• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.217-223
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• 2019

The application of 3D printing technology is expanding due to the production of the complex-shape parts and the one-step manufacturing process. Moreover, various technical solutions in 3D printing are emerging through continuous research and development. Representative technologies include SLS technology, in which a desired area is sintered and laminated by irradiating a powder-type material with a laser. In addition, high-performance engineering plastic parts are being manufactured in increasing numbers. In this study, tensile specimens were fabricated from polyamide 12, a widely available polymer, and the glass bead-reinforced polyamide 12. The specimen-build orientation was divided into 0°, 45°, and 90° on the fabrication platform, and the tensile test temperature was -25℃, 25℃, and 60℃. The test results showed that the tensile modulus of both materials decreases as the build orientation becomes closer to 90°. In addition, the tensile strength of glass bead-reinforced PA12 showed more dependence on the build orientation than PA12. In addition, the tensile modulus and tensile strength decreased with increasing test temperature.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.54.1-54.1
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• 2010

산화물 기반의 TFT는 유리, 금속, 플라스틱 등 기판 종류에 상관없이 균일한 제작이 가능하며, 상온 및 저온에서 대면적으로 제작이 가능하고, 저렴한 비용으로 제작 가능하다는 장점 때문에 최근 많은 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 현재 TFT 물질로 많이 연구되고 있는 산화물은 ZnO (3.4 eV)나 InOx (3.6 eV), GaOx (4.9 eV), SnOx(3.7 eV)등의 물질과 각각의 조합으로 구성된 재료들이 주로 사용되고 있으며, 가장 많은 연구가 이루어진 ZnO 기반의 TFT는 mobility와 switching 속도에서 우수한 특성을 보이나, 트렌지스터의 안정성이 떨어지는 것으로 보고 되고 있다. 그러나 IGZO 물질의 경우 결정학적으로 비정질이며 상온 및 저온에서 대면적으로 제작이 가능하고, 높은 전자 이동도의 특성을 가지고 있는 장점 때문에 최근 차세대 산화물 트렌지스터로 각광받고 있다. IGZO TFT 소자의 경우 Ag, Au, In, Pt, Ti, ITO 등 다양한 전극 물질이 사용되고 있는데, 이들 중 active channel과 ohmic contact을 이루는 Al, Ti, Ag의 적용을 통해 향상된 성능을 얻을 수 있다. 하지만 이들 전극 재료는 TFT 소자 제작시 필수적인 열처리 공정에 노출되면서 active channel 과 전극 사이 계면에 문제점을 야기할 수 있다. 특히, Ti의 경우 산화가 잘되기 때문에 전극계면에 TiO2를 형성하여 contact resistance의 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 보고 되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 ohmic 전극재료인 Ti 또는 Ti/Au를 적용하여 TFT 소자 제작 및 특성에 대한 평가를 진행했으며, 열처리에 따른 전극과 IGZO 계면 사이의 미세구조와 전기적인 특성간의 상관관계를 연구하였다. 이를 통해, 소자 제작 공정을 최적화하고 신뢰성 있는 소자 특성을 얻을 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.112.1-112.1
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• 2012

산화물 기반의 TFT (Thin Film Transistor) 는 유리, 금속, 플라스틱 등 기판 종류에 상관없이 균일한 제작이 가능하며, 상온 및 저온에서 대면적으로 제작이 가능하고, 저렴한 비용으로 제작 가능하다는 장점 때문에 최근 많은 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 현재 TFT 물질로 많이 연구되고 있는 산화물 중 가장 많은 연구가 이루어진 ZnO 기반의 TFT는mobility와 switching 속도에서 우수한 특성을 보이나, 트렌지스터의 안정성이 떨어지는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 그러나 a-IGZO의 경우 결정학적으로 비정질이며, 상온 및 저온에서 대면적으로 제작이 가능하고, 높은 전자 이동도의 특성을 가지고 있는 장점 때문에 최근 차세대 산화물 트렌지스터로 각광받고 있다. IGZO 물질의 경우 s 오비탈의 중첩으로 인해 높은 전자 이동도의 특성을 가지며, IGZO 물질 내 전자의 이동은 IGZO의 조성과 구조적 특성에 영향을 받는다. IGZO 물질의 구성 성분은 $In_2O_3$, $Ga_2O_3$, ZnO 성분으로 이루어져 있으며, $In_2O_3$의 경우 주로 carrier 를 생성하고 IGZO TFT의 mobility를 향상시키는 물질로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 $In_2O_3$ nanoparticle의 density를 조절하여 첨가함으로써 IGZO TFT 소자 특성에 미치는 평가를 진행하였다. $In_2O_3$ nanoparticle의 density변화에 따른 interparticle spacing과 IGZO계면 사이의 미세구조와 전기적인 특성간의 상관관계를 연구하기 위하여 IGZO TFT 특성은 HP 4145B 측정을 통하여 확인하였고, $In_2O_3$ nanoparticle의 분포와 결정성은 AFM과 XRD, TEM을 통해 분석하고 In2O3 nanoparticle의 유무에 따른 IGZO channel 층의 조성 변화를 STEM과 AES를 통해 비교 및 분석하였다.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.446-453
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• 2021

Background: Plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter (microplastics) are well-known for causing various toxicities such as lung inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. As microplastics become smaller, they can move across cell membranes, the placenta, and the blood-brain barrier. Objectives: We evaluated the toxicities of polyethylene microplastics (PE-PMs) in dams and neonates through intragastric intubation of pregnant ICR mice. Methods: Low concentrations (0.01 mg/mouse/day) and high concentrations (0.1 mg/mouse/day) of polyethylene microplastics were administered from the ninth day of pregnancy to postnatal day seven. The control group was administered with distilled water. On the day of sacrifice, the weight of dams and neonates and the organ weight of neonates was measured. Further, acetylcholinesterase levels and glutathione peroxidase levels were evaluated by using a blood sample obtained on the sacrifice day. Results: No significant difference in the number of neonates was found, but the body weight gain of dams was seen to be lower in the low-dose group. On the other hand, we observed a consecutively declining trend in the weight gain and organ weight of neonates among the high-, control, and low-dose groups. Meanwhile, the serum acetylcholinesterase and glutathione peroxidase level were higher in the low-dose group compared to the control group. Further, the dose-dependent accumulation of microplastics in the organs of neonates revealed the transport of plastic particles from dams to their offspring. Conclusions: Although the exact mechanism of toxicity caused by microplastics could not be confirmed, it was validated that exposure to microplastics during pregnancy and lactation causes its migration between generations and accumulation throughout the body. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the systemic toxicity of microplastics and assessment of co-morbidities such as second-generation toxicity, neurotoxicity, and depression following long-term exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 2022

Numerous studies have investigated the occurrence and fate of microplastics in the environment; however, only limited effort has been devoted to exploring the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached from microplastics. In microplastic (MP)-contaminated environment, MPs are typically mixed with naturally-occurring particles, which interferes with their detection in the environment. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish between the DOM leached from MPs and those leached from natural particles and also to characterize their properties. This study investigated DOM leaching behavior from MPs (polystyrene: PS, polyvinylchloride: PVC) and natural particulates (forest soil: FS, litter leaves: LL) under light, which is considered one of the main weathering processes that affect MPs in the environment. The leached DOM concentrations and fluorescence characteristics were compared under dark versus light conditions. Regardless of the origins, UV light promoted DOM release from all the particulates. More DOM was released from natural particles than from MPs under both conditions. However, the effect of promoting DOM release by UV was more pronounced for MPs than for natural particles. It was observed from fluorescence spectra that the intensity of the humic-like region was substantially reduced when MP-derived DOM was exposed to UV light, whereas the change of intensity was very little for natural particles. Under light conditions, the ratio of protein-like to humic-like fluorescence of MP-derived DOM was higher than that of DOM from natural particles. This study implies that a substantial amount of DOM could be leached from MPs even in MP-polluted environment under UV irradiation. Protein/humic fluorescence ratio could be utilized as a fast probing indicator to separate the two sources of particles under light.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2022

The increased production and consumption of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based products over the past several decades has resulted in the discharge of countless tons of PET waste into the marine environment. PET microparticles resulting from the physical erosion of general PET wastes end up in the ocean and pose a threat to the marine biosphere and human health, necessitating the development of new technologies for recycling and upcycling. Notably, enzyme-mediated PET degradation is an appealing option due to its eco-friendly and energy-saving characteristics. PETase, a PET-hydrolyzing enzyme originating from Ideonella sakaiensis, is one of the most thoroughly researched biological catalysts. However, the industrial application of PETase-mediated PET recycling is limited due to the low stability and poor reusability of the enzyme. Here we developed the whole-cell catalyst (WCC) in which functional PETase is attached to the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. Immunoassays are used to identify the surface-expressed PETase, and we demonstrated that the WCC degraded PET microparticles most efficiently at 30℃ and pH 9 without agitation. Furthermore, the WCC increased the PET-degrading activity in a concentration-dependent manner, surpassing the limited activity of soluble PETase above 100 nM. Finally, we demonstrated that the WCC could be recycled up to three times.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2022

Background: Current research suggests that humans are exposed to microplastics through consumption of foods and beverages, the airway route, and a variety of other means. Objectives: We evaluated oxidative stress and inflammation from polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in the neonatal liver through intragastric administration or intratracheal instillation in pregnant mice. Methods: PE-MPs were administered from gestational day 9 to postnatal day 7. The intragastric administration group (0.01 mg/mouse/day or 0.1 mg/mouse/day) and intratracheal instillation group (6 ㎍/mouse/day or 60 ㎍/mouse/day) of PE-MPs were administered. After sacrifice, the oxidative stress and inflammation of the neonatal livers were measured. Results: As a result of the oxidative stress caused by PE-MPs in the neonatal livers, glutathione peroxidase decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the intragastric administration group compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation decreased in high concentration PE-MPs. The catalase level increased at high concentrations of intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation. To confirm the level of inflammation caused by PE-MPs, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factoralpha were increased compared to the control group except for intratracheal intilation-high concentration PEMPs. The C-reactive protein level was decreased by intragastric administration compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation was increased compared to the control group. Conclusions: Despite the difficulty in comparing the toxic intensity between intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation of PE-MPs, our study revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation were induced in the neonatal liver. However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxic effects of microplastics on various organs as well. Overall, the present study indicates that the evaluation of toxic effects of long-term microplastic exposure, potential of microplastic toxicity on next-generation offspring and toxicity mechanism in human should be considered for further investigations.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.184-192
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• 2023

Microplastics are generated by the breakdown of plastic wastes in agricultural soil and residual pesticides in agricultural soil can adsorb on microplastics. In this study, the sorption characteristics of procymidone (PCM) and one of its metabolites, 3,5-dichloroaniline (DCA), on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics were investigated. The sorption and desorption tests were carried out for 72 h using LDPE or PVC microplastic films to study the sorption isotherms of PCM and DCA and kinetics for sorption and desorption of PCM. The results show that the sorption data of PCM and DCA were better described by the Freundlich isotherm model (R²=0.7568-0.9915) than the Langmuir isotherm model (R²=0.0545-0.5889). The sorption potential of PVC for both PCM and DCA was greater than that of LDPE. The sorption data of PCM on PVC and LDPE were fitted better to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model than the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The PCM sorption on LDPE was about three times faster than that on PVC. Both microplastic films released the sorbed PCM back to water, and more PCM was released from PVC than LDPE, but the desorption rate was faster with LDPE than PVC. Overall, the results show that different microplastics have different sorption characteristics for different chemicals. Also, the sorbed chemicals can be released back to environment suggesting the potential of contaminant spread by microplastics. Thus, the management practices of microplastics in agricultural soil need to consider their interaction with the chemical contaminants in soil.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2024

Microplastics in water resources have been recognized as a serious problem. The discharge of microplastics from wastewater treatment plants is considered a major contributor to environmental pollution in water resources. However, a reliable analytical method for quantifying microplastics in wastewater treatment plants has not yet been established. This study proposes a reliable, quick, and easy analytical method for quantifying microplastics. For the removal of organic particles, preprocessing steps were applied including oxidation, sonication, washing, and sieving. Nile Red staining was used to visualize microplastics, and quantitative analysis was conducted using fluorescent imaging. The stained microplastics were ultimately quantified through image analysis software. Among the preprocessing steps, sonication and washing stages were particularly effective in efficiently removing interfering substances from wastewater, enhancing the accuracy of the microplastic analysis. Additionally, various solvents (methanol, acetone, and N-hexane) for the Nile Red staining solution were tested. When N-hexane was applied as the solvent, the quantity of stained microplastics was lower compared to methanol and acetone. This suggests that N-hexane has a greater potential of reducing false staining and counting of non-plastic particles. In summary, this research demonstrates a robust method for quantifying microplastics in wastewater treatment plants by employing effective preprocessing steps and optimizing the staining process with Nile Red and N-hexane.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.281-288
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• 2023

This study was performed to evaluate the pollutants removal characteristics of two types of RBFs(Riverbank filtration, Riverbed filtration) intake facilities installed in Nakdong River and in Hwang River respectively. The capacity of each RBF is 45,000 m³/d for riverbank filtration intake facility and 3,500 m³/d for riverbed filtration intake facility. According to data collected in the riverbank filtration site, removal rate of each pollutant was about BOD(Biochemical Oxygen Demand) 52%, TOC(Total Organic Carbon) 57%, SS(Suspended Solids) 44%, Total coliforms 99% correspondingly. Furthermore, Microcystins(-LR,-YR,-RR) were not found in riverbank filtered water compared to surface water in Nakdong River. DOC(Dissolved Organic Carbon) and Humics which are precursors of disinfection byproduct were also reported to be removed about 59% for DOC, 65% for Humics. Based on data analysis in riverbed filtration site in Hwang River, removal rate of each contaminant reaches to BOD 33.3%, TOC 38.5%, SS 38.9%, DOC 22.2%, UV254 21.2%, Total coliforms 73.8% respectively. Additionally, microplastics were also inspected that there was no obvious removal rate in riverbed filtered water compared to surface water in Hwang River.