• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1019-1027
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• 2009

A noncompartmented microbial fuel cell (NCMFC) composed of a Mn(IV)-carbon plate and a Fe(III)-carbon plate was used for electricity generation from organic wastewater without consumption of external energy. The Fe(III)-carbon plate, coated with a porous ceramic membrane and a semipermeable cellulose acetate film, was used as a cathode, which substituted for the catholyte and cathode. The Mn(IV)-carbon plate was used as an anode without a membrane or film coating. A solar cell connected to the NCMFC activated electricity generation and bacterial consumption of organic matter contained in the wastewater. More than 99% of the organic matter was biochemically oxidized during wastewater flow through the four NCMFC units. A predominant bacterium isolated from the anode surface in both the conventional and the solar cell-linked NCMFC was found to be more than 99% similar to a Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium and Burkeholderia sp., based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The isolate reacted electrochemically with the Mn(IV)-modified anode and produced electricity in the NCMFC. After 90 days of incubation, a bacterial species that was enriched on the Mn(IV)-modified anode surface in all of the NCMFC units was found to be very similar to the initially isolated predominant species by comparing 16S rDNA sequences.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.374-381
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• 1997

Ceramic membranes are prepared by using molding method of the glass materials, ceramic-silicone composite membranes are synthesized with immersing silicone compound of sodiumate, $S_3$-Al, S3and we investigated the properties of gas permeation. Ceramic membranes and ceramic-sodiumate membranes that has been prepared were identified as porous structure and ceramic-$S_3$-Al membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ membranes were showed with dense structure by immersion of silicone compounds. Gas permeation properties through the ceramic membranes and ceramic-sodiumate membranes decreased with increasing temperature and linearly increased with increasing pressure, ceramic-$S_3$-Al membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ membranes increased with increasing temperature and pressure effect was low. Permeation rate was found out high value with ceramic membranes and in order of ceramic-sodiumate membranes, ceramic-$S_3$-Al membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ membranes, but selectivity reversed in the order. Gas permeation mechanism through the ceramic membranes and ceramics-sodiumate composite membrane decreased with increasing temperature, suggesting an Knudsen diffusion mechanism, but ceramic-$S_3$-Al composite membranes and ceramic-$S_3$ composite membranes showed an activated diffusion by which gas permeation rates through the membranes increased with an increase in temperature.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.931-935
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• 2012

In this study, we fabricate and investigate low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with a ceramic substrate/porous metal/ceramic/porous metal structure. To realize low-temperature operation in solid oxide fuel cells, the membrane should be fabricated to have a thickness of the order of a few hundreds nanometers to minimize IR loss. Yttrium-doped barium zirconate (BYZ), a proton conductor, was used as the electrolyte. We deposited a 350-nm-thick Pt (anode) layer on a porous substrate by sputter deposition. We also deposited a 1-${\mu}m$-thick BYZ layer on the Pt anode using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Finally, we deposited a 200-nm-thick Pt (cathode) layer on the BYZ electrolyte by sputter deposition. The open circuit voltage (OCV) is 0.806 V, and the maximum power density is 11.9 mW/$cm^2$ at $350^{\circ}C$. Even though a fully dense electrolyte is deposited via PLD, a cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image reveals many voids and defects.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.254-268
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• 2007

Sodium type faujasite(FAU) zeolite layers with diverse materials characteristics(Si/Al ratio, thickness, and structural discontinuity) were hydrothermally grown on a porous $\alpha-Al_2O_3$ tube, and then the $CO_2/N_2$ separation was evaluated at $30^{\circ}C$ for an equimolar mixture of $CO_2$ and $N_2$. Among hydrothermal conditions, $SiO_2$ content in hydrothermal solution seriously affected materials characteristics: with an increment in the $SiO_2$ content, Si/Al ratio, thickness, and structural discontinuity of grown FAU zeolite layer simultaneously increased. The present study reveals that structural discontinuity(intercrystalline voids due to an incomplete densification and cracks induced by GIS Na-P1 phase) is the most important variable affecting the $CO_2/N_2$ separation. Also, it was suggested that the $CO_2$ desorption in permeate side be the rate-determining(slowest) step in the overall $CO_2$ permeation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.836-844
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• 2009

A denitrification bacterium was isolated from riverbed soil and identified as Ochrobactrum sp., whose specific enzymes for denitrification metabolism were biochemically assayed or confirmed with specific coding genes. The denitrification activity of strain G3-1 was proportional to glucose/nitrate balance, which was consistent with the theoretical balance (0.5). The modified graphite felt cathode with neutral red, which functions as a solid electron mediator, enhanced the electron transfer from electrode to bacterial cell. The porous carbon anode was coated with a ceramic membrane and cellulose acetate film in order to permit the penetration of water molecules from the catholyte to the outside through anode, which functions as an air anode. A non-compartmented electrochemical bioreactor (NCEB) comprised of a solid electron mediator and an air anode was employed for cultivation of G3-1 cells. The intact G3-1 cells were immobilized in the solid electron mediator, by which denitrification activity was greatly increased at the lower glucose/nitrate balance than the theoretical balance (0.5). Metabolic stability of the intact G3-1 cells immobilized in the solid electron mediator was extended to 20 days, even at a glucose/nitrate balance of 0.1.