• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2022

Recently, research on carbon adsorbents has been active as an interest in improving the environment such as indoor and outdoor air quality. Considering that causative substances deteriorate the air quality are basically volatile organic compounds, it is important to improve the hydrophobicity of the carbon materials for better removal efficiency. This study presents a method for improving hydrophobicity of carbon and a measurement of the hydrophobicity. Generally, methods of improving the hydrophobicity of carbon materials are heat treatment, acid/alkali treatment, coating and immersion with hydrophobic materials. However, it collapses the pore structure and reduces the adsorption capacity. Therefore, this study briefly introduce not only the general method for improving carbon materials' hydrophobicity but also the method for converting the precursor of the material is briefly introduced. Futhermore, this study introduces a analytical technique used to determine hydrophobic modification or not, and aims to enhance the understanding of carbon materials.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2021

A bacterial strain isolated from a Malva verticillata leaf was identified as Bacillus velezensis MV2 based on the 16S rRNA sequencing results. Complete genome sequencing revealed that B. velezensis MV2 possessed a single 4,191,702-bp contig with 45.57% GC content. Generally, Bacillus spp. are known to produce diverse antimicrobial compounds including bacteriocins, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides. Antimicrobial compounds in the B. velezensis MV2 were extracted from culture supernatants using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The crude extracts showed antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria; however, they were more effective against gram-positive bacteria. The extracts also showed antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi such as Fusarium fujikuroi and F. graminearum. In time-kill assays, these antimicrobial compounds showed bactericidal activity against Bacillus cereus, used as indicator strain. To predict the type of antimicrobial compounds produced by this strain, we used the antiSMASH algorithm. Forty-seven secondary metabolites were predicted to be synthesized in MV2, and among them, fourteen were identified with a similarity of 80% or more with those previously identified. Based on the antimicrobial properties, the antimicrobial compounds may be nonribosomal peptides or polyketides. These compounds possess the potential to be used as biopesticides in the food and agricultural industry as an alternative to antibiotics.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2005

The peptidyl transferase center (PTC) is located in a protein free environment, thus confirming that the ribosome is a ribozyme. This arched void has dimensions suitable for accommodating the 3'ends of the A-and the P-site tRNAs, and is situated within a universal sizable symmetry-related region that connects all ribosomal functional centers involved in amino-acid polymerization. The linkage between the elaborate PTC architecture and the A-site tRNA position revealed that the A-to P-site passage of the tRNA 3'end is performed by a rotatory motion, which leads to stereochemistry suitable for peptide bond formation and for substrate mediated catalysis, thus suggesting that the PTC evolved by genefusion. Adjacent to the PTC is the entrance of the protein exit tunnel, shown to play active roles in sequence-specific gating of nascent chains and in responding to cellular signals. This tunnel also provides a site that may be exploited for local co-translational folding and seems to assist in nascent chain trafficking into the hydrophobic space formed by the first bacterial chaperone, the trigger factor. Many antibiotics target ribosomes. Although the ribosome is highly conserved, subtle sequence and/or conformational variations enable drug selectivity, thus facilitating clinical usage. Comparisons of high-resolution structures of complexes of antibiotics bound to ribosomes from eubacteria resembling pathogens, to an archaeon that shares properties with eukaryotes and to its mutant that allows antibiotics binding, demonstrated the unambiguous difference between mere binding and therapeutical effectiveness. The observed variability in antibiotics inhibitory modes, accompanied by the elucidation of the structural basis to antibiotics mechanism justifies expectations for structural based improved properties of existing compounds as well as for the development of novel drugs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.468-475
• /
• 2015

Nonylphenol is one of endocrine disruptors, as structurally stable, hydrophobic compounds exhibit high condensability and long-lasting in the natural environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effects of nonylphenol on Daphnia magna. In acute toxicity test, D. magna was exposed for 48 h at concentrations of 0, 10, 18, 32, 56 and $100{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ nonylphenol. In chronic toxicity test, D. magna were exposed through water for 21 days at concentrations of 0, 1.0, 1.8, 3.2, 5.6 and $10{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ nonylphenol. Acute toxicity was assessed on the basis of immobility, while chronic toxicity was assessed on the basis of fecundity. The acute toxicity test on nonylphenol was showed that the values of 24 h and 48 h $EC_{50}$ were $25.0{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ and $13.7{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$, respectively. In chronic test, fecundity was reduced significantly at $5.6{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ of nonylphenol. These results indicated that nonylphenol have some hazard for acute or chronic toxicity to freshwater invertebrate organism.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2002

Recently, surfactants were frequently used in order to desorb the hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) from soil and to enhance the bioavailability. Among them, -cyclodextrin ($\beta$-CD) is one of those. This study was performed to investigate the binding characteristics between benzene and $\beta$-CD and to examine the bioavailability of benzene. First, we investigated binding characteristics between benzene and $\beta$-CD in water and water/soil system. Then, we examined the effect of $\beta$-CD on the biodegradation of benzene in water and water/soil system. Experimental results on the binding characteristics showed that $\beta$-CD resulted in an efficient complex formation with benzene. As -CD concentration increased, the benzene concentration complexed with $\beta$-CD rapidly increased to 30-40% initial benzene added, and reached the equilibrium. We also investigated the effect of $\beta$-CD on the desorption of benzene from soil in the water/soil system. As $\beta$-CD concentration increased, benzene concentration desorbed into water increased up to 90%. How-ever, in its application to biodegradation of benzene in water and water/soil system, the biodegradation rate of benzene did not improved in the presence of $\beta$-CD compared with in the absense of $\beta$-CD. This result indicated that $\beta$-CD was more preferentially used as a carbon source than benzene. Therefore, for remediation of benzene contaminated soils, $\beta$-CD can be used as a surfactant to desert benzene from soil, and then ex-situ chemical treatment can be applied for the remediation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.11 no.7
• /
• pp.599-602
• /
• 2001

In this study, we fabricated chemically polymerized PPy and PANi films with different selectivity by controlling dedoping time. And the sensing properties and mechanism of VOCs adsorption to conducting polymers were investigated. Thin sensor had higher sensitivity compared to thick one, and dedoped sensor for 1-minute highest sensitivity. Upon gas absorption, polypyrrole exhibited positive sensitivity while polyaniline had negative sensitivity. PPy film show hydrophilic property and PANi film show hydrophobic property. After the gas absorption, the sensitivity increased as a function of polarity of absorbed molecules. These behaviors are due to the polar molecules absorbed with the movable polaron or free carrier, and then it interrupt or generate the movement of polaron and carrier, and then it changes the conductivity of polymer. We found that conducting polymer sensors are very sensitive to the difference in polarity of gas molecules.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.417-422
• /
• 2001

Sutfactants may be used in remediation of subsoil and aquifer contaminated with hydrophobic compounds. The objectives of this study were to select potentially suitable sUlfactants that solubilize toluene present as a contaminant and to determine the effectiveness of toluene removal from Ottawa sand by the selected surfactants. Material used as the model soil was Ottawa sand and the organic used as model contaminant was toluene. Used experimental methods were separatory funnel experiment and shaker table agitation/centrifugation experiments. Based on the experimental results, the following conclusions were drawn; t) In the surfactant selection, six different surfactants were chosen based on surfactant types, toxicity, and water solubility. These six were focused into two on the basis of HLB and surface tension study, separatory funnel experiment, shaker table and centrifugation experiments. The two most suitable surfactants were Sandopan JA36 (an anionic surfactant), and Pluronic L44 (a non-ionic surfactant). 2) In the shaker table agitation and centrifugation experiments, the highest recovery of the toluene was 96% which was obtained with one surfactant wash plus two water rinses using an anionic surfactant (Sandopan JA36).

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.393-401
• /
• 2018

Natural fibers derived from lignocellulosic materials are considered to be more environment-friendly than petroleum-based synthetic fibers. Several natural fibers, such as seedpod fibers, have a potential for development, including kapok and balsa fibers. The characteristics of both fibers were evaluated to determine their suitability for specific valuable applications. The purpose of this study was to analyze some important fundamental properties of kapok and balsa fibers, including their dimensions, morphology, chemical components, and wettability. The results showed that the average fiber lengths for kapok and balsa were 1.63 and 1.30 cm, respectively. Kapok and balsa fibers had thin cell walls and large lumens filled with air. The kapok fiber was composed of 38.09% ${\alpha}-cellulose$, 14.09% lignin, and 2.34% wax content, whereas the balsa fiber was composed 44.62% ${\alpha}-cellulose$, 16.60% lignin, and 2.29% wax content. The characteristics of kapok and balsa fibers were examined by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. The contact angle of the distilled water on kapok and balsa fibers was more than $90^{\circ}$, indicating that both fibers are hydrophobic with low wettability properties because of to the presence of wax on the fiber surface.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.545-551
• /
• 2012

We investigated the diffusive transport of bupivacaine HCl through the microchannels of microfluidic drug delivery devices. In the biodegradable microfluidic drug delivery devices developed in this research, the drug release rate can be controlled by simply modulating the geometrical parameters of the microchannels, such as the length, number, and cross-sectional area of the microchannels, when the microchannels are used as paths for drug release. However, the hydrophobic nature of a biodegradable polymer, 85/15 poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), hinders the infiltration of a release medium (phosphate-buffered saline) through the microchannels into the reservoir of a device that contains bupivacaine HCl, at the early stage of drug release. This can have an adverse effect on the early stage release of local analgesic compounds from the device. In this study, microfluidic channels were surface-treated with surfactants such as PEG600 and Tween80, and the effects of the surfactants on the release performance are presented and analyzed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.23 no.9
• /
• pp.1315-1327
• /
• 2002

The model compounds, 8-methoxypsoralen-CH2O(CH2)n-adenine (MOPCH2OCnAd, n=2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 10) in which 5 position of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is linked by various lengths of polymethylene bridge to N9 of adenine. UV absorption spectra are identical with the sum of MOPCH2OC3 and adenine absorption spectra. Solvent effects on the UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectra indicate that the lowest excited singlet state is the $(\pi${\rightarrow}$\pi*)$ state. The spectral characteristics of the fluorescence of MOPCH2OCnAd are strongly dependent upon the nature of the solvents. The fluorescence emission spectra in aprotic solvents are broad and structureless due to the excimer formation through the folded conformation accelerated by hydrophobic ${\pi}-{\pi}$ stacking interaction. Increasing polarity of the protic solvents leads to higher population of unfolded conformation stabilized through favorable solvation and H-bonding, and consequently to an increase in the fluorescence intensity, fluorescence lifetime, and a shift of fluorescence maximum to longer wavelengths. The decay characteristics of the fluorescence in polar protic solvents shows two exponential decays with the lifetimes of 0.6-0.8 and 1.6-1.9 ns in 5% ethanol/water, while MOPCH2OC3 shows 0.5 and 1.7 ns fluorescence lifetimes. The long-lived component of fluorescence can be attributed to the relaxed species (i.e., the species for which the solvent reorientation (or relaxation) has occurred), while the short-lived components can be associated with the unrelaxed, or only partially relaxed, species.