• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.10-21
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• 2022

In the South Korea, 47% of abandoned mines are suffering from the mining hazards such as the mine drainage (MD), the mine tailings and the waste rocks. Among them the mine drainage which has a low pH and the high concentration of heavy metals can directly contaminate rivers or soil and cause serious damages to human health. The natural/artificial treatment facilities by using neutralizers and coagulants for the mine drainage have been operated in domestic and most of heavy metals in mind drainage are precipitated and removed in the form of metal hydroxide, alumino-silicate or carbonate, generating a large amount of mine drainage treated sludge ('MDS' hereafter) by-product. The MDS has a large surface area and many functional groups, showing high efficiency on the fixation of heavy metals. The purpose of this study is to develop a ingenious heavy metal stabilizer that can effectively stabilize arsenic (As) and heavy metals in soil by recycling the MDS (two types of MDS: the acid mine drainage treated sludge (MMDS) and the coal mine drainage treated sludge (CMDS)). Various analyses, toxicity evaluations, and leaching reduction batch experiments were performed to identify the characteristics of MDS as the stabilizer for soils contaminated with As and heavy metals. As a result of batch experiments, the Pb stabilization efficiency of both of MDSs for soil A was higher than 90% and their Zn stabilization efficiencies were higher than 70%. In the case of soil B and C, which were contaminated with As, their As stabilization efficiencies were higher than 80%. Experimental results suggested that both of MDSs could be successfully applied for the As and heavy metal contaminated soil as the soil stabilizer, because of their low unit price and high stabilization efficiency for As and hevry metals.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.3-8
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• 2023

This study discussed production, demand, and future prospects of rubidium, which is an alkali group metal that is highly reactive to various media and requires carefulness in handling, but no significant environmental hazard of rubidium has been reported yet. Rubidium is used in various fields such as optoelectronic equipment, biomedical, and chemical industries. Because of difficulty in production as well as limited demand, the transaction price of rubidium is relatively high, but its detail information such as market status and potential growth is uncertain. However, if the mass production of versatile ultra-high-performance equipment such as quantum computers and the necessity of rubidium use in the equipment are confirmed, there is a possibility that the rubidium market will expand in the future. Rubidium is often found together with lithium, beryllium, and cesium, and may be present in granite containing minerals such as lepidolite and pollucite, as well as in seawater and industrial waste. Several technologies such as acid leaching, roasting, solvent extraction, and adsorption are used to recover rubidium. The maximum recovery efficiency of the rubidium from the sources and the processing above is generally high, but, in many practices, rubidium is not the main recovery target, and therefore the actual recovery effects should depend on presence of other valuable components or impurities, together with recovery costs, energy consumption, environmental issues, etc. In conclusion, although the current production and consumption of rubidium are limited, with consideration of the possible market fluctuations according to the emergence of large-scale demand sources, etc., further investigations by related institutions should be necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 1983

The purpose of this study was to prepare low methoxyl pectins (LMPs) by pectinesterase (PE) using waste tangerine peels and to compare the chemical, physical and gelling properties of the prepared pectins with the commercial LMP. The LMPs were prepared by treating albedo with 0.25M $Na_2CO_3$ to activate the PE. PE was then inactivated by heating. The sample was centrifuged and the supernatant was collected. LMP was obtained as precipitate by adding alcohol to the collected supernatant. The amounts of extractible pectins in albedo were 12.71~12.98% on a dry weight basis. Methoxyl contents of LMPs prepared by treating albedo with PE at pH 7.5 for 10min, at pH 8.5 for 10min, 20min and 30min were 5.12%, 4.27%, 3.08%, 1.85% respectively, demonstrating that the methoxyl contents of the preparations decreased as the degree of treatment albedo with PE increased. The acetyl contents of the preparations ranged from 0.09% to 0.12%, the values of which do not interfere with gel formation. The anhydrouronic acid contents of the prepared pectins were in the range of 94.2%~94.8%. The values of viscosity and molecular weights of the prepared LMPs tent to decrease as the degree of PE action on albedo increased. The textural value of the prepared LMP gels determined by Consistometer, Ridgelimeter and Instron denonstrated that the excess treatment of albedo with PE significantly impaired the gelling properties of the preparations.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.599-612
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• 2017

Human hair (HH) is produced as a waste from beauty parlor and barbershop. HH-based adhesives were formulated with NaOH-hydrolyzed HH, $H_2SO_4$-hydrolyzed chicken blood (CB) and PF as a crosslinking agent. Physicochemical properties and retention rate against hot water of the adhesives were measured to investigate the potential of HH as a raw material of wood adhesives. HH was composed of keratin-type protein of 80% and over. Ash of less than 0.1% was contained in HH. Among the amino acids included in HH, glutamic acid showed the highest content, followed by cysteine, serine, arginine and threonine. Solid content of the adhesives ranged from 33.2% to 41.8% depending on hydrolysis conditions of HH and PF type. Viscosity at $25^{\circ}C$ ranged from 300 to $600mPa{\cdot}s$ resulting in a sprayable adhesive. Retention rate against hot water measured to evaluate the water resistance of adhesives was the highest in the cured resin formulated with 5% NaOH-hydrolyzed HH and 5% $H_2SO_4$-hydrolyzed CB. Meanwhile, the molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol in PF did not have a significant impact on the retention rate of HH-based adhesives. When the retention rates of HH-based adhesives were compared to those of conventional wood adhesive resins used for the production of wood-based panels extensively, HH-based adhesives formulated with 30 wt% PF showed lower retention rate than commercial urea-formaldehyde resin. However, when PF content was increased to 35 wt%, the retention rate greatly increased and approached to that of commercial melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin. Except for the results mentioned above, the analysis of economic feasibility suggests that HH-based adhesives can be used for the production of wood-based panels if HH is hydrolyzed in proper conditions and then the HH-based adhesives are formulated by the HH hydrolyzates with 35 wt% PF.

• 한국유가공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.59-60
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• 2002

Edible films such as wax coatings, sugar and chocolate covers, and sausage casings, have been used in food applications for years$^{(1)}$ However, interest in edible films and biodegradable polymers has been renewed due to concerns about the environment, a need to reduce the quantity of disposable packaging, and demand by the consumer for higher quality food products. Edible films can function as secondary packaging materials to enhance food quality and reduce the amount of traditional packaging needed. For example, edible films can serve to enhance food quality by acting as moisture and gas barriers, thus, providing protection to a food product after the primary packaging is opened. Edible films are not meant to replace synthetic packaging materials; instead, they provide the potential as food packagings where traditional synthetic or biodegradable plastics cannot function. For instance, edible films can be used as convenient soluble pouches containing single-servings for products such as instant noodles and soup/seasoning combination. In the food industry, they can be used as ingredient delivery systems for delivering pre-measured ingredients during processing. Edible films also can provide the food processors with a variety of new opportunities for product development and processing. Depends on materials of edible films, they also can be sources of nutritional supplements. Especially, whey proteins have excellent amino acid balance while some edible films resources lack adequate amount of certain amino acids, for example, soy protein is low in methionine and wheat flour is low in lysine$^{(2)}$. Whey proteins have a surplus of the essential amino acid lysine, threonine, methionine and isoleucine. Thus, the idea of using whey protein-based films to individually pack cereal products, which often deficient in these amino acids, become very attractive$^{(3)}$. Whey is a by-product of cheese manufacturing and much of annual production is not utilized$^{(4)}$. Development of edible films from whey protein is one of the ways to recover whey from dairy industry waste. Whey proteins as raw materials of film production can be obtained at inexpensive cost. I hypothesize that it is possible to make whey protein-based edible films with improved moisture barrier properties without significantly altering other properties by producing whey protein/lipid emulsion films and these films will be suitable far food applications. The fellowing are the specific otjectives of this research: 1. Develop whey protein/lipid emulsion edible films and determine their microstructures, barrier (moisture and oxygen) and mechanical (tensile strength and elongation) properties. 2. Study the nature of interactions involved in the formation and stability of the films. 3. Investigate thermal properties, heat sealability, and sealing properties of the films. 4. Demonstrate suitability of their application in foods as packaging materials. Methodologies were developed to produce edible films from whey protein isolate (WPI) and concentrate (WPC), and film-forming procedure was optimized. Lipids, butter fat (BF) and candelilla wax (CW), were added into film-forming solutions to produce whey protein/lipid emulsion edible films. Significant reduction in water vapor and oxygen permeabilities of the films could be achieved upon addition of BF and CW. Mechanical properties were also influenced by the lipid type. Microstructures of the films accounted for the differences in their barrier and mechanical properties. Studies with bond-dissociating agents indicated that disulfide and hydrogen bonds, cooperatively, were the primary forces involved in the formation and stability of whey protein/lipid emulsion films. Contribution of hydrophobic interactions was secondary. Thermal properties of the films were studied using differential scanning calorimetry, and the results were used to optimize heat-sealing conditions for the films. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) was used to study the nature of the interfacial interaction of sealed films. All films were heat sealable and showed good seal strengths while the plasticizer type influenced optimum heat-sealing temperatures of the films, 130$^{\circ}$C for sorbitol-plasticized WPI films and 110$^{\circ}$C for glycerol-plasticized WPI films. ESCA spectra showed that the main interactions responsible for the heat-sealed joint of whey protein-based edible films were hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds involving C-0-H and N-C components. Finally, solubility in water, moisture contents, moisture sorption isotherms and sensory attributes (using a trained sensory panel) of the films were determined. Solubility was influenced primarily by the plasticizer in the films, and the higher the plasticizer content, the greater was the solubility of the films in water. Moisture contents of the films showed a strong relationship with moisture sorption isotherm properties of the films. Lower moisture content of the films resulted in lower equilibrium moisture contents at all aw levels. Sensory evaluation of the films revealed that no distinctive odor existed in WPI films. All films tested showed slight sweetness and adhesiveness. Films with lipids were scored as being opaque while films without lipids were scored to be clear. Whey protein/lipid emulsion edible films may be suitable for packaging of powder mix and should be suitable for packaging of non-hygroscopic foods$^{(5,6,7,8,)}$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2008

This research is aimed to investigate the cultivation method of oyster mushroom[Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kummer] at the non-sterilized medium with $Ca(OH)_2$ treatment. Therefore, experiments were carried out to develop non-sterilization method of medium by addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ for omission of heat sterilization progress of medium. General components, minerals and amino acid in Jiri wild type No. 1 (Pleurotus ostreatus) and production cost were analyzed. For the purpose of omission of heat sterilization progress, treatment ratio of $Ca(OH)_2$ (purity 95%) was 5%(w/w) of dry medium. Initial pH of this medium was 11 and then the pH was changed by 9 after the uniform mixing of the medium for half an hour. The various germs occurred 50% and 100% at pH 8 and pH 7 of the non-sterilized medium, respectively. Production of oyster mushroom increased by $2,030\;ton\;ha^{-1}$ when the main raw material used corn pith instead of waste cotton. The time required of mycelium culture was 30 days when hypha was cultured at the non-sterilized medium, and pinhead occurred when 2 or 3 days was passed after the time required of mycelium culture. Occurrence of pinhead was most rapid at the condition of $22{\sim}26^{\circ}C$, 65% humidity and pH $6.5{\sim}7.0$ and required of $22{\sim}28$ days at $70{\sim}80\;mm$ thickness of non-sterilized medium. Ca content in 1st harvest oyster mushroom was higher than that in 2nd harvest one, and its difference was $30.3\;mg\;kg^{-1}$. Amino acid content by stipe thickness of oyster mushroom was ranged from 411.2 to $343.9\;mg\;kg^{-1}$ both in a pileus and a stipe of 1st harvest mushroom, and from 402.4 to $498.2\;mg\;kg^{-1}$ and from 442.6 to $470.4\;mg\;kg^{-1}$ in those of 2nd harvest one, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that the non-sterilization medium by addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ is usable with the cultivation of oyster mushroom.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.243-253
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate the feasibility of utilizing concentrates of sunmul(soybean curd whey), the waste by-product of soybean curd processing, as functional food ingredients. Sunmul was concentrated by nanofiltration fo11owing ultrafiltration and then freeze-dried. The oil adsorption capacity of the nanofiltraion(NF) powder(97.33g/100g) was similar to that of sunmul powder(94.17g/100g), but was lower than that of ISP(isolated soy protein). However, the water holding capacity of NF powder could not be determined because the NF powder completely dissolved in water. The protein solubilities of sunmul powder and ISP in distilled H$_{2}$O, 0.1M and 0.5M NaCl were lowest at pH 4.0 and increased at more acidic or alkaline conditions. However, the protein solubility of NF powder was at its minimum at pH 6.0 and increased at more acidic or alkaline conditions. Emulsifying activity indexes of NF powder in 4% and 6% solution were minimal at pH 4.0 and 6.0, respectively, which were 3 to 8 times lower than that of sunmul powder. The emulsion stability of 4% sunmul solution was lowest at pH 4.0, but that of NF powder was highest at pH 5.0 and decreased at more acidic or alkaline conditions at all concentrations of solution. The total free amino acid contents of protein in sunmul, and NF power were 99.07 and 2,110.10mg%, respectively, and NF powder exhibited especially high threonine content. Rapid viscosity analysis of dough with 1 to 5% added NF powder demonstrated that all of the peak and final viscosities decreased with increasing NF powder concentration compared to the control.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.603-618
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• 2023

This study focused on evaluating the suitability of the WRK (waste repository Korea) bentonite as a buffer material in the SNF (spent nuclear fuel) repository. The U (uranium) adsorption/desorption characteristics and the adsorption mechanisms of the WRK bentonite were presented through various analyses, adsorption/desorption experiments, and kinetic adsorption modeling at various pH conditions. Mineralogical and structural analyses supported that the major mineral of the WRK bentonite is the Ca-montmorillonite having the great possibility for the U adsorption. From results of the U adsorption/desorption experiments (intial U concentration: 1 mg/L) for the WRK bentonite, despite the low ratio of the WRK bentonite/U (2 g/L), high U adsorption efficiency (>74%) and low U desorption rate (<14%) were acquired at pH 5, 6, 10, and 11 in solution, supporting that the WRK bentonite can be used as the buffer material preventing the U migration in the SNF repository. Relatively low U adsorption efficiency (<45%) for the WRK bentonite was acquired at pH 3 and 7 because the U exists as various species in solution depending on pH and thus its U adsorption mechanisms are different due to the U speciation. Based on experimental results and previous studies, the main U adsorption mechanisms of the WRK bentonite were understood in viewpoint of the chemical adsorption. At the acid conditions (＜pH 3), the U is apt to adsorb as forms of UO₂²⁺, mainly due to the ionic bond with Si-O or Al-O(OH) present on the WRK bentonite rather than the ion exchange with Ca²⁺ among layers of the WRK bentonite, showing the relatively low U adsorption efficiency. At the alkaline conditions (>pH 7), the U could be adsorbed in the form of anionic U-hydroxy complexes (UO₂(OH)₃^-, UO₂(OH)₄^2-, (UO₂)₃(OH)₇^-, etc.), mainly by bonding with oxygen (O^-) from Si-O or Al-O(OH) on the WRK bentonite or by co-precipitation in the form of hydroxide, showing the high U adsorption. At pH 7, the relatively low U adsorption efficiency (42%) was acquired in this study and it was due to the existence of the U-carbonates in solution, having relatively high solubility than other U species. The U adsorption efficiency of the WRK bentonite can be increased by maintaining a neutral or highly alkaline condition because of the formation of U-hydroxyl complexes rather than the uranyl ion (UO₂²⁺) in solution,and by restraining the formation of U-carbonate complexes in solution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.130-143
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• 1997

To investigate geochemical characteristics and the sources of the dissolved ion species in the river water in the Han river drainage basin, samples were collected at 60 sites from the Han river drainage basin. The data for. pH, conductivity, TDS (total dissolved solid), temperature, and concentrations of dissloved ions were obtained as follows : (1) The geochemical characteristics of the surface water in the South and North Han river drainage basins are mainly controlled by bed rock geology in the drainage basin and in the main stream of the Han river considerably affected by anthropogenic pollution. The South Han river water samples have high concentrations of $Ca^{2＋}$ (ave. 15.42 ppm), $Mg^{2＋}$ (ave. 2.74 ppm), HC $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ (ave. 51.9 ppm), which evidently indicates that the bed rock geology in a limestone area mainly controls the surface water chemistry. The concentration of S $O_4$$^{2-}$ is remarkably high (SHR10-2 : 129.9 ppm) because of acid mine drainage from the metal and coal mines in the upper reaches of the South Han river. (2) The South Han river and the North Han river join the Han river. in the Yangsuri, Kyounggido and flow through Seoul metropolitan city. The mixing ratio is about 60:40 at the meeting point (sample number HRl0). (3) The result of factor analysis suggests that the pollution factor accounts for about 79% and the bed rock type factor accounts for about 7% of the data variation. This means that the geochemical characteristics of the Han river water mainly controlled by anthropogenic pollution in the South Han river and main stream of the Han river drainage basin. (4) The chemical data for four tributaries such as the Wangsukcheon, the Tancheon, the Zunuangcheon, and the Anyangcheon show that the concentration of pollution elements such as N $O_2$, C $l^{－}$, P $O_4$$^{3-}$, S $O_4$$^{2-}$ and Mn are high due to municipal waste disposal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2010

In order to investigate the degree of household dust contamination, 48 samples of household dust (24 from urban area and 24 from rural area) in Daegu city were collected in vacuum cleaner during January to February 2009. Samples were sieved below 100 ${\mu}m$, and 14 elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) were analyzed using ICP after acid extraction. Results obtained from the source assessment of trace elements using enrichment factor showed that Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and V were influenced by natural sources such as weathered rock and resuspended soil, while Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were influenced by anthropogenic sources such as fuel combustion and waste incineration. Concentrations were remarkably higher in components from natural sources than in components from urban anthropogenic sources. Household dust in urban area was more affected by anthropogenic sources compared with that of rural area. Pollution index of heavy metals revealed that urban area was 1.8 times more contaminated with heavy metal components than rural area. The correlation analysis among trace elements indicated that components were correlated with natural sources-natural sources (Al-Mg, Al-Mn, Fe-Mn) and natural sources-anthropogenic sources (Al-V, Fe-Cr, V-Mn) in both urban area and rural area. Trace element components of rural area were more correlated than those of urban area. Houses that use oil for heating fuel had relatively higher contents of heavy metals rather than those using gas or electricity for heating fuel. Houses with children also had higher contents of heavy metals. In addition, the age of houses was found to influence the heavy metal levels in household dusts, with older houses (>10years) having higher concentrations than newer houses (<10years) and houses located near the major road (<10 m) were found to have relatively higher heavy metal levels in household dust.