• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.11
• /
• pp.1046-1055
• /
• 2021

Vanillin is the primary flavor and fragrance compound of natural vanilla and is extensively used in the food, beverage, perfumery, pharmaceutical industries, and other applications. Vanillin can be produced by chemical synthesis, extraction from vanilla plants, microbial bioconversion of natural precursors to vanillin, and direct fermentation using glucose. Currently, most commercially available vanillin is produced by extraction from cured vanilla pods and by chemical synthesis using guaiacol and glyoxylic acid as starting raw materials. Due to environmental issues, health complaints, preference for natural sources, and the limited supply and soaring price of natural vanilla, biotechnology-based vanillin production is regarded as a promising alternative. As many microorganisms that are able to metabolize several natural precursors, including ferulic acid, eugenol, isoeugenol, and lignin, and accumulate vanillin, have been screened and evaluated, myriad strategies and efforts have been employed for the development of commercially viable production technology. This review outlines the recent advances in the biotechnological production of natural vanillin with the use of these natural precursors. Moreover, it highlights the recent engineering approaches for the production of natural vanillin from renewable carbon sources based on the de novo biosynthetic pathway of vanillin from glucose, together with appropriate solution strategies to overcome the challenges posed to increase production titers.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.477-481
• /
• 2022

As a part of improving the quality of crude methylnaphthalene (CMNO), this study was experimentally examined the reduction of nitrogen-containing compounds (NC) present in the CMNO by solvent extraction. The CMNO was composed of three kinds of NC [quinolone (QU), iso-quinoline (IQU), indole (IN)], three kinds of bicyclic aromatic compound [BAC; naphthalene (NA), 1-methylnaphthalene (1MNA), 2-methylnaphthalene (2MNA)] and biphenyl (BP) etc., in addition to an aqueous formamide solution, which were used as raw materials and a solvent, respectively. The increase in the volume fraction of water to the solvent in the initial state (y_w,0) caused a sharp decrease in the distribution coefficient and the yield of NC, but conversely raised the increased selectivity of NC based on 2MNA. The compositions of QU, IQU and IN in the raffinate oil recovered through the equilibrium extraction of batch co-current 5-stage under constant conditions [y_w,0 = 0.1, volume fraction of solvent to feed (CMNO) at the initial state = 1, operating temperature = 303 K, liquid-liquid contacting time = 72 h] were reduced by about 51.5%, 55.2%, and 71.8%, respectively, when compared to those of CMNO. From the excellent reduction rate of NC, the formamide extraction method suggested in this study can be expected to be a useful reduction method for NC contained in the CMNO.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.111-123
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the growth characteristics of strawberries and N₂O emission by treating the compost for each type of livestock manure, which was an organic farming material, as a basal fertilization in plastic film house. Livestock manure compost, which made from cattle manure, swine manure, and poultry manure as raw materials, were applied to this experiment, treated by mixing or single on the basis of nitrogen content with the standard amount of fertilizer for strawberries. Total emission of N₂O were 10.7% higher than those in poultry manure compost treatment compared to the inorganic fertilizer treatment, but 16.5~41.9% lower than those in other livestock manure compost treatment. The period of N₂O emission mainly was up to the 17th day after fertilizer application, accounting for 70~87% of the total amount of discharge, and 13~30% of the total amount was emitted for 158 days later. N₂O emission was decreased significantly NH₄⁺-N content in the soil, and increased NO₃^--N. As compared with control, the number of leaves, leaf width and crown diameter of livestock manure compost treatments were not significantly different, leaf length of cattle+poultry, cattle+ swine, swine+poultry treatment higher, and SPAD (soil plant analysis development) values of cattle+poultry treatment highest. There was no significant difference in weight and sugar content of strawberry fruits among treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.35-46
• /
• 2022

The in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for sustainable lunar surface and deep space explorations has recently gained attention. Also, research on the development of construction material preparation technology using lunar regolith is in progress. Microwave sintering technology for construction material preparation does not require a binder and is energy efficient. This study applies microwave sintering technology to KLS-1, a Korean lunar simulant. It is crucial to secure the homogeneity to produce a sintered specimen for construction material. Therefore, understanding the interactions between microwaves, cavities, and raw materials is required. Using a numerical model in terms of efficient assessment of several cases and establishment of equipment operating conditions is a very efficient approach. Therefore, this study also proposes and verifies a coupled electric-thermal numerical model through cross-validation and comparison with experimental results. The numerical model proposed in this study will be used to present an efficient method for producing construction material using microwave sintering technology.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.1370-1382
• /
• 2021

Previous studies have been conducted on domestic materials as a single extract. Research on complex mixtures for maximizing plant characteristics by individual extraction and potential interference with effects is insufficient. Therefore, this study confirmed the GC-MSD according to the extraction of essential oils for Agastache rugosa O. Kuntze(AR), Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zuccarini(PD), Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica(CC), Zingiber officinale Roscoe(ZR), Foeniculum vulgare Miller(FV), and Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle(CS). The cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the blending oil were confirmed to confirm its potential as a cosmetic material. As a result of analyzing GC-MSD aroma components, the main components were estragole of AR, à-Pinene for PD, Zingiberene for CC and ZR, Anethole from FV, and D-Limonene for CS. At a concentration of 100 uL/mL with no confirmed cytotoxicity, NO production was inhibited by 70.62%, DPPH radical scavenging activity was 64.03%, and ABTS radical scavenging activity was 89.55%. Through this, blended essential oil suggests the possibility of useful application as a raw material with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the cosmetic and food industries.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.627-642
• /
• 2022

The world's long reliance on fossil fuels (e.g., oil, coal, and natural gas) is severely changing its environment and climate. Energy research has focused on developing hydrogen as the most promising energy carrier and a key technology for sustainable energy development. Hydrogen can be classified as gray, blue, green, and otherwise according to the raw materials and methods used for production and processing. For the development of hydrogen energy, geologists are attempting to identify the mechanism of abiotic hydrogen generation by serpentinization or hydrothermal alteration. Teams in the United States, France, and Australia have researched laboratory-scale hydrogen production through water-rock interactions under various conditions, whereas there has been almost no research on abiotic hydrogen in South Korea. This paper reviews the current state of international research on hydrothermal alteration and offers suggestions for future investigations of abiotic hydrogen production in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.95-104
• /
• 2022

The development of non-flammable all-solid-state batteries (ASSLBs) has become a hot topic due to the known drawbacks of commercial lithium-ion batteries. As the possibility of applying sulfide solid electrolytes (SSEs) for electric vehicle batteries increases, efforts for the low-cost mass-production are actively underway. Until now, most studies have used high-energy mechanical milling, which is easy to control composition and impurities and can reduce the process time. Through this, various SSEs that exceed the Li⁺ conductivity of liquid electrolytes have been reported, and expectations for the realization of ASSLBs are growing. However, the high-energy mechanical milling method has disadvantages in obtaining the same physical properties when mass-produced, and in controlling the particle size or shape, so that physical properties deteriorate during the full process. On the other hand, wet chemical synthesis technology, which has advantages in mass production and low price, is still in the initial exploration stage. In this technology, SSEs are mainly manufactured through producing a particle-type, solution-type, or mixed-type precursor, but a clear understanding of the reaction mechanism hasn't been made yet. In this review, wet chemical synthesis technologies for SSEs are summarized regarding the reaction mechanism between the raw materials in the solvent.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.431-435
• /
• 2022

The reduction of nitrogen-containing compounds (NC) containing the model crude methylnaphthalene oil (CMNO) of 5 compounds system was experimentally studied by solvent extraction. The model CMNO consisting of 3 kinds of NC including quinolone (QU), iso-quinoline (IQU), indole(IN) and 2 kinds of bicyclic aromatic compounds such as 1-methylnaphthalene (1MNA), 2-methylnaphthalene (2MNA) as raw materials, as well as the aqueous solution of formamide as a solvent, were used. The increase in the volume fraction of water to the solvent at the initial state (y_w,0) sharply decreased, but the distribution coefficient and the yield of NC conversely increased the selectivity of NC based on 2MNA, and an increase in the volume fraction of solvent to feed (S/F) simultaneously increased the distribution coefficient, yield and selectivity of NC. The yields of QU, IQU and IN under constant conditions (y_w,0 = 0.1, S/F = 1, equilibrium temperature 303 K) were 30%, 31% and 10%, respectively, and selectivity was 15, 15 and 20, respectively. From the excellent yield and selectivity of NC, the formamide extraction method of this study was expected as a method for reducing the NC contained in the model CMNO.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.174-181
• /
• 2022

Biomass is a sustainable alternative resource for production of liquid fuels and organic compounds that are currently produced from fossil fuels including petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Because the use of fossil fuels can increase the production of greenhouse gases, the use of carbon-neutral biomass can contribute to the reduction of global warming. Although biological and chemical processes have been proposed to produce petroleum-replacing chemicals and fuels from biomass feedstocks, it is difficult to replace completely fossil fuels because of the high oxygen content of biomass. Production of petroleum-like fuels and chemicals from biomass requires the removal of oxygen atoms or conversion of the oxygen functionalities present in biomass derivatives, which can be achieved by catalytic hydrodeoxygenation. Hydrodeoxygenation has been used to convert raw biomass-derived materials, such as biomass pyrolysis oils and lignocellulose-derived chemicals and lipids, into deoxygenated fuels and chemicals. Multifunctional catalysts composed of noble metals and transition metals supported on high surface area metal oxides and carbons, usually selected as supports of heterogeneous catalysts, have been used as efficient hydrodeoxygenation catalysts. In this review, the catalysts proposed in the literature are surveyed and hydrodeoxygenation reaction systems using these catalysts are discussed. Based on the hydrodeoxygenation methods reported in the literature, an insight for feasible hydrodeoxygenation process development is also presented.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2022

With the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, non-face-to-face services have grown rapidly, but at the same time, the problem of plastic waste is getting worse. Accordingly, eco-friendly policies such as carbon neutrality and sustainable circular economy are being promoted worldwide. Due to the high demand for eco-friendly products, the packaging industry is trying to develop eco-friendly packaging materials using PLA and PBAT and create new business models. On the other hand, Ulva australis occurs in large quantities in the southern seas of Korea and off the coast of Jeju Island, causing marine environmental problems. In this study, lactic acid was produced through dilute acid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentation processes to utilize Ulva australis as a new alternative energy raw material. In general, seaweeds vary in carbohydrate content and sugar composition depending on the species, harvest location, and time. Seaweed is mainly composed of polysaccharides such as cellulose, alginate, mannan, and xylan, but does not contain lignin. It is difficult to expect high extraction yield of the complex polysaccharide constituting Ulva australis with only one process. However, the fusion process of dilute acid and enzymatic saccharification presented in this study can extract most of the sugars contained in Ulva australis. Therefore, the fusion process is considered to be able to expect high lactic acid production yield when a commercial-scale production process is established.