• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.3731-3739
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• 2009

One-chambered sediment cells with a variety of anodic electrodes were tested for generation of electricity. Material used for anodes was iron, brass, zinc/iron, copper and graphite felt which was used for a common cathode. The estuarine sediment served as supplier of oxidants or electron-producing microbial habitat which evoked electrons via fast metal corrosion reactions or a complicated microbial electron transfer mechanism, respectively. Maximum power density and current density were found to be $6.90\;W/m^2$ (iron/zinc) and $7.76\;A/m^2$ (iron), respectively. Interestingly, copper wrapped with carbon cloth produced better electric performance than copper only, by 60%, possibly because the cloth not only prevented rapid corrosion on the copper surface by some degrees, but also helped growing some electron-emitting microbes on its surface. At anodes oxidation reduction potential(ORP) was kept to be stationary over time except at the very initial period. The pH reduction in the copper and copper/carbon electrodes could be a sign of organic acid production due to a chemical change in the sediment. The simple estimation of interfacial, electrical resistances of electrodes and electrolyte in the sediment cell that a key to the electricity generation should be in how to control corrosion rate or microbial electron transfer activity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 2016

Theoretical maximum methane yield of glucose at STP (1 atm, $0^{\circ}C$) is 0.35 L $CH_4/g$ COD. However, most researched actual methane yields of anaerobic digester (AD) on lab scale is lower than theoretical ones. A wide range of them have been reported according to experiments methods and types of organic matters. Recent year, a MET (Microbial electrochemical technology) is a promising technology for producing sustainable bio energies from AD via rapid degradation of high concentration organic wastes, VFAs (Volatile Fatty Acids), toxic materials and non-degradable organic matters with electrochemical reactions. In this study, methane yields of food waste leachate and sewage waste sludge were evaluated by using BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) and continuous AD tests. As the results, methane production volume from the anaerobic digester equipped with MET (AD + MET) was higher than conventional AD in the ratio of 2 to 3 times. The actual methane yields from all experiments were lower than those of theoretical value of glucose. The methane yield, however, from the AD + MET occurred similar to the theoretical one. Moreover, biogas compositions of AD and AD + MET were similar. Consequently, methane production from anaerobic digester with MET increased from the result of higher organic removal efficiency, while, further researches should be required for investigating methane production mechanisms in the anaerobic digester with MET.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2009

Microbial oxidoreductive systems have been widely used in asymmetric syntheses of optically active alcohols. However, when reused in multi-batch reaction, the catalytic efficiency and sustainability of non-growing cells usually decreased because of continuous consumption of required cofactors during the reaction process. A novel method for NADPH regeneration in cells was proposed by using pentose metabolism in microorganisms. Addition of D-xylose, L-arabinose, or D-ribose to the reaction significantly improved the conversion efficiency of deracemization of racemic 1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol to (S)-isomer by Candida parapsilosis cells already used once, which afforded the product with high optical purity over 97%e.e. in high yield over 85% under an increased substrate concentration of 15 g/l. Compared with reactions without xylose, xylose added to multi-batch reactions had no influence on the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the key step in deracemization, but performed a promoting effect on the recovery of the metabolic activity of the non-growing cells with its consumption in each batch. The detection of activities of xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase from cell-free extract of C. parapsilosis made xylose metabolism feasible in cells, and the depression of the pentose phosphate pathway inhibitor to this reaction further indicated that xylose facilitated the NADPH-required deracemization through the pentose phosphate pathway in C. parapsilosis. moreover, by investigating the cofactor pool, the xylose addition in reaction batches giving more NADPH, compared with those without xylose, suggested that the higher catalytic efficiency and sustainability of C. parapsilosis non-growing cells had resulted from xylose metabolism recycling NADPH for the deracemization.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.2_spc
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

Monitoring and assessing terminal electron accepting processes (TEAPs) are one of the most important steps to remediate contaminated sites via various in-situ techniques. TEAPs are a part of the microbial respiration reactions. Microorganisms gain energy from these reactions and reduces pollutants. Monitoring TEAPs enables us to predict degradability of contaminants and degradation rates. In many countries, TEAPs have been used for characterization of field sites and management of groundwater wells. For instance, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided strategies for groundwater quality and well management by applying TEAPs monitoring. Denmark has also constructed TEAPs map of local unit area to develop effective groundwater managing system, particularly to predict and assess nitrogen contamination. In case of Korea, although detailed soil survey and groundwater contamination assessment have been employed, site investigation guidelines using TEAPs have not been established yet. To better define TEAPs in subsurface environments, multiple indicators including ion concentrations, isotope compositions and contaminant degradation byproducts must be assessed. Furthermore, dissolved hydrogen concentrations are regarded as significant evidence of TEAPs occurring in subsurface environment. This review study introduces optimal sampling techniques of groundwater and dissolved hydrogen, and further discuss how to assess TEAPs in contaminated subsurface environments according to several contamination scenarios.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1054-1057
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• 2007

Lipases are industrially useful versatile enzymes that catalyze numerous different reactions including hydrolysis of triglycerides, transesterification, and chiral synthesis of esters under natural conditions. Although lipases from various sources have been widely used in industrial applications, such as in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and detergent industries, there are still substantial current interests in developing new microbial lipases, specifically those functioning in abnormal conditions. We screened 17 lipase-producing yeast strains, which were prescreened for substrate specificity of lipase from more than 500 yeast strains from the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (Peoria, IL, U.S.A.), and selected Yarrowia lipolytica NRRL Y-2178 as a best lipase producer. This report presents new finding and optimal production of a novel extracellular alkaline lipase from Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178. Optimal culture conditions for lipase production by Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178 were 72 h incubation time, $27.5^{\circ}C$, pH 9.0. Glycerol and glucose were efficiently used as the most efficient carbon sources, and a combination of yeast extract and peptone was a good nitrogen source for lipase production by Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178. These results suggested that Y. lipolytica NRRL Y-2178 shows good industrial potential as a new alkaline lipase producer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2004

This research is performed for a biological control of Chinese cabbage clubroot, we isolated an antagonistic bacterium AC-3 against Plasmodiophora sp., causal pathogens of cabbage clubroot. The isolated strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. by culture morphology, biochemical reactions, and homology research based on l6S rDNA sequences. Streptomyces sp. AC-3 produced chitinase (9.3 units/$m\ell$) in culture broth. So Plasmodiophora sp. mycelia changed abnonnal swelling, curling and branching mycelia by Streptomyces sp. AC-3 culture. In a field infected by Plasmodiophora sp., the treatment of a organic fertilizer added 2% Streptomyces sp. AC-3 microbial inoculant, it resulted in about 50% reducing the severity of cabbage clubroot significantly on cabbage plants compared with treated organic fertilizer plants. Additional disease such as sclerotinia rot, fusarium wilt and pythium rot were also significantly reduced by the treatment of the organic fertilizer added Streptomyces sp. AC-3 microbial inoculant.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.60-64
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• 1985

To utilize microbial lipases for hydrolysis of milk fat, optimum reaction conditions and characteristics of enzymatic reactions of lipases originated from Rhizopus delemar, Mucor sp., and Candida cylindracea were investigated. Optimum pH and temperature were pH 5.6 and $45^{\circ}C$ for Rhizopus delemar lipase, pH7.5 and $35^{\circ}C$ for Mucor sp. lipase, and pH7.5 and $35^{\circ}C$ for Candida cylindracea lipase. Optimum lipase concentration and optimum substrate concentration were $600{\sim}800\;units/ml$ and 20% milk fat, regardless of their origin. Km values were 6.06% milk fat for Rhizopus delemar lipase, 7.69% for Mucor sp. lipase and 7.99% for Candida cylindracea lipase. Rate of lipid hydrolysis was Rhizopus delemar lipase>Mucor sp. lipase>Candida cylindracea lipase. As the reaction time was extended, liberation of short chain fatty acids was increased. After 8 hours reaction, capric acid content significantly increased with Candida cylindracea lipase, palmitic acid with Mucor sp. lipase and butyric acid with Rhizopus delemar lipase.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.553-557
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• 2007

In order to detect and identify the most toxic Bacillus thuringiensis strains against pests, we isolated a B. thuringiensis strain (Bn1) from Balaninus nucum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the most damaging hazelnut pest. Bn1 was characterized via morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. The isolate was serotyped, and the results showed that Bn1 was the B. thuringiensis serovar, kurstaki (H3abc). The scanning electron microscopy indicated that Bn1 has crystals with cubic and bipyramidal shapes. The Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) revealed the presence of the cry1 and cry2 genes. The presence of Cry1 and Cry2 proteins in the Bn1 isolate was confirmed via SDS-PAGE, at approximately 130 kDa and 65 kDa, respectively. The bioassays conducted to determine the insecticidal activity of the Bn1 isolate were conducted with four distinct insects, using spore-crystal mixtures. We noted that Bn1 has higher toxicity as compared with the standard B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (HD-1). The highest observed mortality was 90% against Malacosoma neustria and Lymantria dispar larvae. Our results show that the B. thuringiensis isolate (Bn1) may prove valuable as a significant microbial control agent against lepidopteran pests.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.237-251
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• 2002

The recent progress on metabolic systems engineering was reviewed based on our recent research results in terms of (1) metabolic signal flow diagram approach, (2) metabolic flux analysis (MFA) in particular with intracellular isotopomer distribution using NMR and/or GC-MS, (3) synthesis and optimization of metabolic flux distribution (MFD), (4) modification of MFD by gene manipulation and by controlling culture environment, (5) metabolic control analysis (MCA), (6) design of metabolic regulation structure, and (7) identification of unknown pathways with isotope tracing by NMR. The main characteristics of metabolic engineering is to treat metabolism as a network or entirety instead of individual reactions. The applications were made for poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production using Ralstonia eutropha and recombinant Escherichia coli, lactate production by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae, pyruvate production by vitamin auxotrophic yeast Toluropsis glabrata, lysine production using Corynebacterium glutamicum, and energetic analysis of photosynthesic microorganisms such as Cyanobateria. The characteristics of each approach were reviewed with their applications. The approach based on isotope labeling experiments gives reliable and quantitative results for metabolic flux analysis. It should be recognized that the next stage should be toward the investigation of metabolic flux analysis with gene and protein expressions to uncover the metabolic regulation in relation to genetic modification and/ or the change in the culture condition.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 2008

Simultaneous removal of $NH_3,\;H_2S$ and toluene in a contaminated air stream was investigated over 185 days in a biofilter packed with Zeocarbon granule as microbial support. In this study, multi-microorganisms including Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter for nitrogen removal, Thiobacillus thioparus (ATCC 23645) for $H_2S$ removal, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15692), Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17484) and Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 23973) for toluene removal were used simultaneously. The empty bed residence time (EBRT) was 40-120 seconds and the feed (inlet) concentrations of $NH_3,\;H_2S$ and toluene were 0.02-0.11, 0.05-0.23 and 0.15-0.21 ppmv, respectively. The observed removal efficiency was 85%-99% for $NH_3$, 100% for $H_2S$, and 20-90% for toluene, respectively. The maximum elimination capacities were 9.3, 20.6 and $17g/m^3/hr\;for\;NH_3,\;H_2S$ and toluene, respectively. The results of kinetic model analysis showed that there were no particular evidences of interactions or inhibitions among the microorganisms, and that the three bio degradation reactions took place independently within a finite area of biofilm developed on the surface of the Zeocarbon carrier.