• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.69-91
• /
• 1993

A total of 76 surface sediment samples, collected from the Korean west coast and the eastern Yellow Sea areas, were analyzed for their elemental composition in order to understand the geochemical characteristics of these deposits. The analyzed elements included 9 major elements (Al, Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ti, P, Mn), 8 minor elements (Sr, Ba, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn), organic carbon and calcium carbonate. Contents of most analyzed elements, excluding K and Ba, were generally low compared to those of average crust. Contents of most elements, except K and Ca, also correlated with sediment grain size, though the degree of relationship varied widely from one element to another. For fine-grained sediments, a distinction could be made between those in the central Yellow Sea and those in the Keum Estuary based on their characteristic elemental composition: the former were rich in Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca and V, and the latter in Mn, Co and Ni. The element/aluminium ratios, on the other hand, showed that the central Yellow Sea muds were enriched in Fe, Mg, V, Ni, Cu and Zn and depleted in K, Mn, Ba and Sr relative to the mud located near the Korean Peninsula. Based on the analysis of these results, as well as of the influences of particular mineral phases or pollution effects, we could suggest geochemical criteria which can be used in distinguishing muds from the two different sources, the Keum River and the Yellow River: the former by the higher Mn content and the latter by the higher Mg and V contents, relative to each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.154-159
• /
• 2006

It is essential to understand the decomposition characteristics for developing the optimum anaerobic digestion system of organic wastes. In this study, BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) test using serum bottle was conducted to evaluate the anaerobic degradability of fish offal. 3 different groups of fish offal including waste from mackerel and hairtail handling except viscera and fish viscera were chosen for the substrates. Grinded fish offal was transferred anaerobically to serum bottle in amounts of 50 ml, 100 ml and 150 ml, respectively. BMP test was carried out in triplicate. Cumulative methane production and methane production rate depending on incubation time were evaluated. These results varied depending on substrate characteristics. The average values of ultimate methane yield ranged between $420ml{\cdot}CH_4/g{\cdot}VS$ and $490ml{\cdot}CH_4/g{\cdot}VS$, and the methane production and degradation rate of viscera were higher than those of other parts of fish offal. According to the analysis of elemental composition, average C/N ratio of fish offal used in this study was 5.2. Theoretical ultimate methane yield calculated from elemental composition was $522ml{\cdot}CH_4/g{\cdot}VS$. Biodegradability was calculated as 0.847.

• Conservation Science in Museum
• /
• v.2
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 2000

This study is a scientific analysis of 12 bronze materials which were excavated from Sanoisa temple in Chongju. Analysis of crystalline shape, size and distribution of the each sample metal suggested that they can be classified as tableware(wrought), vessels for memorial service(casting) and bell bronze, which is the same result as classification based on elemental composition. Most of the tableware are forging wares with composition of 8:2:0 in Cu:Sn:Pb, and vessels for memorial service are casting wares whose composition is 7:1:2 in Cu:Sn:Pb, and bell bronze's composition is Cu:Sn:Pb = 85:10:5/9:1:0. The result clearly shows that composition is closely related with usage and manufacturing method of wares. Trace elements such as Co, Fe and As are the elements with high correlation coefficient with Cu, which means they exist as impurities in Cu, and the content of As showed an increase in the order of tableware, memorial service vessels and bell bronze. In addition, the analysis of lead isotope ratio showed that 3 bronze materials with high lead content were made from the lead coming from Japan and China. The composition of the solder was Cu:Sn:Pb = 83:12:5 where small Pb crystals were distributed evenly.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2015

We conducted this research to observe the changes of surface morphology and composition of clay minerals influenced by various concentrations of fluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid (HA), a solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water, is a colourless solution that is highly corrosive, capable of dissolving many materials, especially oxides. To do this, we treated several concentrations of HA on the ground soil samples collected from the agricultural experimental station located at Chungnam National University to observe the influence of fluoric acid on the changes of surface structures and elemental composition of clay particles. Generally, microscopic examination showed that the HA can not only attack an edge of clay particles but also start at any point where structural defects and weaknesses predisposed sites to acid. The orderly flake arrangement of clay minerals may reflect certain crystal symmetry elements. The ESEM-EDS results of element composition of clay particles influenced by HA indicated the changes of structures of clay minerals. It is also clear from the formation of etch figures and element composition of clay particles that the product layer at least partially dissolved or disintegrated in the presence of acid. Conclusively, the clay structures can be strongly influenced by concentrations of HA, resulting in changes of physical and chemical properties that can determine the behavior of solute transport as well as mobility of ions in soils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.10
• /
• pp.1525-1530
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate anti-tumor activities, general composition, elemental composition and mineral contents of fermented liquid stem, root and fruit of Opuntia humifusa. In the general composition, the energy, crude protein, crude lipid and crude carbohydrate contents of fermented liquid stem were 86.21 Kcal, 0.92$\%$, 0.12$\%$, and 20.34$\%$, respectively. Fermented liquid fruit showed 65.32 Kcal, 1.04$\%$, 0.08$\%$, and 15.15$\%$. In mineral analysis, fermented liquid stem and fruit showed 1,800 and 388 mg of calcium per 100g. The ferrous concentrations of fermented liquid stem and fruit were 21 and 10 mg per 100 g, respectively. Methanol, ethanol and water extracts of nonfermented liquid stem and fruit did not inhibit the proliferation in human cervical cancer cells (Caski, SiHa and HaCaT), but the fermented liquid fruit showed the inhibition of Proliferation with dose-response manner in Caski and SiHa cells, but not HaCaT. Therefore, it suggests that fermented cactus may be used as one of potential adjuvant for the treatment of cervical carcinomas.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2011

This study experimentally investigated dicyclohexylammonium 2-cyanoacrylate (CA) as a potential comonomer for polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber precursors. The P(AN-CA) copolymers with different CA contents (0.19-0.78 mol% in the feed) were polymerized using solution polymerization with 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator. The chemical structure and composition of P(AN-CA) copolymers were determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analysis, and the copolymer composition was similar to the feeding ratio of the monomers. The effects of CA comonomer on the thermal properties of its copolymers were characterized differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in nitrogen and air atmospheres. The DSC curves of P(AN-CA) under nitrogen atmosphere indicated that the initiation temperature for cyclization of nitrile groups was reduced to around $235^{\circ}C$. The heat release and the activation energy for cyclization reactions were decreased in comparison with those of PAN homopolymers. On the other hand, under air atmosphere, the P(AN-CA) with 0.78 mol% CA content showed that the initiation temperature of cyclization was significantly lowered to $160.1^{\circ}C$. The activation energy value showed 116 kJ/mol, that was smaller than that of the copolymers with 0.82 mol% of itaconic acids. The thermal stability of P(AN-CA), evidenced by thermogravimetric analyses in air atmosphere, was found higher than PAN homopolymer and similar to P(AN-IA) copolymers. Therefore, this study successfully demonstrated the great potential of P(AN-CA) copolymers as carbon fiber precursors, taking advantages of the temperature-lowering effects of CA comonomers and higher thermal stability of the CA copolymers for the stabilizing processes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.920-925
• /
• 2020

In India, nanotechnology has been used in therapeutic applications for several millennia. One example of a traditional nanomedicine is Rajath Bhasma (also called calcined silver ash), which is used as an antimicrobial and for the treatment of various ailments and conditions such as memory loss, eye diseases, and dehydration. In this study, we aimed to characterize the physical composition and morphology of Rajath Bhasma and its suitability for use as a non-toxic antimicrobial agent. First, Rajath Bhasma was physically characterized via i) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to analyze the surface functional groups, ii) scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to observe the morphology and elemental composition, and iii) X-ray diffraction to determine the crystalline phases. Thereafter, functional characterization was performed through toxicity screening using zebrafish embryos and through antimicrobial activity assessment against gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Rajath Bhasma was found to harbor alkene, hydroxyl, aldehyde, and amide functional groups originating from biological components on its surface. The main component of Rajath Bhasma is silver, with particle size of 170-210 nm, and existing in the form of spherical aggregates with pure crystalline silver structures. Furthermore, Rajath Bhasma did not exert toxic effects on zebrafish embryos at concentrations below 5 ㎍/ml and exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The present results indicate that Rajath Bhasma is a potentially effective antimicrobial agent without toxicity when used at concentrations below 5 ㎍/ml.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.523-533
• /
• 2011

This study had the aim of characteristics of $PM_{10}$ in subway cabins. $PM_{10}$ was measured by times of day (rush and non rush hours) and seasons with real time $PM_{10}$ sampler on the subway cabins of line 7. Filter samples were collected for evaluation of their elemental composition as well as identification of major sources of $PM_{10}$ using a receptor model, PMF. $PM_{10}$ concentration were the highest in the winter season both in the rush and non rush hours at 152.8 ${\mu}g/m^3$, 90.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$ respectively. The $PM_{10}$ concentrations in rush hour were 30% higher compared to non rush hours. Based on the chemical information, the composition rare of inorganic elements was 52.5%, anions were 10.2% and others were 37.3%. Fe was the most abundant element and significantly correlated (p.0.01) with Mn (r=0.97), Ti (r=0.91), Cr (r=0.88), Ni (r=0.89) and Cu (r=0.88). Characterized $PM_{10}$ sources by PMF in the cabin were soil and road dust related sources (27.2%), railroad related sources (47.5%), secondary nitrate sources (16.2%) and a Cl-factor mixed with a secondary sulfate source (9.1%).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.470-482
• /
• 2008

Seasonal variations of chemical composition and optical properties of aerosols at Seoul and Gosan were investigated using the ground-based aerosol measurements and an optical model calculation. The mass fraction of elemental carbon was $8{\sim}17%$, but its contribution on light absorption was high up to $29{\sim}48%$ in Seoul. In Gosan, the contribution of water soluble aerosols on aerosol extinction was $83{\sim}94%$ due to the high mass fraction of these particles in the range of $56{\sim}88%$. Model calculation showed that the water holding capacity of aerosols was larger in Gosan than in Seoul because of higher relative humidity and temperature along with abundant water soluble aerosols. Difference between measured and calculated aerosol optical depths was the highest in summer. This was because aerosol optical depth calculated from ground-based measurements could not consider aerosol loadings at high altitude in spite of high column-integrated aerosol loadings observed by Sun photometer. Although hygroscopic growth was expected to be dominant in summer, the mass concentration of water soluble aerosols was too low to permit this growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2003

The main objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characteristics of post-harvest biomass burning aerosols from field burning of barley straw in late spring and rice straw in late fall in rural area in Korea. 12-hr integrated intensive sampling of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ biomass burning aerosols had been conducted continuously at Gwangju, Korea 4-15 June 2001 and 8 October-14 November 2002. The fine and coarse particles of biomass burning aerosols were collected for mass, ionic, elemental, and carbonaceous species analysis. Average fine and coarse mass concentrations of biomass burning aerosols were measured to be 129.6, 24.2 ${{\mu}gm}^{-3}$ in June 2001 and 47.1, 33.2 ${{\mu}gm}^{-3}$ in October to November 2002, respectively. Exceptionally high level of $PM_{2.5}$ concentration up to 157.8 ${{\mu}gm}^{-3}$ well above 24-hour standard was observed during the biomass burning event days under stagnant atmosphere condition. During biomass burning periods dominant ionic species were $Cl^{-}$, ${NO_3}^{-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and ${NH_4}^{+}$ in fine and coarse mode. In the fine mode $Cl^{-}$ and ${KCl}^{+}$ were unusually rich due to the high content of the semiarid vegetation. High OC values and OC/EC ratios were also measured during the biomass burning periods. Increased amount of fine aerosols with high enrichment, which were originated from biomass burning of post-harvest agricultural waste, resulted in extremely severe particulate air pollution and visibility degradation in the region. Particulate matters from open field burning of agricultural wastes cause great adverse impact on local air quality and regional climate.