• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2021

Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) and Lactococcus lactis (L. lac.) were used as adsorbents to evaluate the adsorption performance of endocrine hormones, which are phthalates, in the healthy food packages. CNPs were produced through the cross bond with tripolyphosphate (TPP), and L. lac.-CNPs were prepared through the introduction of L. lac. during the preparation. The various functional groups of all adsorbents were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetic confirmed the adsorption behavior and mechanism of CNPs, L. lac. and L. lac.-CNPs. The adsorption behavior of DBP and DEP for all particles was more suitable for the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model than for the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, which means that the surface of the particles is heterogeneous. The adsorption mechanism was more suitable for the Pseudo-2nd-order model than for the Pseudo-1st-order model. This means that due to the presence of various functional groups on the particle surface, the adsorption of DBP and DEP is dominated by chemical adsorption such as electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding rather than physical adsorption. Finally, it was confirmed that the preparation of CNPs and L. lac.-CNPs can be performed easily and quickly, and it could be used as a cheaper adsorbent that can effectively remove phthalates.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.33-39
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• 2021

As the interest and demand in the recycled yarn field has increased rapidly worldwide, domestic companies are also promoting research and development and business on recycled yarn. The chemical and thermal properties of four types of virgin and recycled PET samples from A and B company, which are the leading domestic companies in the recycled polyester yarn business, were confirmed through infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Virgin and recycled PET from two companies were compared. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed the typical spectra of PET for both companies and a different peak at 872 cm-1. DSC confirmed that the melting point and crystallization temperature of recycled PET were lower than those of virgin PET. These results indicate that small amounts of contaminants are an important parameter affecting the thermal properties of recycled PET. In the DSC results after seven repeats of the heating and cooling processes, all four samples showed that a lower melting point, crystallization temperature, and low heat flow intensity increased with increasing number of cycles. The results of melting and crystallization enthalpy also showed similar patterns.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2021

As the seriousness and necessity of responding to climate change and reducing carbon emissions increases, countries around the world are continuing their efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Among various efforts, research on CCUS, capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide generated when using carbon-based fuels, is actively being conducted. Studies on pressurized oxy-fuel combustion (POFC) that can be used with CCUS are also being conducted by many researchers. The purpose of this study is to analyze basic information related to the flame structure and pollutant emissions of pressurized oxy-fuel combustion. For this, a counter-flow diffusion flame model was used to analyze the combustion characteristics according to pressure and oxygen concentration. As the pressure increased, the flame temperature increased and the flame thickness decreased due to a reaction rate improvement caused by the activation of the chemical reaction. As oxygen concentration increased, both the flame temperature and the flame thickness increased due to an improvement to the reaction rate and diffusion because of a change in oxidizer momentum. Analyzing the related heat release reaction by dividing it into three sections as the oxygen concentration increased showed that the chemical reaction from the oxidizer side was subdivided into two regions according to the mixture fraction. In addition, the emission index of NO classified according to the NO formation mechanism was analyzed. The formation trend of NO according to each analysis condition was presented.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.213-213
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• 2020

최근 나타나는 지구온난화와 이상기후로 인해 가뭄과 홍수피해 같은 자연재해 발생 빈도가 높아졌고, 하천에서는 오염된 수질과 수생태계 복원 및 수변공간 조성, 수자원 관리 등의 목적으로 수질환경 개선사업이 진행되고 있다. 수질환경 측면에서 하천에서 발생하는 가장 큰 문제점으로는 녹조 즉, 남조류의 발생을 예로 들 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 최근 보 개방을 통하여 수질개선 효과가 나타나고 있는 금강을 대상으로 세종보, 공주보, 백제보 구간에 대하여 주요 수질인자에 대한 상관관계 분석을 수행하였다. 특히 남조류 세포수와 주요 하천 수질인자를 Pearson's correlation analysis를 이용하여 상관관계를 분석하였고, 보 위치별 남조류 세포수를 종속변수로 하고, 상관도가 높은 수질인자를 독립변수로 하는 다중회귀식을 도출하여 금강 내 주요 하천 수질인자의 농도에 따른 남조류 세포수 관계를 규명하고자 하였다. 분석기간은 2012년 1월부터 2019년 12월까지 보 건설 이후 시점으로 선정하였고, 월 평균 남조류 개체수가 조류경보제 발령기준 관심단계이상에 해당하는 금강수계의 3개 보에 대하여 남조류 세포수와 수질에 영향을 끼치는 인자인 강수량, (수온)W·T, (수소이온농도)pH, (용존산소)DO, (생물화학적산소요구량)BOD, (화학적산소요구량)COD, (부유물질량)SS, (총질소)TN, (총인)TP, (클로로필-a)Chl-a, (전기전도도)EC, (질산성질소)NO₃-N, (암모니아성 질소)NH₃-N, (인산염 인)PO₄-P, (용존총질소)DTN, (용존총인)DTP, (총유기탄소)TOC 와의 상관관계를 분석하였다. 분석 결과 측정 지점별 남조류 세포수와 상관관계가 있는 인자는 서로 상이했지만 (수온)W·T과 pH의 경우 모든 지점에서 남조류 세포수와 양의 상관관계가 나타났다. 세종보는 W·T(0.383, P<0.01), pH(0.391, P<0.05)의 양의 상관계수를 나타냈고, 공주보에서는 (수온)W·T(0.436, P<0.05), pH(0.412, P<0.05)의 양의 상관관계를 나타냈다. 백제보에서는 (수온)W·T(0.415, P<0.01), pH(0.221, P<0.01)의 양의 상관성을 나타냈다. 남조류 세포수와 수질인자 간의 상관관계 분석에 따라 통계적으로 유의한 인자 중 (수온)W·T과 pH에 영향을 받는 영양염류와 퇴적물에 대한 후속 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료되며, 연구를 통해 제시된 남조류 세포수 다중회귀식은 주요 수질인자 농도에 따라 발생 가능한 남조류세포수를 예측하여 금강의 수질 관리에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.325-343
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• 2023

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have been attracting attention as energy conversion devices that can directly supply methanol liquid fuel without a fuel reforming process. The commercial polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) currently applied to DMFC are perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer-based PEMs, which exhibit high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. However, problems such as high methanol permeability and environmental pollutants generated during decomposition require the development of PEMs for DMFCs using novel ionomers. Recently, studies have been reported to develop PEMs using hydrocarbon-based ionomers that exhibit low fuel permeability and high physicochemical stability. This review introduces the following studies on hydrocarbon-based PEMs for DMFC applications: 1) synthesis of grafting copolymers that exhibit distinct hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase-separated structure to improve both proton conductivity and methanol selectivity, 2) introduction of cross-linked structure during PEM fabrication to reduce the methanol permeability and improve dimensional stability, and 3) incorporation of organic/inorganic composites or reinforcing substrates to develop reinforced composite membranes showing improved PEM performances and durability.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.341-352
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• 2017

Along with Cs-137 (half-life: 30.17 years), Sr-90 (half-life: 28.8 years) is one of the most important environmental monitoring radioactive elements. Rapid and easy monitoring method for Sr-90 using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been studied. Strontium belongs to a bivalent alkaline earth metal such as calcium and has similar electron arrangement and size. Due to these similar chemical properties, it can easily enter into the human body through the food chain via water, soil, and crops when leaked into the environment. In addition, it is immersed into the bone at the case of human influx and causes the toxicity for a long time (biological half-life: about 50 years). It is a very reductive and related with the specific reaction that makes wet analysis difficult. In particular, radioactive strontium should be monitored by nuclear power plants but it is very difficult to be analysed from high-cost problems as well as low accuracy of analysis due to complicated analysis procedures, expensive analysis equipment, and a pretreatment process of using massive chemicals. Therefore, we introduce the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis method that analyzes the elements in the sample using the inherent spectrum by generating plasma on the sample using pulse energy, and it can be analyzed in a few seconds without preprocessing. A variety of analytical plates for samples were developed to improve the analytical sensitivity by optimizing the laser, wavelength, and time resolution. This can be effectively applied to real-time monitoring of radioactive wastewater discharged from a nuclear power plant, and furthermore, it can be applied as an emergency monitoring means such as possible future accidents at a nuclear power plants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

The health benefits associated with consumption of fresh produce have been clearly demonstrated and encouraged by international nutrition and health authorities. However, since fresh produce is usually minimally processed, increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has also led to a simultaneous escalation of foodborne illness cases. According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 10 people suffer from foodborne diseases and 420,000 die every year globally. In comparison to other processed foods, fresh produce can be easily contaminated by various routes at different points in the supply chain from farm to fork. This review is focused on the identification and characterization of possible sources of foodborne illnesses from chemical, biological, and physical hazards and the applicable methodologies to detect potential contaminants. Agro-chemicals (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), natural toxins (mycotoxins and plant toxins), and heavy metals (mercury and cadmium) are the main sources of chemical hazards, which can be detected by several methods including chromatography and nano-techniques based on nanostructured materials such as noble metal nanoparticles (NMPs), quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles or nanotube. However, the diversity of chemical structures complicates the establishment of one standard method to differentiate the variety of chemical compounds. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables contain high nutrient contents and moisture, which promote the growth of unwanted microorganisms including bacterial pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli O157: H7, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) and non-bacterial pathogens (norovirus and parasites). In order to detect specific pathogens in fresh produce, methods based on molecular biology such as PCR and immunology are commonly used. Finally, physical hazards including contamination by glass, metal, and gravel in food can cause serious injuries to customers. In order to decrease physical hazards, vision systems such as X-ray inspection have been adopted to detect physical contaminants in food, while exceptional handling skills by food production employees are required to prevent additional contamination.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.383-392
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• 2007

The water soluble components were analyzed in the $PM_{2.5}$ fine particles collected at the 1100 site of Mt. Halla for the spring seasons between 1998 and 2004. The $PM_{2.5}$ mass concentrations were within $13.4{\pm}9.6{\sim}21.7{\pm}20.0{\mu}g/m^3$, and the concentrations of ionic components were in the order of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ > $NH{_4}{^+}$ > $NO{_3}{^-}$ > $Ca^{2+}$ > $K^+$ > $Na^+$ > $Cl^-$ > $Mg^{2+}$, in which the concentration of nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$($3.41{\pm}2.42{\mu}g/m^3$) was the highest. The concentrations of $NH{_4}{^+}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and $NO{_3}{^-}$, the secondary pollutants, were respectively 0.60~1.50, 2.86~4.42, and $0.24{\sim}1.57{\mu}g/m^3$, which had occupied 88 % of the total ionic components, on the other hand, the concentrations of marine species were less than 5 %. The nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ showed the high correlation with $NH{_4}{^+}$, $K^+$, so that $NH{_4}{^+}$ and nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ might exist in the form of $(NH_4)_3H(SO_4)_2$ and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ in fine particles. From the backward trajectory analysis, in case of high concentrations of $NH{_4}{^+}$ and nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$ simultaneously, the air masses were originated and stagnated at the east region of China for a while, then moved into the atmosphere of Jeju. However, in case of $NO{_3}{^-}$ and nss-$Ca^{2+}$, the air masses originated at China and Siberia were moved into Jeju via the eastern China.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1408-1414
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• 2015

In this study, to retain a stable bacterial inoculant, Bacillus strains showing antifungal activity were screened. The improved production, antifungal mechanism, and stability of the antifungal metabolite by a selected strain, AF4, a potent antagonist against phytopathogenic Botrytis cinerea, were also investigated. The AF4 strain was isolated from rhizospheric soil of hot pepper and identified as Bacillus subtilis by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Strain AF4 did not produce antifungal activity in the absence of a nitrogen source and produced antifungal activity at a broad range of temperatures (25-40℃) and pH (7-10). Optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for the production of antifungal activity were glycerol and casein, respectively. Under improved conditions, the maximum antifungal activity was 140±3 AU/ml, which was higher than in the basal medium. Photomicrographs of strain AF4-treated B. cinerea showed morphological abnormalities of fungal mycelia, demonstrating the role of the antifungal metabolite. The B. subtilis AF4 culture exhibited broad antifungal activity against several phytopathogenic fungi. The antifungal activity was heat-, pH-, solvent-, and protease-stable, indicating its nonproteinous nature. These results suggest that B. subtilis AF4 is a potential candidate for the control of phytopathogenic fungi-derived plant diseases.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2020

In recent years, packed column has been widely used in separation processes, such as absorption, desorption, distillation, and extraction, in the petrochemical, fine chemistry, and environmental industries. Packed column is used as a contacting facility for gas-liquid and liquid-liquid systems filled with random packed materials in the column. Packed column has various advantages such as low pressure drop, economical efficiency, thermally sensitive liquids, easy repairing restoration, and noxious gas treatment. The performance of a packed column is highly dependent on the maintenance of good gas and liquid distribution throughout a packed bed; thus, this is an important consideration in a design of packed column. In this study, hydraulic pressure drop, hold-up as a function of liquid load, and mass transfer in the air, air/water, and air-NH₃/water systems were studied to find the geometrical characteristic for raschig super-ring experiment dry pressure drop. Based on the results, design factors and operating conditions to handle noxious gases were obtained. The dry pressure drop of the random packing raschig super-ring was linearly increased as a function of gas capacity factor with various liquid loads in the Air/Water system. This result is lower than that of 35 mm Pall-ring, which is most commonly used in the industrial field. Also, it can be found that the hydraulic pressure drop of raschig super-ring is consistently increased by gas capacity factor with various liquid loads. When gas capacity factor with various liquid loads is increased from 1.855 to 2.323 kg^-1/2 m^-1/2 S^-1, hydraulic pressure drop increases around 17%. Finally, the liquid hold-up related to packing volume, which is a parameter of specific liquid load depending on gas capacity factor, shows consistent increase by around 3.84 kg^-1/2 m^-1/2 S^-1 of the gas capacity factor. However, liquid hold-up significantly increases above it.