• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.231-244
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• 2020

As a way of finding value-added materials from waste medium density fiberboard (MDF), this study characterized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) isolated by ammonium persulfate (APS) oxidation using recycled MDF fibers. Chemical composition of the recycled MDF fibers was done to quantify α-cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, nitrogen, ash and extractives. The APS oxidation was performed at 60 ℃ for 16 h, followed by ultrasonication, which resulted in a CNC yield of 11%. Transmission electron microscope images showed that rod-like CNCs had an average length and diameter of 167±47 nm and 8.24±2.28 nm, respectively, which gave an aspect ratio of about 20. The conductometric titration of aqueous CNCs suspension resulted in a carboxyl content of 0.24 mmol/g and the degree of oxidation was 0.04. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy clearly showed the presence of carboxyl group on the CNCs prepared by the APS oxidation. The change of pH of the aqueous CNC suspension from 4 to 7 converted the carboxyl group to sodium carboxylate group. These results showed that the APS oxidation was facile and CNCs had a one-step preparation method, and thus suggested an optimization of the oxidation condition in future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.977-983
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• 2005

The removal characteristics of ethyl acetate and 2-butanol were investigated in a bench-scale down-flow biofilter packed with Jeju scoria medium. Various inlet concentrations and gas flow rates were tested. The adaptation times of microorganisms to the change of the influent concentration of ethyl acetate and 2-butanol gas were found to be about 3 days. At the inlet concentration of 300 ppmv and empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 15 see, the removal efficiencies of the biofilter for ethyl acetate and 2-butanol were above $99.9\%$. The maximum removal capacity of the biofilter for ethyl acetate was $316-318\;g/m^3/h$ and that for 2-butanol was $245-251\;g/m^3/h$. Overall, the removal capacity of the biofilter for ethyl acetate was $50-70\;g/m^3/h$ larger than that for 2-butanol. During the operation of 65 days, the pressure drop through the biofilter column was maintained below $13\;mmH_{2}O/m$. Although the pH in the drain water decreased from 7.2 to 5.0, the pH drop did not affect the removal of the gases. From the above results, the biofilter using Jeju scoria as a packing material seemed to very effectively treat waste gases such as ethyl acetate and 2-butanol.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2000

Four bacteria capable of using aniline as a sole source of carbon and energy we4e isolated from river waters. Among them, two strains were identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia based on their physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16SrRNA gene sequence and the others as delftia acidovorans. The four strains were able to grow on the mineral salt media containing aniline at concentrations up to 6,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. Since aniline degradation by S. maltophilia has not been reported so far, the two strains A-s and 51-4 were selected for further studies. They completely utilized aniline in a mineral salt medium containing 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of aniline as a sole carbon and energy source within 24 hours. Optimum pH and temperature for aniline degradation and cell growth of both strains were 7.0 and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. In addition, they effectively degraded aniline is waste, underground and river waters containing 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of aniline. This is the first report of aniline degradation by S. maltophilia strains.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.990-994
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• 2017

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable plastics produced by bacteria, but their use in diverse applications is prohibited by high production costs. To reduce these costs, the conversion by Pseudomonas strains of PHAs from crude sludge palm oil (SPO) as an inexpensive renewable raw material was tested. Pseudomonas putida S12 was found to produce the highest yield (~41%) of elastomeric medium-chain-length (MCL)-PHAs from SPO. The MCL-PHA characteristics were analyzed by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. These findings may contribute to more widespread use of PHAs by reducing PHA production costs.

• Mycobiology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.147-149
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• 2005

The investigation was undertaken to enhance the decomposition process by pre-treatment of rice stubble, having higher concentration of lignin. Air-dried rice stubble was treated with 1.8 liter of 1% NaOH and autoclaved. Six cellulolytic fungi, Trichoderma harzianum, Penicillium citrinum, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus flavus and Alternaria alternata were grown in basal synthetic medium along with delignified rice-residue as carbon source for production of soluble crude protein. Though the loss of cellulose has been observed by all of them but having a considerable status in the presence of T. harzianum and T. harzianum yielded highest percentage of crude protein (27.99%) with biomass of 375 mg, whereas the lowest protein value (17.91%) was recorded in case of A. niger with biomass of 422 mg. Among the imperfect fungi, T. harzianum was the most potent. Effects of incubation period and nitrogen sources on soluble crude protein production by T. harzianum were also undertaken in this study. Fifth day of incubation period and potassium nitrate as nitrogen source among other nitrogen sources was found most appropriate for soluble crude protein production by the mentioned organism.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.258-273
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• 2008

For being recent high oil price age, the interest in superheated steam drying technology is increasing as the method to enhance the energy efficiency of drying process consuming a lot of energy. This technology uses the superheated steam as drying medium to dry the materials and has advantages that can save the energy by recycling the evaporated high-temperature steam, enhance the quality of dried products, and minimize the exhaust of environmental pollution materials. In this work, it has been introduced from general drying principle to the principle and related studies of drying technology using superheated steam, using examples of superheated steam with dryer types, and industrial applications.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2018

This study investigates the role of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) as bioflocculants to harvest microalgae (water-microalgae separation). The EPS extracted from waste activated sludge (WAS) by heat extraction were fractionated into soluble EPS (S-EPS), loosely-bound EPS (LB-EPS) and tightly-bound EPS (TB-EPS) forms. All the EPSs facilitated the flocculation of microalgal cells from stable growth medium. Of those EPSs, the TB-EPS showed the highest flocculating activity (FA) resulting in the substantial decrease in the amount of EPS added in terms of total organic carbon (TOC) during flocculation. The FA of microalgae was improved with the increase in TB-EPS dose, however, excessive dose of TB-EPS adversely affected it due to destabilization. Both LB- and TB-EPS could be utilized for flocculating microalgae as a sustainable option to the existing chemical-based flocculants. In addition to the conventional assessments, the effectiveness of the two bioflocculants for floc forming was also confirmed using a novel assessment of lens-free shadow imaging technique (LSIT), which was firstly applied for the rapid and quantitative assessment of microalgal flocculation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.157-169
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• 2020

Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) designated J02 and J13 were recovered from fermented vegetables based on their ability to suppress soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) on radish. J02 and J13 were identified as Lactobacillus pentosus and Leuconostoc fallax, respectively. The ability of J02 and J13 to suppress plant diseases is highly dependent on chitosan. LAB alone has no effect and chitosan alone has only a moderate effect on disease reduction. However, J02 or J13 broth cultures plus chitosan display a strong inhibitory effect against plant pathogens and significantly reduces disease severity. LAB strains after being cultured in fish surimi (agricultural waste) and glycerol or sucrose-containing medium and mixed with chitosan, reduce three cruciferous vegetable diseases, including cabbage black spot caused by Alternaria brassicicola, black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, and soft rot caused by Pcc. Experimental trials reveal that multiple applications are more effective than a single application. In-vitro assays also reveal the J02/chitosan mixture is antagonistic against Colletotrichum higginsianum, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. rapae, indicating a broad-spectrum activity of LAB/chitosan. Overall, our results indicate that a synergistic combination of LAB and chitosan offers a promising approach to biocontrol.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 1997

A chemical heat pump based on the reversible reactions between metal chlorides and ammonia gas is attractive alternative to compression system and liquid absorption systems in cooling and refrigerating fields. The advantages of chemical heat pump are no regulatory constants due to CFC refrigerants, utilization of gas, industrial waste heat, electricity, fuel oil etc. as heat sources and wide applications to energy storage system, large-scale energy managements for industrial process. The scale-up of chemical heat pump from laboratory prototype to pilot plants necessitates the interpretation of system performance and evaluation of dynamic behavior in the chemical reactor. This study contains the prediction of performance of chemical refrigerator according to operating condition, the dynamic simulations through reactor modelling, which is used for the calculation of reactive medium temperature and the conversion variation with reactor cooling temperature, and the effect survey of block parameters on the power of refrigerator.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 1998

In this research, the removal or uptake of heavy metals such as coppers by using oxalic acid metabolism of wood rot fungi, Tyromyces palustris were endeavored. As results, the addition of oxalic acid to copper containing culture did not cause the mycelium growth, but Tyromyces palustris was able to grow in this culture without inhibition. Tyromyces palustris grew with the cicular halo type in copper containing culture, and this type was formed as collectives after examining by microscope, and considered as copper oxalates by analyzing FT-IR comparison experiment with standards. According to this result, Tyromyces palustris has secreted oxalic acid during incubation, this secreted oxalic acid was combined with coppers, and formed copper oxalates by chelating reactions. In other words, the oxalic acid was might be as non-toxifying agent of coppers in medium. By using this copper removal mechanisms, Tyromyces palustris immobilized sawdust was used in bench scale air lift system for removing coppers. The added coppers were almost removed from the system within 72hrs. Therefore, this nonenzymatic wood degradation mechanism may give a possibility for removing coppers from copper containing waste water.