• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.174-188
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• 2024

This review summarized research trends regarding sample collection methods, pretreatment method, and types of analysis devices for microplastics (MPs) in soil and groundwater matrices. Soil sampling considers the selection of sampling location, depth, and volume. The typically sampling depth is within 15 cm (topsoil), and about 1 kg of mixed each sample. Among spot sampling and continuous flow sampling, groundwater sampling mainly used a continuous flow sampling, with collection rates 2 to 6 L/min in the range of 300~1,000 L, and followed by immediate on-situ filtration. Pretreatment method, applied to soil and groundwater, consist of organic digestion and density separation. In the organic digestion method, H₂O₂ is recommended among H₂O₂, acidic, alkaline, and enzymatic method. NaCl is primarily used as a reagent in density separation. However, depending on the density of MPs, other regents can be selectively used like ZnCl₂, ZnBr₂, and etc. Representative analysis device includes Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy for non-destructive analysis and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for destructive analysis. µ-FTIR and Raman can count MPs of larger than 10 and 1 ㎛, and analyze MPs materials. However, it is need to sufficiently remove interference, like organic matter, in spectroscopic analysis using essential pretreatment method. Py-GC/MS is being continuously researched because it doesn't require complex pretreatment method and allows quantitative analysis of specific materials.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.196-205
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• 2024

In this study, sample collection and quantification analysis of Tire and Road Wear Particles (TRWP) from the road surface were conducted to predict the amount of TRWP generated on the road surface moving by environmental compartment depending on rainfall intensity. Samples were collected from TRWP remaining on the road surface two days after the 3 days average rainfall (0-60 mm/day) occurred and the road surface was completely dry. Only TRWP were separated from the collected samples through size and density separation, and the difference in the content of TRWP remaining on the road surface after rainfall was based on the value of 60.2 g o f TRWP o n a day witho ut rain (0 mm/day). By calculating, it was co nfirmed that 0-49.4 g o f TRWP can mo ve to the environmental compartment depending on the intensity of rainfall. In addition, it was confirmed that when the rainfall intensity was 60 mm/day, the amount of TRWP moving to each environmental section was 3.75 times higher compared to 5 mm/day, and using the results of previous research, the total amount of TRWP that can be transported to the environmental compartment by rainfall from the domestic road environment annually is 9,592 tons, and 288 tons of this can be affected by marine microplastics. However, this study has limitations in terms of limited space and predicted results, but it would like to mention the need to improve the domestic road environment and sewage treatment system to reduce TRWP. In the future, we plan to conduct sample collection and concentration analysis studies of TRWP in real environmental compartments to verify the results of this study.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.371-377
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• 2007

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of microbial polyesters that can be produced by fermentation from renewable resources. PHAs can be used as completely biodegradable plastics or elastomers. In this paper, novel applications of PHAs in biosensor are described. A general platform technology was developed by using the substrate binding domain (SBD) of PHA depolymerase as a fusion partner to immobilize proteins of interest on PHA surface. It could be shown that the proteins fused to the SBD of PHA depolymerase could be specifically immobilized onto PHA film, PHA microbead, and microcontact printed PHA surface. We review the results obtained for monitoring the specific interaction between the SBO and PHA by using enhanced green fluorescent protein, red fluorescent protein, single chain antibody against hepatitis B virus preS2 surface protein and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus surface antigen as model proteins. Thus, this system can be efficiently used for studying protein-protein and possibly protein-biomolecule interactions for various biotechnological applications.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Purpose: We investigated the changes of plastic lens after etching of coating films by comparing uncoated lens. Methods: CR-39, middle index and high index lenses of 0 (zero) diopter were etched at $80^{\circ}C$ and room temperature using a coating remover, and then changes of refractive power, transmittance and surface morphology were investigated. Results: There were no differences in refractive power and transmittance between uncoated and etched lenses. The etching rate was similar in both CR-39 and middle index lens, but in the case of high index lens, it was slower and less steady than the others. From the SEM observation of lens surface, etching damage was found out on the surface of etched lens. It was shown the least damage in middle index lens but the most damage in high index lens. Conclusions: If the etching of coating films is demanded on condition that the surface of ophthalmic lenses are not damaged, a using of most adequate coating remover based on lens material should be considered, and a caution for proper etching conditions is required.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.15-26
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• 2020

In recent years, there is an increasing interest in environmental friendly treatment of waste-plastics in terms of the generation of microplastics. Accordingly, the recycling of waste-plastics is very important because it provides advantages of volume reduction, mitigation of carbon dioxide emission, and reproduction of value-added products. In particular, in order to recycle the eco-friendly waste-plastics, it is necessary to use a physical separation methods, and among them, flotation separation, which can separate material (i.e., polymer component) in waste-plastics is well known as a very effective separation method in terms of material recycle. Therefore, in this review, the research trend of flotation separation for effective separation of mixture waste-plastics was investigated. In addition, through the reported research results, approaches to use as new functional materials from polymers, which are raw materials for waste-plastics, are summarized.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.992-999
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• 1999

Due to the inherently poor adhesion strength of Cu-based leadframe/EMC(Epoxy Molding Compound) interface, popcorn-cracking phenomena of thin plastic packages frequently occur during the solder reflow process. In this study, in order to enhance the adhesion strength of Cu-based leadframe/EMC interface, brown-oxide layer was formed on the leadframe surface by immersing of leadframe sheets in hot alkaline solution, and the adhesion strength of leadframe/EMC interface was measured by using SDCB(Sandwiched Double Cantilever Beam) and SBN(Sandwiched Brazil-Nut) specimens. Results showed that brown oxide treatment of leadframe introduced fine acicular CuO crystals on the leadframe surface and improved the adhesion strength of leadframe/EMC interface. Enhancement of adhesion strength was directly related to the thickening kinetics of oxide layer. This might be due to the mechanical interlocking of fine acicular CuO crystals into EMC.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2021

In the flotation process to remove microplastic (MP) particles, the attachment and separation efficiency is determined by the basic physicochemical characteristics of MP particles as well as bubbles. To evaluate the flotation characteristics of MP particles, we carried out a series of simulations using the population balance (PB) model. The initial attachment coefficient (αo) of MP particles was in the range of 0.2-0.275, and it was slightly lower than that of typical particles, such as clay, debris and algae particles, which exist in water bodies, αo, 0.3-0.4. The relative bubble number (RBN) attached to the surface of the typical number of bubbles was 0.30 and 0.32 for MP 30 ㎛ and MP 58 ㎛, respectively. In comparison, the RBN of larger MP particles (138 ㎛) was as high as 0.53. Furthermore, smaller microbubbles were required to separate properly or additional treatment needed to be applied to enhance collision and attachment efficiency since the flotation of MP particles was found to be difficult to treat as high-rate. As a result of comparing the removal rate (experimental value) of MP particles obtained from the batch-type flotation apparatus and the flotation removal rate (predicted value) of MP obtained through the PB model, the final particles by the particle size of MP overall except for the initial separation time area. With respect to the removal efficiency, the observed and predicted values were similar, and it was confirmed that the floating separation characteristics and evaluation of the MP particles through the PB model could be possible.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.929-932
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• 2012

Novel platform technology has been developed to replace the photolithography used currently for manufacturing semiconductors and display devices. As a substrate, plastics, especially polycarbonates, have been considered for future application such as flexible display. Other plastics, i.e. polyimide, polyetheretherketon, and polyethersulfone developed for the substrate at this moment, are available for photolithography due to their high glass transition temperature, instead of high price. After thin polystyrene film was coated on the polycarbonate substrate, microstructure of the film was formed with polydimethylsiloxane template over the glass transition temperature of the polystyrene. The surface of the structure was treated with potassium permanganate and octadecyltrimethoxysilane so that the surface became hydrophobic. After this surface treatment, the nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous solution were aligned in the structure followed by evaporation of the DI water. Without the treatment, the nanoparticles were placed on the undesired region of the structure. Therefore, the interfacial interaction was also utilized for the nanoparticle alignment. The surface was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The evaporation of the solvent occurred after several drops of the solution where the hydrophilic nanoparticles were dispersed. During the evaporation, the alignment was precisely guided by the physical structure and the interfacial interaction. The alignment was applied to the electric device.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2004

The nano or micro sized structures of conducting polymer had been prepared by synthesizing the desired polymer within the pores of template of nano or micro porous membrane filter. In this study, we had tried to fabricate conducting polymer microstructures on an electrode by using electrochemical deposition adopting template synthesis. Our attention was focused on two different things, attaching template on the electrode and fabricating microstructures only at limited areas of the electrode. A conducting polymer, PEDiTT (poly 3,4-ethylenedithi-athiophene) solution was blended with PVA(polyvinyl alcohol) solution and used as an conducting adhesive. After attaching template membrane, the electrode were immersed in 0.5M pyrrole in 0.1M KCI solution, and electrochemical polymerization was performed. The growth process of the microstructures studied by SEM. The electrochemical fabrication of conducting polymer was performed by using two-electrode system. A large working electrode and a micro scale disc electrode were used for the confined area synthesis. Polymerization potential was 4V in an electrolytic solution made of KCI in deionized water. The optimum polymerization conditions were, i.e. (4V/100sec) for $250{\mu}m$ electrode and (6V/30 sec) for $10{\mu}m$ electrode.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.610-626
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the concept of microplastics and their occurrence, transport, biological effects, and management methods in the ocean. Methods: I reviewed articles on microplastics in the ocean by using the Google Scholar database. Results: Plastic litter has been reported as a ubiquitous pollutant in the ocean due to the extensive consumption of plastics and the mismanagement of plastic wastes. Microplastics are generally defined as synthetic polymer particles <5 mm in size. Microplastics generated from the degradation of plastic litter are currently a serious global concern since they spread easily all over the ocean, transfer to different tissues inside contaminated animals, and even across different trophic levels inside the food web. An additional concern is the ability of microplastics to adsorb organic and inorganic pollutants and subsequently release them into the ocean. Thus, alternatives to reduce microplastics in the ocean are discussed. Conclusions: This paper summarizes the concept of microplastics and their behavior in the ocean and suggests management methods for microplastics in support of a cleaner ocean.