• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.114-118
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• 2015

In this study, we have developed a microbe-carrier that combined Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and zeolite for removal of Zn and As in contaminated seawater. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, one of the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) microorganism was exhibited stable growth characteristics in highly salted water and strong resistance to Zn and As contaminated seawater. Moreover, zeolites are one of the most useful carrier to remove heavy metals from wastewaters. The results showed that SRB immobilized zeolite carrier can enhance removal ratio of Zn and As. In addition, heavy metals tended to be better removed in medium at conditions of $37^{\circ}C$. In case of heavy metal concentration, they were effectively removed ranging from 50 to 100 ppm. These results show that SRB-zeolite carriers hold great potential to remove cationic heavy metal species from industrial wastewater in marine environment.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2012

Since buried pipes contact the soil directly, corrosion by the soil could be occurred. Recently, some stainless steel pipes after 8 years burial at G area were corroded and leaked. In order to elucidate highly corroded phenomena(its rate was about 0.175 mm/y) of these pipes, the investigation for corrosion environment, soil, stray current's effect, and chemical analysis on the pipes were performed. Most of investigated sites were close to traditional water-closet and showed high moisture and thus those areas could be highly corrosive. In the investigation by two kinds of soil evaluation methods, it was revealed that the soils at G areas were highly corrosive, and moreover the contents of sulfate reducing bacteria in the soils were high. Also, open circuit potentials of many pipes showed different values and its potentials were high positive. Therefore, it was considered that corrosion of buried pipes at G area could be affected by high corrosive soil's environment and stray current corrosion.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.180-183
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• 2007

Over the last century the mercury (Hg) concentration in the environment has been increased by human activities with inputs from sources such as atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, and industrial effluents. Mercury can be transformed to methylmercury (MeHg) in anaerobic conditions by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and sediments are the principal location for MeHg production in aquatic environments. Interest in bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg into lower trophic levels of benthic and pelagic organisms stems from public health concerns as these organisms provide essential links for higher trophic levels of food chains such as fish and larger invertebrates. Fish consumption is the major exposure route of MeHg to humans. Recently, it was reported that blood samples in Korea showed much higher Hg levels (5-8 times) than those in USA and Germany. Although this brings much attention to Hg research in Korea, there are very few studies on Hg biogeochemical cycling and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments. Given the importance of Hg methylation and MeHg transfer through food chains in aquatic environments, it is imperative that studies should be done in much detail looking at the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of Hg and MeHg in the environment. Moreover, there should be long-term monitoring plans in Korea to evaluate the environmental and health effects of Hg and MeHg.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.260-265
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• 2003

The experimental methods to rapidly and stably reproduce Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) of stainless steel by sulfate-reducing bacteria such as Desulfovibrio vulgaris were developed. In this study, using two types of stainless steel, 304 and 444, obtained from Pohang Steel & Iron Co., Ltd. (POSCO)., three major factors were tested; overall medium composition, dilution ratio, and chloride concentration. In the overall medium tests, three different media were prepared according to $FeSO_4$ concentration; PM (original Postgate's medium No. 2), MPM 1 (modified PM, no $FeSO_4$, MPM 2 (modified PM, 1/10 $FeSO_4$). The effects of various dilution ratios (3, 1, 1/3, 1/10, 1/30, and 1/100 times) and chloride concentrations (0.0067M, 0.01M, 0.05M, and 0.1M) were examined during 2 months cultivation. Through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) observation, the diluted and modified media, particularly the $1/3{\times}MPM$ I medium, showed more micro-pitting points on surfaces compared to the original PM medium. High concentrations of chloride ions (above 0.05M) were not adequate for observation of MIC since those brought about non-microbiologically induced corrosion. From this study, the optimization of medium composition was very effective to routinely observe MIC in a laboratory system.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2002

Cooling water sampled at Pohang Steel Company, Korea, was used to study the effect of biocide (NaOCl) on biofilm formation and metal corrosion. Planktonic microorganisms were killed in the presence of biocide (0.2％ NaOCl) within 1.5 h, but not sessile microorganisms in biofilms even after one week. Black color of biofilms, possibly due to the activity of sulfate reducing bacteria, were made with the natural cooling waters, while orange color of biofilms were formed when cooling waters were autoclaved or when 0.2％ NaOCl was added to the natural cooling waters. Microbially influenced corrosion rate in black color of biofilms was 2.3 fold higher than that in orange color of biofilms.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.289-298
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• 1984

These studies were carried out to investigate the effects of rice straw on microflora in relation to the decomposition of organic matter, and the rate of rice straw decomposition. The number of total bacteria was increased in the first stage, and the number of microorganisms in upper layer was generally larger than lower layer. The number of fungi tended to decline as rice plant grew. Aerobacter among cellulose decomposition bacteria decreased with time, and the number of microorganisms in lower layer was higher than upper layer. The number of glucose decomposition bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria increased in the submerged soil to which rice straw was applied, but decreased by percolation. the change of manganese oxidizing bacteria seemed not to be affected by rice straw application while they tend to increase as the rice plant grew. The aspect of microorganisms in the percolated water was same that of lower layer, but the number was low as much $10^{-1}$ during the whole stages. The decomposition rate of rice straw applied to submerged soil was about 40 per cent during the rice grew. The decomposition rate of cellulose contained rice straw was about 30 per cent, and lignin was about 60 per cent. The 70-80 per cent of nitrogen remained in the rice straw applied to soil.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2008

The deep subseafloor rock in oil reservoirs represents a unique environment in which a high oil contamination and a very low biomass can be observed. Sampling this environment has been a challenge owing to the techniques used for drilling and coring. In this study, the facilities developed by the Brazilian oil company PETROBRAS for accessing deep subsurface oil reservoirs were used to obtain rock samples at 2,822-2,828 m below the ocean floor surface from a virgin field located in the Atlantic Ocean, Rio de Janeiro. To address the bacterial diversity of these rock samples, PCR amplicons were obtained using the DNA from four core sections and universal primers for 16S rRNA and for APS reductase (aps) genes. Clone libraries were generated from these PCR fragments and 87 clones were sequenced. The phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA clone libraries showed a wide distribution of types in the domain bacteria in the four core samples, and the majority of the clones were identified as belonging to Betaproteobacteria. The sulfate-reducing bacteria community could only be amplified by PCR in one sample, and all clones were identified as belonging to Gammaproteobacteria. For the first time, the bacterial community was assessed in such a deep subsurface environment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1299-1306
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• 2015

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of action of the cinnamon bark essential oil (CB), when used singly and also in combination with piperacillin, for its antimicrobial and synergistic activity against beta-lactamase TEM-1 plasmid-conferred Escherichia coli J53 R1. Viable count of bacteria for this combination of essential oil and antibiotic showed a complete killing profile at 20 h and further confirmed its synergistic effect by reducing the bacteria cell numbers. Analysis on the stability of treated cultures for cell membrane permeability by CB when tested against sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed that the bacterial cell membrane was disrupted by the essential oil. Scanning electron microscopy observation and bacterial surface charge measurement also revealed that CB causes irreversible membrane damage and reduces the bacterial surface charge. In addition, bioluminescence expression of Escherichia coli [pSB1075] and E. coli [pSB401] by CB showed reduction, indicating the possibility of the presence of quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors. Gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry of the essential oil of Cinnamomum verum showed that trans-cinnamaldehyde (72.81%), benzyl alcohol (12.5%), and eugenol (6.57%) were the major components in the essential oil. From this study, CB has the potential to reverse E. coli J53 R1 resistance to piperacillin through two pathways; modification in the permeability of the outer membrane or bacterial QS inhibition.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

In the past, abundant and clean water was available for paper mills'use. However, the growth of population and industry made water less available nowadays. Also, environmental regulation limits wastewater discharge, which affects mill operation cost. Therefore, paper mills are under pressure to use more recycled water and mill system closure. As a result, chemical and physical parameters of water are changing and new environment if being created for microorganisms in paper mill system as well. The more soluble or suspended organic materials are increased as more water is recycled and less or scarce dissolved oxygen is available, depending on the degree of recycled water usage. Microorganism flora ill paper mill system will be a1so shifted according to the environmental change of mill system. Anaerobic bacteria, including sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), will be dominant in the system as very low or almost no oxygen available in the system. Nevertheless, it is common in domestic paper mills that employ the same and old biocides as a means of microbial control, and microbiological control is often less recognized or even neglected. The right biocide selection for increased reductive environment of mills is critical for operation and estimated loss from paper quality defects such as sheet break, holes due to microbiological cause is tremendous compared to the microbiological control cost. It is imperative to investigate and diagnosis the environmental change of mills for right control of cumbersome microorganisms. Several useful diagnosis tools, including new technology employing OFM(Optical Fouling Monitor) in situ, are illustrated.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2021

Contaminated marine sediment is a secondary pollution source in the coastal areas, which can result in increased nutrients concentrations in the overlying water. We analyzed the nutrients release characteristics into overlying water from sediments and the interaction among benthic circulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur were investigated in a preset sediment/water column. Profiles of pH, ORP, sulfur, iron, nitrogen, phosphorus pools were determined in the sediment and three different layers of overlying water. Variety types of sulfur in the sediments plays a significant role on nutrients transfer into overlying water. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction and various sulfur species interaction are predominantly embodied by the enhancing effects of sulfide on nitrogen reduction. Contaminant sediment take on high organic matter, which is decomposed by bacteria, as a result promote bacterial sulfate reduction and generate sulfide in the sediment. The sulfur and iron interactions had also influence on phosphorus cycling and released from sediment into overlying water may ensue over the dissolution of ferric iron intercede by iron-reducing bacteria. The nutrients release rate was calculated followed by release rate equation. The results showed that the sediments released large-scale quantity of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate, which are main inner source of overlying water pollution. A mechanical migration of key nutrients such as ammonia and inorganic phosphate was depicted numerically with Fick's diffusion law, which showed a fair agreement to most of the experimental data.