• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.589-607
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• 2021

Meat proteolytic systems play a crucial role in meat tenderisation. Understanding the effects of processing technologies and post-mortem storage conditions on these systems is important due to their crucial role in determining the quality characteristics of meat and meat products. It has recently been proposed that tenderisation occurs due to the synergistic action of numerous endogenous proteolytic systems. There is strong evidence suggesting the importance of μ-calpain during the initial post-mortem aging phase, while m-calpain may have a role during long-term aging. The caspase proteolytic system is also a candidate for cell degradation in the initial stages of conversion of muscle to meat. The role of cathepsins, which are found in the lysosomes, in post-mortem aging is controversial. Lysosomes need to be ruptured, through aging, or other forms of processing to release cathepsins into the cytosol for participation in proteolysis. A combination of optimum storage conditions along with suitable processing may accelerate protease activity within meat, which can potentially lead to improved meat tenderness. Processing technologies such as high pressure, ultrasound, and shockwave processing have been reported to disrupt muscle structure, which can facilitate proteolysis and potentially enhance the aging process. This paper reviews the recent literature on the impacts of processing technologies along with post-mortem storage conditions on the activities of endogenous proteases in meat. The information provided in the review may be helpful in selecting optimum post-mortem meat storage and processing conditions to achieve improved muscle tenderness within shorter aging and cooking times.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2018

We report a method for preparing rare earth oxides ($Re_xO_y$) from the recycling process for spent Ni-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. This process first involves a leaching of spent Ni-MH powders with sulfuric acid at $90^{\circ}C$, resulting in rare earth precipitates (i.e., $NaRE(SO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O$, RE = La, Ce, Nd), which are converted into rare earth oxides via two different approaches: i) simple heat treatment in air, and ii) metathesis reaction with NaOH at $70^{\circ}C$. Not only the morphological features but also the crystallographic structures of all products are systematically investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD); their thermal behaviors are also analyzed. In particular, XRD results show that some of the rare earth precipitates are converted into oxide form (such as $La_2O_3$, $Ce_2O_3$, and $Nd_2O_3$) with heat treatment at $1200^{\circ}C$; however, secondary peaks are also observed. On the other hand, rare earth oxides, RExOy can be successfully obtained after metathesis of rare earth precipitates, followed by heat treatment at $1000^{\circ}C$ in air, along with a change of crystallographic structures, i.e., $NaRE(SO_4)_2{\cdot}H_2O{\rightarrow}RE(OH)_3{\rightarrow}RE_xO_y$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2018

F-containing $TiO_2$ nanopowders are synthesized using simple wet processes (precipitation-based and hydrothermal) from ammonium hexafluorotitanate (AHFT, $(NH_4)_2TiF_6$) as a precursor to apply as a photocatalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The surface properties of the prepared samples are evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results confirm that the synthesized anatase $TiO_2$ has sphere-like shapes, with numerous small nanoparticles containing fluorine on the surface. The photocatalytic activity of F-containing $TiO_2$ compared with F-free $TiO_2$ is characterized by measuring the degradation of RhB using a xenon lamp. The photocatalytic degradation of F-containing $TiO_2$ exhibits improved photocatalytic activity, based on the positive effects of adsorbed F ions on the surface.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.353-357
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• 2016

In this study, $TiO_2$ powders are synthesized from ammonium hexafluoride titanate (AHFT, $(NH_4)_2TiF_6$) as a precursor by heat treatment. First, we evaluate the physical properties of AHFT using X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis (PSA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Then, to prepare the $TiO_2$ powders, is heat-treated at $300-1300^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. The ratio of anatase to rutile phase in $TiO_2$ is estimated by XRD. The anatase phase forms at $500^{\circ}C$ and phase transformation to the rutile phase occurs at $1200^{\circ}C$. Increase in the particle size is observed upon increasing the reaction temperature, and the phase ratio of the rutile phase is determined from a comparison with the calculated XRD data. Thus, we show that anatase and rutile $TiO_2$ powders could be synthesized using AHFT as a raw material, and the obtained data are utilized for developing a new process for producing high-quality $TiO_2$ powder.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.631-639
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• 2015

Extraction/separation of cobalt by solvent extraction is reviewed. Separation of cobalt using various reagents and also cobalt recovery from scrap using commercial extractant were analyzed. The separation ability for cobalt followed the order of phosphinic > phosphonic > phosphoric acid due to the increasing stabilization of tetrahedral coordination of cobalt complexes with the extractant in the organic phase. Depending upon the solution composition, commercial extractants like Cyanex 272, D2EPHA and PC 88A should primarily be used for commercial extraction processes and also the efficient management of their combination could address various separation issues associated with cobalt bearing scrap.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2016

A microfluidic reactor with computer-controlled programmable isocratic pumps and online detectors is employed as a combinatorial synthesis system to synthesize and analyze materials for fabricating CdSe quantum dots for various applications. Four reaction condition parameters, namely, the reaction temperature, reaction time, Cd/Se compositional ratio, and precursor concentration, are combined in synthesis condition sets, and the size of the synthesized CdSe quantum dots is determined for each condition. The average time corresponding to each reaction condition for obtaining the ultraviolet-visible absorbance and photoluminescence spectra is approximately 10 min. Using the data from the combinatorial synthesis system, the effects of the reaction conditions on the synthesized CdSe quantum dots are determined. Further, the data is used to determine the relationships between the reaction conditions and the CdSe particle size. This method should aid in determining and selecting the optimal conditions for synthesizing nanoparticles for diverse applications.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2018

Core/shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are synthesized by a microfluidic reactor-assisted continuous reactor system. Photoluminescence and absorbance of synthesized CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs are investigated by fluorescence spectrophotometry and online UV-Vis spectrometry. Three reaction conditions, namely; the shell coating reaction temperature, the shell coating reaction time, and the ZnS/CdSe precursor volume ratio, are combined in the synthesis process. The quantum yield of the synthesized CdSe QDs is determined for each condition. CdSe/ZnS QDs with a higher quantum yield are obtained compared to the discontinuous microfluidic reactor synthesis system. The maximum quantum efficiency is 98.3% when the reaction temperature, reaction time, and ZnS/CdSe ratio are $270^{\circ}C$, 10 s, and 0.05, respectively. Obtained results indicate that a continuous synthesis of the Core/shell CdSe/ZnS QDs with a high quantum efficiency could be achieved by isolating the reaction from the external environment.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2016

In this work, tin oxides were obtained by the liquid reduction precipitation method and hydrothermal process using $SnCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$, $N_2H_4$, and NaOH. Tin oxide crystals having different sizes and morphologies could be achieved. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). Depending on the molar ratio of the raw materials, tin oxide crystalline with the spherical and rectangular plate-like shape could be obtained, the crystal phase was SnO and $Sn_6O_4(OH)_4$. And the obtained SnO crystals by a hydrothermal reaction showed various shapes, such as, spherical, plate-like and flower-like architectures depending on the temperature conditions.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.36-43
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• 2018

In order to recycle waste nickel-cadmium batteries, cadmium was selectively removed by ion substitution reaction so that cadmium and nickel could be separated efficiently. The electrode powder obtained by crushing the electrode in the waste nickelcadmium battery was leached with sulfuric acid. The cadmium in the nickel-cadmium solution was precipitated with cadmium sulfide by the addition of sodium sulfide. Ion substitution experiments were carried out under various conditions. At the optimum condition with pH = -0.1 and $Na_2S/Cd=2.3$ at room temperature, the residual Cd in the solution was about 100 ppm, and most of it was precipitated with CdS.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2019

Cementation is one of economical and efficient recycling method precipitating the metal ion in solution by adding another active metal. In this study for optimizing cadmium recovery efficiency, it was performed as a function of the effect of pH, temperature, particle size, and input amount of zinc in 0.1 M $CdSO_4$ solution and Ni-Cd battery leaching solutions, respectively. The particle size of zinc and temperature were key factors for Cd cementation and it was confirmed that the input amount of 2.6 of Zn/Cd ratio using granular-type zinc was optimal condition for selective Cd recovery efficiency at $25^{\circ}C$.