• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.spc
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• pp.8-11
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• 2005

Carbon stable isotope ratios of producers varied in lake ecosystems. In tile present study, we tried to estimate the seasonal variations of carbon isotope ratios of phytoplankton and benthic diatoms in a strongly acidic lake ecosystem. Lake Katanuma is a volcanic, strongly acidic lake (average pH of 2.2), located in Miyagi, Japan. Only two algal species dominate in Lake Katanuma; Pinnularia acidojaponica as a benthic diatom, and Chlamydomonas acidophila as a green alga. Carbon isotope values of P. acidojaponica varied seasonally, while those of particulate organic matter, which were mainly composed of C. acidophila remained fairly stable. The differences suggested that $CO_2$ gas was more frequently limited for P. acidojaponica than C. acidophila, since high density patches of benthic diatoms were sometimes observed on the lake sediment. Generally, carbon concentration mechanisms (CCMs)of microalgae can fix bicarbonate in lakes, and affect the carbon isotope values of microalgae. While, in Lake Katanuma, CCMs of the microalgae may scarcely function because of high $CO_2$ gas concentration and low pH. This is the reason for low seasonal amplitude of carbon isotope values of phytoplankton relative to those in other lakes.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4 s.114
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• pp.435-438
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• 2005

We observed the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of an acidic lake, Lake Katanuma, from 1998 to 2002 at weekly or biweekly intervals, except during the winter. This volcanic lake has a dimictic thermal pattern. In summer, the volcanic heat supply at the lake bottom results in weak thermal stratification. In 1998, 1999, and 2002, short-term holomixis was observed during the stratification period, when the anoxic, hydrogen sulfide-rich water from the hypolimnion spread across the entire lake. In contrast, distinct short-term holomixis did not occur during the stratificatlon period in 2000 and 2001. However, the early onset of the autumn turnover in August 2000 and 2001 caused anoxic conditions to persist throughout the entire water column for more than 2 weeks. The anoxic and hydrogen sulfide-rich conditions affected population densities of chironomid larvae (Chironomus acerbiphilus) and planktonic algae (Chlamydomonas acidophila), both dominant species in Lake Katanuma. Thus, the interannual variations of limnological characteristics influenced the seasonal population changes of these species.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 1998

The feasibility of usage of sludge from water treatment plant and chalk from schools and institutes was investigated to remove the phosphorus in the lakes which induce the eutrophication every year. In this study phosphorus removal efficiencies of sludge and chalk were investigated by changing various factors. Higher phosphorus removal efficiency using larger particle size of chalk was observed which means that the surface area is not an important factor in removing phosphorus in aqueous phase. The proper shaking time and temperature were 2 hours and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. The removal efficiency using sludge from water treatment plant was almost 100%, which is similar to those of CaO and $Ca(OH)_2$. It means that sludge can be reused in removing phosphorus. It was also found that chalk was better in removing phosphorus under alkaline condition and sludge was better under acidic condition. About 75% phosphorus removal efficiency was observed using sludge from the water sample in Lake Sihwa.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

The applicability of the USEPA's (United States Environmental Protection Agency) three criteria of enhanced coagulation (criterion 1-TOC level less than 2 mg/l. before chlorination; criterion II-% requirement of TOC removal; criterion III-point of diminishing return) for Korean waters was evaluated in this study. This study also investigated an effect of enhanced coagulation on turbidity removal, and attempted to identify the best coagulant for enhanced coagulation. Three different waters were used in this study: one river water and two lake waters. five different coagulants were used: alum, liquid alum, PACl, ferric chloride with and without water. Results of this study showed that all three criteria were achievable for the tested waters. For these waters, controlling criterion was found to be different depending upon raw water characteristics. When initial Toe level was low(< 4 mg/L), criterion I (< 2 mg/L) could be the controlling criterion. As TOC level increased, criterion II (% TOC removal) became the controlling criteria. It was possible to achieve different goals of turbidity and TOC removals. Although the optimum region of TOC removal was more acidic than that of turbidity removal, there was no conflict between these two removals. The best coagulant was found to be different depending upon the evaluation tool: maximum and optimum removal. ferric chloride was more effective than alum in terms of the maximum TOC removal, while Al-based coagulant such as alum or PACl was the best coagulant in terms of the optimum TOC removal.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.765-775
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• 2019

A new ${\alpha}$-amylase-encoding gene (amySL3) of glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 was identified in soda lake isolate Alkalibacterium sp. SL3. The deduced AmySL3 shares high identities (82-98%) with putative ${\alpha}$-amylases from the genus Alkalibacterium, but has low identities (<53%) with functionally characterized counterparts. amySL3 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme (rAmySL3) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The optimal temperature and pH of the activity of the purified rAmySL3 were determined to be $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5, respectively. rAmySL3 was found to be extremely halophilic, showing maximal enzyme activity at a nearly saturated concentration of NaCl. Its thermostability was greatly enhanced in the presence of 4 M NaCl, and it was highly stable in 5 M NaCl. Moreover, the enzyme did not require calcium ions for activity, and was strongly resistant to a range of surfactants and hydrophobic organic solvents. The major hydrolysis products of rAmySL3 from soluble starch were maltobiose and maltotriose. The high ratio of acidic amino acids and highly negative electrostatic potential surface might account for the halophilic nature of AmySL3. The extremely halophilic, calcium-independent, and surfactant-resistant properties make AmySL3 a promising candidate enzyme for both basic research and industrial applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2119-2128
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• 2017

Citrinin (CIT) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi belonging to the Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus spp. This toxin has been detected in many agricultural products. In this study, a strain Y3 with the ability to eliminate CIT was screened and identified as Cryptococcus podzolicus, based on the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. Neither uptake of CIT by cells nor adsorption by cell wall was involved in CIT elimination by Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3. The extracellular metabolites of Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3 stimulated by CIT or not showed no degradation for CIT. It indicated that CIT elimination was attributed to the degradation of intracellular enzyme(s). The degradation of CIT by C. podzolicus Y3 was dependent on the type of media, yeast concentration, temperature, pH, and initial concentration of CIT. Most of the CIT was degraded by C. podzolicus Y3 in NYDB medium at 42 h but not in PDB medium. The degradation rate of CIT was the highest (94%) when the concentration of C. podzolicus Y3 was $1{\times}10^8cells/ml$. The quantity of CIT degradation was highest at $28^{\circ}C$, and there was no degradation observed at 3$5^{\circ}C$. The study also showed that acidic condition (pH 4.0) was the most favorable for CIT degradation by C. podzolicus Y3. The degradation rate of CIT increased to 98% as the concentration of CIT was increased to $20{\mu}g/ml$. The toxicity of CIT degradation product(s) toward HEK293 was much lower than that of CIT.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 2009

The concern of seriousness and harmful effects of environmental pollution is rising by the various water pollutions, appearances of new micro-noxious substances and increase of sustainable pollutants. The method is suggested that can effectively increase the removal of organic substances and several pollutants using a coagulation process. The experiment for characteristics of $ZrSiO_4$ (zirconium silicate) as a coagulation-aid was carried out for application to coagulation process with domestic wastewater and lake water, and the removal rate of the organic substances depending on a dosage was evaluated by PDA (Photometric Dispersion Analyzer) in this study. Zeta-potential of zirconium silicate solution was -32.22 mv at pH 7 and the lower negative(-) charge was detected in the more acidic conditions. Absorbance on $UV_{254}$ presented higher when zirconium silicate was added than in a domestic wastewater itself. Besides, the results by PDA experiment represented that injection of zirconium silicate could promote growing of floc. Tests for coagulation process were conducted by three ways which are pre-injection, co-injection and post-injection of zirconium silicate with alum. Accordingly, removal efficiency of organic substances increased over 15% in co-injection than in using of alum as a sole reagent. When a 20 mg/L of alum was used with a 10 mg/L of zirconium silicate, the removal efficiency was high up to 90%. Removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$ was improved more than 15% in case of dosage of coagulant either PAC (Poly aluminium chloride) or PACS (Poly aluminium chloride Silicate) together with zirconium silicate. As a result, the removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$ were 5~10% higher in a co-injection of zirconium silicate with a coagulant than a pre-injection and a post-injection but it of soluble substances was lower in a co-injection.