• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.515-522
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• 2002

Solid beta-dicalcium silicate hydrate $(\beta-C_2SH)$ synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at $240^{\circ}C$ and Ca/Si=2 molar ratio shows cation exchange properties towards divalent metal cations such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, or Pb. The ability of metal cation uptake by the solid was found to be in the order: $Fe^{2+}$〉$Cu^{2+}$〉$Zn^{2+}$〉$Cd^{2+}$ = $Pb^{2+}$. Cesium selectivity of the solid was demonstrated in the presence of univalent cation such as $Li^+$, $Na^+$ and $K^+$ and divalent cations such as $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $Ba^{2+}$, which are one hundred times more concentrated than the $Cs^+$. The uptake of $Cs^+$ is maximum in the presence of $Mg^{2+}$ whereas it is minimum in the presence of $K^+$. The different affinities of ${\beta}-C_2SH$ towards divalent metal cations can be used for the separation of those ions. Due to its selectivity for cesium it can be used in partitioning of radioactive Cs+ from nuclear wastes containing numerous cations. The mechanism of the metal cation exchange and cesium selectivity reactions by the solid is studied.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1062-1067
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• 2018

In this study, the research processed with a chemical sensor for measuring trace amount of heavy metal ions which is based on the requirements of the efficient sensing technology as recent equipment is applies molecular system in the chemical sensing section that can precisely recognizing selective target substance and transmit its data to physical signal as a result. In this research is concentrated on realize highly precise by utilizing SPR sensor application of recognition functional sensing membrane. Consequently, according to DTSQ-dye sensing membrane, the resonance angle from low-concentration to the highest concentration $10^{-4}M$ of $Ag^+$ ion is $2.17[^{\circ}]$ and this result indicating 4.3 times larger resonance angle changes compare to the other metal substance. Based on SQ-dye sensing membrane, the difference of resonance angle between low concentration and the highest concentration $10^{-4}M$ of $Cu^{2+}$ ion is $2.3[^{\circ}]$ and this outcome is indicating 4.5 times greater resonance angle change to the other metal substance.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.47-57
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• 2024

Jarosite, a mineral belonging to the alunite family, is found in various low pH environments and can incorporate cations or oxyanions into its structure, either by coprecipitation or substitution. This mineral is sensitive to pH changes and can easily transform into goethite upon geochemical changes, such as an increase in pH. This transformation can release toxic ions from the jarosite, potentially causing additional environmental damage. In addition to potassium (K), sodium (Na) and ammonium (NH₄) can also substitute for cations in jarosite. The formation of jarosites containing these and other cations is significant not only for acid mine drainage but also for the smelting industry. In this study, three different types of jarosites containing various cations were synthesized and the phase transformation of each jarosite to goethite upon pH change were compared. All the jarosites were sensitive to pH changes, showing much higher rates of phase change at pH 8 than at pH 4. At the relatively low pH of 4, the phase transformation of K-jarosite, which is most stable in structure, to goethite was the slowest. For the other two jarosites, the cations have either smaller or larger radii than K ions, resulting in differences in structural stability and they showed more rapid transformations to goethite. However, at pH 8, K-jarosite exhibited a much more rapid transformation to goethite than the other jarosites, which was also evident from the rapid increase in K ions in aqueous solution. The mineral transformation behavior of K-jarosite at higher pH is significantly different from that at lower pH, indicating that the mechanism of the transformation to goethite differs between these conditions, which requires further investigation. The results of this study indicate that the mineral transformation of jarosite in acid mine drainage or smelter waste disposal may significantly influence the behavior of heavy metals. This research provides valuable insights for predicting the behavior of heavy metals in smelting industry waste disposal.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.996-1004
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• 2020

Various genetically engineered microorganisms have been developed for the removal of heavy metal contaminants. Metal biosorption by whole-cell biosorbents can be enhanced by overproduction of metal-binding proteins/peptides in the cytoplasm or on the cell surface. However, few studies have compared the biosorption capacity of whole cells expressing intracellular or surface-displayed metal-adsorbing proteins. In this study, several constructs were prepared for expressing intracellular and surface-displayed Ochrobactrum tritici 5bvl1 ChrB in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. E. coli cells expressing surface-displayed ChrB removed more Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions than cells with cytoplasmic ChrB under the same conditions. However, intracellular ChrB was less susceptible to variation in extracellular conditions (pH and ionic strength), and more effectively removed Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater than the surface-displayed ChrB at low pH (<3). An adsorption-desorption experiment demonstrated that compared with intracellular accumulation, cell-surface adsorption is reversible, which allows easy desorption of the adsorbed metal ions and regeneration of the bioadsorbent. In addition, an intrinsic ChrB protein fluorescence assay suggested that pH and salinity may influence the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of ChrB-expressing E. coli cells by modulating the ChrB protein conformation. Although the characteristics of ChrB may not be universal for all metal-binding proteins, our study provides new insights into different engineering strategies for whole-cell biosorbents for removing heavy metals from industrial effluents.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2013

DC/DC switching power converters are commonly used to generate a regulated DC output voltage with high efficiency. The DC/DC converter is composed of a PWM-IC (pulse width modulation-integrated circuit) controller, a MOSFET (metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor), inductor, capacitor, etc. It is shown that the variation of threshold voltage and the offset voltage in the electrical characteristics of PWM-IC increase by radiation effects in TID (Total Ionizing Dose) testing at the low energy ${\gamma}$ rays using $^{60}Co$, and 4 heavy ions applied for SEL (Single Event Latch-up) make the PWM pulse unstable. Also, the output waveform for the given input in the DC/DC converter is observed by the simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis (SPICE). TID testing on PWM-IC is accomplished up to the total dose of 30 krad, and the cross section($cm^2$) versus LET($MeV/mg/cm^2$) in the PWM operation is studied at SEL testing after implementation of the controller board.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.662-671
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• 2015

To enrich the genetic resource of microbial xylanases with high activity and stability under alkaline conditions, a xylanase gene (xynSL4) was cloned from Planococcus sp. SL4, an alkaline xylanase-producing strain isolated from the sediment of soda lake Dabusu. Deduced XynSL4 consists of a putative signal peptide of 29 residues and a catalytic domain (30-380 residues) of glycosyl hydrolase family 10, and shares the highest identity of 77% with a hypothetical protein from Planomicrobium glaciei CHR43. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that deduced XynSL4 is closely related with thermophilic and alkaline xylanases from Geobacillus and Bacillus species. The gene xynSL4 was expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and the recombinant enzyme showed some superior properties. Purified recombinant XynSL4 (rXynSL4) was highly active and stable over the neutral and alkaline pH range from 6 to 11, with maximum activity at pH 7 and more than 60% activity at pH 11. It had an apparent temperature optimum of 70℃ and retained stable at this temperature in the presence of substrate. rXynSL4 was highly halotolerant, retaining more than 55% activity with 0.25-3.0 M NaCl and was stable at the concentration of NaCl up to 4M. The enzyme activity was significantly enhanced by β-mercaptoethanol and Ca²⁺ but strongly inhibited by heavy-metal ions and SDS. This thermophilic and alkaline- and salt-tolerant enzyme has great potential for basic research and industrial applications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.432-438
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• 2015

In this work, activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were oxyfluorinated and their adsorption ability for the low concentration of hexavalent chromium in an aqueous solution was investigated. The pore structure and surface properties of ACFs were examined by BET and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Due to the oxyfluorination treatment, the content of (C-O) bond on ACFs surface which influences the adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions increased largely, resulting that $Cr^{6+}$ adsorption equilibrium reached quickly within 10 min. In addition, the maximum removal efficiency at the initial $Cr^{6+}$ concentration of 20 ppm was observed, which is a 100% improvement compared to that of non-treated ACFs. These results suggest that the oxyfluorination of ACFs can be applied as a good surface treatment for the effective adsorption of the low concentration of $Cr^{6+}$.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 1998

Microorganisms such as alga are able to uptake toxic and heavy metal ions. After Cd(Ⅱ) was preconcentrated on the carbon paste electrode constructed by incorporating alga (Anabaena), it was determined with differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. A well-defined oxidation peak of Cd(Ⅱ) was obtained at - 0.75 V vs. SCE. We investigated the optimum conditions using the peak, which are the effect of the amount of alga, pH, ionic strength, temperature, and preconcentration time on the preconcentration of Cd(Ⅱ) and that of the reduction time and potential on the reduction of Cd(Ⅱ) preconcentrated. Calibration curve for the determination of Cd(Ⅱ) was linear over the range of $1.0{\times}10^6\;M\;to\;8.0{\times}10^6$\;M (R=0.9978) and the detection limit was $5.0{\times}10^{-7}$\;M. The relative standard deviation was 3.1% (n=6) for $7.0{\times}10^{-6}\;M Cd(Ⅱ). In regeneration of the electrode surface with 0.1 M HCl, the response was reproducible continuously by 10 times.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant activity of the water extract from Coptis chinensis Franch. Coptis chinensis Franch. exhibited antioxidative activity at all concentration tested. The extract was as good as antioxidative action of the synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene and ascorbic acid; Also, the one was superior to that of natural antioxidant, $\alpha$ -tocopherol. With heavy metal ions (Fe3+, Zn2+) present, Coptis chinensis Franch. showed strong antioxidative effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.619-628
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• 2014

To identify lipase LipA (PFL_0617) from Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5, a lipA deletion mutant (Pf0617) and a complementary strain (Pf0617lipA) were constructed, and their effects on the lipase production were examined. Pf0617 remarkably decreased its whole-cell lipase activity, whereas Pf0617lipA made its whole-cell lipase activity not only restore to wild-type level but also get a further increment. However, the deletion and overexpression of lipA did not affect the extracellular lipase activity. In addition, the unbroken whole cells of these strains were able to catalyze the hydrolysis of membrane-permeable p-nitrophenyl esters, but could not hydrolyze the membrane-impermeable olive oil. These results confirmed that LipA was an intracellular lipase and Pf-5 could also be used as a natural whole-cell biocatalyst. To evaluate the potential of Pf-5 as a whole-cell biocatalyst and separately characterize the whole-cell LipA, the properties of the whole-cell lipases from Pf-5 and Top10lipA were characterized. The results demonstrated that both Pf-5 and Top10lipA exhibited high tolerance to alkaline condition, high temperature, heavy metal ions, surfactants, and organic solvents. Taken together, lipA can realize functional expression in E. coli Top10, and Pf-5 and Top10lipA as whole-cell biocatalysts may have enormous potential in applications.