• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.839-846
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• 2016

Since oil leakage is one of the most common nonpoint pollution sources that contaminate soil in Korea, the capacity of soil microbial community for degrading petroleum hydrocarbons should be considered to assess the functional value of soil resource. However, conventional methods (e.g., microcosm experiments) to assess the remediation capacity of soil microbial community are costly and time-consuming to cover large area. The present study suggests a new approach to assess the toluene remediation capacity of soil microbial community using a microbial diversity index, which is a simpler detection method than measuring degradation rate. The results showed that Shannon index of microbial community were correlated with specific degradation rate ($V_{max}$), a degradation factor. Subsequently, a correlation equation was generated and applied to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. These results will be useful to conveniently assess the remediation capacity of soil microbial community and can be widely applied to diverse engineering fields including environment-friendly construction engineering fields.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1269-1275
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• 2006

The selection of multienzyme complex-producing bacteria under aerobic condition was conducted for improving the degradation of lignocellulosic substances. The criteria for selection were cellulase and xylanase enzyme production, the presence of cellulose-binding domains and/or xylan-binding domains in enzymes to bind to insoluble substances, the adhesion of bacterial cells to insoluble substances, and the production of multiple cellulases and xylanases in a form of a high molecular weight complex. Among the six Bacillus strains, isolated from various sources and deposited in our laboratory, Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus B-6 strain was the best producer of cellulase and xylanase enzymes, which have both cellulose-binding factors (CBFs) and xylan-binding factors (XBFs). Moreover, multiple carboxymethyl cellulases (CMCases) and xylanases were produced by the strain B-6. The zymograms analysis showed at least 9 types of xylanases and 6 types of CMCases associated in a protein band of xylanase and cellulase with high molecular weight. These cells also enabled to adhere to both avicel and insoluble xylan, which were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the strain B-6 produced the multienzyme complex, which may be cellulosome or xylanosome. Thus, P. curdlanolyticus B-6 was selected to study the role and interaction between the enzymes and their substrates and the cooperation of multiple enzymes to enhance the hydrolysis due to the complex structure for efficient cellulases and xylanases degradation of insoluble polysaccharides.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2005

A one-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate vertical profiles of electron acceptors and their reduced species in benthic sediments. The model accounted for microbial degradation of organic matter and subsequent chemical reactions of interest using stoichiometric relationships. Depending on the dominant electron acceptors utilized by microorganisms, the benthic sediments were assumed to be vertically subdivided into six zones: (1) aerobic respiration, (2) denitrification, (3) manganese reduction, (4) iron reduction, (5) sulfate reduction, and (6) methanogenesis. The utilizations of electron acceptors in the biologically mediated oxidation of organic matter were represented by Monod-type expression. The mass balance equations formulated for the reactive transport of organic matter, electron acceptors, and their corresponding reduced species in the sediments were solved utilizing an iterative multistep numerical method. The ability of model to simulate a freshwater sediments system was tested by comparing simulation results against published data obtained from lake sediments. The simulation results reasonably agreed with field measurements for most species, except for ammonia. This result showed that the C/N ratio (106/16) in the sediments is lower than what the Redfield formula prescribes. Since accurate estimates of vertical profiles of electron acceptors and their reduced species are important to determine the mobility and bioavailability of trace metals in the sediments, the model has potential application to assess the stability of selected trace metals in the sediments.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.690-695
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• 2018

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) composed of O3 and UV were applied to degrade penicillin (PEN). The degradation efficiency was evaluated in terms of changes in the absorbance (ABS) and total organic carbon (TOC). The combination of $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$ and $O_3/UV$ showed the best performance for the reduction of ABS (100% for 9 min) and TOC (70% for 60 min) values, although the mineralization was uncompleted under the experimental condition in this study. The change in biotoxicy was monitored with Escherichia coli susceptibility and Vibrio fischeri biofluorescence. The E. coli susceptibility was eliminated completely for 9 min by $O_3/UV$, and the toxicity to V. fischeri biofluorescence was 57% reduced by $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$. For the ultimate treatment of PEN, it is suggested that an AOP using $O_3/UV$ is followed by biological treatment, utilizing the enhanced biodegradability by the AOP. During 30 min of $O_3/UV$ treatment, the $BOD_5/COD$ ratio as an indication of biodegradability showed about 4-fold increment, compared to that of using a non-treated sample. TOC removal rate for AOP-pretreated PEN wastewater increased 55% compared to that of using the non-pretreated one through an aerobic biological treatment by Pseudomonas putida for artificial wastewater containing 20 mg/L of PEN. In conclusion, $O_3/UV$ process is recommended as a pretreatment step prior to an aerobic biological process to improve the ultimate degradation of penicillin.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.258-268
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• 2014

The test method of aerobic transformation in soil has established based on international test guideline (OECD TG 307). And then, the case study was conducted with [$^{14}C$]butachlor. Butachlor is commonly used herbicide in Korea. [$^{14}C$]Butachlor was treatrd $6.83mgKg^{-1}$ in loamy soil. The treated soil was incubated in flow-through system for 60 days. The mass balance of applied radioactivity (AR) ranged from 91.1 to 95.5% and from 93.0% to 97.7% for non-sterile and sterile soils, respectively. In non-sterile soil, the concentration of [$^{14}C$]butachlor was declined from 94.4% AR at 0 day to 8.4% AR at 60 days after treatment. 2-Chloro-2',6'-diethylacetanilide was the major degradation product detected in soil extract. The calculated $DT_{50}$ and $DT_{90}$ of butachlor were 10.4 days and 34.6 days, respectively. $^{14}CO_2$ and non-extractable soil residue were increased up to 3.5% and 43.5% AR at 60 DAT. There is no significant decrease of the [$^{14}C$]butachlor through the incubation period in sterile soil.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.79-89
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate appropriate environmental factors when domestic waste is decomposed as aerobic digestion. So stabilization degree was measured after the waste is mixed as certain rates and water content was controlled by 55% and 60%. Variation of VS showed food waste in reactors of number 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 was decomposed fully except reactor of number 6. Decomposition degree of VS in reactors of number 1, 2, 3 and 4 was not different high because Vinyl and plastic inserted played role bulking agent in reactor number 1, 2, 3 and 4. In reactors, maximum temperature indicated $57{\sim}59^{\circ}C$ and temperatures in reactors 1, 2, 3 and 4 were higher and remained longer than in reactor 5 and 6 for 2~4 days. Variation of $CO_2$ was similar to that of VS. The reduction rate of water content was low because moisture generated by oxidation fever of microorganism did not evaporated well. pH was low in the beginning of the reaction however, as time passed, it increased slightly and remained regular pattern. EC and C/N showed the same pattern as pH. Settlement and weight reduction rates were similar to the factors above. Reactor 1, 2, 3, and 4 showed higher settlement and weight reduction rate than reactor 5 and 6.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.45-54
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• 2010

Field study was conducted for 5 months to investigate the effect of leachate recirculation on aerobic landfill stabilization at active landfilling site. The area of field experiment was $24{\times}24m$ and 9 vertical air injection wells with screen ranging 3~9 m were installed. Aerobic landfill operation for 5 months increased average internal landfill temperature to $70^{\circ}C$ and 8 % of landfill height was settled down. $94m^3$ of leachate was recirculated for 1 month to increase moisture content of landfill to favor microbial degradation of organic matter, which resulted in temporary increase of groundwater level and anaerobic environment. But leachate recirculation triggered increase of internal landfill temperature of neighboring monitoring well. Because excessive leachate recirculation decreased internal landfill temperature by cooling effect, internal landfill temperature should be checked to avoid abrupt decrease of temperature during leachate recirculation. Also, to prevent anaerobic environment, intermittent leachate recirculation was recommended.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2010

In this study, we isolated 179 bacterial strains using benzene, phenol, ethylbenzene, aniline, cumene, toluene as growth substrate from TCE contaminated soils and wastewaters. All the 179 strains were screened for TCE (30 mg/L) removal (growth substrate 0.2 g/L, $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, cell biomass 1.0 g/L (w/v)) under aerobic condition for 21 days. EK2 strain using aniline showed the highest removal efficiency (74.4%) for TCE degradation. This strain was identified as Delftia acidovorans as the results of API kit, 16S rDNA sequence and fatty acid assay. In the batch culture, D. acidovorans EK2 showed the bio-degradation for TCE in the various TCE concentration (10 mg/L to 200 mg/L). However, D. acidovorans EK2 did not show the bio-degradation in the TCE 250 mg/L. D. acidovorans EK2 also show the removal efficiency (99.9%) for 12 days in the low concentration (1.0 mg/L). Optimal conditions to degrade TCE 200 mg/L were cell biomass 1.0 g/L (w/v), aniline 0.5 g/L, pH 7 and $30^{\circ}C$. Removal efficiency and removal rate by D. acidovorans EK2 strain was 71.0% and 94.7 nmol/h for 21 days under optimal conditions. Conclusion, we expect that D. acidovorans EK2 may contribute on the biological treatment in the contaminated soil or industrio us wastewater.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.156-160
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• 2014

The stabilities of four limonoidal substances including azadirachtin A, azadirachtin B, deacetylsalannin and salannin were investigated both in controlled aquatic and soil conditions. The half-life of the total limonoid for neem extracts and its two commercial biopesticides was estimated 86.6-173 days in water under air, while degradation of the compounds was detected below 10% after eight weeks in deoxygenated water. The half-life in dry soil was estimated 43.3-57.7 days, and there was a similar degradation pattern with in aerobic water condition. In case of wet soil condition, the total bacteria of the soils ranged 6-8 log CFU/g soil for during the experiment, and the half-life of the total limonoid was 6.4-12.3 days. From the result, the fast limonoid degradation in wet soil environment was the result of both chemical oxidation and microbial degradation.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.31-32
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• 2005

Neoagaro-oligosaccharides are produced only by enzymatic degradation of agarose by ${\beta}-agarase.^{1)}$ Neoagaro-oligosaccharides inhibit the growth of bacteria, slow the rate of degradation of starch, are used as low-calorie additives to improve food quality, and have macrophage-stimulating activity. Furthermore, neoagarobiose is a rare reagent that has both moisturizing effect on skin and whitening effect on melanoma $cells.^{2)}$ An agar-degrading marine bacterium was isolated from the sea water at the northeast coast in Cheju island, Korea. The strain was gram negative, aerobic, and motile rod. The 16S rRNA of the strain had the closest match of 98% homology, with that from Agarivorans albus. On the basis of several phenotypic characters and a phylogenetic analysis, this strain was designated Agarivorans sp. JA-1. In solid agar plate, Agarivorans sp. JA-1 produced a diffusible agarase that caused agar softening around the colonies. Agarivorans sp. JA-1 was cultured for 36 hr in marine broth 2216 (Difco, USA) and the supernatant that containing an extracellular ${\beta}-agarase$ was prepared by centrifugation of culture media. The enzyme exhibited relatively strong activity at $40^{\circ}C$ and was stable up to $60^{\circ}C$. Using PCR primers derived from the ${\beta}-agarase$ gene of Vibrio sp., the gene encoding ${\beta}-agarase$ from Agarivorans sp. JA-1 was cloned and sequenced. The structural gene consists of 2931 bp encoding 976 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 107,360 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 99% and 34% homology to $agaA^{2)}$ and $agaB^{2)}$ genes for ${\beta}-agarase$ from Vibrio sp., respectively. The expression plasmid for ${\beta}-agarase$ gene of Agarivorans sp. JA-1 is being constructed and the recombinant enzyme will be biochemically characterized.