• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2004

A bacterial strain WJ-98 found to produce active extracellular keratinase was isolated from the soil of a poultry factory. It was identified as Paracoccus sp. based on its 16S rRNA sequence analysis, morphological and physiological characteristics. The optimal culture conditions for the production of keratinase by Paracoccus sp. WJ-98 were investigated. The optimal medium composition for keratinase production was determined to be 1.0% keratin, 0.05% urea and NaCl, 0.03% K$_2$HPO$_4$, 0.04% KH$_2$PO$_4$, and 0.01% MgCl$_2$$.$6H$_2$O. Optimal initial pH and temperature for the production of keratinase were 7.5 and 37$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The maximum keratinase production of 90 U/mL was reached after 84 h of cultivation under the optimal culturing conditions. The keratinase from Paracoccus sp. WJ-98 was partially purified from a culture broth by using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, followed by gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-75. Optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme reaction were pH 6.8 and 50$^{\circ}C$, respectively and the enzymes were stable in the pH range from 6.0 to 8.0 and below 50$^{\circ}C$. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by EDTA, Zn$\^$2+/ and Hg$\^$2+/. Inquiry into the characteristics of keratinase production from these bacteria may yield useful agricultural feed processing applications.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.540-546
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• 2014

Acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS) has been classified as mine waste and generally deposited in land. For this reason, studies have been conducted to examine the possibility of recycling AMDS as an amendment for heavy metal stabilization in soil. The main objective of this study was to evaluate heavy metal stabilization efficiency of AMDS comparing with the widely used lime stone. Also, optimum mixing ratio was evaluated for enhancing heavy metal stabilization. AMDS and limestone were mixed at the ratio of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 with five different heavy metal solutions ($100mg\;L^{-1}$ of $NaAsO_2$, $CdCl_2$, $CuCl_2$, $Pb(NO_3)_2$, and $ZnSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$). The amendments were added at a rate of 3% (w/v). In order to determine the stabilization kinetics, samples were collected at different reaction time of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 minutes. The heavy metal stabilization by AMDS was faster and higher than those of limestone for all examined heavy metals. While limestone showed only 20% of arsenic (As) stabilization after 1,024 minutes, 96% of As was stabilized within 1 minute by AMDS. The highest effect on the stabilization of heavy metal (loid) was observed, when the two amendments were mixed at a ratio of 1:1. These results indicated that AMDS can be effectively used for heavy metal stabilization in soil, especially for As, and the optimum mixing ratio of AMDS and lime was 1:1 at a rate of 3% (w/v).

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2010

Colored compounds adsorption from the textile dyeing effluents on activated carbons produced from various indigenous vegetable sources by zinc chloride activation is studied. The most important parameters in chemical activation were found to be the chemical ratio of $ZnCl_2$ to feed (3:1), carbonization temperature (460-470 $^{\circ}C$) and time of activation (75 min). The absorbance at 511 nm (red effluent) and 615 nm (blue effluent) are used for estimation of color. It is established that at optimum temperature ($50^{\circ}C$), time of contact (30-40 min) and adsorbent loading (2 g/L), activated carbons developed from rain tree (Samanea saman) saw dust and blackberry (Randia formosa) tree saw dust showed great capability to remove color materials from the effluents. It is observed that adsorption of reactive dyes by all types of activated carbons is more than that of disperse dyes. It is explained that because of its acidic nature the activated carbon can adsorb better reactive dye particles containing large number of nitrogen sites and $-SO_3Na$ group in their structure. The use of activated carbons from the indigenous biomass would be economical, because saw dusts are readily available waste worldwide.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-41
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• 2002

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and contamination of dissolved major ions and heavy metals in the Tancheon River, river water and sediment samples were collected at 18 locations, along a distance of 69 km, between Yongin-si in Kyunggi-do and Samsung-dong in Seoul on October in 2000 and April in 2001. After appropriate sample preparation, waters were analyzed for the dissolved constituents and sediments. The pH values of river waters were in the range of 7.0 to 9.3 and could be plotted in the area of surface environment. The level of $Ca^{2+}$, , CI-, sol-, N0$_{3}$ and HC0$_{3}$ in the Tancheon River were higher than those in world average river water. Most of dissolved constituents in the river waters increased toward downstream from upstream. In particular, high concentrations of Zn2+, Na$_{+}$, CI$^{-}$, SO$_{4}^{2-}$ and N03- were found near densely residential areas and the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. The relative ion enrichment was caused by the inflow of local domestic and industrial sewages. Also, Ca2+ and HC03- concentrations were enriched in the middle of the Tancheon River due to the dissolution of cements. This indicates that the apartment complexes were built on a large scale in the upriver since these ten years and large amounts of construction materials such as cements were flowed into the Tancheon River. Concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in sediments from the Tancheon River exceeded the lower limit of tolerence level in bottom sediment established by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OME) of Canada. In particular, these metals were highly elevated in sediment (TSM-12) collected from near the Sungnam waste water treatment plant. Heavy metals were higher enriched in sediments collected from dry period rather than wet period.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.789-795
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• 2008

To study the possible use of probiotics in fish farming, we evaluated antagonism of antibacterial strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H41 against the fish pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum NCMB1. The purification of growth inhibition factor produced by B. amyloliquefaciens H41 was achieved by obtaining supernatant of this bacterium. The growth inhibition factor was purified to homogeneity by 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-sephadex A-50 ion exchange chromatography, sephadex G-200 gel filtration column chromatography, and sephadex G-50 gel filtration column chromatography with 40.8 fold of purification and 2.9% yield. The molecular weight of the purified growth inhibition factor was 48 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH and temperature for the growth inhibition factor were pH 7.5 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity of growth inhibition factor was enhanced slightly by some metal ions, such as $Mg^{+2}$, $Mn^{+2}$, but was inhibited by the addition of $Co^{+2}$, $Hg^{+2}$, $Zn^{+2}$ and $Ag^{+2}$. NaCl stability of the growth inhibition factor was observed with 50% residual activity at 3% NaCl concentration. Toxicity test showed that the purified B. amyloliquefaciens H41 growth inhibition factor did not affect the live of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and the effectiveness was 78% of residual lethality compared to commercial antibacterial agents.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 1998

To characterize the growth environment, inorganic composition and morphological chracteristics of leaves of Korean tea plant, soil and tea leaf samples were collected from 15 locations and analyzed. The chemical characteristics of soils were in range of pH 4.09~6.15, OM 23.9~72.6g/kg, available phosphate less than 300mg/kg, K $0.8{\sim}2.5cmol^+/kg$, Na $tr{\sim}0.17cmol^+/kg$, Ca $1.0{\sim}6.2cmol^+/kg$, and Mg $0.3{\sim}2.1cmol^+/kg$. The contents of Ni. Cr, Zn. Cu, Pb, and Cd were at the level less than natural content in upland soil. Most of the sample soils were sandy loamy and loamy texture. The native tea plants were mainly grown in bamboo thicket or in forest. The leaf sizes of tea plants were $6.85{\pm}1.75{\times}2.6{\pm}0.5cm$, lateral vein number $14.2{\pm}2.7$, and crenated number $58.5{\pm}11.2$, and the leaf color was thin to dark green. The contents of $NH_4{^+}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ in tea leaves were in range of 30.5~47.7, 45.5~164.5, 16,998~25,431, 1.590~2,392 and 1,085~1,958mg/kg, respectively. The contents of $F^-$, $Cl^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $PO_4{^{3-}}$ and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ were in range of 21.2~63.2, 126.4~257.9, 108.5~185.9, 1,270~1.819, and $954{\sim}1,670mg/kg$, respectively. The leaf size of native tea plant grown widlly in Shunchun Changchun-ri, Hwasun Ssangbongsa, Kuryoi Chonunsa, Bosong Daewonsa and Namhae Boriam was as large as those of Yabukita. Japan cultiver, grown at Kangjin Jangwon tea field.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.475-486
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• 1997

The characteristics of atmospheric aerosols were investigated as a function of particle size and water solubility. The atmospheric aerosols were sampled with classifying into 12 size ranges by the use of Andersen low-pressure impactor. Collected aerosol particles were extracted by ultrapure water and filtered to be separated into water-soluble and insoluble components. The concentrations 12 elements in both components were determined by PIXE analysis. And the concentrations of 8 ions in the soluble component were analyzed by ion chromatography. In general, the mass size distribution of particulate matter was represented as a bimodal distribution. The mass size distributions of S$(SO_4^{2-}), K(K^+), Zn and NH_4^+$ skewed to the smaller size range and those of Si, Ca$(Ca^{2+}), Fe, Na^+ and Mg^{2+}$ skewed to the larger size range. They had roughly one peak in the fine and coarse particle region,respectively. On the other hand, the mass size distribution of Ti, Mn, Ni, Cu, $Cl^- and NO_3^-$ were represented as the bimodal distribution. Fe and Si in the aerosol particles extracted into pure water are existing in high insoluble state. Conversely, almost the whole of S is dissolved in water.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.395-402
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• 2005

Biologically active recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) was produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells and purified by a series of chromatographic steps. The chromatographic steps included anion-exchange chromatography (DEAE Sepharose F/F, Q Sepharose F/F), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Source 15 PHE), and hydroxyapatite chromatography (Macro-Prep ceramic hydroxyapatite type I). A distinctive step of the purification process developed was the use of ZnCl$_2$ for the removal of non-glycosylated or lowly-glycosylated FSH and impurities through co-precipitation with Zn$^{2+}$. Purified rhFSH was identified and characterized by several physicochemical and biological methods such as gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, amino acid analysis, carbohydrate analysis, and biological activity. The overall yield of the purification was ~$30\%$. The rhFSH preparation obtained showed high purity (>$99\%$) and high in vivo potency (>16,000 IU/mg). Carbohydrate analysis suggested that the purified rhFSH contained approximately $40\%$ (w/w) carbohydrate with di­or tri-antennary structure on average, which is somewhat more heavily sialylated than commercially available rhFSH. In conclusion, the results of these analyses established an identity of the purified rhFSH with natural FSH from human pituitary glands, and furthermore, the purified rhFSH preparation showed higher in vivo potency and was slightly more heavily sialylated than commercially available rhFSH.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2009

In this study, the characterization of purified erythritol 4-phosphate dehydrogenase, key enzyme of erythritol biosynthesis, produced by Penicillium sp. KJ81 was investigated. Optimum production conditions of erythritol 4-phosphate dehydrogenase was 1 vvm areration, 200 rpm agitation, at $37^{\circ}C$ for 8 days in the medium containing 30% sucrose, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, 0.1% $KH_2PO_4$, and 0.05%$MgCl_2$. Erythritol 4-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified through ultrafiltration and preparative gel electrophoresis from cell extract of Penicillium sp. KJ81. This enzyme was especially active on erythrose 4-phosphate with 1.07 mM of Km value. It gave a single band on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an isoelectric point of 4.6. The enzyme had an optimal activity at pH 7.0 and $30^{\circ}C$. It was stable between pH 4.0 and 9.0, and also below $30^{\circ}C$. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by 1mM $Cu^{2+}$ and 1 mM $Zn^{2+}$, but was not significantly affected by other cations tested. This enzyme was inactivated by treatment of tyrosine specific reagent, iodine and tryptophan specific reagent, N-bromosuccinimide. The substrate of the enzyme, erythrose 4-phosphate showed protective effect on the inactivation of the enzyme by both reagents. These results suggest that tryptophan and tyrosine residues are probably located at or near active site of the enzyme.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2009

The $\beta$-glucosidase gene from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The ORF consisted of 1377 nucleotides encoding 51 kDa in a predicted molecular weight. Effects of pH indicated that the $\beta$-glucosidase showed similar activity using $\alpha$-pNPG($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\alpha$-D-glucopyranoside), $\beta$-pNPG($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside), and $\beta$-pNPF($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-fucopyranoside) at range of pH 3 to 10, and high activity using $\beta$-pNPGA ($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-galactopyranoside) from pH 5 to 10, especially, 3.3 times higher activity at pH 9. Effects of temperature indicated that the $\beta$-glucosidase showed low activity using $\alpha$-pNPG, $\beta$-pNPG, and $\beta$-pNPF from $20^{\circ}C$ to $70^{\circ}C$, and increased activity using $\beta$-pNPGA from $30^{\circ}C$ to $50^{\circ}C$, 1.8 times higher activity at $50^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$. According to activity determination of other substrates, the enzyme was active on daidzin, genistin, and glycitin, inactive on esculin and apigenin-7-glucose. The EDTA and DTT as reducing agents inhibited $\beta$-glucosidase activity, but SDS and mercaptoethanol did not inhibit. Monovalent or divalent metal ions such as $MnSO_4$, $CaCl_2$, KCl, and $MgSO_4$ did not inhibited $\beta$-glucosidase activity. $CuSO_4$ and NaCl showed low inhibition, and $ZnSO_4$ inhibited 3.3 times higher than control.