• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.255-259
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• 2024

In this study, an aqueous-based redox flow battery (RFB) was constructed using tungstosilic acid (TSA), which is a kind of polyoxometalate, as the negative electrode active material and iron chloride (FeCl3) as the positive electrode active material in a sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) supporting electrolyte. As a result of the cell's performance, it exhibited capacity fading and low energy efficiency. To address these issues, malic acid (MA), an organic additive, was introduced to the positive electrode active material and then tested for electrochemical properties and single cell performance. The malic acid in the iron chloride aqueous solution is working as a chelate agent, and two carboxyl groups are effectively coordinated with iron ions. It was found that MA reduced the electrolyte resistance of the positive electrode active material, leading to chemical stabilization and an increase in capacity and energy efficiency.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.283-291
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• 2003

Humic and fulvic acids present in soils of different depth were extracted and their acidic functional groups and structural characteristics were analyzed and compared. The purpose of this study was to present a basic data needed to evaluate the effect of humic substances on depth distribution and migrational behaviour of radioactive elements deposited on soil. Acidic functional groups of the humic and fulvic acids were analyzed by pH titration method, and their proton exchange capacity (PEC, $mq\;g^{-1}$) and average $pK_a$ values were obtained. Structural characteristics of the humic and fulvic acids were analyzed using their CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR spectra and elemental composition data. pH titration data showed that fulvic acids have higher acidic functional group contents ranging from 5.5 to $7.0meq\;g^{-1}$ compared with that of humic acids ($3.8{\sim}4.8meq\;g^{-1}$). From depth profiles, it has been found that PEC values of humic acids in deeper soil (> 8 cm) were higher than those at the surface soils. Elemental compositions (H/C ratio) and spectral features ($C_{arom}/C_{aliph}$ ratio) obtained from CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR spectra showed that the aromatic character in humic acids was a relatively higher than that of fulvic acids, while lower in carboxyl carbon content. The aromatic character and carboxyl carbon contents of humic acids tend to increase as soil depth increased, but those of fulvic acid showed little differences by the soil depth range.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.487-495
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• 2015

We carried out pH stability, chemical inhibition, chemical modification, and pH-dependent kinetic parameter assessments to further characterize protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707. Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase was stable in the pH range of 4.5~10.5. L-ascorbate and glutathione were competitive inhibitors with $K_{is}$ values of 0.17 mM and 0.86 mM, respectively. DL-dithiothreitol was a noncompetitive inhibitor with a $K_{is}$ value of 1.57 mM and a $K_{ii}$ value of 8.08 mM. Potassium cyanide, p-hydroxybenzoate, and sodium azide showed a noncompetitive inhibition pattern with $K_{is}$ values of 55.7 mM, 0.22 mM, and 15.64 mM, and $K_{ii}$ values of 94.1 mM, 8.08 mM, and 662.64 mM, respectively. $FeCl_{2}$ was the best competitive inhibitor with a $K_{is}$ value of $29{\mu}M$. $FeCl_{3}$, $MnCl_{2}$, $CoCl_{2}$, and $AlCl_{3}$ were also competitive inhibitors with $K_{is}$ values of 1.21 mM, 0.85 mM, 3.98 mM, and 0.21 mM, respectively. Other metal ions showed noncompetitive inhibition patterns. The pH-dependent kinetic parameter data showed that there may be at least two catalytic groups with pK values of 6.2 and 9.4 and two binding groups with pK values of 5.5 and 9.0. Lysine, cysteine, tyrosine, carboxyl, and histidine were modified by their own specific chemical modifiers, indicating that they are involved in substrate binding and catalysis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 1999

Ethanol catabolism is thought to produce metabolic disorders resulting in alcoholic liver disease. To investigate the mutual effects of ethanol catabolism and cholestasis induced by common bile duct ligation on the activities of carboxylesterase, we have determined the enzyme activities in rat hepatic (cytosolic, mitochondrial, and microsomal) preparations as well as in rat serum using ten animal models: normal rats (group 1), sham-operated rats (group 2), common bile duct-ligated rats (group 3), ethanol-intoxicated rats (group 4), sham-operation plus chronic ethanol-intoxicated rats (group 5), common bile duct-ligated plus chronic ethanol-intoxicated rats at 1.5h and 24h (groups 7A and 7B), and duct-ligated and acute ethanol intoxicated rats at 1.5 h and 24 h (groups 8A and 8B). The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values of carboxylesterase from these hepatic preparations of cholestatic rat liver combined with chronic ethanol intoxication were also measured by using ethyl valerate as the substrate from the 14th day post-ligation. Carboxylesterase activities of all hepatic preparations and rat serum (group 3) showed significant decreases compared to the activities from the sham-operated control (group 2). Enzyme kinetic parameters indicated that $V_{max}$ of carboxylesterase from all the hepatic preparations in cholestatic rats (group 3) decreased significantly, although the $K_m$ values were about the same as in the sham-operated control (group 2). When cholestasis was combined with chronic ethanol intoxication (group 6), carboxylesterase activities showed further decrease in all the hepatic preparations and serum compared to the control activity (group 5). The $V_{max}$ also decreased significantly, although $K_m$ values did not change. When common bile duct ligation was combined with acute ethanol intoxication (group 8), the enzyme activities in the rat liver and serum showed significant decrease compared to the activity from acute ethanol-intoxicated rats (group 7). However, quite contrary to this, the activities of serum from acute ethanol intoxication 1.5 h (group 7A) increased significantly compared to the activities in the normal control (group 1). These results, therefore, suggest that the biosynthesis of hepatic carboxyl-esterase seems to decrease when cholestasis is combined with chronic and acute ethanol intoxication, and the decrease in activity is more significant than from cholestasis alone.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.504-511
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• 2008

Two kinds of nitroazobenzene derivatives: 4-{4'-(nitrophenylazo)phenoxy}alkanoic acids (NAAn, n = 2~8, 10, number of methylene units in the alkyl chain) and 4-{4'-(nitrophenylazo)phenoxy}alkanoyl chlorides (NACn, n = 2~8, 10) were synthesized, and their thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviors were investigated. NAA6 formed an enantiotropic nematic phase, while the remainders, except NAA2, showed monotropic nematic phases. Isotropic-nematic transition temperature ($T_{iN}$) and change of entropy (${\Delta}S$) at $T_{iN}$ for both of NAAn and NACn varied by the change of n, and pronounced odd-even effects of n were also observed. However, the $T_{iN}$ and ${\Delta}S$ values of NAAn were much higher than those of NACn. This fact may be attributed to the hydrogen bonding between carboxyl groups. Thermal properties and degree of order in the mesophase and the magnitude of the odd-even effects of both NAAn and NACn were significantly different from those reported for 4-(alkoxy)-4'-nitroazobenzenes. It was discussed in terms of the differences in the molecular anisotropy and the temperature-dependent flexibility of the substituted groups.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.768-776
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• 1996

Carbon Black has various advantageous properties such as reinforcement, tinting, weathering, chemical resistance, electrical resistance, etc., but it has poor affinity in the solution. The purpose of this study is to enhance dispersion in the aqueous solution by altering the surface characteristics. Two different treatments were applied for both channel black and furnace black respectively. Channel black was treated in alkaline solution to replace hydrogen of the carboxyl group with alkaline metal, Li, Na, K. Furnace black has few functional groups, and it was treated with $HNO_3$ to increase the number of functional group on carbon black. It was seen that the substitution of alkaline metal on the surface of channel black enhances the degree of dispersion. Also the higher the acid concentration and reaction temperature, the more the number of some functional groups on the furnace black. Reaction time was not seen to be effective.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2006

To utilize as highly functional scaffolds for tissue engineering by improving hydrophobicity and cell compatibility of the exist polymer scaffolds, the biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films and scaffolds having the optimal hydrophilicity were prepared by in situ plasma treatment and grafting of a carboxyl acid-containing monomer, acrylic acid (AA) in the chamber. From the results of surface analyses, surface-modified nonporous PLLA film and dual pore scaffold surfaces showed high hydrophilicity due to the decrease in contact angle and the increase in carboxylic groups as compared with untreated PLLA control. In particular, among various surface modification methods, Ar(argon)+AA+AA sample prepared by Ar plasma and then acrylic acid treatments displayed lower contact angle and more carboxylic groups thar Ar/AA and Ar+TP(thermal polymerization) samples, indicating that Ar+AA+AA sample was optimally treated for improving its hydrophilicity. In the cases of surface modified nonporous PLLA films and dual pore scaffolds, the adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes increased with increasing their hydrophilicity.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 2021

Effects of nitric acid treatment of an activated carbon and impregnation of metal chlorides on the activated carbon were investigated to improve ammonia adsorption performance. It was confirmed that functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups were introduced onto a surface of the activated carbon with nitric acid treatment. Then, each metal chloride (NiCl₂, MgCl₂, CuCl₂, MnCl₂ or CoCl₂) was impregnated onto the surface-modified activated carbon using an ultrasonic impregnation method. The physicochemical properties and ammonia adsorption performance of various impregnated activated carbons were observed. Metal chlorides were well dispersed by sonication and evenly distributed on the surface of the activated carbon. Despite the reduced specific surface area and pore volume, the surface-modified activated carbon impregnated with metal chlorides exhibited excellent ammonia adsorption performance. In particular, HNO₃-NiCl₂ AC prepared by impregnating NiCl₂ showed the best ammonia adsorption capacity of 3.736 mmol·g^-1, which was improved by about 57 times compared to that of an untreated activated carbon (0.066 mmol·g^-1).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.194-202
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• 1975

This study was conducted to study the properties of the water-soluble natural chelating agents from garbage compost and activated sewage sludge responsible for Fe chelation, which is closely associated with the effectiveness in correcting iron chlorosis in plant. The water-soluble fraction of these materials was fractionated by menas of Sephadex gel filtration and the fractions of Fe chehates were traced by radioactive $^{59}Fe$. The fractions were examined by ultraviolet and infrared. spectroscopy and stability constants for Fe. The water-soluble fraction from garbage compost was separated by Sephadex G-25 into approximately four fractions. Most of the added $^{59}Fe$ was associated with fraction I, which appeared at the void volume. Further fractionation by Sephadex G-50 indicated that the molecular weight of water-soluble chelating agents is in the approximate range of 5000 to 10,000. The water-soluble fraction from activated sewage sludge gave six fractions by Sephadex G-25. Most of the added $^{59}Fe$ was found in the fraction I,II, and III, The molecular weights of most chelating agents associated with $^{59}Fe$ appeared to be less than 5,000 and those of fraction I that appeared at the void volume was in the range of 5,000 to 1,000. Discrepancy between radio activity count and UV absorption indicated the heterogeneity of the fractions obtained by Sephadex gel filtration. Ultraviolet absorption spectra of all fractions separated by Sephadex G-25 and containing chelating agents showed no differences. Fraction IV and V of sewage extract showed absorption maxima and shifting similar to nucleic acid components suggesting the presence of decomposition products of nucleic acid. Similarity fraction VI contained phenolic type amino acid groups. Fraction I of compost extract contained most of the added $^{59}Fe$ and showed weak but extra definite absorption in the 1230, and $1270cm^{-1}$ region, suggesting that extra oxygen groups in polyphenolic structure were probably involved in Fe chelation. In sewage extract, fraction I,II, and III in which most of the $^{59}Fe$ was found, showed strong definite polypeptide absorption in the region of $1540cm^{-1}$ due to NH deformation and C-N stretching of amide groups in the peptidebond. These extra functional groups in fraction I, II, and III appeared to be associated with Fe chelation. The other fractions, not associated with $^{59}Fe$, still have carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, suggesting that these functional groups in these water extracts may not independently form the Fe chelates. Precipitation of ferric hydroxide precluded measuring the stability constants for Fe-chelates. However, the formation constants for Zn chelates as log K values for compost extract and sewage extract at pH 4.0 from which the strength of chelation with Fe could be presumed, were 8.23, and 9.75, respectively, indicating strong complexation with metals. The chelating capacity of compost extract containing 6.5 g organic matter per liter was 0.82 mM, and that of sewage extract containing 5.3 g per liter was 0. 64 mM.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2015

Various pretreatment methods were evaluated to prevent tissue softening of heated onion. Changes in onion tissue firmness during heating were explained by 3-mechanism model consisting of texture hardening at low temperature ($60-80^{\circ}C$) and substrate softening at high temperature. Preheating of onion in a $Ca^{2+}$-containing solution significantly improved its texture after high-temperature heating. The improvement of firmness by preheating at low temperature was related to the formation of strong cross-linking between carboxyl groups and $Ca^{2+}$ by the action of pectin methylesterase in onion. The highest firmness was obtained by pre-heating at $70^{\circ}C$ for 120 min in 0.5% calcium solution. This result was supported by chemical analysis showing that the amount of bound calcium was the highest at $70^{\circ}C$. Further investigation should be carried out to establish the optimal conditions to prevent the softening of various vegetables.