• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.219-224
• /
• 2019

In this study, we evaluated the energy production from plant-microbial fuel cells using representative indoor plants, such as Scindapsus aureus and Clatha minor. The maximum power density of microbial fuel cell (MFC) using S. aureus ($3.36mW/m^2$) was about 2 times higher than that of the MFC using C. minor ($1.43mW/m^2$). It was confirmed that energy recovery is possible using plant-MFCs without fuel. However, further research is needed to improve the performance of plant-MFCs. Nevertheless, plant-MFCs have proved their potential as a novel energy source to overcome the limitations of the conventional renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar cells, and could be employed to a power source for the sensor in charge of the fourth industrial revolution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2003

The feasibility as floricultural crops and water garden plant materials of Korean native water plants was investigated. Propagation type, growing and flowering time were observed for development as water garden, interior aquarium plant and water purification materials. Flowering time of the water plant was 7 species in May, 28 species in June, 49 species in July, 55 species in August, 47 species in September, and 17 species in October. Beautiful flowering water plants were Nymphaeaceae, Nymphoides peltata, Nymphoides indica, Monochoria korsakowii, Iris pseudacorus, Iris laevigata, and etc. Ornamental leafy water plants were Ceratopteris thalictroides, Ludwigia ovalis, Myriophyllum verticillatim, Limnophila sessiliflora, Blyxa aubertii, Blyxa echinosperma, Vallisneria asiatica, Hydrilla verticillata and Eleocharis acicularis etc. Isoetes japonica, Isoetes coreana and Isoetes sinensis were propagated by spore. Blyxa aubertii, Blyxa echinosperma, Myriophyllum verticillatim, Nuphar japonicum, Nelumbo nucifera, Ottelia alismoides, Sagittaria aginashi, Trapa japonica, and Trapa natans were propagated by seed. Persicaria amphibia, Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort), Myriophyllum verticillatim, Myriophyllum spicatum, Oenanthe javanica, Potamogeton crispus, Hydrilla verticillata and Acorus calamus were propagated by division. And Vallisneria asiatica, Hydrilla verticillata and Phragmites japonica were propagated by runner. Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort), Myriophyllum verticillatim, Myriophyllum spicatum, Limnophila sessilifera were propagated by adventitious bud. Ceratopteris thalictroides was propagated by leaf cutting. The 35 genera, 68 species of water plants were available for horticultural use. The 45 species such as Iris laevigata, Eleocharis acicularis, Menyanthes trifoliata, Nymphaea minima, Nuphar pumilum, Nymphoides coreana, Nymphoides peltata, Nymphoides indica, Nymphaea tetragona (water lily), and Typha latifolia could be use for water garden plant. The 21 species such as Limnophila sessilifera, Vallisneria asiatica, Ceratophyllum demersum and Hydrilla verticillata available for indoor aquarium. The 19 species such as Ottelia alismoides, Oenanthe javanica, Limnophila sessilifera and Blyxa echinosperma could be culture in container. The 27 species such as Trapa japonica, Trapa incisa, Phramites commuris (reed), Phragmites japonica, and Zizania latifolia were usable for water purification plant materials.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2020.08a
• /
• pp.63-63
• /
• 2020

This study investigated the growth of native ferns under indoor light intensities to identify the introduction possibility as in-door ornamental plants. Three evergreen perennial fern species used in this experiment were Coniogramme japonica (Thunb.) Diels, Woodwardia japonica (L. f.) Sm., and Cyclosorus acuminatus (Houtt.) Nakai ex H. Itô. The light intensities were adjusted to 10, 50, 100 and 200 PPFD (µmol·m^-2·s^-1) based on the measurement of the various indoor light quantities. The experiment was conducted for a total of 8 weeks, and the light period (12/12h), temperature (25±1℃), and humidity (55±3%) were maintained during the experiment. The control plant group was grown in glass greenhouse for the same period. As the result of the study, in door C. japonica showed better growth under light intensities of 100, 200 PPFD. However, withering of the plants were observed under all light intensities except the control, which causes an ornamental value decrease. This seems to be related to the increase of DIo/RC value in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. In the W. japonica growth data, the plant height was not significantly different from the control but, the leaf number decreased more than a two-fold. Also, the formed leaves turned brown and showed a poor growth and SPAD value at 200 PPFD had decreased significantly. Growth data of C. acuminatus was not significantly different with the control at all light intensities however, withering was observed at 100 and 200 PPFD. In chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, significant decrease in Pi_Abs and increase in DIo/RC value at 200 PPFD impose that stress caused by the intense light might be the reason of the withering of the plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.73-86
• /
• 2020

In the modern era, the elementary schools in the Republic of Korea are advanced with the competitive world. Thus advancement in technology, and other factors in the elementary schools are releases some kind of particulate matter (PM), which causes deleterious effects on school students health, academic program, growth and development. The school students are susceptible to PM particularly, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Based on this hazardous effect of PM on school students we conducted the research on the elementary schools class rooms by introducing vertical gardening system to get the schools "ever green". The main aim of this study is to investigate the environmental factors in the educational effect program in the class rooms and indoor air quality changes. For the educational effect, the 4th operation program was applied to 2 schools for 2 hours once a month from September to December 2019. Each school conducted a survey on satisfaction, plant friendliness, and environmental sensibilities, targeting classes that participated in the green school program and those who did not. The environmental effects were monitored by installing indoor air quality facility in the program participating classes and the non-participating classes. From November 2019 to December 2019, three factors were measured: PM10, PM2.5, and humidity. The results were analyzed by T-test using the SPSS 24.0 software program. As a result of the analysis, student's overall satisfaction with the program and their intention to re-engage were high in terms of educational effect. It was also found to be effective in emotional, educational, social, and physical aspects. In particular, it was found that there was a statistically significant effect on improving plant friendliness in terms of plant friendliness and environmental sensitivity. In terms of environmental effects, it was found that there was a significant difference between the program-applied and non-programmed classes in PM10, PM2.5, and humidity. Through this study, it was confirmed that the plant education program using vertical gardens is effective in both the educational effect and the improvement of indoor air quality in the classroom. In conclusion, vertical gardening system in the elementary schools should implement for the beneficial of young generation development and back bone to the nation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.590-592
• /
• 2008

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.603-614
• /
• 2020

Background and objective: This study was conducted to understand urban residents' perception of indoor plants in order to assist in the preparation of guidelines for growing plants indoors. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to urban residents currently growing plants or with experience of growing plants. The data of 247 respondents were subjected to analysis to assess their level of interest and ability with regard to growing plants, and their recognition of the selection and function of plants. Results: Respondents showed high interest in growing plants at a level of 6.77, but their ability was moderate. This suggests that information regarding plant maintenance should be provided to urban residents. They recognized the function of plants for improving the environment as important, and expected that indoor plants would improve their mood and visual experience. Satisfaction with growing plants was high from an emotional perspective. They recognized that the function of air purification function was important even if the actual performance or effect was not great. This indicates that the function of air purification should be emphasized more. As the result of the IPA, plants should be selected in consideration of morphological characteristics such as leaf, flower and fruit, and continuously managed to maintain their characteristics. Since the performance of pots was less satisfactory compared to their importance, they should be selected so that they harmonize better with plants and are of the appropriate size to fit the space. The type of plants is an important factor in plant selection in order to perform an environmental function, and the flower color and pot size are important in terms of aesthetics and healing. Conclusion: When horticulture information on indoor plants is provided to urban residents, first, it should be provided to satisfy the functions of the plants required by urban residents and in order to promote and maintain the proper growth of plants. Second, various contents that utilize components should be developed to achieve plant function so that resident can determine the function of plants and select the type, quantity, and shape of plants to achieve the desired function.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.389-396
• /
• 2013

The antioxidant enzyme and DPPH radical scavenging activity with variations in drying methods of diploid and tetraploid in Platycodon grandiflorum were determined. Antioxidant enzyme activities were measured as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum were freeze-dried, indoor-dried, hot-air dried, and microwave dried. The root extract of P. grandiflorum have shown the highest SOD enzyme activity of 92% in tetraploid of freeze-dried and indoor-dried while diploid of microwave dried showed the lowest SOD enzyme activity of 47.5%. The activity of CAT showed higher values in the root of tetraploid than in the diploid of P. grandiflorum in all drying methods. The APX activity showed relatively higher values in the root extract of freeze-dried both the diploid and tetraploid, but the difference in comparison with other extracts was not significant. The POX activities according to drying methods of diploid and tetraploid in P. grandiflorum showed relatively high values in freeze-dried and indoor-dried compared with other drying methods, and the POX activity between the diploid and tetraploid was not significant difference in each drying method. The DPPH radical scavenging activity with variation in drying methods of diploid and tetraploid in P. grandiflorum was the highest in the freeze-dried, and was higher in tetraploid than diploid in all the concentrations. In conclusion, the root of P. grandiflorum had the potent biological activities in both diploid and tetraploid. In particular, the tetraploid root of P. grandiflorum showing high antioxidant enzyme activity could be good materials for development of source of functional healthy food.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.674-683
• /
• 2019

Some species of the Trichoderma genus are reported as the major problem in oak wood mushroom production in Korea. In spite of economic loss by the fungi, scientific information on airborne Trichoderma species is not much available. To generate information for disease management development we analyzed airborne Trichoderma. A total of 1,063 fungal isolates were purely obtained from indoor air sampling of cultivation houses used for oak wood mushroom using sawdust media. Among the obtained isolates, 248 isolates were identified as Trichoderma fungi including T. harzianum, T. atroviride, T. citrinoviride, and T. pseudokoningii, by morphological and molecular analysis. T. harzianum was dominant among the four identified species. All the four Trichoderma species grew fast on solid nutrient media tested (potato dextrose agar [PDA], malt extract agar [MEA], Czapek's Dox + yeast extract agar [CYA] and cornmeal dextrose agar). Compact mycelia growth and mass spore production were better on PDA and CYA. In addition, T. harzianum and T. citrinoviride formed greenish and yellowish mycelium and spores on PDA and CYA. Greenish and yellowish pigment was saturated into PDA only by T. pseudokoningii. These four Trichoderma species could produce extracellular enzymes of sawdust substrate degradation such as β-glucosidase, avicelase, CM-cellulase, amylase, pectinase, xylanase, and protease. Their mycelia inhibited the growth of oak wood mushroom mycelia of two tested cultivars on dual culture assay. Among of eleven antifungal agents tested, benomyl was the best to inhibit the growth of the four Trichoderma species. Our results demonstrate that the airborne Trichoderma fungi need to be properly managed in the cultivation houses for safe mushroom production.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2019

This study aimed to analyze the growth and physical responsees of Dracaena braunii in response salt accumulation in ornamental water culture and to examine the effect of activated carbon on this growth response. The experiment was conducted in a plant growth chamber and the indoor environmental conditions of the chamber were set at $23{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperature, $70{\pm}3%$ humidity, and 1,000 lux brightness. The observation of the growth response of plants in the presence of activated carbon showed that the pH with activated carbon maintained sub-acidic to neutral (6.27~7.32) conditions and showed decreased electric conductivity in the media. As the treatment with added activated carbon showed good growth and physical responses, this indicated that absorption effect of activated carbon had a positive influence on the growth of plants. However, as the absorption effect of activated carbon may decrease over time and the use of high concentrations of activated carbon might cause nutrition shortage, various concentration of activated carbon and their absorption effects need to be investigated in the future.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.122-130
• /
• 2017

The main purpose of the study was to clarify the properties of individual particles collected at each behavior space of a factory worker. The samplings of size-segregated ($PM_{2.1-1.1}$ and $PM_{4.7-3.3}$) indoor particles were conducted at three different behavior spaces of a factory worker who is engaged in an auto parts manufacturing plant (i.e., his home, his work place in factory, and his favorite restaurant). Elemental specification (i.e., relative elemental content and distribution in and/or on individual particles) was performed by a micro-PIXE system. Every element detected from the coarse particulate matters of home was classified into three groups, i.e., a group of high net-counts (Na, Al, and Si), a group of intermediate net-counts (Mg, S, Cl, K, and Ca), and a group of minor trace elements (P, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb). The results of EF for $PM_{4.7-3.3}$ in home indicated that several heavy metals were generated from the sources within the house itself. An exceptional feature shown in the individual particles in workplace is that Cr, Mn, and Co were clearly detected in both fine and coarse particles. Cluster analysis suggested that the individual coarse particles ($PM_{4.7-3.3}$) collected at the indoor of factory were chemically heterogeneous and they modified with sea-salt, mineral, and artificially derived elements. The principal components in individual coarse particles collected at restaurant were sea-salt and mineral without mixing with harmful trace elements like chromium and manganese. Compared to the indoor fine particles of home and restaurant, many elements, especially, Cl, Na, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn showed overwhelmingly high net-counts in those of factory.