• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.620-624
• /
• 2009

Biomedical metal implants have been used clinically for replacement, restoration, or improvement of injury bodies based on high mechanical properties, but it has some risks such as the inflammatory, late thrombosis, or restenosis due to the low biocompatibility and toxicity. In various techniques of surface treatment developed to preserve these drawbacks, this study examined the electrospray coating technology with biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycoic acid) (PLGA) on metal surface. Based on fundamental examination of electrospraying and solution parameters, the surface morphology of coated film was closely related to the boiling point of solvent, in-flight distance, and droplet size. The thickness of polymer film was linearly proportional to the emerged volume. This result exhibits that the polymeric droplets were continuously deposited on the polymer film. Therefore, the electrospray coating technology might be applied into the fabrication of single/multi-layered polymer film in nano-/micro-thickness and the control of the topology for biomedical metal implants including stents.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.513-525
• /
• 2022

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate direct oxidation of aqueous solution containing cefalexin antibiotic with new generation Sn/Sb/Ni: 500/8/1 anode. The fact that there is no such a study on treatment of cefalexin with these new anode made this study unique. According to the operating parameters evaluation COD graphs showed clearer results compared to TOC and CLX and thus, it was it was chosen as major parameter. Furthermore, pseudo-first degree kd values were calculated from CLX results to show more accurate and specific results. Experimental results showed that after 60 min of electrochemical oxidation, complete removal of COD and TOC was accomplished with 750 mg L^-1 KCl, at pH 7, 50 mA cm^-2 current density and 1 cm anode-cathode distance. Also, the stability of the Sn/Sb/Ni anode was evaluated by taking SEM and AFM images and XRD analysis before and after of electrochemical oxidation processes. According to the results, it was not occurred too much change on the anode surface even after 300 h of electrolysis. Thus, it was thought that the anode material was not corroded to a large extent. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies were very high for almost all the time and conditions. According to the results of the study, electrochemical oxidation with new generation Sn/Sb/Ni anodes for the removal of cefalexin antibiotic was found very successful and applicable due to require less reaction time complete mineralization and doesn't require pH adjustment step compared to other studies in literature. In future studies, different antibiotic types should be studied with this anode and maybe with real wastewaters to test applicability of the process in treatment of pharmaceutical wastewaters containing antibiotics, in a better way.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.350-362
• /
• 2020

In this study, nano Fe°-impregnated biochar (INPBC) was prepared using pruning residues and one-pot synthetic method and evaluated its performance as an amendment agent for the stabilization of arsenic-contaminated soil. For the preparation of INPBC, the mixture of pruning residue and Fe (III) solution was heated to 220℃ for 3hr in a teflon-sealed autoclave followed by calcination at 600℃ under N₂ atmosphere for 1hr. As-prepared INPBC was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, BET, SEM. For the stabilization test of as-prepared INPBC, As-contaminated soils (Soil-E and Soil-S) sampled from agricultural sites located respectively near E-abandoned mine and S-abandoned mine in South Korea were mixed with different of dosage of INPBC and cultivated for 4 weeks. After treatment, TCLP and SPLP tests were conducted to determine the stabilization efficiency of As in soil and showed that the stabilization efficiency was increased with increasing the INPBC dosage and the concentration of As in SPLP extractant of Soil-E was lower than the drinking water standard level of Ministry of Environment of South Korea. The sequential fractionation of As in the stabilized soils indicated that the fractions of As in the 1st and 2nd stages that correspond liable and known as bioavailable fraction were decreased and the fractions of As in 3rd and 4th stages that correspond relatively non-liable fraction were increased. Such a stabilization of As shows that the abundant nano Fe° on the surface of INPBC mixed with As-contaminated soils played the co-precipitation of As leaching from soil by surface complexation with iron. The results of this study may imply that INPBC as a promising amendments for the stabilization of As-contaminated soil play an important role.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.28 no.spc
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2022

A sensor is needed to continuously and automatically measure the change in HNS concentration in industrial facilities that directly discharge to the sea after water treatment. The basic function of the sensor is to be able to detect ppb levels even at room temperature. Therefore, a method for increasing the sensitivity of the existing sensor is proposed. First, a method for increasing the conductivity of a film using a conductive carbon-based additive in a nanoparticle thin film and a method for increasing ion adsorption on the surface using a catalyst metal were studied.. To improve conductivity, carbon black was selected as an additive in the film using ITO nanoparticles, and the performance change of the sensor according to the content of the additive was observed. As a result, the change in resistance and response time due to the increase in conductivity at a CB content of 5 wt% could be observed, and notably, the lower limit of detection was lowered to about 250 ppb in an experiment with organic solvents. In addition, to increase the degree of ion adsorption in the liquid, an experiment was conducted using a sample in which a surface catalyst layer was formed by sputtering Au. Notably, the response of the sensor increased by more than 20% and the average lower limit of detection was lowered to 61 ppm. This result confirmed that the chemical resistance sensor using metal oxide nanoparticles could detect HNS of several tens of ppb even at room temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.42-45
• /
• 2003

Nondestructive damage sensing and mechanical properties for acid-treated carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF)/epoxy composites were investigated using electro-micromechanical technique and acoustic emission (AE). Carbon black (CB) was used to compare to CNT and CNF. The results were compared to the untreated case. The fracture of carbon fiber was detected by nondestructive acoustic emission (AE) relating to electrical resistivity under double-matrix composites test. Sensing for fiber tension was performed by electro-pullout test under uniform cyclic strain. The sensitivity for fiber damage such as fiber fracture and fiber tension was the highest for CNT/epoxy composites. Reinforcing effect of CNT obtained from apparent modulus measurement was the highest in the same content. For surface treatment case, the damage sensitivity and reinforcing effect were higher than those of the untreated case. The results obtained from sensing fiber damage were correlated with the morphological observation of nano-scale structure using FE-SEM. The information on fiber damage and matrix deformation and reinforcing effect of carbon nanocomposites could be obtained from electrical resistivity measurement as a new concept of nondestructive evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 2015

This study focused on effective decomposition methods for low concentrated organic compounds from the reuse of industrial wastewater, and confirmed the possibility through photocatalyst media. Photocatalyst immobilized media was developed to carry on this experiment which confirmed the removal possibility of low concentrated organic compounds. Considering the stability and efficiency of photocatalyst immobilization, inorganic support, hollow bead, and $TiO_2$ nano powder were used. As a result of the removal experiment, the removal efficiencies of acetonitrile, ethanol, IPA(Isopropyl alcohol), methanol were above 75% after 15 minutes while those of acetone, acetaldehyde, urea were 10%, 45%, 20%, respectively after 60 minutes. If further studies were made to increase the surface area of the photocatalyst immobilized media, the efficiency of the removal of low concentrated organic compounds can be improved and this solution can also be used in an actual treatment process.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2010

A carbon doped $TiO_2$ (C-$TiO_2$) photocatalyst, which shows good photocatalytic activity to Ultraviolet irradiation and visible irradiation, was successfully prepared by co-grinding of $TiO_2$ with ethanol or Activated Carbon(C), followed by heat treatment at $200^{\circ}C$ in air for 60 min. Ethanol and C were used as a representative agent of liquid and solid for carbon doping. Their influence on improving photocatalytic ability and carbon doping degree was studied with degradation of methyl orange and XPS analysis. The product prepared by co-grinding of $TiO_2$ with Ethanol had Ti-C and C-O chemical bonds and showed higher photocatalytic activity than the product prepared by co-grinding of $TiO_2$ with C, where just C-O chemical bond existed. As a result, mechanochemical route is useful to prepare a carbon doped $TiO_2$ photocatalyst activating to visible irradiation, where the solid-liquid operation is more effective than solid-solid operation to obtain a carbon doped $TiO_2$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.324-330
• /
• 2019

Petal-like nickel cobaltite ($NiCo_2O_4$)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with different $rGO-to-NiCo_2O_4$ weight ratios were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent thermal treatment. In the $NiCo_2O_4/rGO$ composite, the $NiCo_2O_4$ 3-dimensional nanomaterials contributed to the improvement of electrochemical properties of the final composite material by preventing the restacking of the rGO sheet and securing ion movement passages. The composite structure was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The FE-SEM and TEM images showed that petal-like $NiCo_2O_4$ was supported on the rGO surface. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for the electrochemical analysis of composites. Among the prepared composites, $0.075g\;rGO/NiCo_2O_4$ composite showed the highest specific capacitance of $1,755Fg^{-1}$ at a current density of $2Ag^{-1}$. The cycle performance and rate capability of the composite material were higher than those of using the single $NiCo_2O_4$ material. These nano-structured composites could be regarded as valuable electrode materials for supercapacitors that require superior performance.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.218-227
• /
• 2022

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), a new green energy, that have various potential applications, such as energy harvesters and self-powered sensors. The output performance of TENGs has been improving rapidly, and their output power significantly increased since they were first reported owing to improved triboelectrification materials and interfacial material engineering. Because the operation of a TENG is based on contact electrification in which electric charges are exchanged at the interface between two materials, its output can be increased by increasing the contact area and charge density. Material surface modification with microstructures or nanostructures has increased the output performance of TENGs significantly because not only does the sharp micro/nano morphology increases the contact area during friction, but it also increases the charge density. Chemical treatment in which ions or functional groups are added has also been used to improve the performance of TENGS by modifying the work functions, charge densities, and dielectric constants of the triboelectric materials. In addition, ultrahigh output power from TENGs without using new materials or treatments has been obtained in many studies in which special structures were designed to control the current release or to collect the charge current directly. In this review, we discuss physical and chemical treatments, bulk modifications, and interfacial engineering for enhancing TENG performance by improving contact electrification and electrostatic induction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.698-705
• /
• 2023

Rapid diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is essential for guiding clinical treatment and preventing the spread of MRSA infections. Herein, we present a simple and rapid MRSA screening test based on the aggregation effect of mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNP), called the MRSA probe. Recombinant MBL protein is a member of the lectin family and part of the innate immune system. It can recognize wall teichoic acid (WTA) on the membrane of MRSA more specifically than that of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) under optimized salt conditions. Thus, the MRSA probe can selectively bind to MRSA, and the aggregation of the probes on the surface of the target bacteria can be detected and analyzed by the naked eye within 5 min. To demonstrate the suitability of the method for real-world application, we tested 40 clinical S. aureus isolates (including 20 MRSA specimens) and recorded a sensitivity of 100%. In conclusion, the MRSA probe-based screening test with its excellent sensitivity has the potential for successful application in the microbiology laboratory.