• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2023

With femtosecond (fs) laser pulse irradiation on metals, various types of nano- and micro-scale structures can be naturally induced at the surface through laser-matter interaction. Two notable structures are laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) and cone/spike structures, which are known to significantly modify the optical and physical properties of metal surfaces. In this work, we irradiate fs laser pulses onto various types of metals, cold-rolled steel, pickled & oiled steel, Fe-18Cr-8Ni alloy, Zn-Mg-Al alloy coated steel, and pure Cu which can be useful for precise molding and imprinting processes, and adjust the morphological profiles of LIPSSs and cone/spike structures for clear structural coloration and a larger range of surface wettability control, respectively, by changing the fluence of laser and the speed of raster scan. The periods of LIPSSs on metals used in our experiments are nearly independent of laser fluence. Accordingly, the structural coloration of the surface with LIPSSs can be optimized with the morphological profile of LIPSSs, controlled only by the speed of the raster scan once the laser fluence is determined for each metal sample. However, different from LIPSSs, we demonstrate that the morphological profiles of the cone/spike structures, including their size, shape, and density, can be manipulated with both the laser fluence and the raster scan speed to increase a change in the contact angle. By injection molding and imprinting processes, it is expected that fs laser-induced surface structures on metals can be replicated to the plastic surfaces and potentially beneficial to control the optical and wetting properties of the surface of injection molded and imprinted products.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2023

Natural pozzolans are used as additives in cement to develop more durable and high-performance concrete. Pozzolanic activity index (PAI) is important for assessing the performance of a pozzolan as a binding material and has an important effect on the compressive strength, permeability, and chemical durability of concrete mixtures. However, the determining of the 28 days (short term) and 90 days (long term) PAI of concrete mixtures is a time-consuming process. In this study, to reduce extensive experimental work, it is aimed to predict the short term and long term PAIs as a function of the chemical compositions of various natural pozzolans. For this purpose, the chemical compositions of various natural pozzolans from Central Anatolia were determined with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The mortar samples were prepared with the natural pozzolans and then, the short term and the long term PAIs were calculated based on compressive strength method. The effect of the natural pozzolans' chemical compositions on the short term and the long term PAIs were evaluated and the PAIs were predicted by using multiple linear regression (MLR) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model. The prediction model results show that both reactive SiO₂ and SiO₂+Al₂O₃+Fe₂O₃ contents are the most effective parameters on PAI. According to the performance of prediction models determined with metrics such as root mean squared error (RMSE) and coefficient of correlation (R²), ANFIS models are more feasible than the multiple regression model in predicting the 28 days and 90 days pozzolanic activity. Estimation of PAIs based on the chemical component of natural pozzolana with high-performance prediction models is going to make an important contribution to material engineering applications in terms of selection of favorable natural pozzolana and saving time from tedious test processes.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.200-206
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• 2024

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique has been used for the elemental composition of the soils. In this technique, a high energy laser pulse is focused on a sample to produce plasma. From the spectroscopic analysis of such plasma plume, we have determined the different elements present in the soil. This technique is effective and rapid for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of all type of samples. In this work a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser operating with its fundamental mode (1064 nm laser wavelength), 5 nanosecond pulse width, and 10 Hz repetition rate was focused on soil samples using 10 cm quartz lens. The emission spectra of soil consist of Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Titanium (Ti), Silicon (Si), Aluminum (Al), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Potassium (K), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Barium (Ba), Vanadium (V), Lead (Pb), Nitrogen (N), Scandium (Sc), Hydrogen (H), Strontium (Sr), and Lithium (Li) with different finger-prints of the transition lines. The maximum intensity of the transition lines was observed close to the surface of the sample and it was decreased along the axial direction of the plasma expansion due to the thermalization and the recombination process. We have also determined the plasma parameters such as electron temperature and the electron number density of the plasma using Boltzmann's plot method as well as the Stark broadening of the transition lines respectively. The electron temperature is estimated at 14611 °K, whereas the electron number density i.e. 4.1 × 10¹⁶ cm^-3 lies close to the surface.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.283-296
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• 2024

This study examined the distribution of airborne metals concentrations and conducted a risk assessment in PM-10 in Gwangju from 2014 to 2022. There were a total of six points, and the concentration of heavy metals at each point was highest in the order of Pyeong-dong(1.5472 ㎍/m³ ) > Nongseong-dong(1.2093 ㎍/m³ ) > Geonguk-dong(1.0100 ㎍/m³ ) > Duam-dong(0.9684 ㎍/m³ ) > Seo-dong(0.9515 ㎍/m³ ) > Nodae-dong(0.8321 ㎍/m³ ). In recent years, the concentration of heavy metals in the atmosphere has generally risen, accompanied by an increase in heavy metals in the soil. The average seasonal concentrations were in the following order: spring(1.4448 ㎍/m³ ) > winter(1.2939 ㎍/m³ ) > fall(0.8303 ㎍/m³ ) > summer (0.5928 ㎍/m³ ). The atmospheric heavy metals most correlated with PM-10 were Ca(0.69), Fe(0.62), Al(0.62) and Mg(0.60). Within the acceptable risk level (1.0E-06) set in this study, heavy metals in the atmosphere were found to have the most excess cancer risk, and the integrated non-cancer risk was as low as 1 or less.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-171
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the effect of physicochemical properties and mix ratios of iron ore (oxide feed): coke (reductant) on the carbothermic reductions of iron ore. Coke size was fixed at ≤63 ㎛ while iron ore size varied between 150-63 ㎛ and ≤63 ㎛ respectively. Mix ratios were changed from 100:0 (reference) to 80:20 and 60:40 while the temperature, heating rate and soaking duration in muffle furnace were fixed at 1100 ℃, 10 ℃/min and 1 hour. Particle size analyzer, XRF, CHNS and XRD analyses were used for determination of raw feed characteristics. The occurrence of phase transformations from various forms of iron oxides to iron during the carbothermal reductions were identified through XRD profiles and supported with weight loss (%). XRF analysis proved that iron ore is of high grade with 93.4% of Fe₂O₃ content. Other oxides present in minor amounts are 2% Al₂O₃ and 1.8% SiO₂ with negligible amounts of other compounds such as MnO, K₂O and CuO. Composite pellet with finer size iron particles (≤63 ㎛) and higher carbon content of 60:40 exhibited 45.13% weight lost compared to 32.30% and 3.88% respectively for 80:20 and 100:0 ratios. It is evident that reduction reactions can only occur with the presence of coke, the carbon supply. The small weight loss of 3.88% at 100:0 ratio occurs due to the removal of moisture and volatiles and oxidations of iron ore. Higher carbon supply at 60:40 leads into better heat and mass transfer and diffusivity during carbothermic reductions. Overall, finer particle size and higher carbon supply improves reactivity and gas-solid interactions resulting in increased reductions and phase transformations.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.930-939
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• 2024

Mushroom laccases play a crucial role in lignin depolymerization, one of the most critical challenges in lignin utilization. Importantly, laccases can utilize a wide range of substrates, such as toxicants and antibiotics. This study isolated a novel laccase, named HeLac4c, from endophytic white-rot fungi Hericium erinaceus mushrooms. The cDNAs for this enzyme were 1569 bp in length and encoded a protein of 523 amino acids, including a 20 amino-acid signal peptide. Active extracellular production of glycosylated laccases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was successfully achieved by selecting an optimal translational fusion partner. We observed that 5 and 10 mM Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, and K⁺ increased laccase activity, whereas 5 mM Fe²⁺ and Al³⁺ inhibited laccase activity. The laccase activity was inhibited by the addition of low concentrations of sodium azide and ⳑ-cysteine. The optimal pH for the 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt was 4.4. Guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether, a lignin model compound, was polymerized by the HeLac4c enzyme. These results indicated that HeLac4c is a novel oxidase biocatalyst for the bioconversion of lignin into value-added products for environmental biotechnological applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.186-199
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• 1997

The soils derived from granite gneiss occupy almost one third of the land area in Korea. The soils under forest vegetation, formed on granite gneiss, in Sun chon-shi, Chollanam-do in southern part of Korea, were studied to evaluate the weathering and the transformation of primary minerals into secondary minerals, clay minerals. The studied soils contained large amounts of ferromagnesian minerals, weathered biotites and were well weathered, strongly acid and low in organic matters and in ration exchange capacity. The clay contents in the Bt horizon were almost two times higher than those in the C horizon. The O horizon had a thin layer which consisted of a little decomposed plant components with a granic fabric and high porosity, and showed the micromorphological characteristics of moder humus. The related distribution pattern of the E horizon were enaulic and large amounts of silts and small amounts of sand grains were another characteristics of the E horizon. The most striking micromorphological features were multilaminated clay coating and infillings in the voids in the Bt and C horizons, and generally limpid ferriargillans ejected from the biotites and imparted red color to the soils in the Bt horizon. High clay contents in the Bt horizon was not only due to clay translocation, but also due to intensive in situ mineral weathering in this horizon. The most significant pedogenic process, revealed by the petrographic microscope and SEM, was the formation of iron oxides from biotites, the formation of tubular halloysites and the weathering models of biotites; wedge weathering and layer weathering. The thick coating on the weathering biotites showed the characteristics of the weathering process and the synthetic hematites were revealed in clays by TEM. Total chemical analysis of clays revealed extensive loss of Ca, and Na and the concentration of Fe and Al. Mineralogical studies of clays by XRD showed that micas were almost completely weathered to kaolinite, vermiculite-kaolinite intergrade, hematite, gibbsite, while halloysites from other primary minerals. Some dioctahedral mica appeared to be resistant in the soils. Parent rock of the soils contained a considerable amounts of biotites and this forest soils showed especially a dominant characteristics of biotite weathering.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.311-315
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• 2019

The cation extraction and impurity separation were studied in order to investigate the recyclability of a slag produced from the steel refinery industry. Two types of slag (Slag-A, B) were collected and characterized in this study. The initial characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) confirmed the existence of various kinds of ions in the slag such as Ca²⁺ (30 ~ 40%), Fe³⁺ (20 ~ 30%), Si⁴⁺ (15%), Al³⁺ (10%), Mn²⁺ (7%), and Mg²⁺ (3 ~ 5%). Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis on the extracted slag using 2 M HCl as a solvent indicated that a higher concentration of Ca²⁺ was extracted as the S/L ratio was increased. The Ca²⁺ extraction concentration were found to be 8,940 mg L^-1 (Slag-A) and 10,690 (Slag-B) mg L^-1 when the S/L ratio for Ca²⁺ extraction was 0.1. However, the extract was strongly acidic ( < pH 1) at 0.1 S/L. Also the other ions (impurities) were extracted simultaneously in addition to Ca²⁺. To increase the purity of Ca²⁺ in order to transform the slag to a high value resource, a pH-swing was conducted. The impurities tended to precipitate at higher rate as the pH was increased. Notably, the Ca²⁺ rapidly precipitated above a certain pH and at a pH of 10.5, while the selectivity of Ca²⁺ was over 99%. It is expected that the aqueous solution in which high contents of Ca²⁺ was selectively dissolved in this study would be suitable for the carbonation process for reducing CO₂ and for the production of calcium carbonate.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

The $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected at Gosan Site of Jeju Island, and analyzed, in order to investigate the size distribution and pollution characteristics of their components. $NH{_4}{^+}$, nss-$SO{_4}^{2-}$, $K^+$, and $CH_3COO^-$ were mostly existed in fine particles. Meanwhile, $NO{_3}{^-}$ was distributed in both fine and coarse particles, and $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, $Mg^{2+}$, nss-$Ca^{2+}$ were rich in coarse particle mode. The concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$ and $NO{_3}{^-}$ were increased 36.7 and 3.2 times in coarse particles, and 15.0 and 3.1 times in fine particles during the Asian Dust periods. Especially, the concentrations of crustal elemental species such as Al, Fe, Ca, K, Mg, Ti, Mn, Sr, Ba were highly increased for those periods. In the haze events, the concentrations of secondary air pollutants were increased 1.3~2.6 and 1.5~4.2 times in coarse and fine particles, respectively. Moreover, the remarkable increase of $NO{_3}{^-}$ concentration was also observed in fine particle mode. The factor analysis showed that the composition of coarse particles was influenced mainly by marine sources, followed by soil and anthropogenic sources. On the other hand, the fine particles were influenced by anthropogenic sources, followed by marine and soil sources.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 1975

The morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of planosols in Korea were studied in an effort to establish the suitabilition of the planosols for agricultural development. The Yeongog series which are planosols were established in Korea. Results from the Yeongog series are briefly as follows : 1. Morphologically, the surface soils are brown to dark brown friable loam and subsoils are of varied colors but mainly are dark brown, black and pale brown mottles. The texture of these horizons are silty clay loam with moderate to strong platy structure and clay cutans are on the ped faces. The consistences of these horizons are extremely compact and hard when moist and sticky, plastic when wet. The substrata show varied soil colors and loam to clay loam. 2. Physically, the clay content of the Yeongog soils is highest in the subsoils and gradually decreases below the subsoils. Water holding capacity and bulk desity is higher than in other mineral soils. 3. Chemically, the organic matter content is low and soil reaction ranges from very strongly to strongly acid. The cation exchange capacity is medium and base saturation a high. Active iron, easily reducible manganese and available silicate are high compared with normal soils. 4. In chemical composition of clay fraction of the Yeongog series, sesquioxide ratio, $Fe_2O_3$, $K_2O$ and MgO are high. The cation exchange capacity of the clay fraction is also very high. 5. The clay minerals in Yeongog series are mainly kaoline, vermiculite with Al interlayers and illite. The quarts, primary minerals are in the Yeongog soils. 6. These soils are formed in a warm, humid climate under native grasses on the terraces and rolling or hilly footslopes. In soil classification, the Yeongog soils are classified planosols with claypan. According to 7th approximation system in U.S.A., the Yeongog series are classified as Fragiudalfs because they have an argillic horizon, a hard pan and a high base saturation which is more than 35 percent and classified as Eutric Planosols by FAO/UNESCO classification system.