• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.257-257
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• 2006

We chose three synthetic polymers, poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVFHFP), and $Nafion^{(R)}$ that reveal different chemical and physical characteristics, and investigate their biocompatibilities to five different bacteria (that are most notorious for opportunistic and iatrogenic infections) and a human cell (HEp-2). The bacteria chosen in this study found to adhere onto the PPC and Nafion films but not to adhere on the PVFHFP film. On the other hand, both PVFHFP and Nafion films revealed good compatibility to HEp-2 and allowed the growth of the HEp-2 on the film surface but PPC showed poor compatibility to HEp-2. All results will be discussed with taking into account the surface characteristics of the polymers.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.2266-2270
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• 2007

Electron transfer of a redox protein at a bare gold electrode is too slow to observe the redox peaks. A novel Nafion-riboflavin functional membrane was constructed during this study and electron transfer of cytochrome c, superoxide dismutase, and hemoglobin were carried out on the functional membrane-modified gold electrode with good stability and repeatability. The immobilized protein-modified electrodes showed quasireversible electrochemical redox behaviors with formal potentials of 0.150, 0.175, and 0.202 V versus Ag/AgCl for the cytochrome c, superoxide dismutase and hemoglobin, respectively. Whole experiment was carried out in the 50 mM MOPS buffer solution with pH 6.0 at 25 oC. For the immobilized protein, the cathodic transfer coefficients were 0.67, 0.68 and 0.67 and electron transfer-rate constants were evaluated to be 2.25, 2.23 and 2.5 s?1, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide concentration was measured by the peroxidase activity of hemoglobin and our experiment revealed that the enzyme was fully functional while immobilized on the Nafion-riboflavin membrane.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2014

Objectives: Feasibility of electrochemical oxidation of the aqueous non-biodegradable wastewater such as cationic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) has been investigated in an electrochemical reactor with solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). Methods: Nafion 117 cationic exchange membrane as SPE has been used. Anode/Nafion/cathode sandwiches were constructed by sandwiching Nafion between two dimensionally stable anodes (JP202 electrode). Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of applied current (0.5~2.0 A), supporting electrolyte type (0.2 N NaCl, $Na_2SO_4$, and 1.0 g/L NaCl), initial RhB concentration (2.5~30.0 mg/L) on RhB and COD degradation and $UV_{254}$ absorbance. Results: Experimental results showed that an increase of applied current in electrolysis reaction with solid polymer electrolyte has resulted in the increase of RhB and $UV_{254}$ degradation. Performance for RhB degradation by electrolyte type was best with NaCl 0.2 N followed by SPE, and $Na_2SO_4$. However, the decrease of $UV_{254}$ absorbance of RhB was different from RhB degradation: SPE > NaCl 0.2 N > $Na_2SO_4$. RhB and $UV_{254}$ absorbance decreased linearly with time regardless of the initial concentration. The initial RhB and COD degradation in electrolysis reaction using SPE showed a pseudo-first order kinetics and rate constants were 0.0617 ($R^2=0.9843$) and 0.0216 ($R^2=0.9776$), respectively. Conclusions: Degradation of RhB in the electrochemical reactor with SPE can be achieved applying electrochemical oxidation. Supporting electrolyte has no positive effect on the final $UV_{254}$ absorbance and COD degradation. Mineralization of COD may take a relatively longer time than that of the RhB degradation.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2018

In order to improve current efficiency and decrease energy consumption in the electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate, electrolytic properties of four cation exchange membranes, namely, the $JCM-II^{(R)}$ membrane, $Nafion^{(R)}$ 324 membrane CMI-$7000^{(R)}$ membrane and a self-made perfluorosulfonic ion exchange membrane (PGN membrane) were investigated using a sintered platinized titanium anode and a Pb-Sb-Sn alloy cathode in a self-made electrolytic cell. The effect of cell voltage and electrolyte flow rate on the current efficiency and the energy consumption were investigated. The results indicated that the PGN membrane could improve current efficiency to 94.85% and decrease energy consumption to $1119kWh\;t^{-1}$ (energy consumption per ton of the ammonium persulfate generated) under the optimal operating conditions and the highest current efficiency of the $JCM-II^{(R)}$ membrane, $Nafion^{(R)}$ 324 membrane and CMI-$7000^{(R)}$ membrane were 80.73%, 77.76% and 73.22% with their lowest energy consumption of $1323kWh\;t^{-1}$, $1539kWh\;t^{-1}$ and $2256kWh\;t^{-1}$, respectively. The PGN membrane has the advantages of high current efficiency and energy power consumption and has sufficient mechanical strength with the reinforced mesh. Therefore the PGN membrane will has good value in popularization in the industrial electrosynthesis of ammonium persulfate in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.732-738
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• 2018

Novel carbon-based solid acid catalysts were synthesized through a sustainable route from lipid-extracted microalgal residue of Dunaliella tertiolecta, for biodiesel production. Two carbon-based solid acid catalysts were prepared by surface modification of bio-char with sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) and sulfuryl chloride ($SO_2Cl_2$), respectively. The treated catalysts were characterized and their catalytic activities were evaluated by esterification of oleic acid. The esterification catalytic activity of the $SO_2Cl_2$-treated bio-char was higher ($11.5mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.\;^{-1}$) than that of commercial catalyst silica-supported Nafion SAC-13 ($2.3mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.^{-1}$) and $H_2SO_4$-treated bio-char ($5.7mmol\;Prod.{\cdot}h^{-1}{\cdot}gCat.^{-1}$). Reusability of the catalysts was examined. The catalytic activity of the $SO_2Cl_2$-modified catalyst was sustained from the second run after the initial activity dropped after the first run and kept the same activity until the fifth run. It was higher than that of first-used Nafion. These experimental results demonstrate that catalysts from lipid-extracted algae have great potential for the economic and environment-friendly production of biodiesel.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2008

The membrane electrode assembly(MEA) was prepared by a nonequilibrium impregnation- reduction (I-R) method. Nafion 117 and covalently cross-linked sulfonated polyetherether with tungsto- phosphoric acid (CL-SPEEK/TPA30) prepared by our laboratory, were chosen as polymer electrolyte membrane(PEM). $Pt(NH_3)_4Cl_2$, $RuCl_3$ and reducing agent $(NaBH_4)$ were used as electrocatalytic materials. Electrochemical activity surface area(ESA) and specific surface area(SSA) of Pt cathodic electrode with Nafion 117 were $22.48m^2/g$ and $23.50m^2/g$ respectively under the condition of 0.8 M $NaBH_4$. But Pt electrode prepared by CL-SPEEK/TPA30 membrane exhibited higher ESA $23.46m^2/g$ than that of Nafion 117. In case of Pt-Ru anodic electrode, the higher concentration of Ru was, the lower potential of oxygen reduction and region of hydrogen desorption was, and Pt-Ru electrode using 10 mM $RuCl_3$ showed best properties of SSA $34.09m^2/g$ with Nafion 117. In water electrolysis performance, the cell voltage of Pt/PEM/Pt-Ru MEA with Nafion 117 showed cell property of 1.75 V at $1A/cm^2$ and $80{\circ}C$. On the same condition, the cell voltage with CL-SPEEK/TPA30 was the best of 1.73 V at $1A/cm^2$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.173-184
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• 2004

For the application of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), sulfonated polystyrene/teflon (PS/PTFE) composite membranes were developed by changing monomer ratio of styrene and DVB. The composite membranes were prepared as follows: first, the monomer mixtures consisting of styrene, divinyl benzene and AIBN were impregnated in porous PTFE film and then, polymerized under 8$0^{\circ}C$ to give PS/PTFE membranes. Finally, the membranes were reacted with chlorosulfonic acid in 1,2-dichloroethane to give the sulfonated composite membranes. The measurements of ATR-FTIR, SEM, solvent uptake test and ion exchange capacity (IEC) were done for the resulting membranes before or after sulfonation, respectively, which showed the composite membranes with proper crosslinking degree and sulfonic acid content were prepared well as a function of styrene/DVB ratio. ion conductivity and methanol permeability were studied for the sulfonated membranes. It was found that with decreasing the ratio of styrene/DVB, methanol permeability decreased from $6.6{\times}10^{-7}∼1.3{\timas}10^{-7}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s, which are much lower values than that of Nafion$^{(R)}$117($1.02{\times}10^{-6}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s). Under the same monomer condition, ion conductivity decreased from 0.11 S/cm ($25^{\circ}C$) to 0.08 S/cm ($25^{\circ}C$), which are similar or a little higher values compared with $Nafion^{(R)}117 (1.02{\times}10^{-6}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$/s, 0.0824 S/cm). These two results confirmed the composite membranes prepared could be applied successfully to DMFC.C.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.362-367
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• 2009

Recently, the use of formic acid as a fuel for direct liquid fuel cells has emerged as a promising alternative to methanol. In the work presented herein, we evaluated direct formic acid fuel cells(DFAFCs) with various components under operating conditions, for example, the thickness of the proton exchange membrane, concentration of formic acid, gas diffusion layer, and commercial catalyst. The thickness of the proton exchange membrane influenced performance related to the fuel cross-over. To optimize the cell performance, we investigated on the proper concentration of formic acid and catalyst for the formic acid oxidation. Consequently, membrance-electrode assembly(MEA) consisted of $Nafion^{(R)}$-115 and the Pt-Ru black as a anode catalyst showed the maximum performance. This performance was superior to the DMFCs' one.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1999.07d
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• pp.1824-1826
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• 1999

In order to develop key technologies for a kW class for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), various membranes (Nafion(112, 115, 117), Dow, Flemion, Gore, and Hanwha), and electrocatalysts (Pt/C, PtNi/C PtNiCo/C and PtRu/C) were used in the fabrication of the MEAs by using transfer printing technique. The effects of the thickness of Nafion membranes, electrocatalysts and the operating conditions (e.g. temperature, reactant gas pressure, and composition) on the performance of the MEA were investigated in the PEFC single cell($O_2/H_2$, and Air/$H_2$ cell). The performances of the MEAs for $O_2/H_2$ and Air/$H_2$ cells has been evaluated.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.35-38
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• 2007

The comparisons between measured performance of lab-scale PEMFC and calculation were conducted to understand the detail phenomena of PEMFC for the various inlet oxygen humidity of cathode side. Experiments were performed at $65^{\circ}C$ operation temperature and different inlet humidity conditions such as 40%, 60% and 80%. We used the MEA manufactured by oneself which include $Nafion^{(R)}$ 112 membrane, Nafion solution 20%, and carbon paper(E-TEK). As a result of this experiment, cell performance was getting higher by increasing inlet humidity condition at cathode side because ion conductivity of electrolyte membrane is increased. A 3D CFD simulation model of PEMFC was developed using commercially available CFD code that is one of the STAR-CD module, es-pemfc under same operating conditions. Model calculations results were compared with experimental ones on the polarization curves and calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Local water distribution and current density inside PEMFC are discussed in detail.