• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2023

Recent studies have actively investigated ways to improve the economic feasibility and efficiency of the Fischer-Tropsch process by increasing the yields of the monocyclic aromatic compounds (BTEX). In this study, ethylene was selected as a model of F-T-derived hydrocarbons, and the ethylene-to-aromatics (ETA) reaction was investigated according to changes in acid characteristics, mesopores, and crystallinity of HZSM-5 (HZ5). Fluorinated HZ5 was prepared by calcination followed by impregnation of an aqueous NH₄F solution having different molar concentrations in HZ5, and the structural and chemical properties of F/HZ5 were investigated through Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), NH₃-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and pyridine-IR spectroscopy. The ETA reactions were performed at 673 K under 0.1 MPa, and fluorinating HZ5 by an aqueous NH₄F solution of 0.17 M improved ethylene conversion, BTEX selectivity, and catalytic stability due to acidity, mesopore fraction, and crystallinity.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.394-401
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• 2022

Two polymer precursors, polyvinylidene chloride-resin (PVDC-resin) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), are assembled into the microporous carbon by pyrolysis. Microporous carbon is advantageous as an electrode for supercapacitors that store electric charges through ion adsorption/desorption. The pyrolysis also turns the various heteroatoms of two precursors into functional groups, contributing to the additional charge storage. The analysis of the porous structure and function group during carbonization are important to develop the carbon for energy storage. Here, we analyzed the functional groups of two polymer-derived carbons through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the functional groups were explored in various pH electrolytes. The specific capacitance of two carbons in the acidic electrolyte (1 M H₂SO₄) was improved compared to that in the neutral electrolyte (0.5 M Na₂SO₄) due to the faradaic charge/discharge reaction of the quinone functional group. In particular, the carbon electrode derived from PVDC-resin exhibits a lower capacity than the carbon from PVDF due to the small micropores. In the alkaline electrolyte (6 M KOH), the highest specific capacitance and rate capability were obtained among the three electrolytes for both electrodes based on the facile adsorption of the constituent electrolyte ions (K⁺, OH^-).

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

The Sincheon wetland shows a remarkable diversity of fluvial landforms, such as river islands, anastomosing channels, braided channels, and sand-gravel bars, which contribute to its rich ecological habitat. The wetland area is characterized by a ecological diversity of herbaceous and woody plants. Significant changes in land cover within the wetlands were observed from 2008 to 2020. Notably, there was a rapid decrease in agricultural area from 18% to 0.04%, while the vegetation area expanded from 45% to 54%. Concurrently, the water area also experienced a notable increase from 34% to 41%. The surface sediment composition in the studied area displays sandy loam characteristics and exhibits acidic soil properties. Sediment acidity tends to increase downstream and in the central part of channels. Variations in acidity are also observed at nearby collection sites due to the tributaries and local discharge. The presence of dense vegetation in river islands and bars has led to a significant transformation of sediments into soil, with this change being more pronounced downstream, particularly near the weirs. The installation of a weir in Sincheon wetland is believed to have a significant impact on altering flow velocities between upstream and downstream sections, as well as influencing erosion and sediment deposition patterns. However, given the formation of landforms in response to weirs, effective administration and management are essential to address potential risks of catastrophic environmental disruptions, such as the removal of weirs and/or the maintenance of river channels.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.494-499
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• 2007

The quality and functional properties of red ginseng in relation to steaming and drying conditions were evaluated. Fresh ginseng (5-year roots), cultivated in the Punggi region, were steamed for 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5 hr, and then dried by hot-air (60-$65^{\circ}C$/24 hr and $40^{\circ}C$,/3-4d) freezing ($-80^{\circ}C$/56 hr), and infrared (900 W/$62^{\circ}C$/68 hr). Hunter#s yellowness (b-value) and browning indexes (420 nm) of the samples were higher in the rootlets than in the main roots. Furthermore, these same index values were found to be high in the order of 3.5, 4.5, and 2.5 hr and infrared, hot-air, and freezing for steaming and subsequent drying, respectively. Analysis of soluble solids, total phenolics, total flavonoids, acidic polysaccharides, and electron donating abilities of the steamed and dried samples showed that 3.5hr of steaming with infrared drying was optimal. However, crude saponin contents were not influenced by steaming and drying conditions. The contents of $ginsenoside-Rg_l$, -Re, -Rf and $-Rb_2$, which were the major components in the samples, were reduced with steaming time, while the amounts of $-Rg_3$ and $-Rh_2$ increased, reaching the highest levels at 3.5 and 4.5 hr in the main roots and rootlets, respectively. The contents of $-Rg_3$ and $-Rh_2$ were similar in both the freeze-dried and hot-air dried samples.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.106-116
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to investigate available extraction capacity and potential mobility of heavy metal according to the distribution property and contamination level of heavy metals in soils and to suggest a reform measure of soil environment assessment methodology applied with soil quality and the official soil heavy metal test methods in domestic and foreign countries. The soils were collected from the natural forest paddy with long-term application of same type fertilizer, and paddies near metal mine and industrial complex. The post-treatment methods of soil were partial extraction, acid digestion and sequential extraction methods. For the heavy metal contents with different soil properties, it was shown that their natural forest and paddy soil were slightly low and similar to the general paddy soil, while their paddies near metal mine and industrial complex were higher than the standard level of Soil Environment Protection Act. Heavy metal concentrations in the soils with different soil properties had difference between $HNO_3\;and\;HNO_3+HCl$ extractant by US-EPA 3051a method. There were highly significant positive relationships in both two methods. It was appeared that the higher extractable concentration ratio with 0.1N-HCl to total heavy metal content with $HNO_3+HCl$ extractant the greater total heavy metal content. There were highly significant positive correlationship between total heavy metal content and extractable content with 0.1N-HCl. For extractable capacity of soil extractable solution compared to the total heavy metal content it was appeared that it extractable method with 0.1N-HCl was higher than those with EDTA and DTPA. In extractable ratio with 0.1N-HCl in the contaminated paddy soils near mine and industrial complex, it was shown that the lower soil pH, the higher total heavy metal content. The order of a potential mobility coefficient by distribution of heavy metal content with ie different typies in the soil was Cd>Ni>Zn>Cu>Pb. It could be known that contamination characteristics of heavy metals with different types of soils were affected by different heavy metal components, contamination degree and soil chemical properties, and heavy metal concentration with different extractable methods had great variations with adjacent environment. To be compared with assessment methodology of soil environment impact at domestic and foreign countries with our results, it might be considered that there was necessary to make a single analysis method based on total heavy metal content with environmental overloading concept because of various analysis methods for total heavy metal content and present analysis method with great variation according to soil environment. In spite of showing higher concentration of heavy metal with acidic digestion than the extractable method, it might be considered that there is need to be adjusted the national standard of soil heavy metal contamination.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the contents of ginsenosides and physiochemical properties of Panax ginseng after 9 times steaming and drying treatment by using the new auto steamer which is more fast and simple than previous report. In the process of steaming and drying, the content of six major ginsenosides such as Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd were gradually decreased. On the other hand, the content of seven minor ginsenosides includes Rh1, 20(S)-Rg2, 20(R)-Rg2, 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5 were gradually increased. We observed the protopanxadiol ginsenosides such as Rb1, Rb2, Rc and Rd were converted into 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5; similarly protopanxatriol ginsenosides of Rg1 and Re were converted into Rh1, 20(S)-Rg2 and 20(R)-Rg2. Based on the result of fresh ginseng, the contents of reducing sugar, acidic polysaccharide and total phenolic compounds were gradually increased and reached to maximum at 7 times repetitive steaming process of the fresh ginseng. Whereas DPPH radical scavenging activities were gradually decreased to 68% at 7 times steaming. New auto 9 repetitive steaming and drying process has similar production with original methods, but content of benzo(a)pyrene were not almost detected comparatively taking less time. The present results suggested that this method is best for the development of value-added ginseng industry related products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1568-1575
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• 2008

This study was performed to determine alleviating effects of green tea (GT) on the N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) toxicity to mucins in the rat lingual salivary glands. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: untreated (Control), one week-NDMA administrated (NDMA), one week-GT administrated after NDMA for one week (NDMAGT), one week-NDMA administrated with GT (GTNDMA), and one-week NDMA administrated with GT after GT for one week (GTGTNDMA). The mucin properties were elucidated by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction, alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5, AB pH 2.5-PAS, aldehyde fuchsin (AF) pH 1.7-AB pH 2.5, and high iron diamine (HID)-AB pH 2.5 staining. The lingual von Ebner's glands of NDMA group showed some changes such as contraction and destruction of the serous acini, decrease and disappearance of the cytoplasmic granules, vacuolation of cytoplasm, and the mucigenous duct cells. Also, in the lingual mucous glands, enlarged lumens, fused acini, disappearance of granules, vacuolation of cytoplasm, and mucigenous duct cells were observed. All the GT administrated groups had a tendency to recover. GTGTNDMA group recovered almost up to the state of the control group. The lingual von Ebner's glands of NDMA group showed a decrease of neutral mucin and the lingual mucous glands showed a decrease of both neutral and acidic mucins decreased in comparison with control group, although mucous acini secreting strong sulfomucin decreased while those secreting non-sulfomucin (sialomucin) increased. All the GT administrated groups had a tendency to recover. The degree of recovery in the GTNDMA group was stronger than in NDMAGT group and that of the GTGTNDMA group was almost up to the state of the control group. Plus, lingual von Ebner's glands of GTGTNDMA group contained much more neutral mucin than in the control group. In conclusion, it is suggested that NDMA exhibit the toxicity which affects on the mucin properties and which green tea alleviates.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2013

This research was conducted to investigate the influence of compositions and concentrations of fertilizer solution on growth of lettuce as well as changes in chemical properties of root media. To achieve this three kinds of fertilizers such as acidic (AF), neutral (NF), and alkaline fertilizer (BF) were formulated and applied with the concentrations of 100 or $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ based on nitrogen concentrations. The growth characteristics were investigated 10 weeks after transplant and the analysis of soil solution for chemical characteristics were conducted in every week. The BF was more effective than AF in crop growth of blue leaf lettuce 10 weeks after transplant and the treatment of BF200 showed the heaviest fresh and dry weights among all treatments tested. The treatment of BF also showed the highest growth followed by those of NF and AF in growth of red leaf lettuce, but the growth in treatments of $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were higher than those of $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in the three kinds of fertilizers. The differences among treatments in soil solution pH became larger from week 6. The pH in the treatment of $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ was lower than that of $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ when AF was applied, but the treatment of $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ showed higher pH than that of $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in case of BF. The electrical conductivity of soil solution in treatments of $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were 0.2 to 0.4 unit higher than those of $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ when those are measured as $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in three kinds of fertilizers. The $NH_4$ concentrations were higher in the treatments of AF than those of BF, but the concentrations of Ca, Mg and $NO_3$ were vice verse. The concentrations of $PO_4^{-3}$ were the highest in the treatments of AF followed by those of NF and BF when three kinds of fertilizers were applied with equal nitrogen concentrations. The differences of nutrient concentrations in soil solution of root media were influenced by composition of fertigation solution and varied soil solution pH.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.8-19
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• 2008

The physicochemical properties of soils having high uranium content, located around Duckpyungri in Korea, were investigated and the lab scale soil washing experiments to remove uranium from the soil were preformed with several washing solutions and on various washing conditions. SPLP (Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure), TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure), and SEP (Sequential Extraction Procedure) for the soil were conducted and the uranium concentration of the extracted solution in SPLP was higher than Drinking Water Limit of USEPA (30 ${\mu}g$/L), suggesting that the continuous dissolution of uranium from soil by the weak acid rain may generate the environmental pollution around the research area. For the soil washing experiments, the uranium removal efficiency of pH 1 solution for S2 soil was about 80 %, but dramatically decreased as pH of solution was > 2, suggesting that strong acidic solutions are available to remove uranium from the soil. For solutions with 0.1M of HCl and 0.05 M of ${H_2}{SO_4}$, their removal efficiencies at 1 : 1 of soil vs. washing solution ratio were higher than 70%, but the removal efficiencies of acetic acid, and EDTA were below 30%. At 1 : 3 of soil vs. solution, the uranium removal efficiencies of 0.1M HCl, 0.05 M ${H_2}{SO_4}$, and 0.5M citric acid solution increased to 88%, 100%, and 61% respectively. On appropriate washing conditions for S2 soil such as 1 : 3 ratio for the soil vs. solution ratio, 30 minute for washing time, and 2 times continuous washing, TOC (Total Organic Contents) and CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) for S2 soil were measured before/after soil washing and their XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) results were also compared to investigate the change of soil properties after soil washing. TOC and CEC decreased by 55% and 66%, compared to those initial values of S2 soil, suggesting that the soil reclaimant may need to improve the washed soils for the cultivated plants. Results of XRF and XRD showed that the structural change of soil after soil washing was insignificant and the washed soil will be partially used for the further purpose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1619-1625
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to determine long-term storage conditions for winter kimchi. Kimchi was stored in a kimchi refrigerator for 6 months with or without fermentation. Four different temperature systems used were as follows: 5 days at $10^{\circ}C$ followed by storage at $-2.5^{\circ}C$ (F1), 1 day at $15^{\circ}C$ followed by storage at $-2.5^{\circ}C$ (F2), storage at $-1^{\circ}C$ (S1), or at $-2.5^{\circ}C$ (S2). Time periods required for F1, F2, S1, or S2 kimchi to reach pH 4.4 and acidity 0.6% were 2, 8, 12, and 22 weeks, respectively. Lactobacillus spp. growth on F1 and F2 kimchi was faster and greater than that on S1 and S2 kimchi, revealing a maximum concentration of 8~9 verses 6.8 log CFU/mL, respectively. However, Leuconostoc spp. were fully grown (8~9 log CFU/mL) on all four kimchi samples regardless of temperature, even at $-2.5^{\circ}C$, although the times required to reach maximum growth were different. Growth of Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc spp. both decreased after reaching maximum levels, except for F1 kimchi. Sensory evaluation results for 3 month storage showed that F1 kimchi was the best among kimchi samples in terms of appearance, acidic taste, carbonated taste, crispiness, and moldy smell. For 6 months of storage, F1 and S1 kimchi were the most highly evaluated among the kimchi samples. Sensory evaluation result for S1 kimchi stored at $-1^{\circ}C$ was comparable to that of F1 kimchi due to fully grown Leuconostoc spp. Acidities of F1 and S1 kimchi after 6 months of storage were 0.8 and 0.7%, respectively. Taken together, fermentation of kimchi at $10^{\circ}C$ for 5 days followed by storage at $-2.5^{\circ}C$ for 6 months was optimal for high quality kimchi. Sensory properties of winter kimchi were significantly influenced by the degree of fermentation.