• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.220-228
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• 2018

The internal resistance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) using stainless steel skein for oxidizing electrode was investigated and the factors affecting the voltage generation were identified. We also investigated the effect of power management system (PMS) on the usability for MFC and the removal efficiency of organic pollutants. The performance of a stack microbial fuel cell connected with (PMS) or PMS+LED was analyzed by the voltage generation and organic matter reduction. The maximum power density of the unit cells was found to be $5.82W/m^3$ at $200{\Omega}$. The maximum current density was $47.53A/m^3$ without power overshoot even under $1{\Omega}$. The ohmic resistance ($R_s$) and the charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) of the oxidation electrode using stainless steel skein electrode, were $0.56{\Omega}$ and $0.02{\Omega}$, respectively. However, the sum of internal resistance for reduction electrode using graphite felts loaded Pt/C catalyst was $6.64{\Omega}$. Also, in order to understand the internal resistance, the current interruption method was used by changing the external resistance as $50{\Omega}$, $300{\Omega}$, $5k{\Omega}$. It has been shown that the ohm resistance ($R_s$) decreased with the external resistance. In the case of a series-connected microbial fuel cell, the reversal phenomenon occurred even though two cells having the similar performance. However, the output of the PMS constantly remained for 20 hours even when voltage reversal occurred. Also the removal ability of organic pollutants (SCOD) was not reduced. As a result of this study, it was found that buffering effect for a certain period of time when the voltage reversal occurred during the operation of the microbial fuel cell did not have a serious effect on the energy loss or the operation of the microbial fuel cell.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.626-634
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• 2005

The objectives of this study was to assess pollution level and contamination status on tailings and soil in the vicinity of four disused metal mines in Kangwon province. As the result of total metal concentrations analysis, the pollution degree of tailings and soil decreased in the order of Wondong > Second Yeonhwa > Sinyemi ${\fallingdotseq}$ Sangdong mines. Total metal concentrations of mine tailings in this study were $1.2{\sim}78.2$ and $1.1{\sim}80.6$ times higher than those in the background soil and the tolerable levels suggested by Kloke, respectively. From these results, we found that tailings served as contamination source of nearby soil. According to sequential extraction of metals, large proportion of heavy metals in all mine tailings existed in the form of a residual fraction, and heavy metals in non-residual form was mainly associated with Fe-Mn oxide fraction and sulfidic-organic fraction. Fe-Mn oxide fraction and sulfidic-organic fraction of heavy metals may be released into and contaminated the nearby environment under the oxidation or reduction condition in long-term. In particular, the proportions of the exchangeable and carbonate fraction of Cd in mine tailings from Second Yeonhwa mine were relatively high. This suggests that Cd may be easily released into and contaminated the nearby environment in the near time. Concentrations of heavy metals in mine tailings and the nearby soil exceeded the standard (agricultural area) of Soil Environment Conservation Law. So it was thought that remediation for mine tailings and the nearby soil is needed. The pollution indices of the samples in this study were for higher than 1.0 and the pollution degree was very serious. Priority remediation site for these mines was Wondong. As Results of danger indices, it was showed that exchangeable form in Wondong and Fe-Mn oxide form in the rest mines should be removed preferentially.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1458-1466
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• 2020

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), classified as condensed tannins, have significant antioxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. This study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of OPCs and the mechanism underlying these effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Real-time PCR and ELISA assays indicated that OPC treatment at 1, 3 and 5 ㎍/ml significantly reduced the mRNA and protein, respectively, of oxidant indicators cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (p < 0.05) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (p < 0.01) as well as inflammation cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.01), IL-1β (p < 0.01) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p < 0.05) in LPS-induced MAC-T cells. Moreover, OPCs downregulated LPS-induced phosphorylation of p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) (IκB) in the NF-κB signaling pathway (p < 0.01), and they inhibited p65 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus as revealed by immunofluorescence test and western blot. Additionally, OPCs decreased phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal regulated kinase and c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase in the MAPK signaling pathway (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of OPCs involve NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, thus inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory factors and oxidation indicators. These findings provide novel experimental evidence for the further practical application of OPCs in prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.352-357
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• 2009

Due to rapid consumption of hydrogen peroxide, large amount of hydrogen peroxide is required when Fenton reaction is applied to the contaminated soil. In this study, acetate was employed as a ligand of $Fe^{2+}$ to enhance the efficiency of removal of phenanthrene by securing the stability of hydrogen peroxide. 0.5 ${\sim}$ 3 times of acetate (2${\sim}$12mM) was added to compare with molar concentration of $Fe^{2+}$. Low initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide was 0.7% to eliminate side effect of removal efficiency. The results showed that hydrogen peroxide lifetime was lasted up to 72 hours, or more than 50 times of normal lifetime. Phenanthrene removal efficiency was improved up to 70% due to stabilized hydrogen peroxide. Ferrous ion was oxidized to ferric ion and oxidation-reduction was repeated during the reaction. Finally ferric ion was reduced to ferrous by $HO_2$. It was confirmed that, due to the influence of hydrogen peroxide, pH was acid region and it remained at the range of 4 ${\sim}$ 5 when 8 mM or more of acetate was added. Acetate which was used as the ligand of Fe was also decomposed by Fenton reaction. The decomposition time of acetate was slower than phenanthrene. Therefore, it was able to come to the conclusion that phenanthrene was superior to acetate at the competition for decomposition. Through the results of this study, it was able to identify the possibilities to improve the efficiency of Fenton reaction in the contaminated soil and its economic feasibility, and to move to more realistic technique through research expanded to neutral pH region.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2010

Water soluble organic and inorganic species are important components in atmospheric aerosol particles and may act as cloud condensation nuclei to indirectly affect the climate. To characterize organic and elemental carbon(OC and EC), water-soluble organic carbon(WSOC) and inorganic ionic species contents, daily $PM_{2.5}$ measurements were made during the wintertime at an urban site of Gwangju. Average concentrations of WSOC, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$ and $NH_4^+$, which are major components in the water-soluble fraction in PM2.5, are 2.11, 5.73, 3.51 and $3.31{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, representing 12.0(2.9~23.9%), 21.0(12.9~37.6%), 11.6(2.5~25.9%) and 11.7%(3.8~18.6%) of the $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. Abundance of water soluble organic compounds ranged from 5.4 to 35.9% of total water soluble organic and inorganic components with a mean of 17.6%. Even though the sampling was performed during the winter, the average contributions of secondary OC and WSOC, as deduced from primary OC/EC(or WSOC/EC) ratio, were relatively high, accounting for 17.9%(0~44.4%) of the total OC and 11.2%(0.0~51.4%) of the total WSOC, respectively. During the sampling period, low $SO_4^{2-}/(SO_4^{2-}+SO_2$) ratio of 0.14(0.03~0.32) and relative humidity condition in the winter time suggest an possibility of impact of long-range transport and/or aqueous transformation processes such as metal catalyzed oxidation of sulfur, in-cloud processes, etc.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

This study assessed the feasibility of odor removal by the application of Bacillus sp. that has many advantages in sewage treatment to sewage sludge. The NH3 removal rates in the treatment of primary sludge using only aeration were measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment and the results were 12.5 %, 12 %, and 42.1 %, respectively. The NH3 removal rates of a reactor injected with BIO-CLOD made by solidifying Bacillus sp. concentrated 10 % together with other substances were measured after 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment and the results were 43 %, 70 %, and 81 % respectively. In the cases where the Bacillus sp. cultured in NB medium was injected into the primary sludge reactor to reach injection rates of 0 %, 1.7 %, 3.3 %, and 6.7(v/v%), the TVOC removal rates measured when 72 hours had passed after the injection were 59 %, 71 %, 88 %, and 98 % respectively, which were higher than the NH3 removal rates as the NH3 removal rates measured at the same time were shown to be 29 %, 25 %, 31 %, and 48 %, respectively. In the sludge dewaterability conducted with various Bacillus sp. injection concentrations, a Bacillus sp. concentration of 4(v/v%) was considered to be suitable. The Bacillus sp. concentrations and reduction in the bad odor substances were correlated with each other. The results showed that aeration and Bacillus sp. injection will assist biological oxidation so that the bad odor substances can be removed. Based on the SRF values of the primary sludge and digested sludge, in which Alum and PAC were used, the appropriate amount of Alum aggregate reagent was judged to be 500 mg/L, and when PAC was used, 6 mg/L was judged to be appropriate.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2010

We prepared extracts from Ulmus davidiana (root, Korean source; URK) and Ulmus davidiana (bark, Korean source; UBK). URK extracts obtained with all tested solvents showed the highest antioxidant effects on fish oils. Both treatments containing 0.1% (v/v) extract from URK and UBK each showed that peroxide values of 30 meq/kg were maintained for 6 h and levels of 40 meq/kg were apparent for up to 18 h, indicating that antioxidative activity seemed to sustain during all tested time periods. Compared with commercial antioxidants, butanol and methanol extracts diluted to 0.05% (v/v) had similar antioxidative effects. Water and butanol UBK extracts diluted to 0.1% (v/v) both showed the highest antioxidative activities. After addition of metal ions, methanol and butanol URK extracts diluted to 0.1% (v/v) showed enhanced antioxidative activity. UBK ethanol extracts displayed superior antioxidative activity and a constant peroxide value throughout storage. However, in the case of Perilla oil, $\alpha$-tocopherol which is known as a natural antioxidant did not show any antioxidative activity except in the BHT. Methanol and butanol URK extracts diluted to 0.2% (v/v) showed superior antioxidative activities throughout the experiment. A methanolic UBK extract (0.2%, v/v) also had a similarly increased antioxidative effect. In tests involving addition of metal ions to all extracts, the methanolic UBK extract (0.2%, v/v) showed excellent antioxidative activity. When lard was tested, antioxidant levels did not differ significantly among extracts prepared using four different solvents at either 0.05% or 0.1% concentrations (both v/v). Addition of metal ions at levels of 0.05% or 0.1% (w/v) to these extracts had no significant additive effect on oxidation.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2017

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are widely used in both industrial and domestic activities. VOCs are one of the most unpleasant, frequently complaint-rousing factors of pollution around the world. It is now necessary to research and develop an alternative technology that could overcome the problems of the existing odor-control and VOC-eliminating techniques. In this study, essential oil and photocatalytic process was applied in the removal of benzene and toluene, typical VOCs in petrochemistry plant. therefore, this study conducted experiments on the selection of appropriate essential oil, photodegradation, hydroxyl radical generation capacity. The removal efficiency and reaction rate were performed to selecte the type and concentration of essential oil. As a result, removal efficiency of Hinoki Cypress oil was approximately 70% and reaction rate of Hinoki Cypress was high. The results of photolysis experiment, photocatalytic oxidation process showed that the decomposition efficiency of VOCs increased considerably with increasing UV lamp power. In addition, the conversion of VOCs was increased up to $0.1gL^{-1}$ photocatalysts. The hydroxyl radicals measure was performed to determine the ability to generate hydroxyl radicals. The analytical result showed that high $TiO_2$ concentration and lamp power was produced many hydroxyl radical. Experiments of the removal efficiency and reaction rate were performed using essential oil and photooxidation. As a result, the removal efficiency showed that the removal efficiency was increased high temperature and reaction time. The activation energy was calculated from the reaction rate equation at various temperature condition. Activation energy was approximately $18kJmol^{-1}$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.800-805
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• 2016

Rapid growth in nanotechnologies promises novel benefits through the exploitation of their unique industrial applications. However, as the production volume of nanomaterials increases, their unintentional exposure to the environment has been occured. Potential impacts of nanoproducts on the environment can be evaluated in the life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is the systematic analysis of the resource usages and emissions over the life time from the primary resources to the moment of disposal. In this study, we performed LCA for fabrication processes of superhydrophilic oil/water separator using nano-$TiO_2$. $TOTAL^{TM}$ freeware was used to analyze for all fabrication processes, and 6-environmental impact factors (resource depletion, climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, eutropication, and photochemical oxidation) were introduced. In addition, the use of nano-$TiO_2$ in the fabrication of superhydrophilic oil/water separator was actively contributed to the environmental impact factors, compared to the bulk-$TiO_2$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2009

This study is to develop a fuel cell system applicable to an in situ NMR (Nuclear magnetic resonance) diagnosis. The in situ NMR can be used in real time monitoring of various reactions occurring in the fuel cell, such as oxidation of fuel, reduction of oxygen, transport phenomena, and component degradation. The fuel cell for this purpose is, however, to be operated in a specifically designed tubular shape toroid cavity detector (TCD), which constrains the fuel cell to have a tubular shape. This may cause difficulties in effective mass transport of reactants/products and uniform distribution of assembly pressure. Therefore, a new flow field designed in a particular way is necessary to enhance the mass transport in the tubular fuel cell. In this study, a tubular-shaped close-type flow field made of non-magnetic material is developed. With this flow field, oxygen is effectively delivered to the cathode surface and the produced water is readily removed from the membrane-electrode assembly to prevent flooding. The resulting DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) outperforms the open-type flow field and exhibits $36\;mW/cm^2$ even at room temperature.