• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.702-709
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• 1995

Degradation Of $\kappa $-carrageenan-based film by microorganisms screened from carrageenan source and activated sludge of a carrageenan producing factory was investigated by measuring changes of pH, viscosity, total sugar and total organic carbon (TOC) of the medium containing $\kappa $-carrageenan as a carbon source. Initially fifteen strains of microorganism were isolated from carrageenan source and activated sludge and then three organisms among them were selected based on the ability of growing in the medium including 0.3% $\kappa $-carrageenan as a sole carbon source. They were identified as Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger. As indices of biodegradability Of $\kappa $-carrageenan based film, the changes of pH, viscosity, total sugar, and TOC of the carrageenan film-based medium were tested by the cultivation of single or mixed strains of the identified organisms. Mixed culture showed the highest biodegradability, which resulted in the changes of pH from 6.5 to 3.0, viscosity from 164 cps to 15.6 cps, total sugar content from 2.35 g/l to 0.53 g/l and TOC from 5721 ppm to 232 ppm after 30 days of cultivation. The biodegradability determined as the reduction rate of TOC by pure cultures of Asp. niger, E. coli, Sacch. cerevisiae and mixed culture of the three organisms were 94%, 86%, 80% and 96%, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.91-96
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• 1997

In order to investigate the behavior of particulate carbon and benzo(a)pyrene(B(a)P) in the ambient air, suspended particle matters were collected from April, 1990 to February, 1992, and total carbon(TC), organic carbon(OC), elemental carbon(EC) and B(a)P were measured by an elemental analyzer and a HPLC. The results were as follows the average concentration of TC was 38.6 $\mug/m^3$ and its concentration was higher in winter(45.4 $\mug/m^3$) and fa11(44.3 $\mug/m^3$) than in summer(36.8 $\mug/m^3$) and spring(28.9 $\mug/m^3$). The monthly concentration trends both of EC and OC was similar, but seasonal variation of EC concentrations was larger than that of OC. The average concentration of B (a)P was 2.2 ng/m$^3$, and was higher in winter(4.1 ng/m$^3$) and fall(3.2 ng/m$^3$) than in spring(1.2 ng/m$^3$) and summer(0.6 ng/m$^3$). The seasonal behavior of carbon and B(a)P was to similar except for summer. The correlation coefficient(r) between EC and B(a)P was 0.71, and the correlation coefficient(r) between OC and B(a)P was 0.66.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2018

In this study, inter-laboratory comparison was done using elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometers (EA-IRMSs) to determine carbon and nitrogen contents as well as stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions (${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$) of five environmental samples containing lake and marine sediments, higher plant leaves, and fish muscle, and one organic analytical standard (Protein (Casein) Standard OAS). Five national laboratories participated in this comparison study, and each laboratory analyzed all five samples and the analytical standard. Results showed that variations in total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents as well as ${\delta}^{13}C_{TOC}$ and ${\delta}^{15}N_{TN}$ values among the laboratories were large compared to the analytical uncertainties. The results highlighted the inhomogeneity of the test samples and thus, the need to select suitable standard reference materials for future inter-laboratory studies. Further inter-laboratory comparison exercises could promote good measurement practices in the acquisition of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition data.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.353-362
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• 2023

TOC, which can measure more than 90% of organic substances, can be measured quickly and easily,replacing BOD and COD, which were indicators of organic pollutants. According to water quality pollution control standards, when measuring TOC, if the inorganic carbon ratio in the sample is over 50%, the NPOC (Non-Purgeable Organic Carbon) method should be used. If volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present at a certain concentration, the TC-IC (subtracting inorganic carbon from total carbon) method should be used. To validate the limitations of these analytical conditions, experiments were conducted by varying the ratio of TOC to IC in purified water and measuring the concentration of TOC in test solutions. The results showed no significant difference between the TC-IC method and the NPOC method. When measuring samples with added VOC standard solutions, it was observed that the carbon loss due to purging was not significant when using the NPOC method. Therefore, it is concluded that the choice of analytical method does not lead to significant differences when VOCs are present in the sample. To account for potential variations in results based on water quality pollution control standards and regulations regarding the approval and testing of environmental measurement devices, a comparison of field sample concentration values was made using two widely used types of TOC analyzers in Korea. The results showed variations of 0.02 to 0.83 mg/L between methods depending on the manufacturer, highlighting the need for caution when selecting an instrument.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2013

To understand the characteristics of organic aerosol(OA) at the background atmosphere of Korea, an observation of atmospheric PM10 was conducted at a Global Atmospheric Watch(GAW) station operated by the Korean Meteorological Administration at Anmyon Island during 2010. Various organic compounds were analyzed from 26 samples by using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Water soluble organic carbon(WSOC) was also analyzed by using a total organic carbon(TOC) analyzer. Among 6 classes with 68 target compounds detected, the classes of n-alkanoic and alkenoic acids ($326.67{\pm}75.40ngm^{-3}$) and dicarboxylic acids ($323.74{\pm}361.89ngm^{-3}$) were found to be major compound classes in the atmosphere of Anmyon Island. Compared to the previous results reported for 2005 spring samples at Gosan site, the concentrations of organic compounds at Anmyon Island were 3-10 times higher than Gosan site due to the difference of location and sampling period. The concentrations of organic compounds were varied with the atmospheric conditions. Significant increase of the concentrations of dicarboxylic and carboxylic acids in the smog episode indicated that secondary oxidation of organic compounds was major factor to increase OA concentration during smog episode in the Anmyon Island. It was found that the compositions of the OA measured at Anmyon Island were dependent on the air parcel trajectories.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.292-296
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• 1998

In wet powder processing of alumina, a number of organic molecules such as dispersant and binder are used to produce the flow behavior and properties requisite for shape forming. In this study, interparticle forces of alumina particles suspended in aqueous media were controlled by suspension pH, poly (methacrylic acid) (PMAA, used as dispersant) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA, used as binder). The combined adsorption isotherms of the dispersant and binder additives on alumina were determined by total organic carbon analyzer, while the adsorption of dispersant was differentiated from binder in the mixed additive system by ultraviolet spectroscopy. The electrokinetic behavior of alumina suspensions were then correlated with the adsorption characteristics of dispersant and binder onto alumina particles. It was found that the isoelectric ($pH_{iep}$) of alumina shifted from pH 8.9${\pm}$0.1 to acidic pH as PMAA concentration increased, while PVA adsorption did not affect the $pH_{iep}$ but caused a decrease in the near surface potential.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.457-468
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• 2018

To improve understanding of the physico-chemical characteristics of aerosols in the national park and comparing the air pollution between national park and the urban area nearby national park, the aerosol characterization study was conducted in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul, from July through September 2017. Semi-continuous measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ using PILS (Particle Into Liquid System) coupled with IC (Ion Chromatography) and TOC (Total Organic Carbon) analyzer allowed quantification of concentrations of major ionic species($Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg{^{2+}}$ and $Ca{^{2+}}$) and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) with 30-minute time resolution. The total mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was measured by T640 (Teledyne) with 5-minute time resolution. The black carbon (BC) and ozone were measured with a minute time resolution. The timeline of aerosol chemical compositions reveals a strong influence from urban area (Seoul) at the site in Bukhansan National Park. Inorganic aerosol composition was observed to be dominated by ammoniated sulfate at most times with ranging from $0.1{\sim}32.6{\mu}g/m^3$ (6.5~76.1% of total mass of $PM_{2.5}$). The concentration of ammonium nitrate, a potential indicator of the presence of local source, ranged from below detection limits to $20{\mu}g/m^3$ and was observed to be highest during times of maximum local urban (Seoul) impact. The total mass of $PM_{2.5}$ in Bukhansan National Park was observed to be 10~23% lower than the total mass of $PM_{2.5}$ in urban area (Gireum-dong and Bulgwang-dong, Seoul). In general, ozone concentration in Bukhansan National Park was observed to be similar or higher than urban sites in Seoul, suggesting additional biogenic VOCs with $NO_x$ from vehicle emission were to be precursors for ozone formation in Bukhansan National Park.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.239-254
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• 2015

Little information on HUmic-Like Substances (HULIS) in ambient particulate matter has been reported yet in Korea. HULIS makes up a significant fraction of the water-soluble organic mass in the atmospheric aerosols and influence their water uptake properties. In this study 24-hr $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected between December 2013 and October 2014 at an urban site in Gwangju and analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble OC (WSOC), HULIS, and ionic species, to investigate possible sources and formation processes of HULIS. HULIS was separated using solid phase extraction method and quantified by total organic carbon analyzer. During the study period, HULIS concentration ranged from 0.19 to $5.65{\mu}gC/m^3$ with an average of $1.83{\pm}1.22{\mu}gC/m^3$, accounting for on average 45% of the WSOC (12~ 73%), with higher in cold season than in warm season. Strong correlation of WSOC with HULIS ($R^2=0.91$) indicates their similar chemical characteristics. On the basis of the relationships between HULIS and a variety of chemical species (EC, $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and oxalate), it was postulated that HULIS observed during summer and winter were likely attributed to secondary formation and primary emissions from biomass burning (BB) and traffics. Stronger correlation of HULIS with $K^+$, which is a BB tracer, in winter ($R^2=0.81$) than in summer ($R^2=0.66$), suggests more significant contribution of BB emissions in winter to the observed HULIS. It is interesting to note that BB emissions may also have an influence on the HULIS in summer, but further study using levoglucosan that is a unique organic marker of BB emissions is required during summer. Higher correlation between HULIS and oxalate, which is mainly formed through cloud processing and/or photochemical oxidation processes, was found in the summer ($R^2=0.76$) than in the winter ($R^2=0.63$), reflecting a high fraction of secondary organic aerosol in the summer.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2003

In the present study, $TiO_2$ imbedded copper matrix powders have been successfully prepared from the ($CuSO_4+TiO_2+Zn$) composite salt solution. The composite $Cu/TiO_2$ powders were formed by drying the solution at $200{\sim}~400^{\circ}C$ in the hydrogen atmosphere. Photocatalytic characteristics was evaluated by detecting TOC (total organic carbon) amount with TOC analyzer (model 5000A Shimadzu Co). Phase analysis of $Cu/TiO_2$ composite powders was carried out by XRD, DSC and powder size was measured with TEM. The mean particle size of composite powders was about 100 nm and a few zinc and copper oxide phases was included. The reduction ratio of TOC amount was 60% by the composite $Cu/TiO_2$ powders under the UV irradiation for 8 hours.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1271-1271
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• 2001

Water pollutants in drainage mainly consist of organic compounds. Hence, total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were generally used as the indices of pollution. However, these values are determined by special analyzer (TOC), titration method (COD), or microbe culture (BOD). Therefore, the development of simple and easy methods for the determination of water pollution is required. The authors reported the evaluation of water pollution by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in a model system with food components (Takamura et al. (200) Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of 9th International Conference, pp. 503-507). In this study, the relationship between NIR spectra and drainage was investigated in order to develop a method for evaluation of drainage by NIR. Drainage was obtained in Nara Purification Center. The ranges of TOC, COD, and BOD were 0-130, 0-100 and 0-200, respectively. NIR transmittance spectra were recorded on NIR Systems Model 6250 Research Composition Analyzer in the wavelength range of 680-1235 and 1100-2500 nm with a quartz cell (light path: 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 10mm) at 10-40. Statistical analysis was performed using NSAS program. A partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis was used for calibration. As the result, a good correlation between the raw NIR spectra and OC was obtained in the calibration. The best light path was 10 and 0.5mm in the wavelength range of 680-1235 and 110-2500nm, respectively. In the calibration, correlation coefficients(R) were 096-0.97 in the both range. In the prediction, however, a good correlation (R=0.89-0.96) was obtained only in the range of 6801235 nm, Similar results were obtained in the cases of COD and BOD. These results suggest the possibility that NIR spectroscopy can be used to evaluate drainage.