• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3711-3716
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• 2021

The addition of ferric ferrocyanide (Prussian blue; PB) to adsorbents could enhance the adsorption performance of ¹³³Cs. Toward this goal, we present a heterogeneously integrated carbonaceous material platform consisting of PB in direct contact with CO₂-activated carbon filters (PB-CACF). The resulted sample retains 24.39% more PB than vice versa probed by the ultraviolet-visible spectrometer. We leverage this effect to capture ¹³³Cs in the aqueous environment via the increase in ionic strength and micropores. We note that the amount of PB was likely to be the key factor for ¹³³Cs adsorption compared with specific surface characteristics. The revealed adsorption capacity of PB-CACF was 21.69% higher than the bare support. The adsorption characteristics were feasible and spontaneous. Positive values of 𝜟H^o and 𝜟S^o show the endothermic nature and increased randomness. Based on the concept of capturing hazardous materials via hazardous materials, our work will be of interest within the relevant academia for collecting radionuclides in a sufficient manner.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.85-103
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• 2022

Korea is one of the most advanced countries in kelp aquaculture. The brown algae, Undaria pinnatifida and Saccharina japonica are major aquaculture species and have been principally utilized for human food and abalone feed in Korea. This review discusses the diversity, population structure and genomics of kelps. In addition, we have introduced new cultivar development efforts considering climate change, and potential carbon sequestration of kelp aquaculture in Korea. U. pinnatifida showed high diversity within the natural populations but reduced genetic diversity in cultivars. However, very few studies of S. japonica have been conducted in terms of population structure. Since studies on cultivar development began in early 2000s, five U. pinnatifida and one S. japonica varieties have been registered to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). To meet the demands for seaweed biomass in various industries, more cultivars should be developed with specific traits to meet application demands. Additionally, cultivation technologies should be diversified, such as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) and offshore aquaculture, to achieve environmental and economic sustainability. These kelps are anticipated to be important sources of blue carbon in Korea.

• Carbon letters
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• v.26
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• pp.31-42
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• 2018

Adsorption is one of the best methods for wastewater purification. The fact that water quality is continuously decreasing requires the development of novel, effective and cost available adsorbents. Herein, a simple procedure for the preparation of a magnetic adsorbent from agricultural waste biomass and ferrofluid has been introduced. Specifically, ferrofluid mixed with wheat straw was directly pyrolyzed either by microwave irradiation (900 W, 30 min) or by conventional heating ($550^{\circ}C$, 90 min). Magnetic biochars were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectroscopy, textural analysis and tested as adsorbents of As(V) oxyanion and cationic methylene blue, respectively. Results showed that microwave pyrolysis produced char with high adsorption capacity of As(V) ($Q_m=25.6mg\;g^{-1}$ at pH 4), whereas conventional pyrolysis was not so effective. In comparison to conventional pyrolysis, one-step microwave pyrolysis produced a material with expressive microporosity, having a nine times higher value of specific surface area as well as total pore volume. We assumed that sorption properties are also caused by several iron-bearing composites identified by $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectroscopy ([super] paramagnetic $Fe_2O_3$, ${\alpha}-Fe$, non-stoichiometric $Fe_3C$, ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$, ${\gamma}-Fe$) transformed from nano-maghemite presented in the ferrofluid. Methylene blue was also more easily removed by magnetic biochar prepared by microwaves ($Q_m=144.9mg\;g^{-1}$ at pH 10.9) compared to using conventional techniques.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 1986

Extracts of CO-autotrophically grown cells of Acinetobacter sp. 1 were shown to use thionin, methylene blue, or 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol, but not NAD, NADP, FAD, or FMN, as electron acceptors for the oxidation of CO under strictly anaerobic conditions. The CO dehydrogenase (CO-DH) in the thes bacterium was found to be an inducible enzyme. The enzyme activity was determined by an assay based on the CO-dependent reduction of thionin. Maximal reaction rates were found at pH 7.5 and $60^{\circ}C$, and the Arrhenius plot revealed an activation energy of 6.1 kcal/mol(25.5kJ/mol). THe $K_m$ m/ for CO was $154{\mu}M$. Known metalchelating agents tested had no effects on the CO-DH activity. No divalent cations tested affect the enzyme activity significantly escept $Cu^{2+}$ which suppressed the activity completely. The enzyme was inhibited by glucose and succinate. The same extracts catalyzed oxidation of hydrogen gas and formate with thionin as electron acceptor. The CO-DH of Acinetobacter sp. 1 was to have no immunological relationship with that of Pseudomonas carboxydohydrogena.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2016

A new immobilization technique of nanoscale $TiO_2$ powder to expanded polystyrene (EPS) balls with temperature-controlled melting method was developed, and the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ powder-embedded EPS balls were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) solution under ultraviolet irradiation (${\lambda}=254nm$). Based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and associated energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, the components of the intact EPS balls were mainly carbon and oxygen, whereas those of $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls were carbon, oxygen, and titanium, indicating that relatively homogenous patches of $TiO_2$ and glycerin film were coated on the surface of EPS balls. Based on the comparison of degradation efficiencies of MB between intact and $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls under UVC illumination, the degradation efficiencies of MB can be significantly improved using $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls, and surface reactions in heterogeneous photocatalysis were more dominant than photo-induced radical reactions in aqueous solutions. Thus, $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls were found to be an effective photocatalyst for photodegradation of organic compounds in aqueous solutions without further processes (i.e., separation, recycling, and regeneration of $TiO_2$ powder). Further study is in progress to evaluate the feasibility for usage of buoyant $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS to inhibit the excessive growth of algae in rivers and lakes.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.290-298
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• 2009

In this paper, the Fe-activated carbon fiber (ACF)/$TiO_2$ composite catalysts were prepared by a sol-gel method. The synthesized photocatalysts were used for the photo degradation of Methylene blue solution under UV light. From Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements (BET) data, it was shown the blocking of the micropores on the surface of ACF by treatment of Fe and Ti compound. As shown in SEM images, the ferric compounds and titanium dioxides were fixed onto the ACF surfaces. The result of X-ray powder diffraction showed that the crystal phase contained a mixing anatase and rutile structure and the 'FeO+$TiO_2$' from the composites. The EDX spectra for the elemental analysis showed the presence of C, O, and Ti with Fe peaks. Degradation activity of MB could be attributed to +OH radicals derived from electron/hole pair's reactions due to photolysis of $TiO_2$ and photo-Fenton effect of Fe.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.211-211
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• 2000

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been spotlighted as one of promising field emission displays(FEDs). For the first time, to authors knowledge, we have developed the 9" color CNT-FEDs with the resolution of 240x576 lines. The 9" CNT-FEDs with diode-type and triode-type structures are presented. The well-dispersed CNT paste was squeezed onto the metal-patterned cathode glass. For the anode plate, the Y2O2S:Eu, ZnS:Ag,Cl low-voltage phosphors were printed for red, green, and blue colors, respectively. The vacuum-packaged panel maintained the vacuum level of 1x10-7 Torr. The uniform moving images vacuum-packaged panel maintained the vacuum level of 1x10-7 Torr. The uniform moving images were demonstrated at 2 V/um. High brightness of 800, 200, and 150cd/m2 was observed on the green, red, and blue phosphors at V/um, respectively. Field emission characteristics of a triode-type CNT-FED were simulated using a finite element method. the resultant field strength on the cathode was modulated by gate bias and emitted electrons were focused on the anode. A relatively uniform emission image was experimentally achieved at the 800V anode. A relatively uniform emission image was experimentally achieved at the 800V anode and the 50-180 V gate biases. Energy distribution of electrons emitted from CNTs was measured using an energy analyzer. The maximum peak of energy curve corresponded to the Fermi energy level of CNTs. The whole fabrication processed of CNT-FEDs were fully scalable and reproducible. Our CNT-FEDs has demonstrated the high potential of large-area and full-color applications with very low cost fabrication and low power consumption.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.619-627
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• 2000

Biodegradation of the C. I. Reactive Blue 114 was investigated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Important parameters studied include dye concentration, the kind and concentration of carbon source, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and influent pH. Glucose was found to be a better co-substrate than the mixture of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), although its concentration did not affect dye removal efficiency in the range of $1000{\sim}3000mg/{\ell}$. When HRT increased from 6 hr to 24 hr, dye removal efficiency increased up to 12 hr and remained almost constant thereafter at about 40%. When influent pH was varied in the range of 6.0~8.0, the effluent pH was varied in the range of 6.8~7.5 with maximum efficiency at pH 7.0. The highest dye removal rate obtained was $52mg/{\ell}{\cdot}day$, while the maximum dye load to meet the discharge limit of color intensity was estimated to be $46mg/{\ell}{\cdot}day$ at HRT of 12 hr and an influent glucose concentration of $2200mg/{\ell}$.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2013

This study evaluated the influence of light quality and intensity during healing and acclimatization on the $CO_2$ exchange rate, growth, and morphogenesis of grafted pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) transplants, using a system for the continuous measurement of the $CO_2$ exchange rate. C. annuum L. 'Nokkwang' and 'Tantan' were used as scions and rootstocks, respectively. Before grafting, the transplants were grown for four weeks in a growth chamber with artificial light, where the temperature was set at $25/18^{\circ}C$ (light/dark period) and the light period was 14 hours $d^{-1}$. The grafted pepper transplants were then healed and acclimatized under different light quality conditions using fluorescent lamps (control) and red, blue, and red + blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). All the transplants were irradiated for 12 hours per day, for six days, at a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 50, 100, or 180 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. The higher PPF levels increased the $CO_2$ exchange rate during the healing and acclimatization. A smaller increase in the $CO_2$ exchange rates was observed in the transplants under red LEDs. At a PPF of 180 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, the $CO_2$ exchange rate of the transplants irradiated with red LEDs was lowest and it was 37% lower than those irradiated with fluorescent lamps. The $CO_2$ exchange rates of transplants irradiated with blue LEDs was the highest and 20% higher than those irradiated under fluorescent lamps. The graft take was not affected by the light quality. The grafted pepper transplants irradiated with red LEDs had a lower SPAD value, leaf dry weight, and dry matter content. The transplants irradiated with blue LEDs had longer shoot length and heavier stem fresh weight than those irradiated with the other treatments. Leaves irradiated with the red LED had the smallest leaf area and showed leaf epinasty. In addition, the palisade and spongy cells of the pepper leaves were dysplastic and exhibited hyperplasia. Grafted pepper transplants treated with red + blue LEDs showed similar growth and morphology to those transplants irradiated with fluorescent lamps. These results suggest that high-quality grafted pepper transplants can be obtained by healing and acclimatization under a combination of blue and red lights at a high PPF level.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2010

In this study, $TiO_2$-Activated carbon (AC) complex fibers were prepared by electrospinning for the synergetic effect of adsorption and degradation of organic pollutant. The average diameter of these fibers increased with increasing the amount of AC added, except for 1AC-TOF (AC$/TiO_2$ =1/40 mass ratio). After calcinations at $500^{\circ}C$, long as-spun fibers were broken and their average diameter was slightly decreased. The resultant fibers after calcination had rough surface and sphere shapes like a peanut. From XRD results, it was confirmed that as-spun fibers were changed to anatase $Ti_O2$ fiber after calcinations at $500^{\circ}C$. The prepared $TiO_2$-AC complex fibers could remove procian blue dyes by solar light irradiation with high removal property of 94~99%. The PB dye was rapidly removed by adsorption during the initial 5 minutes. But after 5 minutes, dye removal was occurred by photodegradation. In this study, the most efficient AC/$TiO_2$ ratio of $TiO_2$-AC complex fibers was 5/40, showing the synergetic effect of adsorption and photodegradation. It is expected that the $TiO_2$-AC complex fibers can be used to remove of organic pollutants in water system.