• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.465-469
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• 1998

The quantitative and rapid method for measuring the biodegradation of polymer materials in soil was developed. In this study, cellophane film was used as a model biodegradable polymer and the biodegradation was assayed by measuring the amount of glucose which was produced by a hydrolysis reaction using HCl after collecting the film from soil. Cellophane film was degraded 41.2% in 4 months during winter while it was degraded 76.5% in 2 months during summer. It means that biodegradation in soil is affected by environmental conditions. The biodegradation was also measured in an incubator (30$^{\circ}C$, humidity 50-55%) to exclude the environmental variations. Cellophane film was degraded 94% in that condition in 40 days. The biodegradation showed the first order kinetics and the rate constant was 0.067 (1/day). Acceleration of the biodegradation in soil was also studied. We added cultured soil microorganisms or nutrients such as N, P, and S into the soil. While the addition of microorganisms showed the temporary increase of rate constant, the addition of nutrients not only showed the increase of rate constant from 0.096 (1/day) to 0.21 (1/day) but also maintained the effect continuously.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-38
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• 2016

Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) with immobilized osmium-based hydrogel redox polymer, uricase and PEGDGE can be used to apply uric acid electrochemical detecting. The osmium redox complexes were synthesized by the coordinating pyridine group having different functional group at 4-position with osmium compounds. The synthesized poly-osmium hydrogel complexes are described as PAA-PVI-$[Os(dCl-bpy)_2Cl]^{+/2+}$, PAA-PVI-$[Os(dme-bpy)_2Cl]^{+/2+}$, PAA-PVI-$[Os(dmo-bpy)_2Cl]^{+/2+}$. The different concentrations of uric acid were measured by cyclic voltammetry technique using enzyme-immobilized SPCEs. The prepared SPCEs using PAA-PVI-$[Os(dme-bpy)_2Cl]^{+/2+}$ showed no interference from common physiologic interferents such as ascorbic acid (AA) or glucose. The resulting electrical currents at 0.33 V vs. Ag/AgCl displayed a good linear response with uric acid concentrations from 1.0 to 5.0 mM. Therefore, this approach allowed the development of a simple, point of care in the medical field, disposable electrochemical uric acid biosensor.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2009

This study aims to verify for humans the suitability of the enzyme-fixed hydrogel used for the patch sensor of the blood sugar testing system without blood sampling, which utilizes reverse iontophoresis. Using acrylate monomers, hydrogel was synthesized to which a certain unit of enzyme is fixed. In order to analyze the material property of the synthesized hydrogel, a structural analysis was performed using FT-IR spectroscopy, while the DSC was used to verify the thermal stability. In addition, with the UV-Vis spectrophotometer, it was verified that the degree of active enzyme is at least 50% greater than the standard product. The SEM was used to verify secure fixation of the enzyme onto the surface. As a result, it was observed that the enzyme is successfully fixed to the surface. Since the hydrogel makes direct contact with a patient's skin, it is essential to evaluate the toxicity when making direct contact with the skin. For that purpose, various sets of tests were undertaken according to the ISO 10993-cytotoxicity, intracutaneous reactivity, skin irritation test and maximization sensitization. Consequently, it was successfully verified that the enzyme-fixed hydrogel have bioavailability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2017

Objective: Two experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of coated slow-release urea on nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen utilization, blood glucose and urea concentration (Exp 1), and average daily gain (ADG; Exp 2) of steers. Methods: Exp 1: Eight ruminally fistulated steers [$503{\pm}28.5kg$ body weight (BW)] were distributed into a d $4{\times}4$ Latin square design and assigned to treatments: control (CON), feed grade urea (U2), polymer-coated slow-release urea A (SRA2), and polymer-coated slow-release urea B (SRB2). Dietary urea sources were set at 20 g/kg DM. Exp 2: 84 steers ($350.5{\pm}26.5kg$ initial BW) were distributed to treatments: CON, FGU at 10 or 20 g/kg diet DM (U1 and U2, respectively), coated SRA2 at 10 or 20 g/kg diet DM (SRA1 and SRA2, respectively), and coated SRB at 10 or 20 g/kg diet DM (SRB1 and SRB2, respectively). Results: Exp 1: Urea treatments (U2+SRA2+SRB2) decreased (7.4%, p = 0.03) the DM intake and increased (11.4%, p<0.01) crude protein digestibility. Coated slow-release urea (SRA2+-SRB2) showed similar nutrient digestibility compwared to feed grade urea (FGU). However, steers fed SRB2 had higher (p = 0.02) DM digestibility compared to those fed SRA2. Urea sources did not affect ruminal fermentation when compared to CON. Although, coated slow-release urea showed lower (p = 0.01) concentration of $NH_3-N$ (-10.4%) and acetate to propionate ratio than U2. Coated slow-release urea showed lower (p = 0.02) urinary N and blood urea concentration compared to FGU. Exp 2: Urea sources decreased (p = 0.01) the ADG in relation to CON. Animals fed urea sources at 10 g/kg DM showed higher (12.33%, p = 0.01) ADG compared to those fed urea at 20 g/kg DM. Conclusion: Feeding urea decreased the nutrient intake without largely affected the nutrient digestibility. In addition, polymer-coated slow-release urea sources decreased ruminal ammonia concentration and increased ruminal propionate production. Urea at 20 g/kg DM, regardless of source, decreased ADG compared both to CON and diets with urea at 10 g/kg DM.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2002

As a functional additive for intestinal microflora, panose ($6^2-{\alpha}$-D-glucopyranosylmaltose) was synthesized during kimchi fermentation using the glucose transferring reaction of glucansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. For the glucose transferring reaction, sucrose and maltose were added ($2\%$ each, w/v) to dongchimi-kimchi as the glucosyl donor and acceptor molecule, respectively. After five days of incubation at $10^{\circ}C$, referring to the initial phase for the production of lactic acid in kimchi, over $60\%$ (w/v) of the total sugars were converted into panose and other branched oligosaccharides. Thereafter, the kimchi was stored at $4^{\circ}C$ and the amount of panose remained at a constant level for three weeks, thereby indicating the stability of panose to microbial degradation during the period of kimchi consumption. The use of maltose as the acceptor molecule in the kimchi also facilitated a lower viscosity in the kimchi-juice by preventing the synthesis of a dextran-like polymer which caused an unfavorable taste. Accordingly, the application of this new method of simultaneous biocatalytic synthesis of oligosaccharides during lactate fermentation should facilitate the extensive development of new function-added lactate foods.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2019

Amphiphilic PCZ-r-PEG random copolymer assisted solvothermal process is used to prepare mesoporous $TiO_2$ microspheres generated from nanoparticles by self-assembly method. Synthesized PCZ-r-PEG is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mesoporous $TiO_2$ are prepared by PCZ-r-PEG, glucose, water in tertrahydrofuran solution at $150^{\circ}C$ for 12 h and the $TiO_2$ microspheres are calcined at $550^{\circ}C$ for 30 min to further crystallize and organic residue are removed. Morphology and crystallization phase is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. The mesoporous $TiO_2$ crystallized in pure anatase phase with diameter of $300{\pm}20nm$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.397-402
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• 1989

A new extracellular biopolymer was produced by Methylobacterium organophilum from methanol as a sole carbon and energy source. The purified biopolymer was found to have a high molecular weight of about 4-5$\times$10$^6$ dalton and contained 66% (w/w) of carbohydrate but no polyhydro xybutyrate. Other organic constituents were consisted of protein, pyruvic acid, uronic acid, and acetic acid, whereas content of inorganic ash was 22%. Based on the chemical analysis of the biopolymer by TLC method, the polymer was consisted of glucose, galactose, and mannose with an approximate molar ratio of 2:3:2. The biopolymer solution showed a characteristics of pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluid. The viscosity of the 1%-biopolymer solution was found to be 18,000 cp at a shear rate, 1 sec$^{-1}$, which was almost 10 times higher than that of a commercial xanthan gum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.847-853
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• 1999

A Pseudomonas sp. strain that is capable of utilizing dicarboxylic acids as a sole carbon source was isolated from activated sludge by using the enrichment culture technique. This organism accumulated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with an unusual pattern of monomer units that depends on the carbon sources used. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) homopolyester was synthesized from glucose or small $C_{-even}$ alkanoic acids, such as butyric acid and hexanoic acid. Accumulation of PHB homopolyester was also observed in the cells grown on $C_{-odd}$ dicarboxylic acids, such as heptanedioic acid and nonanedioic acid as the sole carbon sources. In contrast, a copolyester consisting of 6 mol% 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 94 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) was produced with a PHA content of as much as 36% of the cellular dry matter. This strain produced PHAs consisting both of the short-chain-length (SCL) and the medium-chain-length (MCL) 3-hydroxyacid units when heptanoic acid to undecanoic acid were fed as the sole carbon sources. Most interestingly, polyester consisting of significant amount of relevant fractions, 3HB, 3HV, and 3-hydroxyheptanoate (3HHp), was accumulated from heptanoic acid. According to solvent fractionation experiments, the polymer produced from heptanoic acid was a blend of poly(3HHp) and of a copolyester of 3HB, 3HV, and 3HHp units. The hexane soluble fractions contained only 3HHp units while the hexane-insoluble fractions contained 3HB and 3HV units with a small amount of 3HHp unit. The copolyester was an elastomer with unusual mechanical properties. The maximum elongation ratio of the copolyester was 460% with an ultimate strength of 10 MPa, which was very different from those of poly(3HB-co-3HV) copolyesters having similar compositions produced from other microorganisms.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.299-304
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• 2005

There have been many efforts to use anionic hydrogels as oral protein delivery carriers due to their pH-responsive swelling behavior. The dynamic swelling behavior of poly(methacrylic acid-co-methacryloxyethyl glucoside) [P(MAA-co-MEG)] hydrogels was investigated to determine the mechanism of water transport through these anionic hydrogels. The exponential relation $M_t/M_{\infty}=kt^n$ was used to calculate the exponent, n, describing the Fickian or non-Fickian behavior of swelling polymer networks. The mechanism of water transport through these gels was significantly affected by the pH of the swelling medium. The mechanism of water transport became more relaxation-controlled in the swelling medium of pH 7.0 that was higher than the $pK_a$ of the gels. Experimental results of time-dependent swelling behavior of the gels were analyzed with several mathematical models. Using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, the effect of ionization of the carboxylic acid groups in the polymer networks on the water transport mechanism was investigated.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.714-719
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• 2014

Bio-based nylon 6-morpholinone random copolymers were prepared by the anionic ring opening polymerization of ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactam and morpholinone, both of which were prepared from lysine and glucose, respectively. From this work, a new biomass based nylon 6 with improved hydrophilicity was prepared. Optimizing the polymerization condition, copolymer with a viscosity-average molecular weight of 30000 g/mol was prepared, with a yield of 80%. It was possible to improve the hydrophilicity of nylon 6 by its copolymerization with morpholinone. The prepared nylon 6-morpholinone random copolymers were then characterized using several analytical methods such as DSC, TGA, XRD, viscosity measurement with U-shaped glass capillary viscometer and contact angle measurement.