• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2019

The present study explores the applicability of response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with central composite design (CCD) matrix to statistically optimize ettringite crystallization process for the removal of sulphate from landfill leachate. A three factor-five coded level CCD with 20 runs, was performed to estimate the best fitted model. The RSM results indicated that the fitted quadratic regression model could be appropriate to predict sulfate removal efficiency. The pH was identified as the most dominant parameter affecting sulphate removal. 61.6% of maximum sulphate removal efficiency was obtained at pH of 11.06 for a 1.87 of $Ca/SO_4$ and 0.51 of $Al/SO_4$ molar ratios. The operating cost for ettringite crystallization at optimized conditions was calculated to be 0.52 $/$m^3$. The significance of independent variables and their interactions were tested by analysis of variance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of ettringite crystal and were used to describe its morphology features.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.2926-2936
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• 2021

Rare-earth (RE) industries generate a massive amount of radioactive residue containing high thorium concentrations. Due to the fact that thorium is considered a non-economic element, large volume of these RE processed residues are commonly disposed of without treatment. It is essential to study an appropriate treatment that could reduce the volume of waste for final disposition. To this end, this research investigates the applicability of carbon-based adsorbent in separating thorium from aqueous phase sulphate is obtained from the cracking and leaching process of solid rare-earth by-product residue. Adsorption of thorium from the aqueous phase sulphate by carbon-based electrodes was investigated through electrosorption experiments conducted at a duration of 180 minutes with a positive potential variable range of +0.2V to +0.6V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Through this research, the specific capacity obtained was equivalent to 1.0 to 5.14 mg-Th/g-Carbon. Furthermore, electrosorption of thorium ions from aqueous phase sulphate is found to be most favorable at a higher positive potential of +0.6V (vs. Ag/AgCl). This study's findings elucidate the removal of thorium from the rare-earth residue by carbon-based electrodes and simultaneously its potential to reduce disposal waste of untreated residue.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2016

This study aimed at advanced oxidation of hetero tri-functional reactive dye Acid orange 7 using photo-Fenton conditions in a lab-scale experiment. Decolourisation of Acid Orange 7 dye by Fenton's process was dependent on concentration of Hydrogen peroxide, Ferrous sulphate, pH, and contact time. A $2^3$ factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of these key factors: pH, Fe(II), and $H_2O_2$ concentration, for a dye concentration of 50 mg/L with COD of 340 mg/L at pH 3.0. The response function was removal of colour under optimised conditions; pH 3.0, [Fe(II)] 40.83 mg/L, [$H_2O_2$] 4.97 mmol/L; 13.6 min. of treatment resulting in 100% colour removal. The final COD of treated wastewater was nil suggesting that AOP is a potentially useful process of color removal and dye degradation/mineralisation of effluent having AO7. Minimum contact time for complete decolourisation was at 5 mmol/l $H_2O_2$ concentration. Increase in $FeSO_4$ (mg/l) concentration resulted in decrease of time for complete decolourisation. Box-Behnken Design was used to optimize the process variables. Maximum and minimum levels of pH (3-5), $H_2O_2$ (4-6 mmol/l), $FeSO_4$ (30-46 mg/l) and contact time (5-15 minutes) were used. The statistical analysis revealed a value of 0.88 for coefficient of regression ($R^2$) indicating a good fit of model. Calculated F-value was found higher than the tabulated value confirming to significance of the model. Based on student's t-test, Ferrous sulphate, pH, and contact time have a positive effect on the percent decolourisation of Acid Orange 7.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2015

The cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum Ind1 isolated from a coal mining site was tested for removal of cadmium at optimum pH 7.0 and temperature $25^{\circ}C$. The organism recorded high percentage of metal removal (92-69%) within seven days of exposure to 0.5-2.0 ppm cadmium. Biosorption onto the cell surface was the primary mode of metal removal. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) established hydroxyl, amides, carboxyl, sulphate and carbonyl groups to be the major functional groups on the cell surface involved in cadmium binding. Cellular ultrastructure and a range of vital physiological processes (i.e., photosynthetic pigments, respiration, photosynthesis, heterocyst frequency and nitrogenase activity) remained unaffected upon 0.5 ppm treatment; higher concentrations of cadmium exerted visible adverse effects. Amongst the five photosynthetic pigments tested, phycocyanin was the most targeted pigment (inhibition was 15-89%). Both respiration and photosynthetic activities were inhibited by cadmium with more severe effect seen on respiration. 2.0 ppm cadmium exposure also had drastic negative effect on nitrogenase activity (87% decreased).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.590-596
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• 2012

Enhanced coagulation is best available technologies to treat NOM in water to produce clean drinking water. In this research, the comparison experiments between conventional coagulation (CC) and enhanced coagulation (EC) using 4 type coagulants i.e., ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate (alum), poly aluminium sulphate organic magnesium (PSOM) and poly aluminium chloride (PACl) were performed in terms of surrogate parameters such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), haloacetic acid formation potential (HAAFP) and zeta potential variation in order to find out the most effective coagulant and conditions to fit Nakdong River water. When applied to EC process, the turbidity removal efficiency did not increased gradually compared to the CC process when adding coagulants. Furthermore, the removal efficiency of turbidity became decreased much more as coagulants were added increasingly whereas the removal efficiency of DOC, THMFP and HAAFP became increased by 13~18%, 9~18% and 9~18% respectively compared to the CC process. The characteristics of turbidity removal showed relatively high removal efficiency considering the pH variation in entire pH range when using $FeCl_3$ and PACl. Additionally, in case of alum and PSOM steady removal efficiency was shown between pH 5 and pH 8. In terms of DOC surrogate the coagulants including 4 type coagulants indicated high removal efficiency between pH 5 and pH 7. The removal efficiency of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in EC between less than 1 kDa and more than 10 kDa augmented by 11~21% and 16% respectively compared to the CC process. The removal efficiency of hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic matter proved to be increased by 27~38% and 11~15% respectively. In conclusion, the most effective coagulant relating to EC for Nakdong River water was proved to be $FeCl_3$ followed by PSOM, PAC and alum in order.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.530-536
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• 2006

Thermal conformational changes of human serum albumin (HSA) in phosphate buffer, 10 mM at pH = 7 are investigated using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), circular dichroism (CD) and UV spectroscopic methods. The results indicate that temperature increment from $25^{\circ}C$ to $55^{\circ}C$ induces reversible conformational changes in the structure of HSA. Conformational change of HSA are shown to be a three-step process. Interestingly, melting temperature of the last domain is equal to the maximum value of fever in pathological conditions, i.e. $42^{\circ}C$. These conformational alterations are accompanied by a mild alteration of secondary structures. Study of HSA-SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) interaction at $45^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$ reveals that SDS affects the HSA structure at least in three steps: the first two steps result in more stabilization and compactness of HSA structure, while the last one induces the unfolding of HSA. Since HSA has a more affinity for SDS at $45^{\circ}C$ compared to $35^{\circ}C$, It is suggested that the net negative charge of HSA is decreased in fever, which results in the decrease of HSA-associated cations and plasma osmolarity, and consequently, heat removal via the increase in urine volume.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.617-624
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• 2014

To elucidate the effects of a pretreatment process on the uniformity of Ag electroless plating on Cu flakes, pretreatment time was mainly considered with a mixed solution of 0.15 M ammonium hydroxide and 0.0375 M ammonium sulphate. Optical inspection of Ag-coated Cu flakes determined that the optimal pretreatment time is 120 s. Repetition of the sequence in which Ag plating was done immediately after the pretreatment of 120 s clearly enhanced the plating uniformity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that holes were formed irregularly on some Cu flakes during the period from the asdropping of an Ag precursor solution to 5 min. The hole formation was judged to be due to continuous removal of Cu on the local surfaces by the repetitive formation and elimination of $Cu_2O$ or $Cu(OH)_2$ layers. However, the increase of the amount of Ag coating suppressed the hole creation and increasingly enhanced the antioxidant property.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2006

Pongamia pinnata Pierre is a tree legume, having potential in production of raw material for biodiesel. A protocol for in wk propagation of this plant was standardized using seedling explants. Growth regulators (GR) including gibberellic acid $(GA_3),\;N^6-benzylaminopurine(BA)$, thidiazuron (TDZ), and Adenine sulphate (Ads) were tested for optimum germination of seeds. Removal of seed coat prior to germination, controlled fungal growth partially but enhanced bacterial growth. Antibiotic cefotaxime was ineffective in controlling bacterial contamination. Seedling derived nodal explants and cotyledon nodes with attached cotyledons were excised and cultured for induction of shoots. Optimum sprouting and multiplication of shoot buds were obtained in MS medium supplemented with $8.88{\mu}M$ BA. These buds differentiated and rooted on medium devoid of GR. Optimum growth of Pongamia seedling was obtained in cotton plugged culture vessels. Reculturing of the cotyledon node explants produced more shoots from the same site. This process of removing shoots and reculturing of cotyledon node was followed for eight passages yielding 4 to 8 shoots in each cycle. The shoots (75%) rooted on half strength MS basal medium supplemented with 0.22% charcoal. All plants survived on transfer to soil. This is the first report on in vitro regeneration of Pongamia pinnata. This report demonstrates the possibility of coupling more than one parameter in single experiment to hasten the process of standardization. The process of cycling the nodal explant repeatedly for production of large number of shoots from single meristem may find application in genetic transformation experiments wherein meristems are used for transformation.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2021

In this study, defluoridation efficiency by aluminium sulphate (alum) and polyaluminium chloride (PACl) were compared for recommended Nalgonda dose (100%) and 80% of this dose in both batch and continuous modes. The residual turbidity was found to be higher in case of alum as compared to PACl with 80% dose representing lesser efficient settling of suspensions, which primarily comprise alumino-fluoro complexes that result in high residual aluminium in the treated water and this was confirmed by TEM and Zeta analysis. Moreover, the application of PACl also resulted in much lesser addition to the TDS and also required lesser lime for pH compensation due to its lower acidity. Hence this reduced dose was recommended for defluoridation. It was also observed that in case of alum, residual aluminium in treated water was 0.88 mg/L (100% dose) & 0.72 mg/L (80% dose) and in case of PACl, it was 0.52 mg/L(100% dose) & 0.41 mg/L(80% dose). After subsequent microfiltration, residual aluminium was 0.28 & 0.21 mg/L for 100% & 80% dose respectively and in case of alum and in case of PACl, it was 0.16 & 0.11 for 100% & 80% dose respectively, which conform to the Al standards(<0.2 mg/L).

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.13-29
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• 2016

In this study, we analyzed the causes of major faults in the biogas plant through the case of gas engine failure when cogenerating electricity and heat using biogas as a fuel in the actual sewage treatment plant and suggested countermeasures. Hydrogen sulfide in the biogas entering the biogas engine and water caused by intermittent malfunction of the water removal system caused intercooler corrosion in the biogas engine. In addition, the siloxane in the biogas forms a silicate compound with silicon dioxide, which causes scratches and wear of the piston surface and the inner wall of the cylinder liner. The substances attached to the combustion chamber and the exhaust system were analyzed to be combined with hydrogen sulfide and other impurities. It is believed that hydrogen sulfide was supplied to the desulfurization plant for a long period of time because of the high content of hydrogen sulfide (more than 50ppm) in the biogas and the hydrogen sulfide was introduced into the engine due to the decrease of the removal efficiency due to the breakthrough point of the activated carbon in the desulfurization plant. In addition, the hydrogen sulfide degrades the function of the activated carbon for siloxane removal of the adsorption column, which is considered to be caused by the introduction of unremoved siloxane waste into the engine, resulting in various types of engine failure. Therefore, hydrogen sulfide, siloxane, and water can be regarded as the main causes of the failure of the biogas engine. Among them, hydrogen sulfide reacts with other materials causing failure and can be regarded as a substance having a great influence on the pretreatment process. As a result, optimization of $H_2S$ removal method seems to be an essential measure for stable operation of the biogas engine.