• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1041-1046
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• 2010

Phytoextraction is a technique which uses plants to clean up metal-contaminated soils. Recently, various chelating agents were introduced into this technique to increase the bioavailability of metals in soils. Even though the technique is an economic and environment-friendly method, this cannot be applied in highly metal-contaminated areas because plants will not normally grow in such conditions. Therefore, this research focuses on identifying chelating agents which are biodegradable and applicable to highly metal-contaminated areas. Alunimum (Al) as a target metal and cysteine (Cys), histidine (His), citrate, malate, oxalate, succinate, and ethylenediamine (EDA) as biodegradable chelating agents were selected. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used as a comparative standard. Plants were grown on agar media containing various chelating agents with Al to analyze the effect on plant growth. His slightly diminished the inhibitory effect of Al on root growth of plants, whereas, Cys, citrate, malate, oxalate, and succinate did not show significant effects. Both EDTA and EDA strongly diminished the inhibitory effect of Al on root growth. The effect of EDA is correlated with decreased Al uptake into the plants. In conclusion, as a biodegradable chelating agent, EDA is a good candidate for highly Al-contaminated areas.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2023

Casein is a milk protein and one of the most important nutrients in milk. The composition is over 80% in cow's milk and about 20~45% in human's milk. Casein is highly biocompatible and biodegradable, so it has been studied for various biomedical materials applications as well as drug delivery systems. It is widely known that casein can be prepared as nanoparticles in the presence of the Ca²⁺ metal ion. Because casein is amphiphilic, hydrophobic drugs could be loaded inside to form a protein-based drug delivery system. In this study, we studied the optimum conditions for casein nanoparticle formation using natural metal ions present in the body, such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. It was confirmed that nanoparticles have a uniform size of around 150 nm and negative zeta potential values. In addition, it was demonstrated that casein nanoparticles have a cell viability of more than 80% and efficient intracellular uptake properties using confocal microscopy. From the results, it was also shown that the casein nanoparticles prepared using various metal ions have the potential to be biocompatible drug delivery carriers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2002

The effect of lime on plant availability of heavy metals in soils amended with industrial sewage sludge (ISS) or pig manure compost (PMC) was investigated. A pot experiment with Altari radish (Raphanus sativus) was conducted. Industrial sewage sludge and Pig manure compost were added at 25 and 50 Mg/ha, and lime was added at 3 Mg/ha. Heavy metal contents of ISS treated soils after experiment were higher than those in control (NPK plot) and PMC treatment. Specially, the contents of copper, zinc, nickel and chromium in the 50 Mg/ha of ISS treated soils were higher 12$\sim$48 times than those in control. Copper, zinc, and nickel contents in Altari radish leaves cultivated at the ISS treated soil exceeded the critical levels of plant toxicity. Copper, zinc, and nickel contents in Altari radish loaves and roots cultivated at the ISS treated soil were reduced by the addition of lime. Copper, zinc, and nickel contents in Altari radish loaves were negatively correlated with soil pH after experiment. It concluded that liming would reduce the uptake of heavy metals by plants and be a temporary method of reclamation at the highly heavy metal accumulated soils by ISS.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.517-528
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• 2020

The objectives of this study were to select optimal soil amendments through analysis of heavy metal availability in soil and uptake to Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. for phytostablization in heavy metal contaminated soil of abandoned metal mine. M. sinensis was cultivated for 6 months at contaminated soil with several soil treatments (bottom ash 1 and 2%, fly ash 1 and 2%, waste lime+oyster 1 and 2%, acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS) 10 and 20%, compost 3.4%, and control). The analysis results of heavy metal concentrations in the soil by Mehlich-3 mehthod, growth and heavy metal concentrations of M. sinensis showed that AMDS 20% was more effective than other amendments for phytostablization, and AMDS 10% showed second effectiveness. Waste lime+oyster, bottom ash and fly ash were also improved compared to control. Mobility of some heavy metal was increased by treatments. Therefore, it is necessary of preparatory investigation of soil condition to select soil amendment to apply on-site phytostablization.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2014

The potential ability of Button mushroom compost (BMC) to solubilize heavy metals was estimated with metal contaminated soils collected from abandoned mines of Boryeong area in South Korea. The bacterial strains in BMC were isolated for investigating the mobilization of metals in soil or plant by the strains and identified according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. When metal solubilization potential of BMC was assessed in a batch experiment, the BMC was found to be capable of solubilizing metals in the presence of metals (Co, Pb and Zn) and the results showed that inoculation of BMC could increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb and Cd by 35, 25 and 45% respectively, than those of non-inoculated soils. BMC-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was also evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 27, 25 and 28% respectively in Co, Pb and Zn contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the BMC. The apparent results suggested that the BMC could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from contaminated soils.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.964-972
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• 2001

The kinetics of copper ion biosorption by Pseudomonas stutzeri cells immobilized in alginate was investigated. During the first few minutes of the metal uptake, the copper biosorption was rapid and then became progressively slower until an equilibium was rapid, and then became progressively slower until an equilibrium was reached. At a biomass concentration of 100g/l, the copper biosorption reaction reached approximately 90% of the equilibrium position within 30 min. A Freundich-type adsorption isotherm model was constructed based on kinetics with different amounts of biomass. When using this model, the experimental values only agreed well with the predicted values in a solution containing less than 200 mg/l Cu(II). Desorption of the bound copper ions was achieved using electrolytic solutions of HCl, $H_2SO_4$, EDTA, and NTA (0.1 or 0.5 M). Metal desorption with 0.1 M NTA allowed the reuse of the biosorbent for at least ten consecutive biosorption/desorption cycles, without an apparent decrease in its metal biosorption capability. A packed-bed column reactor of the immobilized biomass removed approximately 95% of the metal in the first 30 liter of wastewater [containing 100 mg/l Cu(II)] delivered at a rate of 20 L/day, and, thereafter, the rate gradually decreased.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.457-463
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• 2011

This study was carried out to compare the toxicity of nano and micrometer particles with Cu and Zn on soil microbial community and metal uptake of buck wheat. In microcosm system, soil was incubated for 14 days after soil aliquots were artificially contaminated with 1,000 mg/kg Cu, Zn nano and micro particles, respectively. After then, buck wheat was planted in incubating soils and non incubating soils. After 14 days, we compared bioaccumulation of metal, and microbial carbon substrate utilization patterns between incubating soils and non-incubating soils. The enrichment factor (EF) values of incubating samples were greater than non-incubating soils. Dehydrogenase activity had been inhibited by Cu and Zn nanoparticles in non-incubating soil, as well as it had been inhibited by Zn micro particles in incubating soils. Results of biolog test, it was not significant different between nano particles and micro particles. It cannot be generalized that nanoparticles of metal are always more toxic to soil microbial activity and diversity than micrometer-sized particles and the toxicity needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.172-178
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• 2014

Soil properties and heavy metal (HM) concentrations in the field soils where balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorum, BF) were cultivated, were investigated together with HM (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) accumulation by the BF roots. Basically, in most soils examined (51-97% among 65 samples), the chemical properties including soil pH, organic matter, available-P, and exchangeable cation contents appeared to be lower than the optimal ranges for balloon flower cultivation. There were no samples exceeding the standard limits for HM in soils. Instead, the total HM concentration levels in soils appeared to be maintained at around background levels for general soil in Korea. This implied that elevated HM accumulation in the soils caused by any possible input sources was unlikely. Even though the BF cultivated soils were not contaminated by HM, it was appeared that substantial amount of Cd was accumulated in BF roots with 1.5% and 35% roots samples exceeding the standard limits legislated for BF root ($0.81mg\;kg^{-1}DW$) and herbal plants ($0.3mg\;kg^{-1}DW$), respectively. This implied that the soil HM standard limits based on the total concentration does not reflect well the metal accumulation by plants and also it is likely that the Cd standard limits for BF and herbal plants is too restrict.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 2001

An ubiquitous bacterium, Pseudomonar cepacia KH410 was isolated from fresh water plant root and identified. Adsorption of heavy metals of lead, cadmium and copper by this strain was investigated. Optimal conditions foradsorption was 1.0 dry g-biomass, at pH 4.0 and temperature of $40^{\circ}C$. Adsorption equilibrium reached max-imum after 120 min in 1000 mg/l metal solutions. The adsorption capacity (K) of lead was 5.6 times higher thancadmium and 4.0 times higher than that of copper. Adsorption of lead was applicable for Langmuir modelwhereas Freundlich model for cadmium and copper, respectively. Adsorption strength (1/n) of heavy metal ionswere in the order of lead>copper>cadmium. Uptake capacity of lead, cadmium and copper by dried cell was83.2,42.0,65.2 mg/g-biomass, respectively. Effective desorption was induced 0.1 M HCI for lead and 0.1 $HNO_3$ for cadmium and copper. Pretreatment to increase ion strength was the most effective with 0.1 M KOH.Uptake by immobilized cell was 77.8,58.5,71.2 mg/g-biomass for lead, cadmium and copper, respectively. Theimmobilized cell was more effective than ion exchange resin on removal of heavy metals in solution containinglight metals.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2015

In this study, the adsorption efficiency of mixed heavy metals in aqueous solution was investigated using modified activated carbon. Moreover, the heavy-metal stabilization treatment of contaminated marine sediment was achieved using modified activated carbon as stabilizing agents. From the experimental results, it was shown that the adsorption equilibrium was attained after 120 mins. Heavy metal adsorption was characterized using Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted well to the Langmuir model in modified activated carbon. The adsorption uptake of $As^{3+}$ (28.47 mg/g) was higher than $Cr^{6+}$ (13.28 mg/g). In case of the $Cr^{6+}$, the results showed that adsorption uptake decreased with increasing pH from 6 to 10. However, adsorption of $As^{3+}$ slightly increased in the increasing change of pH. The modified activated carbon was applied for a wet-curing duration of 120 days. From the sequential extraction results, the exchangeable, carbonate, and oxides fractions of Cr and As in sediment decreased by 5.8% and 7.6%, respectively.