• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2024

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is an environmentally hazardous pollutant that originates from various sources. PM is comprised of solid particles and liquid droplets of diverse composition and size. Hazardous chemical compositions of PM include elemental and organic carbon, organic compounds, biological compounds and metals. Upon acute and chronic PM exposure, toxic contaminants enter and accumulate within physiological systems and prompt cell structure changes accompanied with intracellular endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid accumulation, and cell cycle arrest. Ultimately, these cellular response leads to the development of key characteristics of aging. In addition, PM internalization enhances autophagy reflux and lysosomal dysfunction, which is involved in cell aging. Previous studies have emphasized a positive association between PM and increased mortality or decreased lifespan, although these are evidenced mostly by observational studies. Direct evidence of the link between PM and aging is still limited. This review evaluates the evidence from not only observational studies but also in vitro and in vivo evidence of PM on aging progression and age-related diseases development. This evidence is based on age-associated cellular changes including endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, adipose accumulation, autophagy, which strengthen the association between PM exposure and aging. Understanding the underlying cellular responses under PM may allow for the development of new therapeutic targets for PM-induced aging.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.355-359
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• 2019

The high efficient water splitting system should involve the reduction of high overpotential value, which was enhanced by the electrocatalytic reaction efficiency of catalysts, during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) reaction, respectively. Among them, transition metal-based compounds (oxides, sulfides, phosphides, and nitrides) are attracting attention as catalyst materials to replace noble metals that are currently commercially available. Herein, we synthesized optimal monodisperse Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ PBAs by FESEM, and confirmed crystallinity by XRD and FT-IR, and thermal behavior of PBAs via TG-DTA. Also, we synthesized monodispersed Co₃O₄ nanocubes by calcination of Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ PBAs, confirmed the crystallinity by XRD, and proceeded OER measurement. Finally, the synthesized Co₃O₄ nanocubes showed a low overpotential of 312 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm^-2 with a low Tafel plot (96.6 mV·dec^-1).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.466-470
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• 2022

The catalytic thermal oxidizer process has recently attracted considerable attention for the oxidation and decomposition of volatile organic compounds at low temperatures (< 450 ℃) with high efficiency (> 95%). Although many noble metal catalytic materials are well established, they are expensive and hazardous. Herein, highly active and low-cost Cu-Mn bimetallic catalysts were prepared using a simple and facile synthesis method involving the co-precipitation of Cu and Mn precursors. The synthesis of the catalyst was optimized by controlling the composition ratio of Cu and Mn. The optimized catalyst exhibited a large surface area of 230.8 m²/g with a mesoporous structure. To demonstrate the catalytic performance, the Cu-Mn catalyst was tested for the oxidation reaction of ethyl acetate, showing a high conversion efficiency of 100% at a low temperature of 250 ℃.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2015

In the past few decades, polymeric membrane has played an important role in gas separation applications. For the separation of $CO_2$, one of greenhouse gases, high permselectivity, long-term stability and scale-up are needed. However, conventional polymeric membranes have shown a trade-off relation between permeability and selectivity while inorganic materials are highly permeable but expensive. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) combining the advantages of both polymeric and inorganic materials have become a possible breakthrough for the next-generation gas separation membranes. The MMMs could be either symmetric or asymmetric but the latter is more preferred to improve the permeance. Important factors influencing the MMM fabrication include homogeneous distribution of inorganic particles and good interfacial contact between inorganic filler and organic matrix. Recently, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have received much attention as a new class of porous crystalline materials and a potential candidate for $CO_2$ separation. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), a sub-branch of MOFs, are the most widely used in MMMs due to small particle size and appropriate pore size for $CO_2$ separation. One of the major issues associated with the incorporation of porous particles in a polymeric membrane is to control the microstructure of the porous particle materials such as particle size, orientation, and boundary conditions etc. In this review, major challenges surrounding MMMs and the strategies to tackle these challenges are given in detail.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.63-73
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• 2009

Recently, the use of lightweight panels in building structures has been increasing. Of the various lightweight panel types, styrofoam sandwich panels are inexpensive and are excellent in terms of their insulation capacity and their constructability. However, sandwich panels that include organic material are quite vulnerable to fire, and thus can numerous casualties in the event of a fire due to the lack of time to vacate and their emission of poisonous gas. On the other hand, lightweight foamed concrete is excellent, both in terms of its insulation ability and its fire resistance, due to its Inner pores. The properties of lightweight concrete is influenced by foaming agent type. Accordingly, this study investigates the insulation properties by foaming agent type, to evaluate the possibility of using light-weight foamed concrete instead of styrene foam. Our research found thatnon-heating zone temperature of lightweight foamed concrete using AP (Aluminum Powder) and FP (animal protein foaming agent) are lower than that of light-weight foamed concrete using AES (alkyl ether lactic acid ester). Lightweight foamed concrete using AES and FP satisfied fire performance requirements of two hours at a foam ratio 50, 100. Lightweight foamed concrete using AP satisfied fire performance requirements of two hours at AP ratio 0.1, 0.15. The insulation properties were better in closed pore foamed concrete by made AP, FP than with open pore foamed concrete made using AES.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.206-214
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• 2005

Heterogeneously-catalyzed oxidation of aqueous phase trichloroethylene (TCE) over supported metal oxides has been conducted to establish an approach to eliminate ppm levels of organic compounds in water. A continuous flow reactor system was designed to effect predominant reaction parameters in determining catalytic activity of the catalysts for wet TCE decomposition as a model reaction. 5 wt.% $CoO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst exhibited a transient period in activity vs. on-stream time behavior, suggesting that the surface structure of the $CoO_x$ might be altered with on-stream hours; regardless, it is probable to be the most promising catalyst. Not only could the bare support be inactive for the wet decomposition reaction at $36^{\circ}C$, but no TCE removal also occurred by the process of adsorption on $TiO_2$ surface. The catalytic activity was independent of all particle sizes used, thereby representing no mass transfer limitation in intraparticle diffusion. Very low TCE conversion appeared for $TiO_2$-supported $NiO_x$ and $CrO_x$ catalysts. Wet oxidation performance of supported Cu and Fe catalysts, obtained through an incipient wetness and ion exchange technique, was dependent primarily on the kinds of the metal oxides, in addition to the acidic solid supports and the preparation routes. 5 wt.% $FeO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst gave no activity in the oxidation reaction at $36^{\circ}C$, while 1.2 wt.% Fe-MFI was active for the wet decomposition depending on time on-stream. The noticeable difference in activity of the both catalysts suggests that the Fe oxidation states involved to catalytic redox cycle during the course of reaction play a significant role in catalyzing the wet decomposition as well as in maintaining the time on-stream activity. Based on the results of different $CoO_x$ loadings and reaction temperatures for the decomposition reaction at $36^{\circ}C$ with $CoO_x/TiO_2$, the catalyst possessed an optimal $CoO_x$ amount at which higher reaction temperatures facilitated the catalytic TCE conversion. Small amounts of the active ingredient could be dissolved by acidic leaching but such a process gave no appreciable activity loss of the $CoO_x$ catalyst.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.63-63
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• 2002

현재 기계적 합금화법에서는 주로 합금을 구성하는 성분원소 분말을 불활성분위기에서 볼밀처리 함으로써 함금화를 시키거나 모합금에 산화물을 분산시켜 복합화시키는 공정을 통하여 각종 화합물, 비정질상 및 과포화고용체등의 준안정상의 합성 뿐만이 아니라 초미세조직의 생성에 관한 폭 넓은 분야의 연구가 행하여지고 있다. 한편 MA에서는 볼멀처리중 기계적 에너지의 투여에 의하여 실제 반응온도보다 낮은 온도에서 발생하는 특이한 화학반응 즉 Mechanochemical 반응을 일으키 기도 한다. 본 연구에서는 헤마타이트($Fe_20_3$)와 금속윈소인 Ti의 MA처리에 의하여 고상환원반응 을 유기시켜 $Fe-TiO_2$계 nanocomposite 분말재료를 제조하고자 한다. 특히 MA 공정에 있어서 자기 물성의 변화와 X선 회절을 통하여 고상환원반응에 의한 복합분말의 생성과정을 조사하였다. 출발원료는 $Fe_20_3$(고순도화학제,99.9%, 평균입경 0.1$\mu\textrm{m}$)와 금속원소인 Ti(99.9%, 명균업경 150$\mu\textrm{m}$)을 몰비 2:3의 조성이 되도록 하여 MA를 실시하였다. 볼멀은 고에너지 유성형 볼밀장치(독일 제, Fritsch P-5)를 이용하였으며 진공치환형 용기에 원료분말을 장입하여 2회정도 진공배기한 후 아르곤 가스를 충전하여 볼밀을 행하였다. 얻어진 분말시료에 대하여 x-선 회절장치, 전자현미경 (SEM) 및 진동시료형자력계(VSM)를 통하여 결정구조, 미셰조직 빛 자기특성을 조사하였다. $Fe_2O_3-Ti$ 혼합분말의 MA처리 에 의하여 초기단계부터 환원반응과 함께 $Fe_3TIO_{lO}$ 중간상이 관찰 되었으나 30hrs의 MA처리 후 Fe와 산화물 $TiO_2$로 모두 환원되어 $Fe-TiO_2$계 나노복합분말이 얻어짐을 알 수 있었다. 이 때 X션 회절피크의 line broadening으로부터 복합분말의 Fe 명균 결정립 크기는 24nm로 초미세 결정럽의 분말합금이었다. 포화자화값은 볼밀처리에 따라 점점 증가하여 MA 30시간에는 20.3emu/g로 포화됨을 알 수 있었다. 또한 보자력 Hc는 MA초기단계에 350e로 매우 낮으나 30시간 후에는 Hc값이 2600e로 매우 큰 값을 나타내었다. 이것은 환원반응결과 초기에 생성된 Fe의 결정립이 비교적 크고 결정결함이 적으나 볼밀처리를 30시간까지 행하면 Fe 결정렵의 미세화 빛 strain 증가로 magnetic hardening이 일어나기 때문인 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 1994

Aluminium and titanium precursors containing $\beta$-diketonate ligands were used for the synthesis of polymeric sols of alumina and titania by sol-gel methods. To prepare polymeric sols by solgel processing, we synthesized modified precursors having chelating organic ligands. With these precursors it was found to be possible to control both hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction rates which resulted in ultrafine particles few nms of average size. The optimum molar ratio of acid to alkoxide for alumina sol was 0.3-0.4 and that of water to alkoxide &as 1. On the other hand, the corresponding ratios for titania sol were found be 0.25-0.20 and 1 respectively. Dynamic light scattering measurements indicated that the average particle size in both sols was in the order of few nms. SEM photographs were taken to observe crack-free and smooth surfaces of coated membranes after sintering at $450^{\circ}C$. Alumina coated membrane on a slide glass had about 4-4.5$\mu \textrm{m}$, thickness and titania coated one had 2-2.5$\mu \textrm{m}$, thickness. And according to TEM photographs, the grain size of titania was smaller than 30nm and that of alumina was in the range of few $\AA$s to 2nms. An X-ray diffraction study revealed that alumina was $\gamma$ phase and titania was anatase crystal.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2021

In this study, the performance of a honeycomb-type hydrogen oxidation catalyst to remove hydrogen in a hydrogen economy society to secure leaking hydrogen. The Pd/TiO₂ catalyst was prepared based on a liquid phase reduction method that is not exposed to a heat source, and it was showed through H₂-chemisorption analysis that it existed as very small active particles of 2~4 nm. In addition, it was found that the metal dispersion decreased and the active particle size increased as the reduction reaction temperature increased. It was meant that the active metal particle size and the hydrogen oxidation performance were in a proportional correlation, so that it was consistent with the hydrogen oxidation performance reduction result. The prepared catalyst was coated on a support in the form of a honeycomb so that it could be applied to the hydrogen industrial process. When 20 wt% or more of the AS-40 binder was coated, oxidation performance of 90% or more was observed under low-concentration hydrogen conditions. It was showed through SEM analysis that long-term catalytic activity can be expected by enhancing the adhesion strength of the catalyst and preventing catalyst desorption. It is a basic research that can secure safety in a hydrogen society such as gasification, organic resource, and it can be utilized as a system that can respond to unexpected safety accidents in the future.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2023

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), which are composed of a polymer matrix filled with high-performance fillers as a dispersed phase, have been intensively studied for gas separations for the past 30 years. It has been demonstrated that MMMs exhibit superior gas separation performance compared to polymer membranes and are more scalable than polycrystalline membranes. Despite their potential, the commercialization of MMMs has yet to be reported due to several challenging issues. One of the major challenges of MMMs is the non-ideal interface between the continuous polymer phase and dispersed phase, which can result in defect formation (i.e., interfacial voids, etc.). With respect, many MMM studies have focused on addressing the issues through scientific approaches. The engineering approaches for facile and effective large-scale fabrication of MMMs, however, have been relatively underestimated. In this review paper, a novel strategy for fabricating MMMs in a facile and scalable manner using in situ metal-organic framework (MOF) formation is introduced. This new MMM fabrication methodology can effectively address the issues facing current MMMs, likely facilitating the commercialization of MMMs.