• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.78-88
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• 2023

Background: Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have acute and chronic health effects on human beings in general and in working environments. In particular, VOCs are often emitted in large quantities in industrial settings. In such circumstances, there is a need to improve the indoor air quality at workplaces. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to verify the effectiveness of air cleaning devices in workplaces and provide alternative solutions for improving working environments. Methods: Personal exposure and area level of VOCs for workers were evaluated in a car-part adhesive process before and after installing an air cleaning device with a TiO₂-coated filter. Passive samplers and direct reading instruments were used to collect and analyze the VOCs, and the removal efficiency and improvement of air quality were evaluated. We also calculated the exposure index (EI) to assess the risk level in the workplace. Results: The removal efficiency for VOCs through the installation of the air cleaning device was approximately 26.9~69.0% as determined by the concentration levels before and after installation. The measured substances did not exceed the exposure limits for the work environment and the EI was less than 1. However, carcinogenic substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethylene were detected. Conclusions: The application of an air cleaning device can be a solution for controlling the indoor air quality in a workplace, particularly in cases where ventilation systems cannot be installed due to process limitations.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.93-102
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• 2023

This study investigated the possibility of treating heavy metal pollutants existing in the air in addition to simultaneously removing NOx and SOx by injecting oxidizing and reducing agents into a scrubber into a microbubble device to create an eco-friendly method that does not generate secondary pollutants. Lead compound (Pb) was selected as the heavy metal substance in the air to be treated with microbubbles, and the removal efficiency was confirmed. By treating microbubbles by connecting them to a scrubber, it was confirmed that not only NOx and SOx but also heavy metal substances in the air were reduced, cost was reduced, and secondary environmental pollutants were not generated. Through this study, it was possible to simultaneously remove NOx, SOx, and heavy metals at low cost by applying an eco-friendly method, rather than the existing high-cost treatment method such as SCR. If oxidizing agent, reducing agent, and microbubbles are used appropriately, economical and efficient air pollution can be achieved. Since material processing was possible, it is expected to be helpful in the technological development of environmental prevention facilities.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2010

Optimum conditions for UV-radiated photopolymerization of unsaturated polyester that could be used as protecting layer of large diameter pipe were investigated in this paper. UV photopolymerization method was selected to solve the problems, arising when thermal polymerization by organic peroxide was used, such as the instability of peroxide initiator, the evolution of volatile organic compound, and thermal deformation of product. Two of the photo-initiators (Irgacure 819 and Darocure 1173) well known for its penetrating ability deep into the polymer layer were selected, and the optimum conditions for photopolymerization (1.5 phr initiator content, 1:1.2 initiator ratio, Ga lamp for UV source) were found from the thermal and mechanical test results of the resultant UP polymers. In addition, composite materials containing UP polymer and glass fiber were tested for hardness, impact strength, and flexural strength to find that the impact strength of composite significantly improved.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.401-406
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• 2023

With the development of industry, fine dust is causing difficulties in various fields such as environment, health, and life, and a large amount of pollutants generated from human social activities are emerging as a serious environmental problem due to air pollution. Therefore, in this study, activated carbon was added to remove fine dust and volatile organic compounds by spinning cellulose acetate polymer fibers on a silicon support using the electrospinning method. By varying the activated carbon ratio and electrospinning time, the fine dust blocking effect and toluene adsorption performance were confirmed according to the activated carbon ratio and filter thickness. As a result, it was shown that the particles were effectively blocked with the increase in the electrospinning time due to the filter thickness increase. Adsorbed amount of toluene was increased with increase in activated carbon amount. Light transmittance was decrease with increase in electrospinning time, showing that there were light transmittance in filters electrospun for 20~30 minutes.

• 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.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.180-186
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• 2009

Whole plants of Vitex rotundifolia were extracted for 2 days with methylene chloride ($CH_2Cl_2$) followed by extraction of the residue for an additional 2 days. The same procedure was also applied using methanol (MeOH). The two crude extracts were combined and partitioned between $CH_2Cl_2$ and $H_2O$. The organic layer was further partitioned between n-hexane and 85% aq. MeOH, and the aqueous layer was also further fractionated with n-BuOH and $H_2O$, successively. From the 85% aq. MeOH fraction, one compound was isolated through the repeated HPLC. According to the results of physicochemical data including NMR and MS, the chemical structure of the compound was determined as artemetin (1). The antiproliferative effects of the crude extracts, fractions, and compound against HT1080, AGS, MCF-7 and HT-29 human cancer cells were compared with the control by using MTT assay. In the comparative analysis, the 85% aq. MeOH fraction exhibited the strongest antiproliferative effects on human cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). In addition, exposure of compound 1 isolated from 85% aq. MeOH fraction led to strong antiproliferative effect in HT1080 cancer cell lines. These results suggest that the extracts and compound isolated from V. rotundifolia may be used as potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The root of Vitis amurensis Ruprecht, a sort of wild-growing grape, has been used in oriental medicine for treatment of skin ailments; however, its dermatological activity is not sufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-melanogenic activities of V. amurensis Ruprecht root methanol extract (VARM) in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells and to attempt to isolate and identify the active compound issued from VARM. MATERIALS/METHODS: Anti-melanogenic activity of VARM was analyzed in ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells through evaluation of antioxidative activity as well as inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin contents compared with those of kojic acid and arbutin. After anti-melanogenic analysis of VARM, serial fractionation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thin layer chromatorgraphy (TLC) were applied for identification of active compounds contained in VARM. RESULTS: VARM significantly inhibited oxidative stress and tyrosinase activity and attenuated ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanin production in B16F10 cells. For isolation of active compounds, VARM was fractionated using a series of organic solvents, including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). Among fractions showing anti-melanogenic activity, the CH2Cl2 fraction induced the most potent attenuation of melanogenesis without cytotoxicity and the major compound in the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction was identified as betulinic acid. Betulinic acid isolated from the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction of VARM significantly attenuated ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis in a dose dependent manner, which was stronger than that of arbutin used as a positive control. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that VARM inhibits oxidative stress, tyrosinase activity, and ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells, due primarily to the active compound, betulinic acid, in the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.503-508
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and volatile compound contents of Moju acquired from 12 restaurants in Jeonju. The alcohol contents were lower than 2.1%, and the pH values ranged from 3.85 to 4.38. Total acidity, $^{\circ}Bx$, and UV absorbance values differed among the samples according to the type of side materials added. Reducing sugar contents were found to be substantially superior to other commercial takju variants. Malic and lactic acid contents were higher than the contents of other organic acids, and the free sugar contents were as follows: maltose>glucose>fructose. Overall, the high b (yellowness) and cP values were attributable to the turbid yellow and heavy condition of the samples. The volatile compound contents of Moju were analyzed via GC and GC/MSD. 30 components were identified, including 3 alcohols, 12 esters, 7 hydrocarbons, and 4 aldehydes. Among the alcohol compounds, benzeneethanol levels were higher than the levels of isoamyl alcohol. Ethyl caprate, ethyl palmitate, and ethyl linoleate, which were fundamentally attributable to origin liquor, were highest among the 12 esters. (E)-cinnamaldehyde, which was the most abundant among 7 hydrocarbons, and (E)-cinnamyl acetate contents were attributed to the presence of cinnamon, a common supplement in the processing of Moju.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.849-858
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• 2006

Previous screening of the pharmacological action of Gastrodia elata (GE) root (Orchidaceae) showed that methanol (MeOH) extracts have significant anti-inflammatory properties. The antiinflammatory agents of GE, however, remain unclear. In this experiment, MeOH extracts of GE were fractionated with organic solvents for the anti-inflammatory activity-guided separation of GE. Eight phenolic compounds from the ether (EtOEt) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions were isolated by column chromatography: 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (I), 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (II), benzyl alcohol (III), bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) methane (IV), 4(4'-hydroxybenzyloxy)benzyl-methylether (V), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol (VI), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (VII), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (VIII). To investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of these compounds, their effects on carrageenan-induced paw edema, arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear edema and analgesic activity in acetic acid (HAc)-induced writhing response were carried out in vivo; cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL 2H3) cells and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydroazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity were determined in vitro. These phenolic compounds not only had anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in vivo, but also inhibited COX activity and silica-induced ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner. Among these phenolic compounds, compound VII was the most potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Compound VII significantly inhibited silica-induced ROS generation and compound VI significantly increased DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compounds I, II and III significantly inhibited the activity of COX-I and II. These results indicate that phenolic compounds of GE are anti-inflammatory, which may be related to inhibition of COX activity and to anti-oxidant activity. Consideration of the structure-activity relationship of the phenolic derivatives from GE on the anti-inflammatory action revealed that both C-4 hydroxy and C-3 methoxy radicals of benzyl aldehyde play an important role in anti-inflammatory activities.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2006

Antioxidant compound(s) were identified from the ethanol extract of wild grape (Vitis coignetiea) seed. Organic solvent fractions of n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol were obtained from the ethanol extract of wild grape seed, among which ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest reducing power. Ethyl acetate fraction was further purified through ODS column chromatography and HPLC, and isolated antioxidative active compound was identified through $^1H-NMR$ as (+)-catechin (52.7 g/100 g). (+)-Catechin and ethyl acetate fraction both showed approximately 80% scavenging effect. These results indicated (+)-catechin in the ethyl acetate fraction synergetically interacts with unknown antioxidative compound(s).