0-9.0. The protease relative activity was increased in the presence of Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ to 112%, 113%, and 147% of control, respectively. Pure SapHM was also activated by dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, Tween 80, and urea. The activity of the purified enzyme was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating that it is a serine-type protease. The K_m and V_max values were estimated to be 35.7 mg/ml, and 5 × 10⁴ U/mg for casein. Substrate specificity analysis showed that SapH was active on casein, bovine serum albumin, and bovine serum fibrin.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.108-121
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• 2009

The suspended particulate matters have been collected on membrane filters and glass fiber filters by an 8-stage cascade impactor for 2 years (Sep. 2005${\sim}$Sep. 2007) in Kyung Hee University-Global Campus located on the border of Yongin and Suwon. The 20 chemical species (Al, Mn, Si, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Ba, $Na^+$, ${NH_4}^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, ${NO_3}^-$, and ${SO_4}^{2-}$) were analyzed by an ICP-AES and an IC after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. Based on these chemical information, the PMF receptor model was applied to identify the source of ambient size-by-size particulate matters. The receptor modeling is the one of the statistical methods to achieve resonable air pollution management strategies. A total of 10 sources was identified in 9 size-ranges such as long-range transport, secondary aerosol, $NH_{4}NO_{3}$ related source, coal combustion, sea-salt, soil, oil combustion, auto emission, incineration, and biomass burning. Especially, the secondary aerosol source assorted in fine and coarse modes was intensively studied.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.231-243
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• 2004

Sequential extraction was carried out on twenty two subsamples of three ferromanganese crusts from three seamounts (Lemkein, Lomilik, and Litakpooki) near the Marshall Islands in the western Pacific. The extraction was designed to fractionate Fe-Mn crust forming elements into low defined groups: (1) exchangeable and carbornate, (2) Mn-oxide, (3) Fe-oxyhyd.oxide, and (4) residual fraction. X-ray diffraction result shows that target material were well removed by each extraction step except for CFA in phosphatized crusts generation. According to chemical analysis of each leachate, most of elements in the Fe-Mn crusts are bound with two major phases. Mn, Ba, Co, Ni, Zn, (Fe, Sr, Cu, and V) are strongly bounded with Mn-oxide $({\delta}-MnO_2)$ phase, whereas Fe, Ti, Zr, Mo, Pb, Al, Cu,(V, P, and Zn) show chemical affinity with Fe-oxyhydroxide phase. This result indicates that significant amount of Al, Ti, and Zr can not be explained by detrital origin. Ca, Mg, K, and Sr mainly occur as exchangeable elements and/or carbonate phase. Outermost layer 1 and inner layer 2 which are both young crusts generations are similar in chemical speciations of elements. However, some of Fe-oxyhydroxide bounded elements (Pb, Y, Mo, Ba, Al, and V) in phosphatized innermost layer 3 are released during phosphatization and incorporated into phosphate (Pb, Y, Mo, and Ba) or Mn-oxide phase (Al and V). Our sequential extraction results reveal that chemical speciations of elements in the hydrogenetic crusts are more or less different from interelemental relationship calculated by statistical method based on bulk chemistry.