• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2007

Microorganisms participate in a variety of geochemical processes such as weathering and formation of minerals, leaching of precious metals from minerals, and cycling of organic matter The objective of this study was to investigate biogeochemical processes of iron leaching from magnetite ore by iron-reducing bacteria isolated from intertidal flat sediments, southwestern part of Korea. Microbial iron leaching experiments were performed using magnetite ore, Shinyemi magnetite ore, in well-defined media with and without bacteria at room temperature for a month. Water soluble Fe and Mn during the leaching experiments were determined by ICP analysis of bioleached samples, and the resulting precipitated solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extent of iron leaching from magnetite in the aerobic conditions (Fe = 15 mg/L and Mn = 3.41 mg/L) was lower than that in the anaerobic environments (Fe = 32.8 mg/L and Mn = 5.23 mg/L). The medium pH typically decreased from 8.3 to 7.2 during a month incubation. The Eh of the initial medium decreased from +144.9 mV to -331.7 mV in aerobic environments and from -2.3 mV to -494.6 mV in anaerobic environments upon incubation with the metal reducing microorganisms. The decrease in pH is due to glucose fermentation producing organic acids and $CO_2$. The ability of bacteria to leach soluble iron from crystalline magnetite could have significant implications for biogeochemical processes in sediments where Fe(III) in magnetite represents the largest pool of electron acceptor as well as to use as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.252-257
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• 2000

The physicochemical and pasting properties of amaranth starches isolated from five cultivars, Andy, Suvarna, Nu World, K266-1, K432, grown in Korea, were investigated. The shapes of starch granules were all polygonal and size was in the range $1.14{\sim}1.48\;{\mu}m$ for all five cultivars. X-ray diffractograms were shown typical A type diffraction patterns for all amaranth starches. The protein and crude lipid contents of starches were $0.13{\sim}0.23%$ and $0.01{\sim}0.05%$, respectively. The apparent amylose contents ranged from $2.79{\sim}4.35%$ and the water binding capacities were $128.05{\sim}135.80%$. The transmittances of 0.1% amaranth starch suspensions except K266-1 increased rapidly above $65^{\circ}C$, thereafter increased slowely. The initial pasting and peak temperature ranges of five cultivars by RVA were $71.3{\sim}73.7^{\circ}C$ and $81.5{\sim}84.0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The peak and cooling viscosities followed the order : Nu World>Andy>Suvarna>K432>>K266-1. Nu World was shown the highest peak (166), final (103) and cooling viscosities (30 RVU). K266-I exhibited the lowest setback (-38) of all five cultivars. Gelatinization (To) and peak temperature (Tp) of amaranth starches in DSC thermograms were $65.7{\sim}68.0^{\circ}C$ and $70.6{\sim}75.8^{\circ}C$, respectively. Enthalpies followed the order: K266-1

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.241-255
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate environmental geochemical characteristics for the acid mine drainage and stream sediments in the abandoned Honam coal mine area. For the chemical analysis, stream winter samples were collected at 54 sites and for the mineralogical and chemical analysis, stream sediments samples were collected at 34 sites. Physical and chemical characteristics of stream water were measured at the site and chemical compositions were analyzed by ICP-AES, ICP-MS and IC. Mineralogical characteristics of stream sediments samples were determined using XRD, SEM and EDS. In physical and chemical properties, stream water shows thats pH 2.85~8.12, Eh -62~215 mV, EC 0.205~146 ms/m, ER 0.234~255 {$\Omega}{\cdot}$m, DO 0.03~1068 mg/L and TDS 10.96~1420mg/L. In chemical compositions, we obtain that K 0.118~3.184 mg/L, Mg 2.1~114.48 mg/L, Ca 2.59~l25.02 mg/L, Al 0.01~44.72 mg/L, Fe 0.108~89.49 mg/L and Na 5.45~125.41 mg/L. Stream sediments are commonly composed of quartz, illite and goethite in the result of x-ray diffraction. After heat treatment at 98$0^{\circ}C$, the hematite peaks are distinctly shown. In consideration of heavy metals (include Fe) for steam sediments, Fe ranges 22575~34713 ppm, Zn 41.66~970.3 ppm, Cd 0.52~52.07 ppm, Cu 1.25~198.5 ppm and Pb 0.43~77.35 ppm.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.916-921
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• 2011

This study was carry out on a Jang-Won series (fine loamy, mixed, mesic family of typic fragipan) that were established and classified as a fragipan soil in Korea. The morphological, physical, chemical and minerals characteristics of Jang-Won series were studied to determine the genesis of fragipan soils in natural environment. Each sample was analyzed for its physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics. The particle size distribution of samples was measured using pipette method. Clay minerals were investigated on parallel-oriented specimens of the clay fraction ($<2{\mu}m$) from each horizon, separated by sieving and centrifugation, using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Micromorphological observations were made on thin sections prepared from soil blocks impregnated with Crystic Resin, cut and ground to less than $30{\mu}m$ in thickness, and finally polished with diamond paste. Most horizons have pH values in the range of fewer than 5.0 and have very low base-saturation values. Their textural classification ranges from silt loam to loam, the lower horizons being the finer. The clay fraction revealed the occurrence of illite, kaolinite, chlorite and vermiculite. The micro-morphological analysis carries out thin sections from each soil profile. The silt concentrations occur as extremely dense and homogenous bands or zones of silt-sized materials, brownish in colour in plane-polarized light and anisotropic in cross-polarized light, surrounding or adhering to skeleton grains. The genesis of fragipan in the Jangweon series assumed composition of clay fraction rather than silt concentration. Therefore, this results suggested an authentic interpretation which Jangweon series is classification as Typic Fragiochrepts.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.43-52
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• 2021

In this study, the optimal nitration process for selective lithium leaching from powder of a spent battery cell (LiNi_xCo_yMn_zO₂, LiCoO₂) was studied using Taguchi method. The nitration process is a method of selective lithium leaching that involves converting non-lithium nitric compounds into oxides via nitric acid leaching and roasting. The influence of pretreatment temperature, nitric acid concentration, amount of nitric acid, and roasting temperature were evaluated. The signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance of the results were determined using L₁₆(4⁴) orthogonal arrays. The findings indicated that the roasting temperature followed by the nitric acid concentration, pretreatment temperature, and amount of nitric acid used had the greatest impact on the lithium leaching ratio. Following detailed experiments, the optimal conditions were found to be 10 h of pretreatment at 700℃ with 2 ml/g of 10 M nitric acid leaching followed by 10 h of roasting at 275℃. Under these conditions, the overall recovery of lithium exceeded 80%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the leaching residue in deionized water after roasting of lithium nitrate and other nitrate compounds was performed. This was done to determine the cause of rapid decrease in lithium leaching rate above a roasting temperature of 400℃. The results confirmed that lithium manganese oxide was formed from lithium nitrate and manganese nitrate at these temperatures, and that it did not leach in deionized water. XRD analysis was also used to confirm the recovery of pure LiNO₃ from the solution that was leached during the nitration process. This was carried out by evaporating and concentrating the leached solution through solid-liquid separation.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2019

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor packed with $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was used for the dry ($CO_2$) reforming of propane (DRP) to improve the production of syngas (a mixture of $H_2$ and CO) and the catalyst stability. The plasma-catalytic DRP was carried out with either thermally or plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst at a $C_3H_8/CO_2$ ratio of 1/3 and a total feed gas flow rate of $300mL\;min^{-1}$. The catalytic activities associated with the DRP were evaluated in the range of $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$. Following the calcination in ambient air, the ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ impregnated with the precursor solution ($Ni(NO_3)_2$ and $Ce(NO_3)_2$) was subjected to reduction in an $H_2/Ar$ atmosphere to prepare $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst. The characteristics of the catalysts were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), temperature programmed reduction ($H_2-TPR$), temperature programmed desorption ($H_2-TPD$, $CO_2-TPD$), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), and Raman spectroscopy. The investigation revealed that the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity for the production of syngas, compared to the thermally reduced catalyst. Besides, the plasma-reduced $Ni-CeO_2/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst was found to show long-term catalytic stability with respect to coke resistance that is main concern regarding the DRP process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1354-1360
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to develop a simple, environmentally friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) without the use of chemical reducing agents by exploiting the extracellular synthesis of SNPs in a culture supernatant of Bacillus thuringiensis CH3. Addition of 5 mM $AgNO_3$ to the culture supernatant at a ratio of 1:1 caused a change in the maximum absorbance at 418 nm corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance of the SNPs. Synthesis of SNPs occurred within 8 hr and reached a maximum at 40-48 hr. The structural characteristics of the synthesized SNPs were investigated by various instrumental analysis. FESEM observations showed the formation of well-dispersed spherical SNPs, and the presence of silver was confirmed by EDS analysis. The X-ray diffraction spectrum indicated that the SNPs had a face-centered cubic crystal lattice. The average SNP size, calculated using DLS, was about 51.3 nm and ranged from 19 to 110 nm. The synthesized SNPs exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against a variety of pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed against C. albicans, a human pathogenic yeast. The FESEM observations determined that the antimicrobial activity of the SNPs was due to destruction of the cell surface, cytoplasmic leakage, and finally cell lysis. This study suggests that B. thuringiensis CH3 is a potential candidate for efficient synthesis of SNPs, and that these SNPs have potential uses in a variety of pharmaceutical applications.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2018

The present work was performed in order to study the effect of competing cation of $Ca^{2+}$ ion on ion exchange of $Cs^+$ on zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56). Three single-crystals of fully dehydrated and partially $Cs^+$-exchanged zeolites Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared by the flow method using mixed ion-exchange solutions. The $CsNO_3:Ca(NO_3)_2$ molar ratios of the ion exchange solution were 1 : 1 (crystal 1), 1 : 100 (crystal 2), and 1 : 250 (crystal 3) with a total concentration of 0.05 M. The single-crystals were then vacuum dehydrated at 723 K and $1{\times}10^{-4}Pa$ for 2 days. The structures of the crystals were determined by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction technique in the cubic space group $Fd{\bar{3}}m$, at 100(1) K. The unit-cell formulas of crystals 1, 2, and 3 were ${\mid}Cs_{21}Ca_{27}{\mid}[Si_{117}Al_{75}O_{384}]-FAU$, ${\mid}Cs_2Ca_{36.5}{\mid}[Si_{117}Al_{75}O_{384}]-FAU$, and ${\mid}Cs_1Ca_{37}{\mid}[Si_{117}Al_{75}O_{384}]-FAU$, respectively. In all three crystals, the $Ca^{2+}$ ions preferred to occupy site I in the D6Rs, with the remainder occupying sites I', II', and II. On the other hand, the significant differences in the fractional distribution of $Cs^+$ ions are observed depending on the intial $Cs^+$ concentrations in given ion exchange solution. In Crystal 1, $Cs^+$ ion are located at sites II', II, III, and III', and in crystal 2, at sites II, IIIa, and IIIb. In crystal 3, $Cs^+$ ions are only located at sites IIIa and IIIb. The degree of $Cs^+$ ion exchange decreased sharply from 28.0 to 2.7 to 1.3 % as the initial $Ca^{2+}$ concentration increases and the $Cs^+$ content decreases.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2018

The purposes of this study were to analyze the mineralogical characteristics of slaked lime used for wall repair of traditional buildings in Bagan, Myanmar and to evaluate the physical properties of lime plaster produced by the same method as Bagan region. In the X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis of the Myanmar slaked lime, portlandite ($Ca(OH)_2$) and brucite ($Mg(OH)_2$) were detected as main constituent minerals, and a carbonate rock mainly composed of dolomite ($CaMg(CO_3)_2$) minerals may be used as a raw material to make slaked lime. The field-emission scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the Myanmar slaked lime was composed of irregularly shaped crystals of $0.5{\mu}m$ or larger and a small amount of $0.1{\mu}m$ of plate - like crystals. The size and uniformity of crystals in Myanmar lime is different from that of Korea slaked lime. This may be attributed to the effect of the mineral composition and the lime hydration method of Myanmar, which produces slurry by immersing the burnt lime in excess water for a long period of time. The compressive strength of the lime plaster in Myanmar resulted in a mean value of $1.13N/mm^2$ for the specimens cured for 28 days. The strength of the specimens with Bale juice was $1.03N/mm^2$, respectively. The lime is an air setting material that exhibits strength through long carbonation process. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate physical properties according to curing period through long-term curing over 28 days in the future.