• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.399-405
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• 2017

The zeta potential, called an electrokinetic potential, refers to the potential difference caused by electrodynamic phenomenon, which is a value obtained by quantifying the surface charge property. The zeta potential has been actively studied for membrane fouling, confirmation of modification and substituent confirmation through surface charge analysis. The methods of measurement for zeta potential were developed on the basis of electrophoresis, electrosmosis and streaming potential. Among them, it was known that the streaming potential method was suitable for the flat sheet membrane. So, in this study, aminated poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) membranes were prepared by introducing ammonium groups and the streaming potentials of the prepared membranes were measured by using an electrokinetic potential analyzer (SurPASS) and the results were analyzed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.276-284
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• 2014

In this study, a hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was modified by coating neutral hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol). The flux of pure water was measured and then fouling test was conducted with bovin serum albumin (BSA) as model protein foulant. As a result, the experiments showed that pure water flux was decreased but anti-fouling property was significantly enhanced. Pure water flux with increasing molecular weights of the polymer was decreased and fouling resistance was enhanced. Also, Pure water flux with increasing solution concentration was decreased and fouling resistance was enhanced. It is probably due to the increase in hydrophilicity and decrease in roughness of the membrane surface, as revealed by contact angle and AFM analysis.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2015

In this study, novel pore-filled anion-exchange membranes (PFAEMs) with low electrical resistance, high permselectivity, and low water-splitting flux property under a concentration polarization condition have been developed for the enhancement in the efficiency of electrochemical water treatment processes. The base membranes have been prepared by filling a copolymer containing quaternary ammonium groups with an excellent ion-exchange capability into a porous polyolefin substrate, showing a high performance superior to that of a commercial membrane. In addition, it was confirmed that the electrochemical membrane performances are preserved while the water-splitting flux is effectively controlled by coating an imidazolium polymer onto the surface of the base membrane. The prepared PFAEMs revealed remarkably low electrical resistances of about 1/6~1/8 compared to those of a commercial membrane, and simultaneously low water-splitting flux comparable with that of cation-exchange membranes under a concentration polarization condition.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2017

Pd-based membranes have been widely used in hydrogen purification and separation due to their high hydrogen diffusivity and infinite selectivity. However, it has been difficult to fabricate thin and dense Pd-based membranes on a porous stainless steel(PSS) support. In case of a conventional PSS support having the large size of surface pores, it was required to use complex surface treatment and thick Pd coating more than $6{\mu}m$ on the PSS was required in order to form pore free surface. In this study, we could fabricate thin and dense Pd membrane with only $3{\mu}m$ Pd layer on a new PSS support manufactured by metal injection molding(MIM). The PSS support had low surface roughness and mean pore size of $5{\mu}m$. Pd membrane were prepared by advanced Pd sputter deposition on the modified PSS support using fine polishing and YSZ vacuum filling surface treatment. At temperature $400^{\circ}C$ and transmembrane pressure difference of 1 bar, hydrogen flux and selectivity of $H_2/N_2$ were $11.22ml\;cm^{-2}min^{-1}$ and infinity, respectively. Comparing with $6{\mu}m$ Pd membrane, $3{\mu}m$ Pd membrane showed 2.5 times higher hydrogen flux which could be due to the decreased Pd layer thickness from $6{\mu}m$ to $3{\mu}m$ and an increased porosity. It was also found that pressure exponent was changed from 0.5 on $6{\mu}m$ Pd membrane to 0.8 on $3{\mu}m$ Pd membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2012

In this study, for preparation of gas separation membrane with high permeability, hydroxy polyimide was synthesized using 6FDA and APAF. Synthesis of HPI was confirmed by H-NMR and FT-IR, thermal property of membrane was characterized by Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Especially, the synthesized HPI can possible to search conversion to PBO at $450^{\circ}C$. To obtain the membrane having high permeability, ternary system consist of polymer, solvent and non-solvent additive was introduced, asymmetric HPI flat sheet membrane was prepared by phase inversion method. Finally, the change of morphology with each component was observed through FE-SEM.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2018

The use of membrane as an innovative technology for water treatment process has now widely been accepted and adopted to replace the conventional water treatment process in increasing fresh water production for various domestic and industrial purposes. In this study, ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with different formulation were fabricated via phase inversion method. The membranes were fabricated by varying the polymer concentration (16 wt%, 18 wt%, 20 wt%, and 21 wt%). A series of tests, such as field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), pore size and porosity, contact angle, and zeta potential were performed to characterize the membranes. The membrane performance in terms of permeation flux and rejection were evaluated using a laboratory bench-scale test unit with mine water, lake water and tube well as model feed solution. Long hour filtration study of the membranes provides the information on its fouling property. Few pore blocking mechanism models were proposed to examine the behaviour of flux reduction and to estimate the fouling parameters based on different degree of fouling. 21 wt% PVDF membrane with smaller membrane pore size showed an excellent performance for surface water treatment in which the treated water complied with NWQS class II standard.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

A series of QPAE/TiO₂-x (x = 1, 4, 7 and 10 wt%) organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared as electrolyte membranes for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells by controlling the content of inorganic filler with quaternized poly(arylene ether) (QPAE) random copolymer. Among the prepared QPAE/TiO₂-x organic/inorganic composite membranes, the highest ionic conductivity was 26.6 mS cm^-1 at 30℃ in QPAE/TiO₂-7 composite membrane, which was improvement over the ionic conductivity value of 6.4 mS cm^-1 (at 30℃) of the pristine QPAE membrane. Furthermore, the water uptake, swelling ratio, ionic exchange capacity, and thermal property of QPAE/TiO₂-x composite membranes were improved compared to the pristine QPAE membrane. The results of these studies suggest that the fabricated QPAE/TiO₂-x composite membranes have good prospects for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell applications.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2016

To produce renewable biomethane from biogas, the properties of physical absorbents such as water, methanol, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), poly(ethylene glycol) dimethylether (PEGDME), and propylene carbonate (PC) were studied, and PC was applied to membrane contactor systems. Among physical absorbents, PC exhibited a high contact angle of $58.3^{\circ}$ on polypropylene surface, and a PC/water mixture (5 wt%) increased the contact angle to $90^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the PC/water mixture presented higher $CO_2$ absorption capacities (0.148-0.157 mmol/g) than that of water (0.121 mmol/g), demonstrating a good property as an absorbent for membrane contactors. Actual operations in membrane contactors using the PC/water mixture resulted in $CO_2$ removal of 98.0-97.8% with biomethane purities of 98.5-98.3%, presenting a strong potential for biogas treatment. However, the PC/water mixture yielded moderate improved in $CO_2$ removal and methane recovery, as compared with water in the membrane contactor operation. This is originated from insufficient desorption processes to reuse absorbent and low $CO_2$ flux of the PC/water absorbent. Thus, it is requiring optimizations of membrane contactor technology including development of absorbent and improvement of operation process.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2021

Several herbs including Artemisia are known to possess conceptive property. In the present study, mouse spermatozoa were incubated with ethanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris leaves. The effect of extract on acrosome exocytosis was studied by labeling spermatozoa with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) peanut agglutinin and by staining with Coomassie blue. Viability and membrane integrity were studied by Trypan-blue staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Artemisia extract at very low concentration caused precocious acrosome reaction and loss of sperm viability. Acrosome reaction increased remarkably from 22.63% to 88.42% with increasing extract concentration from 0 to 2,000 ㎍/mL. However, the viability loss of spermatozoa was increased from 11.71% in control to 63.73% in samples treated, evaluated by Trypan-blue staining method. Membrane damage caused by the extract, evaluated by hypo-osmotic swelling test was even low, ranging from 2.27% to only 24.23%. These results indicate that Artemisia extract might block fertilization by causing precocious acrosome exocytosis in spermatozoa. A direct contraceptive effect was tested by injecting the plant extract into the vagina of female mice and then allowing them to mate with normal males. The treated female mice delivered significantly fewer litters in comparison to the control.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 2005

Sulfonated poly(styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene) (SSEBS)-clay hybrid membranes were prepared by solution method. In the preparation of hybrid membrane, the amount of clay content was fixed to 5 phr and montmorillonite (MMT) was fully exfoliated by the SEBS and it was confirmed by X-ray diffraction method. D-spacing of the characteristic peak from MMT plate in WAXD was fully diminished. Gas permeability, mechanical properties and thermal properties of the SSEBS-clay hybrid membranes were investigated. Gas permeability through the SSEBS-clay hybrid membranes decreased due to increased tortuosity made by exfoliation of clay in SEBS.