• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.393-397
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• 1999

Among various reactions which metal sulfides can undergo in the reducing environment, the lattice exchange reaction was examined in a attempt to selectively remove heavy metal ions contained in the Fe-Coagulants acid solution. We have examined Zeta potential along with pHs to investigate surface characteristics of ${FeS}_{(s)}$. As a result of this experiment, zero point charge(ZPC) of FeS is pH 7 and zeta potential which resulted from solid solution reaction between Pb(II) and ${FeS}_{(s)}$ is similar to that of ${PbS}_{(s)}$. Solubility characteristics of ${FeS}_{(s)}$ is appeared to that dissolved Fe(II) concentration increased in less than pH 4, and also increased with increasing heavy metal concentration. Various heavy metal ions(Pb(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)) contained in Fe-coagulants acid solution were removed selectively more than ninety-five percent in the rang of pH 2.5~10 by ${FeS}_{(s)}$. From the above experiments, therefore, We could know that the products of reaction between heavy metal ions and $FeS_{(S)}$ are mental sulfide such as $PbS_{(S)}$, $CuS_{(S)}$ and $ZnS_{(S)}$.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

There are some methods that have been used to manage a degasing process in recent years, such as an injection method that uses aluminum molten metal powder and chemicals supplier and input method that supplies argon and nitrogen, or chlorine gas by using a gas blow-tube. However, these methods show some problems, and it shows that it is a difficult process to handle, pollution due to producing a lot of toxic gases like chlorine and fluoride gas, irregular effects, and lowering work efficiency due to the excessive processing time. The problems that are the most fatal are the producing a lot of sludge due to the reaction of aluminum molten metal with chemicals, loss of metals, and decreasing the life of refractory materials. In order to solve these problems, this paper develops a technology that is related to aluminum continuous casting molten metal and monolithic degasing apparatus. A degasing apparatus developed in this study improved the existing methods and prevented environmental pollution with smokeless, odorless, and harmlessness by using a new method that applies argon and nitrogen gas in which the methods used in the West and Japan are eliminated. The method developed in this study decreases the molten metal processing and settling time compared to the existing methods and improves the workers' health, safety, and environment because there is no pollution in processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.123-135
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• 1997

In order to investigate the dispersion patterns and contamination level of heavy metals in the soil-ecosystem and to evaluate the efficiency of soil remediation by reversed soil method, soils and plants were collected from the Dongjin Au-Ag-Cu mine area and analysed for heavy metals. The dispersion patterns of heavy metals in soils and plants show that heavy metal pollutions caused by waste rump around Dongjin mine are mainly found in the vicinity of the waste rump and in the southward slanting of mine. Toxic metallic pollutants from the mine influence heavy metal contents in paddy soils in downstream area, and may be a potential sources of heavy metal pollution on crop plants. Soil samples collected from the remediated rice farming field by reversed method show similar levels of heavy metal content to those from the polluted rice farming field, but topsoil enrichment of heavy metals are not found. Heavy metal contents of the rice plants collected from remediated rice farming field are significantly lower than those from polluted rice farming field, and it suggests that the reversed soil method is effective for the reduction of bioavailability of heavy metals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.290-292
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• 2004

Heavy metal contamination has been increased in aqueous environments near many industrial facilities, such as metal plating facilities, mining operations, and tanneries. The soils in the vicinity of many military bases are also reported to be contaminated and pose a risk of groundwater and surface water contamination with heavy metals. The biological removal of metals through bioaccumulation has distinct advantages over conventional methods; the process rarely produces undesirable or deleterious chemical byproducts, it is highly efficient, easy to operate and cost-effective in the treatment of large volumes of wastewater containing toxic heavy metals. In addition, a recent development of molecular biology shed light on the enhancing the microorganism's natural remediation capability as well as improving the current biological treatment. In this study, characteristics of the cell growth and heavy metal accumulation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains expressing phytochelatin syntahse (PCS) gene were studied in batch cultures. The AtCRFI gene was demonstrated to confer substantial increases in metal tolerance in yeast. PCS-expressing cells tolerated more Cd$^{2＋}$ than controls.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1522-1542
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• 2019

To adapt to environmental changes and to maintain cellular homeostasis, microorganisms adjust the intracellular concentrations of biochemical compounds, including metal ions; these are essential for the catalytic function of many enzymes in cells, but excessive amounts of essential metals and heavy metals cause cellular damage. Metal-responsive transcriptional regulators play pivotal roles in metal uptake, pumping out, sequestration, and oxidation or reduction to a less toxic status via regulating the expression of the detoxification-related genes. The sensory and regulatory functions of the metalloregulators have made them as attractive biological parts for synthetic biology, and the exceptional sensitivity and selectivity of metalloregulators toward metal ions have been used in heavy metal biosensors to cope with prevalent heavy metal contamination. Due to their importance, substantial efforts have been made to characterize heavy metal-responsive transcriptional regulators and to develop heavy metal-sensing biosensors. In this review, we summarize the biochemical data for the two major metalloregulator families, SmtB/ArsR and MerR, to describe their metal-binding sites, specific chelating chemistry, and conformational changes. Based on our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms, previously developed metal biosensors are examined to point out their limitations, such as high background noise and a lack of well-characterized biological parts. We discuss several strategies to improve the functionality of the metal biosensors, such as reducing the background noise and amplifying the output signal. From the perspective of making heavy metal biosensors, we suggest that the characterization of novel metalloregulators and the fabrication of exquisitely designed genetic circuits will be required.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2012

Occupational neurotoxic diseases have become increasingly common in Taiwan due to industrialization. Over the past 40 years, Taiwan has transformed from an agricultural society to an industrial society. The most common neurotoxic diseases also changed from organophosphate poisoning to heavy metal intoxication, and then to organic solvent and semiconductor agent poisoning. The nervous system is particularly vulnerable to toxic agents because of its high metabolic rate. Neurological manifestations may be transient or permanent, and may range from cognitive dysfunction, cerebellar ataxia, Parkinsonism, sensorimotor neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction to neuromuscular junction disorders. This study attempts to provide a review of the major outbreaks of occupational neurotoxins from 1968 to 2012. A total of 16 occupational neurotoxins, including organophosphates, toxic gases, heavy metals, organic solvents, and other toxic chemicals, were reviewed. Peer-reviewed articles related to the electrophysiology, neuroimaging, treatment and long-term follow up of these neurotoxic diseases were also obtained. The heavy metals involved consisted of lead, manganese, organic tin, mercury, arsenic, and thallium. The organic solvents included n-hexane, toluene, mixed solvents and carbon disulfide. Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide were also included, along with toxic chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, organophosphates, and dimethylamine borane. In addition we attempted to correlate these events to the timeline of industrial development in Taiwan. By researching this topic, the hope is that it may help other developing countries to improve industrial hygiene and promote occupational safety and health care during the process of industrialization.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 1999

According to the fact that algae, which is usually used as a biosorbent, contains chlorophyll, we used the chlorophyll as an adsorbent. In this study, chlorophyll is immobilized by agar, which was made of platan, oak, ginkgo and pine. We investigated the removing capacity of biosorbents to toxic heavy metals (Pb, CU, Cd, Zn) in the single ion solution. Then the experimental parameters were pH, reaction time and concentration of heavy metal ions.The optimum conditions for the adsorption of heavy metals were as follows : pH range was 4~5, reaction time was 40mon, and the highest ratio of the removing rate was 50~70 ppm. The order of the amount of Pb, Cu and Cd removed was specified as oak > ginkgo > pine > platan in these conditions and as pine > ginkgo > oak > platan at Zn. Fro the results of the desorption experiments, we found that the heavy metal with the highest ratio of desorption in the single ion adsorbent was Cu.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.240-244
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the efficiency of steel mill slag and sludge in removing heavy metals and cyanide in metal plating wastewater. Laboratory experiments were peformed with jar tester, The tests were peformed at ambient temperature. The results of tests showed that overall rates metals removed were greater than 90 %. Metals were removed from solution as the combined effects of adsorption and precipitation in alkaline condition. The removal efficiency of cyanide by steel mill wastes was above 90 % at optimum conditions. In view of the test results and other engineering characteristics of steel mill slag and sludge, these industrial by-products from steel industry have a high potential to be used in metal plating wastewater treament and were particularly beneficial.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 1969

The lethal actions in Arabidopsis thaliana and Lemna polyrhiza brought about by certain inorganic form of Mn, Ba, Hg, Cu salts, and organic form of Na salts, were studied with aseptic artificial media. These metal ions at certain concentrations caused lethality of either Arabidopsis or Lemna when the media were without Ca ion. On the contrary, addition of Ca to the media protected the organisms from such lethality. It was postulated for the present from the proceeding evidence that Ca adsorbed and distributed along the sites between the plasma and cell membrane acts for suppressing permeation of toxic level of metal ions causing the lethality of these plants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2004

Aim of the present study was the development of a bioassay which enables the detection of toxic effects of heavy metal ions to a bacterium, Escherichia coli. Inhibition effects of the metals on growth rates of the bacterium were studied in the absence or presence of fulvic acid. This method does not clearly differentiate among metals, but does detect overall AGB inhibition rate (toxicity) for 5 different heavy metals. The toxicity of the metals in the absence of fulvic acid in the same testing conditions was significantly increased in following order: Hg < Pb, Zn < Cd < Cu, whereas the inhibition rate (toxicity) in the presence of FA was shown to be increased In following order: Cd < Pb, Hg < Cu < Zn. The results of the present study indicate that this simple and fast biomonitoring assay with direct exposure of E coli. might be a valuable supplement to analytical methods of contaminated media.