• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.149-158
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was carried out to characterize the 'Kaolinitum' used as mineral medicine before and after physical and chemical manipulation. Methods : The mineralogy of the original raw kaolinitumes with different localities was identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. The concentrations of major, minor and trace elements of samples, furthermore, measured by the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). In order to understand the variety of kaolinitum after thermal treatment, the differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out. Results : According to the result of X-ray diffraction analysis, the kaolinitumes are composed ofcalcite, alunite and quartz. Si and Al are the major ions and heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, Ni and Cu are included in the kaolinitumes as trace ions. The concentration of these metals in the samples decreased after physical and chemical manipulation. The weight of kaolinitum was also decreased at $500^{\circ}C$ and about $700^{\circ}C$during experiment of TGA. Conclusion : The results of this study can be used to provide the scientific basis of the medical usage of kaolinitum.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.277-289
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• 2006

This study was carried out to find a new material having high removal efficiency for the harmful red tide. C. polykrikoides grow very fast and accumulate into dense and visible patches near the surface of the seawater ('Water bloom'). Some mineral medicines and Hwangto (reddish soil consist of clay minerals and Fe-oxides) were used in this study to remove C. polykrikoides. The pre-determined sprinkling ratio of mineral vs. seawater which contains approximately 5,000 cells/mL of C. polykrikoides was 10 g/L. In order to quantify the removal efficiency, the density of living cells was measured by counting with the Intervals of 0, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after sprinkling. Five Hwangtos feom different localities were examined in this study. It is found that a material with a high concentration of Fe and Al was the most effective to remove C. polykrikoides. After the sprinkling of the Hwangto showing the best removal efficiency in the test, 99% of total algaes were found to be eliminated within 60 minutes. Jeokeokji showed the highest removal efficiency among clay mineral medicines(92% removal efficiency after 60 minutes), and the rests in decreasing order are as follows: Gamto (91%) > Baekseokji (89%) > Hydromica (81%). In addition, Fe-oxide mineral medicine similarly looking as fine-grained earthy Daejaseok showed 100% removal efficiencyafter 30 minutes, and Wooyoeryang, 95% after 60 minutes. It is noted that even little addition (1 g/L) of Daejaseok, 10% of Hwangto concentration into seawater showed the removal efficiency of 100% after 60 minutes. From the results, it could be concluded that the fine-grained earthy Daejaseok was the most effective natural mineral medicine to remove the C. polykrikoides from seawater. Under the microscope the removal mechanism was found to be activated in the following order: adsorption, swelling of chain colony, chain colony crisis and algaecide.