• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2008

The fsrA gene in Bacillus subtilis has an analogous role of ryhB in E. coli and is controlled under fur, the iron regulator gene. At high concentration of iron the transcription of ryhB is repressed by fur and ryhB is transcribed under low concentration of iron. To spare iron produced ryhB small RNA represses the expression of sdhCDAB (succinate dehydrogenase). This study shows the growth rate of Bacillus subtilis strain of fur and fur/fsrA deletion mutants using organic acids of TCA cycle as carbon source. Mutant strain of fur does not grow well with succinate carbon source, but further deletion of fsrA regain to the growth of wild type strain. Also, nearly same results were observed with citrate and fumarate. These results are consistent to those of E. coli system. But fur and fur/fsrA deletion mutants grow well as much as the growth of wild type with malate carbon source. These results showed that upstream genes of succinate of TCA cycle are repressed by fsrA, but downstream of succinate are not repressed by fsrA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1403-1411
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• 2023

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most abundant component of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and directly creates environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. Carbon capture and storage have been proposed mainly to solve the problem of increasing CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere; however, more emphasis has recently been placed on its use. Among the many methods of using CO₂, one of the key environmentally friendly technologies involves biologically converting CO₂ into other organic substances such as biofuels, chemicals, and biomass via various metabolic pathways. Although an efficient biocatalyst for industrial applications has not yet been developed, biological CO₂ conversion is the needed direction. To this end, this review briefly summarizes seven known natural CO₂ fixation pathways according to carbon number and describes recent studies in which natural CO₂ assimilation systems have been applied to heterogeneous in vivo and in vitro systems. In addition, studies on the production of methanol through the reduction of CO₂ are introduced. The importance of redox cofactors, which are often overlooked in the CO₂ assimilation reaction by enzymes, is presented; methods for their recycling are proposed. Although more research is needed, biological CO₂ conversion will play an important role in reducing GHG emissions and producing useful substances in terms of resource cycling.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.9 s.89
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• pp.1284-1289
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• 2007

The Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) process in the water treatments represents a kind of biofiltration process which capabilities of bacteria to remove organic matters are maximized. It enables to eliminate organic matters and effectively reduce microbial regrowth potentials. As attached bacteria employ natural organic matter as a substrate, they are significantly dependent on indigenous microorganisms. In this study, characteristics of bacterial community by culturable and unculturable Methods have been conducted in a pilot plant using SAC in water treatment process at the downstream of the Nakdong River. Based on the results, HPC and bacterial- production for coal-based activated carbon material were $1.20{\sim}56.2{\times}l0^7$ cfu/g and $1.2{\sim}3.7\;mgC/m^{3}h$, respectively, in the SAC process. The highest level of attached bacteria biomass and organic carbon removal efficiency was found in the coal-based activated carbon. The genera Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Acilzetobacter, and Spingomonas were identified for each activated carbon material. Pseudomonas vesicularis was the dominant species in the coconut- and coal-based materials, where as Pseudomonas cepacia was the dominant species in the wood-based material. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observation of the activated carbon surface also found the widespread distribution of rod form and coccus. The community of attached bacteria was investigated by performing Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. a group was dominant in coal, wood and coccunt-based materials, ${\alpha},\;{\beta}\;and\;{\gamma}$ group ranged from 27.0 ${\sim}$ 43.0%, 7.1 ${\sim}$ 22.0%, 11.3 ${\sim}$ 28.6%, respectively. These results suggest that a group bacterial community appears to be regulated removal efficiency of organic material in water treatment process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.332-339
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• 2011

Effects of powdered activated carbon impregnated by iron oxide nano particle (Impregnated PAC) on the microfiltration (MF) membrane system performance in NOM removal from water were investigated in this study. A fluidized bed column was employed as a pretreatment of MF membrane process. The Impregnated PAC bed was stably maintained at an upflow rate of 63 m/d without leakage of the Impregnated PAC particles, which provided a contact time of 29 minutes. A magnetic ring at the upper part of the column could effectively hold the overflowing discrete particles. The Impregnated PAC column demonstrated a significant enhancement in the MF membrane performance in terms of fouling prevention and natural organic matter (NOM) removal. Trans-membrane pressure of the MF membrane increased to 41 kPa in 98 hours of operation, while it could be maintained at 12 kPa with the Impregnated PAC pretreatment. Removal of NOM determined by dissolved organic carbon and UV254 was also enhanced from 46% and 51% to 75% and 84%, respectively, by the pretreatment. It was found that the Impregnated PAC effectively removed a wide range of different molecular-sized organic compounds from size exclusion analysis.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2005

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at 1,034 m water depth in the eastern Bransfield Strait for a complete year from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. About 99% of total mass flux was trapped during an austral summer, showing distinct seasonal variation. Biogenic particles (biogenic opal, particulate organic carbon, and calcium carbonate) account for about two thirds of annual total mass flux $(49.2\;g\;m^{-2})$, among which biogenic opal flux is the most dominant (42% of the total flux). A positive relationship (except January) between biogenic opal and total organic carbon fluxes suggests that these two variables were coupled, due to the surface-water production (mainly diatoms). The relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values of settling particles result from effects on C-fixation processes at low temperature and the high $CO_2$ availability to phytoplankton. The correspondingly low $\delta^{l5}N$ values are due to intense and steady input of nitrates into surface waters, reflecting an unlikely nitrate isotope fractionation by degree of surface-water production. The $\delta^{l5}N$ and $\delta^{l3}C$ values of sinking particles increased from the beginning to the end of a presumed phytoplankton bloom, except for anomalous $\delta^{l5}N$ values. Krill and the zooplankton fecal pellets, the most important carriers of sinking particles, may have contributed gradually to the increasing $\delta^{l3}C$ values towards the unproductive period through the biomodification of the $\delta^{l3}C$ values in the food web, respiring preferentially and selectively $^{12}C$ atoms. Correspondingly, the increasing $\delta^{l5}N$ values in the intermediate-water trap are likely associated with a switch in source from diatom aggregates to some remains of zooplankton, because organic matter dominated by diatom may be more liable and prone to remineralization, leading to greater isotopic alteration. In particular, the tendency for abnormally high $\delta^{l5}N$ values in February seems to be enigmatic. A specific species dominancy during the production may be suggested as a possible and speculative reason.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.499-509
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• 2000

Next to carbon dioxide, methane is the second largest contributor to global warming among anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Methane is emitted into the atmosphere from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources include wetlands, termites, wildries, ocean and freshwater. Anthropogenic sources include landfill, natural gas and oil production, and agriculture. These manmade sources account for about 70% of total global methane emissions; and among these, landfill accounts for approximately 10% of total manmade emissions. Solid waste landfills produce methane as bacteria decompose organic wastes under anaerobic conditions. Methane accounts for approximately 45 to 50 percent of landfill gas, while carbon dioxide and small quantities of other gases comprise the remaining to 50 to 55 percent. Using the closed enclosure technique, surface emission fluxes of methane from the selected landfill sites were measured. These data were used to estimate national methane emission rate from domestic landfills. During the three different periods, flux experiments were conducted at the sites from June 30 through December 26, 1999. The chamber technique employed for these experiments was validated in situ. Samples were collected directly by on-site flux chamber and analyzed for the variation of methane concentration by gas chromatography equipped with FID. Surface emission rates of methane were found out to vary with space and time. Significant seasonal variation was observed during the experimental period. Methane emission rates were estimated to be 64.5$\pm$54.5mgCH$_4$/$m^2$/hr from Kimpo landifll site. 357.4$\pm$68.9mgCH$_4$/$m^2$/hr and 8.1$\pm$12.4mgCH$_4$/$m^2$/hr at KwanJu(managed and unmanaged), 472.7$\pm$1056mgCH$_4$/$m^2$/hr at JonJu, and 482.4$\pm$1140 mgCH$_4$/$m^2$/hr at KunSan. These measurement data were used for the extrapolation of national methane emission rate based on 1997 national solid waste data. The results were compared to those derived by theoretical first decay model suggested by IPCC guidelines.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

The adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a vehicle fuel is a common phenomenon as it is accelerating worldwide. Increasing number of CNG driven vehicles around the world has jumped up from one million in 1996 to five million in 2006. CNG as a vehicle fuel is very popular to the end users because of its clean-burning properties and cost effective solution compared to other alternative fuels like diesel and gasoline. The use of CNG as a fuel reduces vehicular emission that is consisted of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen ($NO_x$), carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) etc. This research highlights the characteristics of CNG vehicles, CNG arrangement in the vehicles, CNG fueling procedures and most importantly the environmental and economic factors that are highly considered as cost effective solution for the flexibility of using CNG in the automobiles.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.610-612
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• 2008

Piston cores retrieved from the eastern part of the deep-water Ulleung Basin were analyzed to access the potential of hydrocarbon gas generation and natural gas hydrate (NGH) formation. Seismic data acquired in the study area were also analyzed to determine the presence of hydrocarbon gas and/or NGH, and to map their distribution. Core analyses revealed high total organic carbon (TOC) contents which favor hydrocarbon generation. The cores recovered from the southern study area showed the sufficient residual hydrocarbon gas concentrations for the formation of significant NGH. These cores also showed the cracks developed parallel to the bedding that suggest significant gas content in situ. A number of seismic blanking zones were observed on seismic data. They are identified as vertical to sub-vertical chimneys caused by the upward migration of pore fluid or gas, and containing of free gas and/or NGH. Often, they are associated with velocity pull-up structures that are interpreted to be the result of high-velocity NGH. The seismic data also showed several bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) that are associated with overlying NGH and underlying free gas. The distribution of blanking zones and BSRs would be impacted by the lateral differences of upward methane fluxes.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.507-510
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• 2007

Piston cores retrieved from the western Ulleung Basin, East Sea were analyzed to examine the potential for hydrocarbon generation and to determine the hydrocarbon indicators. 2D multi-channel reflection seismic and Chirp data were also investigated for mapping and characterizing the geophysical hydrocarbon indicators such as BSR (bottom simulating reflector), blank zone, pock-mark etc. High organic carbon contents and sedimentation rates that suggest good condition for hydrocarbon generation. High pressure and low temperature condition, and high residual hydrocarbon concentrations are favor the formation of natural gas hydrate. In the piston cores, cracks generally oriented to bedding may indicate the gas expansion. The seismic data show several BSRs that are associated with natural gas hydrates and underlying free gas. A number of vertical to sub-vertical blank zones were well identified in the seismic sections. They often show the seismic pull-up structures, probably indicating the presence of high velocity hydrates. Numerous pockmarks were also observed in the Chirp profiles. They may indicate the presence of free gas below the hydrate stability zone as well.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.186-196
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• 2020

Pillared clays with Zr and Fe/Cu/Zr polycations have been prepared from natural clays found in large deposits of Kazakhstan and assessed as catalysts for the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO), using 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as model compound. The performance of the catalysts was followed by measuring the concentration of 4-NP, H₂O₂ and the total organic carbon (TOC), considering C_4-NP = 5 g L^-1, $C_{H_2O_2}$ = 17.8 g L^-1, C_cat = 2.5 g L^-1, initial pH = 3.0 and T = 50℃. At those selected conditions, the pillared clays showed higher activity than natural clays in the CWPO of 4-NP. The conversion of the model pollutant was complete when Fe/Cu/Zr-PILCs were used, with the TOC removal reaching 78.4% after 24 h with the best Fe/Cu/Zr-PILC. The H₂O₂, 4-NP and TOC time-evolution was well described by a kinetic model based on TOC lumps in three blocks, considering the initial TOC (corresponding to 4-NP), the production of oxidizable intermediates and the formation of refractory products.