• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-473
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• 2019

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has proved to be an effective tool in applied environmental nanotechnology, where the decreased particle diameter provides a drastic change in the properties and efficiency of nanomaterials used in water purification. However, the agglomeration and colloidal instability represent a problematic and a remarkable reduction in nZVI reactivity. In view of that, this study reports a simple and cost-effective new strategy for ultra-small (< 7.5%) distributed functionalized nZVI-EG (1-9 nm), with high colloidal stability and reduction capacity. These were obtained without inert conditions, using a simple, economical synthesis methodology employing two stabilization mechanisms based on the use of non-aqueous solvent (methanol) and ethylene glycol (EG) as a stabilizer. The information from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests iron ion coordination by interaction with methanol molecules. Subsequently, after nZVI formation, particle-surface modification occurs by the addition of the EG. Size distribution analysis shows an average diameter of 4.23 nm and the predominance (> 90%) of particles with sizes < 6.10 nm. Evaluation of the stability of functionalized nZVI by sedimentation test and a dynamic light-scattering technique, demonstrated very high colloidal stability. The ultra-small particles displayed a rapid and high nitrate removal capacity from water.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2B
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• pp.207-212
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• 2009

Surfactants were used as representative anionic and non ionic surfactants to investigate the effect of mass transfer on the mineral-catalyzed Fenton-like oxidation of sorbed phenanthrene. Mass transfer of phenanthrene on the oxide surface or interlayer between aqueous and solid phases was generated by surfactant addition. Apparent solubility of phenanthrene was increased as surfactant concentration increasesd. In tests using Tween 80, oxidation of phenanthrene decreased as apparent solubility increased. High apparent solubility was not responsible for oxidation of sorbed phenanthrene in the sand due to the surfactant acted as a scavenger of degradation. In tests with SDS, $H_{2}O_{2}$ decomposition rate in Fenton-like oxidation was decreased by complexation between goethite and SDS. However, in tests using 32 mM of SDS, efficiency of phenanthrene treatment increased compared to the test without SDS addition. Therefore, suitable amount of SDS addition could provide optimum condition for phenanthrene oxidation on the oxide surface or interlayer between aqueous and solid phase, and decrease $H_{2}O_{2}$ decomposition, and as a result, phenanthrene removal efficiency can be improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1995

Mobile bacterial particles can act as carriers and enhance the transport of hydrophobic contaminants in ground water by reducing retardation effects. Because of their colloidal size and favorable surface conditions, bacteria can act as efficient contaminant carriers. When such carriers exist in a porous medium, the system can be thought of as three phases: an aqueous phase, a carrier phase, and a stationary solid matrix phase. Contaminant can be present in either or all of these phases. In this study, a mathematical model based on mass balances is developed to describe the transport and fate of biodegradable contaminant in a porous medium. Bacterial mass transfer mechanism between aqueous and solid matrix phases, and contaminant mass transfer between aqueous and bacterial phases are represented by kinetic models. Governing equations are non-dimensionalized and solved to analyze the bacteria facilitated contaminant transport. The numerical results of the facilitation effect match favorably with experimental data reported in the literature. Results show that the contaminant transport can be described by local equilibrium assumption when Damkohler numbers are larger than 10. Significant sensitivities to model parameters, particularly bacterial growth rate and influent bacterial concentration, were discovered.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles. We used a water-soluble, amphiphilic phospholipid polymer, poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (PMB30W), as a stabilizer for the PLA nanoparticles. The PLA nanoparticles and PMB30W-modified PLA (PLA/PMB30W) nanoparticles were prepared by evaporating tetrahydrofuran (THF) from its aqueous solution. Precipitation of the polymers from the aqueous solution produced PLA and PLA/PMB30W nanoparticles with a size distribution of $0.4-0.5{\mu}m$. The partial coverage of PMB30W on the surface of the PLA/PMB30W nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic light-scattering (DLS). A high-content automated screening assay (240 random fields per group) revealed that the PLA nanoparticles induced apoptosis in a mouse macrophage-like cell line (apoptotic population: 73.9% in 0.8 mg PLA/mL), while the PLA/PMB30W nanoparticles remained relatively non-hazardous in vitro (apoptotic population: 13.8% in 0.8 mg PLA/mL). The reduction of the apoptotic population was attributed to the phosphorylcholine groups in the PMB30W bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. In conclusion, precipitation of PLA in THF aqueous solution enabled the preparation of PLA nanoparticles with similar shapes and size distribution but different surface characteristics. PMB30W was an effective stabilizer and surface modifier, which reduced the cytotoxicity of PLA nanoparticles by enabling their avoidance of the mononuclear phagocyte system.

• ALGAE
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2011

Fermentation and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) improve nutritional and functional properties of foods by increasing the extraction of active compounds, ingestion rates, and body absorption. In this study, we investigated whether applying the EAE process improves the extraction and isolation efficiency of a polysaccharide from fermented Ecklonia cava (FE), which inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that the FE using the fungi Candida utilis and two different bacteria, namely Lactobacillus brevis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased protein and carbohydrate contents in comparison with those in non-fermented E. cava (NE). Aqueous extracts of fermented E. cava increased extraction yields and carbohydrate content, compared with the aqueous extract of NE. In addition, treating LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with aqueous extracts resulted in reduced NO production compared to that in LPS-treated cells. Ten EAEs of L. brevis-fermented E. cava (LFE) improved NO inhibitory effects in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells and the Viscozyme extract (VLFE) from the resulting extracts showed the highest NO inhibitory effect. We found that the >30 kDa fraction of VLFE led to markedly high inhibition of LPS-induced NO production as compared to that in the <30 kDa fraction. The crude polysaccharide isolated from >30 kDa fraction (VLFEP) consisted of fucose and markedly decreased NO production induced by LPS stimulation. VLFEP could be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent to suppress macrophage activation.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.146-155
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• 2011

In the study, test was carried out to compare the flame retardant performance for the specimen of MDF wood to which field flame retardant treatment (post processing flame retardant) is applied, which is coated with flame retardant film of 5 companies, locally distributed, and MDF wood (nontreated, flame retardant film non-coated) to which aqueous or oil-based fire-retardant paint is applied. As a result of combustion test of MDF wood which was coated with flame retardant film of 5 companies, 2 products showed suitable values in 4 criteria, but other 3 products showed 10~40 % disqualification rate. In regard of characteristics of fire-retardant paint, oil-based fire-retardant paint is better than aqueous fire-retardant paint in flame retardant performance criteria, but MDF wood to which oilbase fire-retardant paint was applied was shown to have higher toxicity index grade than MDF wood to which aqueous fire-retardant paint was applied relatively.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.45-57
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• 2014

Academic interests in ionic liquid (IL) technologies have been extended to the nuclear industry and the applicability of ionic liquids for processing radioactive materials have been investigated by many researchers. A number of studies have reported interesting results with respect to the spectroscopic and electrochemical behaviors of metal elements included in spent nuclear fuels. The measured and observed properties of metal ions in TBP(tri-butyl phosphate) dissolved ILs have led the development of alternative technologies to traditional aqueous processes. On the other hand, the electrochemical deposition of metal ions in ILs have been investigated for the application of the solvents to aqueous as well as to non-aqueous processes. In this work, a review on the application of ILs in nuclear fuel cycle is presented for the purpose of categorizing and summarizing the notable researches on ILs.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.18-23
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• 2002

A study on the solvent extraction of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions has been investigated. The results showed that the extraction efficiency of chromium increased in proportion to extractant concentration. Aliquat 336 of quarternary amine effectively extracted hexavalent chromium and was superior to Alamine 336. And the stabilizers like polyhydric alcohols of octanol, decanol and dodecanol showed the similar effect fur prevention of third phase and a little promotion of extraction efficiency in comparison with non-use of polyhydric alcohols. On the other hand, in solvent extraction of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions, the hexavalent chromium was completely extracted at pH range lower than 7 with 1% Aliquat 336 as extractant and 5% decanol as stabilizer and the hexavalent chromium in extractant was completely stripped with 1M sodium hydroxide solution in the stripping step.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2005

The poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based thin film composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes were prepared by coating polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes, sulfonated polyethersulfone and polyamide NF membranes with aqueous PVA solution by a pressurizing method. The PVA was cross-linked with aqueous glutaraldehyde solution. The NF membranes coated with a very low concentration of PVA on all the support membranes was successfully prepared. With increasing the hydrophilicity of the support membranes, the water flux increased. Especially, ζ-potential of negatively charged polyamide NF membrane was reduced by coating the membrane with PVA. A fouling experiment was carried out with positively charged surfactant, humic acid, complex of humic acid and calcium ion and bovine serum albumin. A non-coated polyamide NF membrane was significantly fouled by various foulants. The fouling process when using humic acid and protein occurred at the isoelectric point. There was severe fouling when using humic acid and adding bivalent cations. By coating the polyamide NF membrane with aqueous PVA solution, fouling was reduced. The polyamide NF membrane coated with PVA was resistant to the acidic and basic solution.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.339-344
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• 2022

The development of drug resistance is one of the most severe concerns of malaria control because it increases the risk of malaria morbidity and death. A new candidate drug with antiplasmodial activity is urgently needed. This study evaluated the efficacy of different dosages of aqueous extract of Strychnos ligustrina combined with dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine phosphate (DHP) against murine Plasmodium berghei infection. The BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into 6 groups, each consisting of 10 mice. The growth inhibition of compounds against P. berghei was monitored by calculating the percentage of parasitemia. The results showed that the mice receiving aqueous extract and combination treatment showed growth inhibition of P. berghei in 74% and 94%, respectively. S. ligustrina extract, which consisted of brucine and strychnine, effectively inhibited the multiplication of P. berghei. The treated mice showed improved hematology profiles, body weight, and temperature, as compared to control mice. Co-treatment with S. ligustrina extract and DHP revealed significant antimalarial and antipyretic effects. Our results provide prospects for further discovery of antimalarial drugs that may show more successful chemotherapeutic treatment.