• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.749-760
• /
• 2022

α-Galactosidase is a debranching enzyme widely used in the food, feed, paper, and pharmaceuticals industries and plays an important role in hemicellulose degradation. Here, T26, an aerobic bacterial strain with thermostable α-galactosidase activity, was isolated from laboratory-preserved lignocellulolytic microbial consortium TMC7, and identified as Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius. The α-galactosidase, called T26GAL and derived from the T26 culture supernatant, exhibited a maximum enzyme activity of 0.4976 IU/ml when cultured at 60℃ and 180 rpm for 2 days. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the α-galactosidase T26GAL belongs to the GH36 family. Subsequently, the pET-26 vector was used for the heterologous expression of the T26 α-galactosidase gene in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The optimum pH for α-galactosidase T26GAL was determined to be 8.0, while the optimum temperature was 60℃. In addition, T26GAL demonstrated a remarkable thermostability with more than 93% enzyme activity, even at a high temperature of 90℃. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ promoted the activity of T26GAL while Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ inhibited it. The substrate specificity studies revealed that T26GAL efficiently degraded raffinose, stachyose, and guar gum, but not locust bean gum. This study thus facilitated the discovery of an effective heat-resistant α-galactosidase with potent industrial application. Meanwhile, as part of our research on lignocellulose degradation by a microbial consortium, the present work provides an important basis for encouraging further investigation into this enzyme complex.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.20-32
• /
• 2022

This study implemented a chelating agent (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA) in purification to obtain high-purity vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) for use in VRFB (Vanadium Redox Flow Battery). V₂O₅ (powder) was produced through the precipitation recovery of ammonium metavanadate (NH₄VO₃) from a vanadium solution, which was prepared using a low-purity vanadium raw material. The initial purity of the powder was estimated to be 99.7%. However, the use of a chelating agent improved its purity up to 99.9% or higher. It was conjectured that the added chelating agent reacted with the impurity ions to form a complex, stabilizing them. This improved the selectivity for vanadium in the recovery process. However, the prepared V₂O₅ powder exhibited higher contents of K, Mn, Fe, Na, and Al than those in the standard counterparts, thus necessitating additional research on its impurity separation. Furthermore, the vanadium electrolyte was prepared using the high-purity V₂O₅ powder in a newly developed direct electrolytic process. Its analytical properties were compared with those of commercial electrolytes. Owing to the high concentration of the K, Ca, Na, Al, Mg, and Si impurities in the produced vanadium electrolyte, the purity was analyzed to be 99.97%, lower than those (99.98%) of its commercial counterparts. Thus, further research on optimizing the high-purity V₂O₅ powder and electrolyte manufacturing processes may yield a process capable of commercialization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.611-631
• /
• 1999

Enviromental geochemisty and heary metal contamination at the Kongjueil mine creek were underaken on the basis of physicohemical properties and mineralogy for various kinds of water (surface, mine and ground water),soil, precipitate and sediment collected of April and December in 1998. Hydrgeochemical composition of the water samples are characterized by relatively significant enricant of Ca+Na, alkiali ions $NO_3$ and Cl inground and surfore water, wheras the mine waters are relatively eneripheral water of the mining creek have the characteristics of the (Ca+Mg)-$(HCO_3+SO_4)$type. The pH of the mine water is high acidity (3.24)and high EC (613$\mu$S/cm)compared with those of surface and ground water. The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}O$ values (relative to SMOW) in the waters are shpwn in -50.2 to -61.6% and -7.0 to -8.6$\textperthousand$(d value=5.8 to 8.7). Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbiste, kaolinite and smectite are superaturated in the surface and ground water, respectively. Calculated water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that weathing of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite owing to the continuous water-rock reaction. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic heavy metals may exist larfely in the from of metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^2)$and free metal $(M^{2+})$ in nmine water. These metals in the ground and surface water could be formed of $CO_3$ and OH complex ions. The average enrichment indices of water samples are 2.72 of the groundwater, 2.26 of the surface water and 14.15 of the acid mine water, normalizing by surface water composition at the non-mining creek, repectively. Characteristics of some major, minor and rate earth elements (Al/Na, K/Na, V/Ni, Cr/V, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, $La_N/Yb_N$, Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th) in soil and sediment are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by acidic to intermediate igneous rocks. And these suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss colud be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Maximum concentrations of environmentally toxic elements in sediment and soil are Fe=53.80 wt.% As=660, Cd=4, Cr=175, Cu=158, Mn=1010, Pb=2933, Sb=4 and Zn=3740 ppm, and extremely high concentrations are found are found in the subsurface soil near the ore dump and precipitates. Normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, the average enerichment indices are 3.72 of the sediments, 3.48 of the soils, 10.40 of the precipitates of acid mine drainage and 6.25 of the soils near the main adit. The level of enerichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. mineral composition of soil and sediment near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. reddish variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. Reddish brown precipitation mineral in the acid mine drainage identifies by schwertmanite. From the separated mineralgy, soil and sediment are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite and various kinds of hydroxied minerals.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.1297-1306
• /
• 2017

This study identified physical characteristics and aerosol particle sources of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in the industrial complex of Busan Metropolitan City, Korea. Samples of $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and also soil, were collected in several areas during the year of 2012 to investigate elemental composition. A URG cyclone sampler was used for collection. The samples were collected according to each experimental condition, and the analysis method of SEM-EDX was used to determine the concentration of each metallic element. The comparative analysis indicated that their mass concentration ranged from 1% to 3%. The elements in the industrial region that were above 10% were Si, Al, Fe, and Ca. Those below 5% were Na, Mg, and S. The remaining elements (1% of total mass) consisted of elements such as Ni, Co, Br and Pb. Finally, a statistical tool was applied to the elemental results to identify each source for the industrial region. From a principal components analysis (SPSS, Ver 20.0) performed to analyze the possible sources of $PM_{10}$ in the industrial region, five main factors were determined. Factor 1 (Si, Al), which accounted for 15.8% of the total variance, was mostly affected by soil and dust from manufacturing facilities nearby, Factors 2 (Cu, Ni), 3 (Zn, Pb), and 4 (Mn, Fe), which also accounted for some of variance, were mainly related to iron, non-ferrous metals, and other industrial manufacturing sources. Also, five factors determined to access possible sources of $PM_{2.5}$, Factor 1 (Na, S), accounted for 13.5% of the total variance and was affected by sea-salt particles and fuel incineration sources, and Factors 2 (Ti, Mn), 3 (Pb, Cl), 4 (K, Al) also explained significant proportions of the variance. Theses factors mean that the $PM_{2.5}$ emission sources may be considered as sources of incineration, and metals, and non-ferrous manufacturing industries.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.535-549
• /
• 2012

Main aspect of this study are to clarify mineral compositions on granites in Youngkwang-Naju area. These granites are is divided into four rock facies based on the geologic ages, mineralogical composition and chemical constituents, and texture : hornblende-biotite granodiorite, biotite granite, porphyritic granite and two mica granite. These granites constitude an igneous complex formed by a series of differentiation from cogenetic magma. In compressive stress field between the Ogcheon folded belt and the Youngnam massif, the foliated and undeformed granites had formed owing to heterogeneous distribution of stress. The geochemical data of study area indicate magma of these rocks would had been generated by melting in lower and middle crust. The major minerals of granitic rocks in study area are plagioclase, biotite, muscovite and hornblende. Plagioclase range in composition from oligoclase ($An_{19.3-27.7}$) to andesine ($An_{28.4-31}$), and shows normal zoning patterns, This uniformed composition indicated slow crystallization, and it is obvious that the growth of these crystal occurred before final consolidation of the magma. The Mg content of biotite are increases with increasing of $f_{O2}$ and grade of differentiation, changing from phlogopite to siderophyllite. Its $Al^{iv}$/$Al^{total}$ ratios are propertional to bulk rock alumina content. Muscovite is primary in origin with high content of $TiO_2$, and Its composition correspond to celadonitic muscovite. Hornblende indicated calc amphibole group ($(Ca+Na)_{M4}{\geq}1.43$, $Na_{M4}<0.67$). and consolidation pressure of granitic body by geobarometer of Hammerstrume and Zen show 11.3~17.2 Km.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.09a
• /
• pp.119-120
• /
• 2004

Urban groundwater has a unique hydrologic system because of the complex surface and subsurface infrastructures such as deep foundation of many high buildings, subway systems, and sewers and public water supply systems. It generally has been considered that increased surface impermeability reduces the amount of groundwater recharge. On the other hand, leaks from sewers and public water supply systems may generate the large amounts of recharges. All of these urban facilities also may change the groundwater quality by the recharge of a myriad of contaminants. This study was performed to determine the factors controlling the recharge of deep groundwater in an urban area, based on the hydrogeochemical characteristics. The term ‘contamination’ in this study means any kind of inflow of shallow groundwater regardless of clean or contaminated. For this study, urban groundwater samples were collected from a total of 310 preexisting wells with the depth over 100 m. Random sampling method was used to select the wells for this study. Major cations together with Si, Al, Fe, Pb, Hg and Mn were analyzed by ICP-AES, and Cl, N $O_3$, N $H_4$, F, Br, S $O_4$and P $O_4$ were analyzed by IC. There are two groups of groundwater, based on hydrochemical characteristics. The first group is distributed broadly from Ca-HC $O_3$ type to Ca-C1+N $O_3$ type; the other group is the Na+K-HC $O_3$ type. The latter group is considered to represent the baseline quality of deep groundwater in the study area. Using the major ions data for the Na+K-HC $O_3$ type water, we evaluated the extent of groundwater contamination, assuming that if subtract the baseline composition from acquired data for a specific water, the remaining concentrations may indicate the degree of contamination. The remainder of each solute for each sample was simply averaged. The results showed that both Ca and HC $O_3$ represent the typical solutes which are quite enriched in urban groundwater. In particular, the P$CO_2$ values calculated using PHREEQC (version 2.8) showed a correlation with the concentrations of maior inorganic components (Na, Mg, Ca, N $O_3$, S $O_4$, etc.). The p$CO_2$ values for the first group waters widely ranged between about 10$^{-3.0}$ atm to 10$^{-1.0}$ atm and differed from those of the background water samples belonging to the Na+K-HC $O_3$ type (<10$^{-3.5}$ atm). Considering that the p$CO_2$ of soil water (near 10$^{-1.5}$ atm), this indicates that inflow of shallow water is very significant in deep groundwaters in the study area. Furthermore, the P$CO_2$ values can be used as an effective parameter to estimate the relative recharge of shallow water and thus the contamination susceptibility. The results of our present study suggest that down to considerable depth, urban groundwater in crystalline aquifer may be considerably affected by the recharge of shallow water (and pollutants) from an adjacent area. We also suggest that for such evaluation, careful examination of systematically collected hydrochemical data is requisite as an effective tool, in addition to hydrologic and hydrogeologic interpretation.ion.ion.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.279-291
• /
• 1996

The new chelating resins, XAD-2, 4, 16-TAC and XAD-2, 4, 16-TAO were synthesized by Amberlite XAD-2, XAD-4, and XAD-16 macroreticular resins with 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-p-cresol(TAC) and 4-(2-thiazolylazo)orcinol(TAO) as functional groups and were characterized by elemental analysis and FT-IR spectrometry. It was found that the content of functional group in chelating resin was 0.60mmol/g in XAD-16-TAC and 0.68mmol/g in XAD-16-TAO respectively. The chelating resins were stable in acidic and alkaline solution and can be reused over 10 times. The sorption behavior of some metalions to two chelating resins was investigated by batch method, which included batch equilibrium, effect of pH, coexisting ions and masking agent. For the optimum condition of sorption, the time required for equilibrium was about 1 hour and optimum pH was 5. In the presence of anions such as ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and $CH_3COO^-$, the sorption of U(VI) ion was slightly reduced but other anions such as $Cl^-$ and $NO{_3}^-$ revealed no interference effect. Also, sorption capacity of U(VI) ion was decreased by addition of $CO{_3}^{2-}$ ion because of complex formation of $[UO_2(CO_3)_3]^{4-}$, but alkali metals and alkali earth metals including Na(I), K(I), Mg(II), and Ca(II) were not affected for the sorption extent. Masking agent, NTA showed better separation efficiency of U(VI) ion from coexisting metal ions such as Th(IV), Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II) than EDTA, CDTA.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-21
• /
• 2011

Eoil basalt in the Eoil basin and Yeonil basalt and its related volcanic rocks in Guryongpo and Daebo area were researched and analyzed to purse the tectonic settings and magma characteristics of those Tertiary volcanic rocks in the south-east Korean peninsula. It is highly suggested that zoning, resorption and sieve texture in plagioclase and reaction rim in pyroxene indicate unstable tectonic environments and complex volcanism in the study area. Volcanic rocks from Janggi basin are identified as basalt and basaltic andesite in TAS diagram and sub-alkaline series in terms of magma differentiation. $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ show positive trend however FeO, CaO, MgO and $P_2O_5$ indicate negative trend in Harker variation diagram with $SiO_2$. Basaltic rocks from Eoil area are identified as calc-alkaline series in AFM diagram and show medium K series calc-alkaline in $K_2O-SiO_2$ diagram. Compatible trace elements of Co, Ni, V, Zn, and Sc in Yeonil basalt show negative trend with crystallization but incompatible trace element of Ba, Rb show positive trend with $SiO_2$ 0.81~1.00 of $Eu/Eu^*$ value suggests minor effect of plagioclase fractionation in Yeonil basaltic rocks. Plagioclase composition of Eoil basalt ranges from $An_{63.46-98.38}\;Ab_{1.62-32.96}\;Or_{0-3.58}$ (anorthite-labradorite) in core to $An_{40.89-82.44}\;Ab_{17.10-46.43}\;Or_{0-12.68}$ (bytownite-labradorite) in rim. $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ and 143Nd;t44Nd ranges 0.704090~0.704717 and 0.512705~0.512822 respectively. Negative linear trends in 87Sr/86Sr and $^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd$ correlation diagram indicate that magma produced Yeonil basalt and basaltic andesite has been originated as partial melting product of mantle wedge by subducting Pacific plate affected by oceanic crust with less effect of continental crust indicating calc-alkaline magma characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.502-509
• /
• 2011

It is important to determine optimum soil covering depths for tree survival and growth because soil covering depths for establishing tree planting bases in coastal reclaimed lands are related to the costs for soil collection, transportation and land reclamation. The objectives of this study were carried out to determine optimum soil covering depths for the normal growth of planted trees in a coastal reclaimed land. The study sites were located in Asan National Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do. Four tree species (Pinus thunbergii, Chamaecyparis pisifera, Zelkova serrata, Quercus acutissima) with one hundred eighty trees of each species were planted in various depths of soil covering (no soil covering, 0.5 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m soil covering treatments) on April 1998, and the tree growth patterns were measured on September 2000. The change of soil properties, tree mortality rate, root collar diameter and height growth were measured from each soil covering depth treatment on September 2000. Soil pH, EC, exchangeable cations ($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$), anion $Cl^-$, and base saturation increased with decreased soil covering depths. The mortality rates of tree species showed decreased with increased soil covering depths. The height growth of tree species increased with increased soil covering depths. Height growth of Pinus thunbergii was significantly different between the soil covering depth below 0.5m and other three covering depths, while the growth of other species (C. pisifera, Z. serrata, Q. acutissima) was significantly higher in soil covering depths below 1.5 m than in other soil covering depth treatments. The root collar diameter growth of all tree species showed increasing trends with increased soil covering depths. It is recommended to cover the soil depths above 1.5 m to decrease mortality and to stimulate the tree growth of C. pisifera, Z. serrata and Q. acutissima, while P. thunbergii which is a salt tolerate species could be planted in the 1.0 m soil covering depth.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2004

The human skin is constantly exposed to environmental irritants such as ultraviolet, smoke, chemicals. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by these environmental facts play critical roles in cellular damage. These irritants are in themselves damaging to the skin structure but they also participate the immensely complex inflammatory reaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the skin cell protective effect of Juniperus chinensis xylem extract on the UV and SLS-induced skin cell damages. We tested free radical and superoxide scavenging effect in vitro. We found that Juniperus chinensis xylem extracts had potent radical scavenging effect by 98％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Fluorometric assays of the proteolytic activities of matrix metalloproteinase-l(MMP-1, collagenase) were performed using fluorescent collagen substrates. UV A induced MMP-1 synthesis and activity were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gelatin-based zymography in skin fibroblasts. The extract of Juniperus chinensis showed strong inhibitory effect on MMP-1 activities by 97％ at 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL and suppressed the UVA induced expression of MMP-1 by 79％ at 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. This extract also showed strong inhibition on MMP-2 activity in UVA irradiated fibroblast by zymography. We also examined anti-inflammatory effects by the determination test of proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 in HaCaT keratinocytes. In this test Juniperus chinensis decreased expression of interleukin 6 about 30％. Expression of prostaglandin E$_2$, (PGE$_2$) after UVB irradiation was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using PGE$_2$ monoclonal antibody. At the concentrations of 5-50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL of the extracts, the production of PGE$_2$ by HaCaT keratinocytes (24 hours after 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ UVB irradiation) was significantly inhibited in culture supernatants (p〈0.05). The viability of cultured HaCaT keratinocytes was significantly reduced at the doses of above 10 mJ/$\textrm{cm}^2$ of UVB irradiation, but the presence of these extracts improved cell viability comparing to control after UVB irradiation. We also investigated the protective effect of this extract in sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritant skin reactions from 24 hour exposure. Twice a day application of the extract for reducing local inflammation in human skin was done. Irritant reactions were assessed by various aspects of skin condition, that is, erythema (skin color reflectance) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). After 5 days the extract was found to reduce SLS-induced skin erythema and improve barrier regeneration when compared to untreated symmetrical test site. In conclusion, our results suggest that Juniperus chinensis can be effectively used for the prevention of UV and SLS-induced adverse skin reactions such as radical production, inflammation and skin cell damage.