• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

This study's aim was to isolate microorganisms producing agarase with a high activity, with possible applications in improving the performance of the pretreatment processes for bioethanol production. Marine algaes were collected from the south coast of Korea, from which three kinds of microorganisms were isolated. After a 4-day culture of these strains at $25^{\circ}C$, crude enzymes were obtained from culture supernatant or cell-free extract by ammonium sulfate precipitation and membrane dialysis. Agarase activity was observed in these crude enzymes. Notably higher specific activity was observed in the crude enzyme obtained from the culture supernatant rather than that from the cell-free extract. This indicates that a secreted enzyme has a much greater activity than a cellular enzyme. Crude enzymes from the GNUM08122 strain were inferred to have ${\alpha}$-agarase activity because release of p-nitrophenol was observed, possibly due to the cleavage of p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranoside. The 16S rRNA sequence of GNUM08122 showed a close relationship to Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549 (99.8%) and Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis IMA 14160 (99.7%), which led us to assign it to the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Biochemical and physiological study revealed that this strain can grow well at $40^{\circ}C$ under a wide range of pH (pH 4~8) in high-salt conditions (10% NaCl).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2011

NO oxidation is an important prerequisite step to assist the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) at low temperatures ($<200^{\circ}C$). Therefore, we conducted the lab- and bench-scales experiments appling the sodium chlorite powder ($NaClO_2(s)$) for the oxidation of NO to $NO_2$ and the carbon-based catalyst for the reduction of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$; the lab- and bench-scales experiments were conducted in laboratory and iron-ore sintering plant, respectively. In the lab-scale experiment, known concentrations of $NO_x$ (200 ppm), $SO_2$ (75 ppm), $H_2O$ (10%) and $NH_3$ (400 ppm) in 2.6 L/min were introduced into a packed-bed reactor containing $NaClO_2(s)$, then gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were fed into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $2,000hr^{-1}$) at $130^{\circ}C$. In the bench-scale experiment, flue gases of $50Nm^3/hr$ containing 120 ppm NO and 150 ppm $SO_2$ were taken out from the duct of iron-ore sintering plant, then introduced into the flow reactor; $NaClO_2(s)$ were injected into the flow reactor using a screw feeder. Gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were introduced into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $1,000hr^{-1}$). Results have shown that, in both lab- and bench-scales experiments, NO was oxidized to $NO_2$ by $NaClO_2(s)$. In addition, above 90% of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ removal were obtained at the carbon-based catalyst. These results lead us to suggest that the combination of $NaClO_2(s)$ with the carbon-based catalyst has the potential to achieve the simultaneous removal of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ at low temperature ($<200^{\circ}C$).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.473-482
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• 2009

In this study, iron and manganese coated sand (IMCS) was prepared by mixing Joomoonjin sand with solutions having different molar ratio of manganese ($Mn^{2+}$) and iron ($Fe^{3+}$). Mineral type of IMCS was analyzed by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. Removal efficiency of arsenic through As(III) oxidation and As(V) adsorption by IMCS having different ratio of Mn/Fe was evaluated. The coated amount of total Mn and Fe on all IMCS samples was less than that on sand coated with iron-oxide alone (ICS) or manganese-oxide alone (MCS). The mineral type of the manganese oxide on MCS and iron oxides on ICS were identified as ${\gamma}-MnO_2$ and mixture of goethite and magnetite, respectively. The same mineral type was appeared on IMCS. Removed amount As(V) by IMCS was greatly affected by the content of Fe rather than by the content of Mn. Adsorption of As(V) by IMCS was little affected by the presence of monovalent and divalent electrolytes. However a greatly reduced As(V) adsorption as observed in the presence of trivalent electrolyte such as $PO_4\;^{3-}$. As(III) oxidation efficiency by MCS in the presence of NaCl or $NaNO_3$ was two times greater than that in the presence of $PO_4\;^{3-}$. Meanwhile a greater As(III) oxidation efficiency was observed by IMCS in the presence of $PO_4\;^{3-}$. This was explained by the competitive adsorption between phosphate and arsenate on the surface of IMCS.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.31-42
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• 2006

Drought indices, such as PDSI (palmer Drought Severity Index), SWSI (Surface Water Supply Index) and SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index), have been developed to assess and forecast an intensity of drought. To find the applicability of groundwater level data to a drought assessment, a correlation analysis between SPI and groundwater levels was conducted for each time series at a drought season in 2001. The comparative results between SPI and groundwater levels of shallow wells of three national groundwater monitoring stations, Chungju Gageum, Yangpyung Gaegun, and Yeongju Munjeong, show that these two factors are highly correlated. In case of SPI with a duration of 1 month, cross-correlation coefficients between two factors are 0.843 at Chungju Gageum, 0.825 at Yangpyung Gaegun, and 0.737 at Yeongju Munjeong. The time lag between peak values of two factors is nearly zero in case of SPI with a duration of 1 month, which means that groundwater level fluctuation is similar to SPI values. Moreover, in case of SPI with a duration of 3 month, it is found that groundwater level can be a leading indicator to predict the SPI values I week later. Some of the national groundwater monitoring stations can be designated as DIW (Drought Index Well) based on the detailed survey of site characteristics and also new DIWs need to be drilled to assess and forecast the drought in this country.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.30-38
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• 2008

Petroleum-based resin adhesives have extensively been used for the production of wood panels. However, with the increase of manufacturing cost and the environmental issue, such as the emission of volatile organic compounds, of the adhesive resins, it is necessary to be developed new adhesive systems. In this study, the potential of okara, which is a residue wasted from the production of tofu, for the development of bio-based adhesives was investigated. At first, the physical and chemical properties of okara were examined. After okara was hydrolyzed in acidic and/or alkaline solutions, okara-based adhesive resins were formulated with the mixtures of the okara hydrolyzates and phenol formaldehyde (PF) prepolymer. The adhesive resins were used for the fabrication of plywood panels, and then the adhesive strength and formaldehyde emission of the plywood panels were measured to examine the applicability of the resin adhesives for the production of plywood panels. The solids content and pH of the okara used in this study were around 20% and weak acidic state, respectively. In the analysis of its chemical composition, the content of carbohydrate was the highest, and followed by protein. The shear strengths of plywood fabricated with okara-based resin adhesives exceeded a minimum requirement of KS standard for ordinary plywood, but its wood failure did not reach the minimum requirement. In addition, the formaldehyde emissions of all plywood panels were higher than that of E1 specified in the KS standard. Based on these results, okara has the potential to be used as a raw material of environmentally friendly adhesive resin systems for the production of wood panels, but further researches - biological hydrolysis of okara and various formulations of PF prepolymer - are required to improve the adhesive strength and formaldehyde emission of okara-based resin adhesives.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 1970

In an effort to determine the bio-synthesis in the soybean as investigate to the variance of each substance: Glutamic acid, Aspartic acid and its amides during the growth of younger soybean plants. 1. The variance-curve of Gultamic acid and Aspartic acid as the acidic amino acids in the cotyledons was appeared the peak the first half period at Glutamic acid and the latter half at Aspartic acid in the growth of soybeans, and was received the symmetrical impression centering around the stage of adult leaf-development. But, in the embryonic organ, it appears the peak at both part, in the developmental stage of adult leaf and also appears near phenomena of increase and decrease in the variation-curve of metabolites. 2. It's amides-Gultamine and Asparagine-appears the peak at the developmental stage of adult leaf in the both cotyledons and embryonic organ, and rapid increase in the cotyledons were very impressed compare with the decrease at fallen stage of cotyledons in the embryonic organs. 3. In the relation of variance at Glutamic acid and Aspartic acid, both substance were discovered the fact of translocation from cotyledon to embryonic organ, and Glutamic acid could supposed that bear the charges of outrider substance in other amino acid as the Glutamic acid-self and major basic function for receiving the ammonia as the nitrogen contain constituent of plant. In the case of Glutamine, formation-mechanism of ammonia which develops due to its hydrolysis in the latter period of soybean growth, suggested that was forfeit its function till instance of fallen cotyledons. 4. In the relation the Aspartie acid and Asparagine, Aspartic acid which begins to decrease from seed-state was supposed that bear sufficiently the charge of outrider substance in the formation of Asparagine other than translocated to embryonic organ from cotyledon. And, formation-theory of Aspartic acid which suppose as formational substance from Kreb's cycle were recognized from latter period of soybean growth, and then, rapid accumulation of Asparagine's amounts were supposed that adapt to two theory: Theory which consider to transformation as Asparagine state for pressing to less than noxious weight the concentration of ammonia developing from the cells, and was formate and accumulate as ammonia or carbohydrates containing excess in the cotyledons.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.259-268
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• 2005

Most of the tailings have been left without any management in their mines and have become the main source of serious environmental problems in nearby groundwater, stream and cultivated lands. To compare fractionation and potential mobility of heavy metals in tailings and paddy soils near abandoned 10-metalliferous mines in Korea, the distribution and chemical fractions of heavy metal and their mobility in relation to chemical compositions were investigated. The pollution index of heavy metal in mine tailing calculated with the permissible levels were in the order Cheongyang>Dogok>Beutdeun>Baegwoul mine, which were considered sufficient to raise environmental problems. The rates of 0.1M-HCl extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Ni to total content in paddy soils were 49.1, 50.7, 26.8, 18.4 and 2.9%, respectively, and their rates of heavy metals in paddy soils were higher than that of mine tailing. Dominant chemical forms of heavy metals in tailings were sulfide and residual form (63-91%), specially, the exchangeable portion of Cd (21%) was relatively higher than that of other metals in paddy soils. The mobility factor of heavy metals in tailings and paddy soils was in the order Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb, and the mobility factor in tailing varied considerably among the mines. The potential mobility of heavy metals in tailings showed significant positive correlation with water-soluble $Al^{3+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ contents, while in paddy soils, it correlated negatively with soil pH values.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.15-22
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• 2002

Transportation project appraisal should be precise in order to increase the social welfare and efficiency, and it has been evaluated by only a single criterion analysis such as benefit/cost analysis. However, this method cannot assess some qualitative items, and cannot get a proper solution for the clash of interests among various groups. Therefore, the multi-criteria analysis, which can control these problems, is needed, and then Saaty has developed one of these methods, AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. In AHP, the project is evaluated through weighted score of the criteria and the alternatives, which is surveyed by a questionnaire of specialists. It is based on some strict suppositions such as reciprocal comparison, homogeneity, expectation, independence relationship between multi-criteria, but supposing that each criterion has independence relation with others is too difficult in two reasons. First, in real situation, there cannot be perfect independence relationship between standards. Second, individuals, even though they are specialists of that area, do not feel the degree of independence relation as same as others. This paper develops a modified AHP method for solving this dependence relationship between multi-criteria. First of all. in this method, the degree of dependence relationship between multi-criteria that the specialist feels is surveyed and included to the weighted score of multi-criteria This study supposes three methods to implement this idea. The first model products the degree of dependence relationship in the first step for calculating the weighted score, and the others adjust the result of weighted score from the basic AHP method to the dependence relationship. One of the second methods distributes the cross weighted score to each standard by constant ratio, and the other splits them using Fuzzy measure such as Bel and Pl. Finally, in order to validate these methods, this paper applies them to evaluate the alternatives which can control public resentments against Korean rail path in a city area.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 1984

Two Fe-hydrous oxide A,B and one Al-hydroxide minerals were synthesized precipitating Fe $Cl_3$ and $AlCl_3$ with alkali solution(NaOH) at pH 6.0, 12.0 and 4.5 respectively, for precise understanding of physico-chemical and surface charge characteristics of soils in which these minerals are dominant. Identification of these final products, effect of free and amorphous materials on X-ray diffraction analysis, particle size distribution and surface change characterics of these minerals were performed. Fe-hydroxide A and B were identified as great deal of X-ray amorphous material and as goethite with large amount of X-ray amorphous material, respectively. Dehydration by oven at $105^{\circ}C$ of these minerals exhibited akaganeite peaks with low X-ray amorphous hump and pure goethite peaks for Fe-hydroxide A and B, respectively. Both minerals, however, turned into hematite upon firing at $550^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, Al-hydroxide identified as mixture of gibbsite and bayerite of around 7:3 ratio. Application of sodium dithionite and ammonium oxalate solutions for removal of free or amorphous Fe and Al from these minerals revealed that only peak intensities of Al-hydroxide system were enhanced upon Al-extraction by oxalate solution even though dithionite solution was much powerful to extract Fe from Fe-hydrous oxide systems. Original(wet) Fe-hydrous oxide A has the highest specific surface and surface charge development(negative and positive), and the greatest amount of less than $2{\mu}m$ sized particles. Specific surface and clay sized particles(less than $2{\mu}m$) of Fe-hydrous oxide A, however, were drastically reduced upon dehydration($P_2O_5$ and oven drying) compare to the rest minerals. The Z.P.C. of these synthetic minerals were 8.0-8.5, 7.5-8.0 and 5.5-6.0 for Fe-hydrous oxide A, B and Al-hydroxide, respectively.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.76-90
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• 2018

To determine the distribution of mercury (Hg) in the coastal surface sediments around the Korean peninsula, the baseline concentration of Hg was estimated, the extent of contamination was assessed, and the factors controlling the distribution were discussed. The concentrations of Hg in surface sediments were significantly high in Jinhae-Masan Bay in the South Sea, Ulsan-Onsan Bay and Yeongil Bay in the East Sea, but Hg in other sediments showed a similar distribution to Cs and relatively very low concentration between 0.21 and $39.5{\mu}g/kg$ ($13.6{\pm}7.80{\mu}g/kg$). Compared to the sediment quality guidelines in Korea, 8 % of the surface sediments (n=282) analyzed in this study exceeded the values of the threshold effects level (TEL), and six sediments collected around Onsan Port were higher than the value of the probable effects level (PEL). The contamination levels of Hg were assessed by the enrichment factors using the baseline concentration (2.06Cs+1.75) based on the residual analysis from the linear regression line for Cs, and further, factors controlling the distribution of Hg were discussed by the comparison with geochemical substances depending upon the Hg enrichment level. Hg concentrations were correlated well with Cs concentration in the range of less than 1.69 of EF implying grain size control, while in the range of 1.69 and 4.03 Hg concentrations were correlated well with Fe oxyhyroxide and organic carbon contents, which indicates Hg was enriched by superior sorption capability. On the meanwhile, samples with higher EFs (4.03 to 74.9) showed fairly positive correlations with other metals (Cu, Zn, Pb) rather than geochemical substances. For samples in Youngil Bay and Ulsan-Onsan Bay (n=30), Hg concentrations were correlated only with other metals rather than geochemical substances implying simultaneous supply of metal particles from metal refineries. But samples at Gosung, Sokcho and Uljin coast were correlated well with organic carbon even though they had high EFs. In addition, samples in Jinhae-Masan Bay with high contents of S were enriched by relatively high sulfide formation.