• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2015

This study investigates the behavioral characteristics and forms of phosphorus in the sediment according to the oxygen condition (aerobic/anaerobic). In the behavioral characteristics analysis, Al-P and Fe-P concentrations were the highest among the forms of inorganic phosphorus, and therefore had the strongest impact on sorption and release corresponding to environmental condition changes. In the experimental investigation of the inorganic forms of phosphorus in the sediment according to the oxygen condition, we determined that the forms of inorganic phosphorus did not greatly affect the sorption or release reaction because the distribution ratios of the inorganic forms remained constant corresponding to changes of dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions. In contrast, the forms of organic phosphorus in the sediments affected both sorption and release. Furthermore, labile-P and moderately labile-P forms were the major mechanisms of sorption in sediment. Moderately labile-P was the greatest contributor to phosphorus release action in sediment. As environmental changes are important for the behavioral characteristics of phosphorus in sediment, the forms of phosphorus should be considered to have a greater effect, especially in the organic phosphorus case. Therefore, based on the present study results, sediment evaluation aimed at controlling internal pollutants in reservoirs should include an examination of the forms of phosphorus present, as well as the release characteristics of environmental changes, which are influential factors of phosphorus control. Further research in this field is required.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.179-182
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• 2001

The chloride volatilization method for the recovery of zirconium and removal of uranium from zirconium containing metallic wastes formed in spent fuel reprocessing was studied using the simulated alloy waste, i.e. the mixture of Zr foil and UO$_2$/U$_3$O$_{8}$ powder. When the simulated waste was heated to react with chlorine gas at 350- l00$0^{\circ}C$, the zirconium metal changed to volatile ZrCl$_4$showing high volatility ratio (Vzr) of 99%. The amount of volatilized uranium increases at higher temperatures causing lowering of decontamination factor (DF) of uranium. This is thought to be caused by the chlorination of UO$_2$ with ZrCl$_4$vapor. The highest DF value of 12.5 was obtained when the reaction temperature was 35$0^{\circ}C$. Addition of 10 vol.% oxygen gas into chlorine gas was effective for suppressing the volatilization of uranium, while the volatilization ratio of zirconium was decreased to 68% with the addition of 20 vol.% oxygen. In the case of the mixture of Zr foil and U$_3$O$_{8}$, the V value of uranium showed minimum (44%) at 40$0^{\circ}C$ with chlorine gas giving the highest DF value 24.3. When the 10 vol.% oxygen was added to chlorine gas, the V value of zirconium decreased to 82% at $600^{\circ}C$, but almost all the uranium volatilized (Vu=99%), which may be caused by the formation of volatile uranium chlorides under oxidative atmosphere.ere.

• Clean Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2006

Conversion of methane to synthesis gas in a capacitive rf plasma at low pressure was experimentally studied. In this plasma, electrons which had sufficient energy-level collided with the molecules of methane or oxygen-containing gas, which were than activated and converted to synthesis gas. The effect of input power, various oxygen-containing gas and composition of the gas mixture were investigated. The conversion of methane reached up to 100%. In all cases, hydrogen and carbon oxide were produced as primary products, and other compounds was generated. The conversion of methane and the yield of hydrogen and carbon oxides were increased with increasing the input power. Depending on the oxygen-containing gases, the composition of synthesis gas was varied.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.593-602
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• 2009

For a long time, there is much interest in the superoxide anion radical as one of reactive oxygen species (ROS) not only in the basic research field of chemistry and physics but also in the life science (or biotechnology). Recently, it is becoming ever more vital since the toxic property of nanomaterials as well as advanced oxidation processes (AOP) frequently employed for controlling pollutants are connected with the formation of superoxide anion radicals. Despite many researches on superoxide anion radical, the quantitative information of its presence and its detailed reaction mechanism in aqueous environments remains largely unclear, causing the controversy and confusion. In this review paper, we attempted to summarize the physicochemical property, mechanisms, and applications of superoxide anion radical. In addition, we briefly incorporated the important application of superoxide anion radical in AOP, nanomaterials, and life science (or biotechnology).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2012

Background: Asian dust storms can be transported across eastern Asia. In vitro, Asian dust particle-induced inflammation and enhancement of the allergic reaction have been observed. However, the fibrotic effects of Asian dust particles are not clear. Production of transforming growth factor ${\beta}_1$ (TGF-${\beta}_1$) and fibronectin were investigated in the bronchial epithelial cells after exposure to Asian dust particulate matter (AD-PM10). Methods: During Asian dust storm periods, air samples were collected. The bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to AD-PM10 with and without the antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Then TGF-${\beta}_1$ and fibronectin were detected by Western blotting. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by the measurement of dicholorodihydrofluorescin (DCF), using a FACScan, and visualized by a confocal microscopy. Results: The expression of TGF-${\beta}_1$, fibronectin and ROS was high after being exposed to AD-PM10, compared to the control. NAC attenuated both TGF-${\beta}_1$ and fibronectin expression in the AD-PM10-exposed the bronchial epithelial cells. Conclusion: AD-PM10 may have fibrotic potential in the bronchial epithelial cells and the possible mechanism is AD-PM10-induced intracellular ROS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2018

Objective: Placental oxidative stress is known to be a factor that contributes to pregnancy failure. The aim of this study was to determine whether selenium could induce antioxidant gene expression and regulate invasive activity and mitochondrial activity in trophoblasts, which are a major cell type of the placenta. Methods: To understand the effects of selenium on trophoblast cells exposed to hypoxia, the viability and invasive activity of trophoblasts were analyzed. The expression of antioxidant enzymes was assessed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the effects of selenium treatment on mitochondrial activity were evaluated in terms of adenosine triphosphate production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species levels. Results: Selenium showed positive effects on the viability and migration activity of trophoblast cells when exposed to hypoxia. Interestingly, the increased heme oxygenase 1 expression under hypoxic conditions was decreased by selenium treatment, whereas superoxide dismutase expression was increased in trophoblast cells by selenium treatment for 72 hours, regardless of hypoxia. Selenium-treated trophoblast cells showed increased mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased reactive oxygen species levels under hypoxic conditions for 72 hours. Conclusion: These results will be used as basic data for understanding the mechanism of how trophoblast cells respond to oxidative stress and how selenium promotes the upregulation of related genes and improves the survival rate and invasive ability of trophoblasts through regulating mitochondrial activity. These results suggest that selenium may be used in reproductive medicine for purposes including infertility treatment.

• Clean Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 1996

The oxidation of carbon monoxide of low concentration on the natural manganese dioxide (NMD) has been investigated in a fixed bed reactor. The experimental variables were concentration of oxygen (500ppm~99.8%) and carbon monoxide (500ppm~10000ppm) and catalyst temperature ($50{\sim}750^{\circ}C$). The NMD(Natural Manganese Dioxide) has been characterized by temperature - program reduction(TPR) using 2.4% $CO/H_2$ as a reducing agent, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and reduction of NMD by 2.4% $CO/H_2$. It was found that the NMD catalyst activity on the unit area was greater than the $MnO_2$ catalyst for oxidation of CO at the same temperature. The thermal stability of oxidation activity was considered to be maintained when the NMD was heated to $750^{\circ}C$. The TGA, reduction by CO, and TPR of the NMD showed that the NMD had active lattice oxygen which was easily liberated on heating in the absence and low concentration of oxygen. The reaction order in CO is 0.701 between 500~3500ppm and almost zero between 3500~10000ppm of CO.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2017

This study aims to examine the influences of substrates/diffusion layers (DL) and oxygen reduction reaction catalysts ($M_{ORR}$) on the performance of $M_{ORR}/IrO_2$/DL-type bifunctional oxygen electrodes for use in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)-type unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFC). The $M_{ORR}/IrO_2$/DL electrodes were prepared via two sequential steps: anodic electrodeposition of $IrO_2$ on various DLs and fabrication of $M_{ORR}$ layers (Pt, Pd, and Pt-Ru) by spraying on $IrO_2/DL$. Experiments using different DLs, with Pt as the $M_{ORR}$, revealed that the roughness factor of the DL mainly determined the electrode performance for both water electrolyzer (WE) and fuel cell (FC) operations, while the contributions of porosity and substrate material were insignificant. When Pt-Ru was utilized as the $M_{ORR}$ instead of Pt, WE performance was enhanced and the electrode performance was assessed by analyzing round-trip efficiencies (${\varepsilon}_{RT}$) at current densities of 0.2 and $0.4A/cm^2$. As a result, using Pt-Ru instead of Pt alone provided better ${\varepsilon}_{RT}$ at both current densities, while Pd resulted in very low ${\varepsilon}_{RT}$. Improved efficiency was related to the additional catalytic action by Ru toward ORR during WE operation.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.636-643
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• 2006

Supercritical water oxidation of DMMP using continuous flow reactor was studied at temperature ranging from 440 to $540^{\circ}C$ and a fixed pressure of 242 bar. The range of residence times in the reactor was from 10 to 26 s, and oxygen excess value varied from -40 to 200%. Destruction efficiencies (DE) of DMMP were greater than 99.7% at $540^{\circ}C$, and increased as the DMMP concentrations were increased. DE of DMMP were significantly affected by oxygen concentration under stoichiometric amount, but showed little difference over stoichiometric amount. On the basis of 30 data with conversions greater than 85%, kinetic correlations for the DE of DMMP were developed. The pre-exponential factor was $(1.10{\pm}0.76){\times}10^6$, and the activation energy was $90.66{\pm}3.87kJ/mol$, and the reaction orders for DMMP and oxygen were $1.02{\pm}0.03$, $0.32{\pm}0.03$, respectively. The model predictions agreed well with the experimental data.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.244-248
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• 2011

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE) was synthesized by oxidative polymerization using various Cu(I)-amine catalyst system. The effects of catalyst/monomer ratio, different amine ligand, and the content of 2,4,6-trimethylphenol (TMP) additive on the polymer yield and molecular weight were investigated by using gel permeation chromatography. The catalytic activity of various Cu-amine systems on the 2,S-dimethylphenol (DMP) polymerization was monitored and compared each other through oxygen-uptake experiment. In addition, the effect of catalyst removal using aqueous EDTA on the thermal stability of the prepared polymer was elucidated by thermogravimetric analysis.