• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.1119-1125
• /
• 2024

Phytase increases the availability of phosphate and trace elements by hydrolyzing the phosphomonoester bond in phytate present in animal feed. It is also an important enzyme from an environmental perspective because it not only promotes the growth of livestocks but also prevents phosphorus contamination released into the environment. Here we present a novel phytase derived from Turicimonas muris, TmPhy, which has distinctive structure and properties compared to other previously known phytases. TmPhy gene expressed in the Pichia system was confirmed to be 41 kDa in size and was used in purified form to evaluate optimal conditions for maximum activity. TmPhy has a dual optimum pH at pH3 and pH6.8 and exhibited the highest activity at 70℃. However, the heat tolerance of the wildtype was not satisfactory for feed application. Therefore, random mutation, disulfide bond introduction, and N-terminal mutation were performed to improve the thermostability of the TmPhy. Random mutation resulted in TmPhyM with about 45% improvement in stability at 60℃. Through further improvements, a total of three mutants were screened and their heat tolerance was evaluated. As a result, we obtained TmPhyMD1 with 46.5% residual activity, TmPhyMD2 with 74.1%, and TmPhyMD3 with 66.8% at 80℃ heat treatment without significant loss of or with increased activity.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.405-420
• /
• 2014

To investigate geochemical characteristics of soil and atmospheric environments by anthropogenic source, we have analyzed and determined heavy metal concentrations of the surface soils beneath roadside trees and leaves of Platanus occidentalis from 52 points in Seoul during autumn 2001. For comparison of the contents of heavy metal for the soil and leaf, we have analyzed heavy metal contents of the surface soils beneath roadside trees and leaves from 2 points in rural area of Yesan during the same time period. The composition of heavy metals of soils are relatively high for Cd, Co, Cr and Ni in industrial area (IA, Industrial Area) and high for Cu, Pb and Zn in heavy traffic area (HTA, Heavy Traffic Area). The heavy metal contents of rural area in Seoul are higher than those in Yesan. The differences of chemical compositions between the washed and unwashed leaves are high for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the HTA. The element couples of Cd-Co, Cr-Ni and Pb-Zn for the soils had shown a good correlation and their contamination sources could be similar. The relationship for Pb-Cu and Cu-Zn showed good correlation in Platanus leaves. The relationship between soils and unwashed leaves show a good correlation for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn but low correlation for Cd, Co, Fe, Mn and Ni. It is thought that the Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were derived from contaminants of soils, whereas Cd, Co, Fe, Mn and Ni were originated from atmospheric source. From the spatial variations of elements for soils and leaves, Ni and Cr were dominant in the soils of IA and Cd, Cu and Zn were dominant in those of HTA. The Contamination by Cd-Pb and Cu-Zn in unwashed leaves were analyzed to show similar patterns. Using the enrichment factors (EF) of heavy metals in unwashed leaves, the EF sequences were to be Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr. We identified that Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn were most problematic of environmental hazard in Seoul.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 1988

In case of the acute intake of radionuclide, an early medical treatment may be necessary, but the little is established the procedures to decontaminate the victims of internal contamination in Korea. The purpose of the present investigation is to study chemical agents to remove radiocobalt from the victims and to provide a more reliable procedure for the treatment. The removals of radiocobalt from the NIH-CGP)mice injected intraperitoneally with $1{\mu}Ci$ of $^{58}Co$ as $CoCl_2$ were investigated with doses of either $CaNa_3$ DTPA 8.4mg/0.2ml saline, $CoNa_3$ DTPA 8.4mg/0.2ml saline, or saline 5ml. The radioactivity was determined by MCA and Ge-detector on 4, 8, 12, 48 hours and 7 days for the whole body, organ distribution and urine excretion. Six mice per each group were sacrificed for the measurement of cobalt retention in the parenchymal tissue. The cobalt trisodium chelate had a pronounced effect on reducing the whole body retention and increasing the excretion rate. Regarding to the systemic protective effects, $CoNa_3$ DTPA, $CaNa_3$ DTPA and saline were effected significantly in order. In conclusion, the extrapolations from these results to human were suggested that the rapid administration of cobalt trisodium chelate and an amount of saline to the contaminated person after internal contamination of radiocobalt were markedly increasing the decontamination effects.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.239-256
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics of emergency-use groundwater in the Daejeon area, and to elucidate the contamination source of $NO_3-N$ and the origin of sulfate in the groundwater. The groundwater shows weak acidic pH, the electrical conductivity ranging from 142 to $903{\;}\mu\textrm{S}/cm$, and the hydrochemical types of $Ca-HCo_3$ and $Ca-Cl(SO_4,{\;}NO_3)$. The Box-Whisker analysis and the Krigging analysis of chemical data of groundwater were made to demonstrate the concentration distribution of hydrochemical composition, and to compare the trend of hydrochemical data. The groundwater in the area of Dong-gu, Jung-gu and Daeduk-gu, where are old town, shows higher electrical conductivity, nitrate content, sulfate and $EpCO_2$ levels than groundwater in new town area of Seo-gu and Yusung-gu. ${\delta}^{15}N$ of groundwater in the area of Seo-gu and Yusung-gu ranges from +7.4 to $+9.6{\textperthousand}$, indicating that major contamination source of $NO_3-N$ is the leakage from municipal sewage pipe lines. ${\delta}^{15}N$ of groundwater in the old town area of Tong-gu, Jung-gu and Daeduk-gu shows the range between +10.2 and $+23.5{\textperthousand}$, meaning that major contamination source is leakage of septic tank. ${\delta}^{34}S$ of groundwater shows the range of $+3~13.4{\;}{\textperthousand}$. Sulfur isotope indicates the possibility of a sulfate reduction and the input of anthrophogenic source.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.245-253
• /
• 1995

The effects of a simultaneous application of KCl and lime on the root uptake of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;^{85}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ by rice, soybean, Chinese cabbage and radish were investigated through 2 years' greenhouse experiments. At their early growth stages, a mixed solution of the radionuclides was applied to the water or soil surfaces of the culture boxes filled with an acidic loamy-sandy soil for the upper 20cm and $83g/m^2$ of fertilizer KCl and $200g/m^2$ of slake lime were applied to the surfaces. Distribution of radioactivities among plant parts and change in uptake pattern with plant species were not, on the whole, significantly affected by the application. It reduced effectively soil-to-plant transfer factors of $^{85}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ for rice, of all for Chinese cabbage and of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;and\;^{137}Cs$ for radish without their growth inhibition. In rice, $^{85}Sr$ showed the highest decrease $({\sim}60%)$ while, in Chinese cabbage and radish, $^{54}Mn$ did $({\sim}80%)$. The exprimental results can become valuable reference data to establish countermeasures against a radioactive contamination of farm-land during plant growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.122-122
• /
• 2005

The remediation for contaminated soil and groundwater in contaminated site and waste site has to be compact and economic in maintaining and operating the system. In this study, the atomized slag was tested if they are an effective reactive material in permeable reactive barrier This novel reactive system technology was applied to the treatment of leachate from unplanned waste landfill. The system was optimized and developed to be commercialized.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.58-60
• /
• 1978

This experiment was carried out to determine the amount of organophosphorous pesticides accumulated in farmer's blood during the farming season. The Blood had been collected for about 5ml from farmer's, and extraction was purified on a Avicel/Darco G-Co (1:10) column and determined by Gas Chromatography using AFID supported on 2% EGA. The Gas chromatographic detection yielded recoveries from the blood of 88% for smithion 94% for malathion. The amount of average contamination shows 0.045ppm for smithion. 0.054ppm for malathion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.108-112
• /
• 1997

Recently, the use of Dwelling House has been expanded due to the rapid urbainzation and congestion of population in City. Indoor Air Quality in apartment houses was investigated by measuring pollutants such as $CO_2$ gas, dust concentration. In this study, the mesurements of indoor air environment were performed in Dwelling house in Seoul area to investigate indoor air environment and the relation of air contaminative and the response level. Indoor air contamination and living environment of the occupants have been compared & analyzed with practical investigation of IAQ in Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.238-246
• /
• 1995

대기, 고진공, 초고진공 등 다양한 압력 조건에서 STS 합금 표면의 오염상태를 AES 측정을 통해 살펴보았다. 모든 환경에서 노출 초기에 많은 오염이 이루어지며, 시간이 증가함에 따라 오염 속도는 감소하지만 지속적인 오염이 이루어지는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 오염층의 구조는 표면 위에 산소, 그 위에 Co,그리고 그 위에 탄소가 놓여 있는 층별 구조 형태로 나타났다.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.551-558
• /
• 2006

Effects of Pb and $CO_2$ on soil microbial community associated with Pinus densiflora were investigated using community level physiological profiles (CLPP) and 16S rDNA PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) methods. Two-years pine trees were planted in Pb-contaminated soils and uncontaminated soils, and cultivated for 3 months in the growth chamber where $CO_2$ concentration was controlled at 380 or 760 ppmv. The structure of microbial community was analyzed in 6 kinds of soil samples (CA-0M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 0 mg/kg + initial, CB-0M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 500 mg/kg + initial, CA-3M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 0 mg/kg + after 3 months, CB-3M : $CO_2$ 380 ppmv + Pb 500 mglkg + after 3 months, EA-3M : $CO_2$ 760 ppmv + Pb 0 mg/kg + after 3 months, EB-3M : $CO_2$ 760 ppmv + Pb 500 mg/kg + after 3 months). After 3 months, the substrate utilization in the uncontaminated soil samples (CA-3M vs EA-3M) was not significantly influenced by $CO_2$ concentrations. However, the substrate utilization in the Pb-contaminated soil samples (CB-3M vs EB-3M) was enhanced by the elevated $CO_2$ concentrations. The results of principal component analysis based on substrate utilization activities showed that the structure of microbial community structure in each soil sample was grouped by Pb-contamination. The similarities of DGGE fingerprints were 56.3 % between the uncontaminated soil samples (CA-3M vs EA-3M), and 71.4% between the Pb-contaminated soil samples (CB-3M vs. EB-3M). The similarities between the soil samples under $CO_2$ 380 ppmv (CA-3M vs CB-3M) and $CO_2$, 760 ppmv (EA-3M vs EB-3M) were 53.3% and 35.8%, respectively. These results suggested that the structure of microbial community associated with Pinus densiflora were sensitively specialized by Pb-contamination rather than $CO_2$ concentration.