• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 2019

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) containing certain amounts of H-${\beta}$ zeolite for pervaporation were manufactured by using a solution casting protocol. These zeolite-embedded membranes were then characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and swelling tests. The membrane separation performance has been examined by means of isopropanol (IPA) dewatering from its highly concentrated aqueous solutions via response surface methodology (RSM). The results have demonstrated that the influences of feed IPA composition (85-95 wt.%), feed temperature ($50-70^{\circ}C$), zeolite loading (15-25 wt.%) and their interactive influences are all statistically significant on both pervaporation flux ($398-1228g/m^2{\cdot}h$) and water/isopropanol separation factor (617-2001). The quadratic models based on the RSM analysis have performed excellently to correlate experimental data with very high determination coefficients and very low relative standard deviations. The optimal pervaporation predictions given by using the RSM models demonstrate a total flux of $953g/m^2{\cdot}h$ and separation factor of 1458, and are excellently verified by experimental results. As reflected by these results, PVA MMMs embedded with hydrophilic $H-{\beta}$ zeolite entities have performed considerably better than its pure counterpart and indicated great potential for isopropanol dehydration applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.765-775
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• 2019

A new ${\alpha}$-amylase-encoding gene (amySL3) of glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 was identified in soda lake isolate Alkalibacterium sp. SL3. The deduced AmySL3 shares high identities (82-98%) with putative ${\alpha}$-amylases from the genus Alkalibacterium, but has low identities (<53%) with functionally characterized counterparts. amySL3 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme (rAmySL3) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The optimal temperature and pH of the activity of the purified rAmySL3 were determined to be $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5, respectively. rAmySL3 was found to be extremely halophilic, showing maximal enzyme activity at a nearly saturated concentration of NaCl. Its thermostability was greatly enhanced in the presence of 4 M NaCl, and it was highly stable in 5 M NaCl. Moreover, the enzyme did not require calcium ions for activity, and was strongly resistant to a range of surfactants and hydrophobic organic solvents. The major hydrolysis products of rAmySL3 from soluble starch were maltobiose and maltotriose. The high ratio of acidic amino acids and highly negative electrostatic potential surface might account for the halophilic nature of AmySL3. The extremely halophilic, calcium-independent, and surfactant-resistant properties make AmySL3 a promising candidate enzyme for both basic research and industrial applications.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.385-394
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• 2020

In the gas separation process, the separation membranes have to not only show high gas transport and selectivity but also exhibit exceptional stability at high temperature and pressure. However, when the polymeric membranes (particularly, glassy polymers) are exposed to the condensable gases (i.e., CO2, H2S, hydrocarbon, etc.), the polymer chains are prone to swell, leading to low stability. As a result, the plasticization behavior reduces the gas selectivity in the separation of mixture gases at high pressures and thus results in limited applications to the separation processes. To address these issues, many strategies have been studied such as thermal treatment, polymer blending, thermally rearrangement, mixed-matrix membranes, cross-linking, etc. In this review, we will understand the plasticization behavior and suggest potential methods based on the previously reported studies.

• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1540-1545
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• 2018

SiGe alloy is widely used thermoelectric materials for high temperature thermoelectric generator applications. However, its high thermoelectric performance has been thus far realized only in alloys synthesized employing mechanical alloying techniques, which are time-consuming and employ several materials processing steps. In the current study, for the first time, we report an enhanced thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) ~ 1.1 at $900^{\circ}C$ in ntype $Si_{80}Ge_{20}$ nano-alloys, synthesized using a facile and up-scalable methodology consisting of rapid solidification at high optimized cooling rate ${\sim}3.4{\times}10^7K/s$, employing melt spinning followed by spark plasma sintering of the resulting nano-crystalline melt-spun ribbons. This enhancement in ZT > 20% over its bulk counterpart, owes its origin to the nano-crystalline microstructure formed at high cooling rates, which results in crystallite size ~7 nm leading to high density of grain boundaries, which scatter heat-carrying phonons. This abundant scattering resulted in a very low thermal conductivity ${\sim}2.1Wm^{-1}K^{-1}$, which corresponds to ~50% reduction over its bulk counterpart and is amongst the lowest reported thus far in n-type SiGe alloys. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, based on which the enhancement in their thermoelectric performance has been discussed.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2008

Thermal evaporated 10 nm-$Ni_{50}Co_{50}$/(70 nm-poly)Si films were deposited to examine the energy saving properties of silicides formed by rapid thermal annealing at temperature ranging from 500 to $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. Thermal evaporated 10 nm-Ni/(70 nm-poly)Si films were also deposited as a reference using the same method for depositing the 10 nm-$Ni_{50}Co_{50}$/(70 nm-poly)Si films. A four-point probe was used to examine the sheet resistance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction XRD were used to determine cross sectional microstructure and phase changes, respectively. UV-VIS-NIR and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) were used to examine the near-infrared (NIR) and middle-infrared (MIR) absorbance. TEM analysis confirmed that the uniform nickel-cobalt composite silicide layers approximately 21 to 55 nm in thickness had formed on the single and polycrystalline silicon substrates as well as on the 25 to 100 nm thick nickel silicide layers. In particular, nickel-cobalt composite silicides showed a low sheet resistance, even after rapid annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$. Nickel-cobalt composite silicide and nickel silicide films on the single silicon substrates showed similar absorbance in the near-IR region, while those on the polycrystalline silicon substrates showed excellent absorbance until the 1,750 nm region. Silicides on polycrystalline substrates showed high absorbance in the middle IR region. Nickel-cobalt composite silicides on the poly-Si substrates annealed at $1,000^{\circ}C$ superior IR absorption on both NIR and MIR region. These results suggest that the newly proposed $Ni_{50}Co_{50}$ composite silicides may be suitable for applications of IR absorption coatings.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.39-45
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• 2001

Extremophiles are unique microorganisms that are adapted to survive in ecological niches such as high or low temperatures, extremes of pH, high salt concentrations and high pressure. These unusual microorganisms have unique biochemical features which can be exploited for use in the biotechnological industries. Due to the high biodiversity of extremophilic archaea and bacteria and their existence in various biotopes a variety of biocatalysts with different physicochemical properties have been discovered. The extreme molecular stability of their enzymes, membranes and the synthesis of unique organic compounds and polymers make extremophiles interesting candidates for basic and applied research. Some of the enzymes from extremophiles, especially hyperthermophilic marine microorganisms (growth above $85^{\circ}C$), have already been purified in our laboratory. These include the enzyme systems from Pyrococcus, Pyrodictium, Thermococcus and Thermotoga sp. that are involved in polysacharide modification and protein bioconversion. Only recently, the genome of the thermoalkaliphilic strain. Anaerobranca gottschalkii has been completely sequenced providing a unique resource of novel biocatalysts that are active at high temperature and pH. The gene encoding the branching enzyme from this organism was cloned and expressed in a mesophilic host and finally characterized. A novel glucoamylase was purified from an aerobic archaeon which shows optimal activity at $90^{\circ}C$ and pH 2.0. This thermoacidophilic archaeon Picrophilus oshimae grows optimally at pH 0.7 and $60^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, we were able to detect thermoactive proteases from two anaerobic isolates which are able to hydrolyze feather keratin completely at $80^{\circ}C$ forming amino acids and peptides. In addition, new marine psychrophilic isolates will be presented that are able to secrete enzymes such as lipases, proteases and amylases possessing high activity below the freezing point of water.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.21-27
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• 2022

C_f/SiC composites have low density, high mechanical strength, and good thermal stability, making them promising materials for high-temperature applications such as rocket propulsion and military fields. However, the remaining Si deteriorates physical and thermal properties. In this paper, the de-siliconization was introduced as a method to remove the Si of the C_f/SiC composite fabricated through Liquid Silicon Infiltration(LSI) process. The stability of composite has been tested under an oxyacetylene torch flame for up to 5 minutes. The oxidized surface and cross section of specimens were characterized by 3D scanning, X-ray diffraction(XRD), Optical microscope(OM) and Scanning electron microscope(SEM).

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.451-456
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• 2023

Transparent conducting films having a three layered structure of ZnO/Cu/ZnO (ZCZ) were deposited onto the glass substrates by using RF and DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The emissivity and opto-electrical properties of the films were investigated with a varying thickness(5, 10, 15 nm) of the Cu interlayer. With increasing the Cu thickness to 15 nm, the films showed a enhanced electrical properties. Although ZnO 30/Cu 15/ZnO 30 nm film shows a lower resistivity of 5.2×10^-5 Ωcm, it's visible transmittance is deteriorated by increased optical absorbtion of the films. In addition, X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the insertion of Cu interlayer improve the grain size of ZnO films, which is favor for the electrical and optical properties of transparent conducting films. From the observed low emissivity of the films, it is concluded that the ZCZ thin films with optimal thickness of Cu interlayer can be applied effectively for the car's window coating materials.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2024

Al₂O₃ has excellent sintering properties and is important in semiconductor manufacturing processes that require high-temperature resistance and chemical inertness in a plasma environment. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the chemical characteristics, physical properties, crystal structure, and dispersion stability of three commercially available Al₂O₃ powders was conducted. The aim was to provide a technological foundation for selecting and utilizing appropriate Al₂O₃ powders in practical applications. All powders exhibited α-Al₂O₃ as the main phase, with the presence of beta-phase Na₂O-11Al₂O₃ as the secondary phase. The highest Na⁺ ion leaching was observed in the aqueous slurry state due to the presence of the secondary phase. Although the average particle size difference among the three powders was not significant, distinct differences in particle size distribution were observed. ALG-1SH showed a broad particle size distribution, P162 exhibited a bimodal distribution, and AES-11 displayed a uniform unimodal distribution. High-concentration Al₂O₃ slurries showed differences in viscosity due to ion release when no dispersant was added, affecting the electrical double-layer thickness. Polycarboxylate was found to effectively enhance the dispersion stability of all three powders. In the dispersion stability analysis, ALG-1SH exhibited the slowest sedimentation tendency, as evidenced by the low TSI value, while P162 showed faster precipitation, influenced by the particle size distribution.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.46-63
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• 2024

One of the biggest dangers in the globe is water contamination. Water is a necessity for human survival. In most cities, the digging of borewells is restricted. In some cities, the borewell is allowed for only drinking water. Hence, the scarcity of drinking water is a vital issue for industries and villas. Most of the water sources in and around the cities are also polluted, and it will cause significant health issues. Real-time quality observation is necessary to guarantee a secure supply of drinking water. We offer a model of a low-cost system of monitoring real-time water quality using IoT to address this issue. The potential for supporting the real world has expanded with the introduction of IoT and other sensors. Multiple sensors make up the suggested system, which is utilized to identify the physical and chemical features of the water. Various sensors can measure the parameters such as temperature, pH, and turbidity. The core controller can process the values measured by sensors. An Arduino model is implemented in the core controller. The sensor data is forwarded to the cloud database using a WI-FI setup. The observed data will be transferred and stored in a cloud-based database for further processing. It wasn't easy to analyze the water quality every time. Hence, an Optimized Neural Network-based automation system identifies water quality from remote locations. The performance of the feed-forward neural network classifier is further enhanced with a hybrid GA- PSO algorithm. The optimized neural network outperforms water quality prediction applications and yields 91% accuracy. The accuracy of the developed model is increased by 20% because of optimizing network parameters compared to the traditional feed-forward neural network. Significant improvement in precision and recall is also evidenced in the proposed work.