• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2019

Acetoin is generated by numerous microorganisms using ${\alpha}$-acetolactate decarboxylase (ALDC) to prevent overacidification of cells and their environment and to store remaining energy. Because acetoin has been used as a safe flavor enhancer in food products, industries have been interested in biotechnological production of acetoin using ALDC. ALDC is a metal-dependent enzyme that produces acetoin from ${\alpha}$-acetolactate through decarboxylation reaction. Here, we report the crystal structure of ALDC from Bacillus subtilis subspecies spizizenii (bssALDC) at $1.7{\AA}$ resolution. bssALDC folds into a two-domain ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ structure where two ${\beta}$-sheets form a central core. bssALDC assembles into a dimer through central hydrophobic interactions and peripheral hydrophilic interactions. bssALDC coordinates a zinc ion using three histidine residues and three water molecules. Based on comparative analyses of ALDC structures and sequences, we propose that the active site of bssALDC includes the zinc ion and its neighboring bssALDC residues.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2019

In this study, the extracellular metalloprotease from Serratia marcescens PPB-26 was purified to homogeneity via ethanol fractionation and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Thus, a 3.8-fold purification was achieved with a 20% yield and specific activity of 76.2 U/mg. The purified protease was a 50-kDa monomer whose optimum pH and temperature for activity were 7.5 and $30^{\circ}C$ respectively; however, it was found to remain active in the 5-9 pH range and up to $40^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. The protease had a half-life of 15 days at $4^{\circ}C$, an optimum reaction time of 10 min, and an optimum substrate (casein) concentration of 0.25%. Furthermore, the Michaelis constant ($K_m$) and reaction velocity ($V_{max}$) of the protease were calculated to be 0.28% and $111.11{\mu}moles/(min{\cdot}mg)^{-1}$, respectively. The protease was stable when subjected to metal ions (2 mM), showing increased activity with most (especially $CoCl_2$ and $MgSO_4$ (30.54% increase)). It was also stable when exposed to oxidizing agents, bleaching agents, and detergents (5% v/v for 60 min). It retained 93% of its activity in non-ionic detergents (Tween-20, Tween-80, and Triton X-100). Moreover, wash performance analysis in commercial detergents (Ariel and Tide) showed that not only was the protease capable of protein stain removal, but also reduced cleaning time by 80% when added to detergents. Thus, the Serratia marcescens PPB-26 metalloprotease appears to be a promising new candidate as a laundry additive in the detergent industry.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.112-125
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• 2021

The new emerging "High entropy materials" attract the attention of the scientific society because of their simpler structure and spectacular applications in many fields. A novel nanocrystalline high entropy (Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Zn,Ni)3O4 oxide has been successfully synthesized through mechanochemical treatment followed by sintering and air quenching. The present research work focuses on the possibility of single-phase formation in the aforementioned high entropy oxide despite the great difference in the atomic sizes of reactant alkaline earth and 3d transition metal oxides. Structural properties of (Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Zn,Ni)3O4 high entropy oxide were explored by confirmation of its single-phase Fd-3m spinel structure by x-ray diffraction (XRD). Further, nanocrystalline nature and morphology were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Among thermal properties, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the (Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Zn,Ni)3O4 high entropy oxide is thermally stable up to a temperature of 1200℃. Whereas phase evolution in (Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Zn,Ni)3O4 high entropy oxide before and after sintering was analyzed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Electrochemical studies of (Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Zn,Ni)3O4 high entropy oxide consists of a comparison of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of water and hydrazine hydrate oxidation. Values of activation energy for water oxidation (9.31 kJ mol-1) and hydrazine hydrate oxidation (13.93 kJ mol-1) reveal that (Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Zn,Ni)3O4 high entropy oxide is catalytically more active towards water oxidation as compared to that of hydrazine hydrate oxidation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is also performed to get insight into the kinetics of both types of reactions.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides or "MXenes" belong to a diverse-class of layered compounds, which offer composition- and electric-field-tunable electrical and physical properties. Although the majority of the MXenes, including Ti₃C₂T_x, are metallic, they typically show semiconductor-like behaviour in their percolated thin-film structure; this is also the most common structure used for fundamental studies and prototype device development of MXene. Magnetoconductance studies of thin-film MXenes are central to understanding their electronic transport properties and charge carrier dynamics, and also to evaluate their potential for spin-tronics and magnetoelectronics. Since MXenes are produced through solution processing, it is desirable to develop deposition strategies such as inkjet-printing to enable scale-up production with intricate structures/networks. Here, we systematically investigate the extrinsic negative magnetoconductance of inkjetprinted Ti₃C₂T_x MXene thin-films and report a crossover from weak anti-localization (WAL) to weak localization (WL) near 2.5K. The crossover from WAL to WL is consistent with strong, extrinsic, spin-orbit coupling, a key property for active control of spin currents in spin-orbitronic devices. From WAL/WL magnetoconductance analysis, we estimate that the printed MXene thin-film has a spin orbit coupling field of up to 0.84 T at 1.9 K. Our results and analyses offer a deeper understanding into microscopic charge carrier transport in Ti₃C₂T_x, revealing promising properties for printed, flexible, electronic and spinorbitronic device applications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.466-470
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• 2022

The catalytic thermal oxidizer process has recently attracted considerable attention for the oxidation and decomposition of volatile organic compounds at low temperatures (< 450 ℃) with high efficiency (> 95%). Although many noble metal catalytic materials are well established, they are expensive and hazardous. Herein, highly active and low-cost Cu-Mn bimetallic catalysts were prepared using a simple and facile synthesis method involving the co-precipitation of Cu and Mn precursors. The synthesis of the catalyst was optimized by controlling the composition ratio of Cu and Mn. The optimized catalyst exhibited a large surface area of 230.8 m²/g with a mesoporous structure. To demonstrate the catalytic performance, the Cu-Mn catalyst was tested for the oxidation reaction of ethyl acetate, showing a high conversion efficiency of 100% at a low temperature of 250 ℃.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.482-487
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• 2022

In this study, the activity test and characterization were performed to evaluate the hydrogen sulfide removal characteristics using a V/TiO₂ catalyst at room temperature. The optimal vanadium loading was 10 wt%, and the durability was greater than 60 minutes at 60~80% relative humidity. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and raman spectroscopy results confirmed that the structure of the vanadium site exposed to the surface was a dominant factor in catalyst activity. From Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray crystallography (XRD) analyses, it was found that sulfur can be accumulated on the catalyst surface, which results in a decrease in durability under catalytic activity tests. Therefore, it is judged that a combined process of catalytic oxidation and regeneration is needed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.458-464
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• 2021

Tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a typical 2D layerd structure, has received much attention as a pseudocapacitive material because of its high theoretical specific capacity and excellent ion diffusion kinetics. However, WS₂ has critical limits such as poor long-term cycling stability owing to its large volume expansion during cycling and low electrical conductivity. Therefore, to increase the high-rate performance and cycling stability for pseudocapacitors, well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanofibers (WS₂-CNFs), including mesopores and S-doping, are prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and sulfurizaiton. These unique nanocomposite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity (159.6 F g^-1 at 10 mV s^-1), excellent high-rate performance (81.3 F g^-1 at 300 mV s^-1), and long-term cycling stability (55.9 % after 1,000 cycles at 100 mV s^-1). The increased specific capacity is attributed to well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in CNFs that the enlarge active area; the increased high-rate performance is contributed by reduced ion diffusion pathway due to mesoporous CNFs and improved electrical conductivity due to S-doped CNFs; the long-term cycling stability is attributed to the CNFs matrix including WS₂ nanoparticles, which effectively prevent large volume expansion.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.3879-3891
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• 2021

A heat pipe residual heat removal system is proposed to be incorporated into the reactor driven subcritical (RDS) facility, which has been proposed by MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory for testing and demonstrating the Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR). It aims to reduce the risk of the system operation after the shutdown of the facility. One of the main components of the system is an air-cooled heat pipe heat exchanger. The alkali-metal high-temperature heat pipe was designed to meet the operation temperature and residual heat removal requirement of the facility. The heat pipe model developed in the previous work was adopted to simulate the designed heat pipe and assess the heat transport capability. 3D numerical simulation of the subcritical facility active zone was performed by the commercial CFD software STAR CCM + to investigate the operation characteristics of this proposed system. The thermal resistance network of the heat pipe was built and incorporated into the CFD model. The nominal condition, partial loss of air flow accident and partial heat pipe failure accident were simulated and analyzed. The results show that the residual heat removal system can provide sufficient cooling of the subcritical facility with a remarkable safety margin. The heat pipe can work under the recommended operation temperature range and the heat flux is below all thermal limits. The facility peak temperature is also lower than the safety limits.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.16-21
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• 2022

The reaction rate of a catalyst for producing hydrogen using the methanol steam reforming reaction was studied. It was prepared by impregnating copper, which is often used in methanol synthesis, as the main active metal, using hydrotalcite, which has excellent porosity and thermal stability, high specific surface area, weak Lewis acid point, and basicity, as a support. Activation energy and Pre-exponential factors were identified. In this study, the activation energy of the hydrotalcite catalyst impregnated with 20 wt% copper was calculated to be 97.4 kJ/mol and the Pre-exponential was 5.904 × 10¹⁰. Process simulation was performed using the calculated values and showed a similar tendency to the experimental results.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2023

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are considered as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for energy storage owing to their safety and cost efficiency. However, their lifespan is limited by the irreversibility of Zn anodes because of Zn dendrite growth and side reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction and corrosion during cycling. Herein, we present a strategy to restrict direct contact between the Zn anode and aqueous electrolyte by fabricating a protective layer on the surface of Zn foil via phosphidation method. The Zn₃(PO₄)₂ protective layer effectively suppresses Zn dendrite growth and side reactions in aqueous electrolytes. The electrochemical properties of the Zn₃(PO₄)₂@Zn anode, such as the overpotential, linear polarization resistance, and hydrogen generation reaction, indicate that the protective layer can suppress interfacial corrosion and improve the electrochemical stability compared to that of bare Zn by preventing direct contact between the electrolyte and the active sites of Zn. Remarkably, MnO₂ Zn₃(PO₄)₂@Zn exhibited enhanced reversibility owing to the formation a stable porous layer, which effectively inhibited vertical dendrite growth by inducing the uniform plating of Zn²⁺ ions underneath the formed layer.