• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.209-220
• /
• 2015

The aim of this study was leaching valuable metal ions from mine waste rocks which were abandoned mine site using indigenous aerobic bacteria. In order to tolerate the the indigenous aerobic bacteria to the heavy metal ions they were repeatedly adapted in $CuSO_4{\cdot}5H_2O$ environment. As the repeated generation-adaptation progressed, the pH values of the growth-medium were gradually decreased. During bio-leaching experiments with indigenous aerobic bacteria raised in a heavy metal ion environment for 42 days, the pH of the leaching solution was decreased while increasing the adaptation period. The indigeous bacteria were much more active on the surface of Younhwa waste rocks which contained relatively few the chalcopyrite and Cu content than the Goseong mine waste rocks, and also the amount of Cu and Fe ions were leached more in the Younhwa sample(leaching rate of 92.79% and 55.88%, respectively) than the Goseong sample(leaching rate of 66.77% and 21.83%, respectively). Accordingly, it is confirmed that valuable metal ions can be leached from the mine waste rocks, if any indigenous bacteria which inhabits a mine environment site for a long time with heavy metal ions can be used, and these bacteria can be progressively adapted in the growth-solutions containing the target heavy metals.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 2023

In 2018, the demand for silver (referred to as Ag) in the electrical and electronics sector was 249 million tons. The demand stood at 81 million tons in the solar module production sector. Currently, due to the rapid increase in solar module installation, the demand for silver is increasing drastically in Korea. However, Korea's natural metal resources and reserves are insufficient in comparison to their consumption, and the domestic silver ore self-sufficiency rate was as low as 2.2% as of 2021. This implies that a recycling technology is necessary to recover valuable metal resources contained in the waste plating solution generated in the metal industry. Therefore, this study compared and analyzed, the results of the impact evaluation through life cycle assessment according to an improvement in the process of recovery of valuable metals in the waste plating solution. The process improvement resulted in reducing GWP (Global Warming Potential) and ADP(Abiotic Depletion Potential) by 50% and 67%, respectively. The GWP of electricity and industrial water was reduced by 98% and 93%, respectively, which significantly contributed to the minimization of energy and water consumption. Thus, the improvement in recycling technology has a high potential to reduce chemical and energy use and improve resource productivity in the urban mining industry.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.62-68
• /
• 2020

In new millennium, wide-reaching demands for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst have been increased gradually in new millennium. SCR catalyst can prevent the NO_x emission to protect the environment. In SCR catalyst the main composition of the catalyst is typically TiO₂ (70~80%), WO₃ (7~10%), V₂O₅ (~1%) and others. When the SCR catalysts are used up and disposed to landfills, it is problematic that those should exist in the landfill site permanently due to their extremely low degradability. A new advanced technology needs to be developed primarily to protect environment and then recover the valuable metals. Hydrometallurgical techniques such as leaching and liquid-liquid extraction was designed and developed for the spent SCR catalyst processing. In a first stage, V and W selectively leached from spent SCR catalyst, then both the metals were processed by liquid-liquid extraction process. Various commercial extractants such as D2EHPA, PC 88A, TBP, Cyanex 272, Aliquat 336 were tested for selective extraction of title metals. Scrubbing and stripping studies were tested and optimized for vanadium and tungsten extraction and possible separation. 3^rd phase studies were optimized by using iso-decanol reagent.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.217-227
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to identify bioactive compounds in Dangnyo-hwan, a Korean herbal medicine, through instrumental analysis using LC-MS/MS and ICP, and investigate its potential use in diabetes treatment. Methods: The extract of Dangnyo-hwan has 12 medicinal herbs; these were compared with 18 marker substances selected from literature survey. Results: LC-MS/MS analysis could detect 9 of the 18 bioactive compounds: citruline, catalpol, berberine, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol, mangiferin, and schizandrin. While harmful heavy metals such as As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Cu were not present in high concentrations, Zn concentration was 4.2 mg in 100 g Dangnyo-hwan. Conclusions: Instrumental analysis such as LC-MS/MS and ICP was successfully used to identify bioactive compounds in Dangnyo-hwan. Detection of 9 bioactive substances and Zn from the herb medicine is a valuable finding, and suggests that Dangnyo-hwan is a candidate medicine for diabetes. Further investigations like in vitro assay, percent GPR 119 activity, and percent human DGAT-1 inhibition are underway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.706-709
• /
• 2002

Bacterial bioluminescence has been known to be a highly valuable reporter system for its potential application as an effective and simple environmental monitoring method for toxic compounds. In this short report, we constructed a streptomycetes-Escherichia coli shuttle vector-containing bioluminescence system and evaluated its potential application for toxic compounds monitoring. The luxAB biolurninescence genes from Vibrio harveyi were cloned into a streptornycetes-E. coli shuttle vector (named pESK004) and functionally expressed in Streptomyces lividans. The recombinant S. lividans containing pESK004 exhibited an optimal biolurninescence at the optical density ($OD_{600\;nm}$) of 0.4-0.5 and aldehyde concentration of 0.005%. When the recombinant bioluminescence streptomycetes was exposed to a toxic compound such as heavy metals, chlorinated phenols, or pesticides, the bioluminescence was decreased proportionally to the concentration of toxic compound in the assay mixture. The $EC_{50}$ (effective concentration to decrease 50% of the bioluminescence prior to exposure) values in the recombinant biolurninescence streptomycetes for mercury, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and malathion were measured at 2.2 ppm, 144.0 ppm, and 82.4 ppm, respectively. The degree of sensitivity and specificity pattern toward these toxic compounds characterized in this recombinant bioluminescence streptomycetes were unique when compared with previously reported bacterial bioluminescence systems, and this revealed that a recombinant bioluminescence streptomycetes might provide an alternative or complementary system for potential environmental monitoring.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.173-177
• /
• 2013

Separation and recovery of valuable metals such as zinc, nickel or tin from copper alloy dross has recently attracted from the viewpoints of environmental protection and resource recycling. In this report, preliminary study on concentration and separation of tin from copper alloy dross using selective dissolution method was performed. The tin in the copper alloy dross did not dissolve in the nitric acid solution which could allow the concentration and separation of the tin from the copper alloy dross. Precipitation of tin as $H_2SnO_3$ (metastannic acid) occurred in the solution and transformed to tin dioxide ($SnO_2$) after drying process. The dried sample was heat-treated at low temperature and its phase characteristics, surface morphology and chemical composition were investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 1994

The methods in wood processing are so limited at present that a scope of its utilization is restricted. This often makes wood itself less valuable as a material comparing with other materials, that is, plastics, metals, and glass. Such differences are due to a lack of plasticity in wood, i.e. it cannot be melted, dissolved, or softened sufficiently for molding. However, once plastic properties are added to wood, it becomes more useful material. This further broadens the method in wood processing to a variety of fields. In this way, wooden material which is limited in use can be modified into a high quality product with additional value. Furthermore, utilization of wastes from wood, for example, would be made viable. In this study, thermoplasticization was carried out by benzylation of wood(sawdust). Various factors those affect the reaction were tested to produce benzylated wood with different degrees of substitution. Reaction temperature and time were the quite important factors. Optimum reaction temperature was 110$^{\circ}C$, and weight percent gains(WPG) of final products increased gradually with the increase of reaction time. The pretreatment (or preswelling) of wood with alkaline solution had a critical effect on benzylation. and the concentration of alkaline solution should be above 30% to obtain high weight percent gain. The thermal flow temperature of the benzylated wood decreased with the increase in weight percent gain, that of 80% weight percent gain is about 200$^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
• /
• 2000.04a
• /
• pp.123-128
• /
• 2000

Fundamental and informative data of axi-symmetric stretch-drawing of several sheetmetals with thicknesses of 0.7-1.0mm are presented both for single and double operations. Very small radius is applied to the die profile (or-shoulder) ion all operations. to induce wall-thinning by the effect of bending-under-tension from which the name 'stretch-drawing' comes. It is clearly demonstrated that deeper cups could be formed by single and double stretch-drawings from smaller circular blanks due to such wall-thinning action than in the usual deep-drawing of larger blanks, From this fact it is emphasized that the deep-drawability of a sheet metal is not evaluated simply by the conventional L.D.R (limiting drawing ratio) but the depth of the drawn cup should also be taken into account./ Many experimental data about various metals and thicknesses given in this paper offer a valuable information in this process for more general use which recommends to replace the conventional deep-drawing process by the stretch-drawing process both for single and double operations. In the single stretch-drawing it is also confirmed that a deeper cup can be produced by raising the blank-holding force at later stage of operation.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.687-694
• /
• 2006

Dewatering sludge using inorganic chemicals with polymer has been evaded for reuse on account of the risks of high heavy metals contained and soil acidification. Composting feasibility of coagulation & dewatering sludges produced from livestock waste treatment plant was investigated. The results of analysis prove that dewatering sludge is valuable matter with suitable elements for composting if high quality ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$) is used for coagulation & dewatering process. In pot-cultivation of harvestes, using effects of dewatering sludge improved with lime treatment was very effective. The results of pot-cultivation proved that harms of crops according to different acid tolerances were not detected. But it was not applied to crops with weak acid tolerance or greenhouse for free from gas damage. Also, Further studies and monitorings are necessary to use sludges because results of pot-cultivation were generated differently by characteristics of soil, nutrient demand of plants, mature degree of sludge, consecutive cultivation and etc.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.47-60
• /
• 2004

Higher plants can be valuable genetic assay systems for monitoring environmental pollutants and evaluating their biological toxicity. Two assays are considered ideal for in situ monitoring and testing of soil, airborne and aqueous mutagenic agents; the Tradescantia stamen hair assay for somatic cell mutations and the Tradescantia micronucleus assay for chromosome aberrations. Both assays can be used for in vivo and in vitro testing of mutagens. Since higher plant systems are now recognized as excellent indicators and have unique advantages over in situ monitoring and screening, higher plant systems could be accepted by regulatory authorities as an alternative first-tier assay system for the detection of possible genetic damages resulting from the pollutants or chemicals used and produced by industrial sectors. It has been concluded that potential mutagen and carcinogen such as the heavy metals among indoor air particulates, volatile compounds in the working places, soil, and water pollutants contribute to the overall health risk. This contribution can be considerable under certain circumstances. It is therefore important to identify the level of genotoxic activity in the environment and to relate it to the biomarkers of a health risk in humans. The results from the higher plant bioassays could make a significant contribution to assessing the risks of pollutants and protecting the public from agents that can cause mutation and/or cancer. The plant bioassays, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, are recommended for the scientists who are interested in monitoring pollutants and evaluating their environmental toxicity to living organisms.