• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 2015

Ceramic foams are prepared as positive images corresponding to a plastic foam structure which exhibits high porosities (85-90%). This structure makes the ceramic foams attractive as a catalyst in a dry reforming process, because it could reduce a high pressure drop problem. This problem causes low mass and heat transfers in the process. Furthermore, the reactants would shortly contact to catalyst surface, thus low conversion could occur. Therefore, this research addressed the preparation of dry reforming catalysts using a sol-gel catalyst preparation via a polymeric sponge method. The specific objectives of this work are to investigate the effects of polymer foam structure (such as porosity, pore sizes, and cell characteristics) on a catalyst performance and to observe the influences of catalyst preparation parameters to yield a replica of the original structure of polymeric foam. To accomplish these objectives industrial waste foams, polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foams, were used as a polymeric template. Results indicated that the porosity of the polyurethane and polyvinyl alcohol foams were about 99% and 97%. Their average cell sizes were approximate 200 and 50 micrometres, respectively. The cell characteristics of polymer foams exhibited the character of a high permeability material that can be able to dip with ceramic slurry, which was synthesized with various viscosities, during a catalyst preparation step. Next, morphology of ceramic foams was explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and catalyst properties, such as; temperature profile of catalyst reduction, metal dispersion, and surface area, were also characterized by $H_2-TPR$ and $H_2-TPD$ techniques, and BET, respectively. From the results, it was found that metal-particle dispersion was relatively high about 5.89%, whereas the surface area of ceramic foam catalysts was $64.52m^2/g$. Finally, the catalytic behaviour toward hydrogen production through the dry reforming of methane using a fixed-bed reactor was evaluated under certain operating conditions. The approaches from this research provide a direction for further improvement of marketable environmental friendly catalyst production.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.150-162
• /
• 2022

In the field of water treatment and pharmaceutical bio an alumina hollow fiber membrane used for mixture separation. However, due to the lack of strengths it is very brittle to handle and apply. Therefore, it is necessary to study and improve the bending strength of the membrane to 100 MPa or more. In this study, as the mixing ratio of the nano-particles increased to 0, 1, 3, and 5 wt%, the viscosity of the fluid mixture increased. The pore structure of the hollow membrane produced by interrupting the diffusion exchange rate of the solvent and non-solvent during the spinning process suppresses the formation of the finger-like structure and gradually increases the ratio of the sponge-like structure to improve the membrane mechanical strength to more than 100 MPa. As a result, an interparticle space was ensured to improve the porosity of the sponge-like structure with high permeability, and it showed excellent N2 permeability of about 100000 GPU and high water permeability of 3000 L/m² h. Therefore, it can be concluded, that the addition of γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles as sintering aid is an important method to enhance the mechanical strength of the α-alumina hollow fiber membrane to maintain high permeability.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.124-128
• /
• 2018

N-type porous silicon (PS) layers and thermally oxidized PS layers have been characterized by various measuring techniques such as photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy, IR, HRSEM and transmittance measurements. The top surface of PS layer shows a stronger photoluminescence peak than its bottom part, and this is ascribed to the difference in number of fine silicon particles of 2~3 nm in diameter. Observed characteristics of PL spectra are explained in terms of microstructures in the n-type PS layers. Common features for both p-type and n-type PS layers are as follows: the parts which can emit visible photoluminescence are not amorphous, but crystalline, and such parts are composed of nanocrystallites of several nm's whose orientations are slightly different from Si substrate, and such fine silicon particles absorb much hydrogen atoms near the surfaces. Light emission is strongly dependent on such fine silicon particles. Photoluminescence is due to charge carrier confinement in such three dimensional structure (sponge-like structure). Characteristics of visible light emission from n-type PS can be explained in terms of modification of band structure accompanied by bandgap widening and localized levels in bandstructure. It is also shown that hydrogen and oxygen atoms existing on residual silicon parts play an important role on emission stability.

• Journal of Species Research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.56-67
• /
• 2020

Eight new species of two genera Dysidea and Euryspongia (Demospongiae: Dictyoceratida: Dysideidae) are described from Gageodo, Ulleungdo, Geomundo, and Jejudo Islands, Korea. Four new species of the genus Dysidea are differentiated by the fibre structure, cored detritus, and fibre arrangement. Dysidea mureungensis n. sp. is characterized by the honeycomb shape of surface and no distinction between primary and secondary fibres. Dysidea glavea n. sp. differs by large sands cored in fibres and that the membrane easily separates from fibres. Dysidea geomunensis n. sp. has fibres that are thinner than those of D. glavea n. sp.. Dysidea corallina n. sp. is characterized by folded fan shape and the arrangement of secondary fibres. Four new species of the genus Euryspongia are differentiated by the fibre structure, cored detritus, shape of sponge, and fibre arrangement. Euryspongia radicula n. sp. is very different from other species by having regularly arranged fibres. Euryspongia spina n. sp. has a fence-like skeletal structure. Bridged type secondary fibres are arranged near the surface and web types are at the base of fibres. Euryspongia flabellum n. sp. has a very unique wide, thin leaf-like shape. String-like primary fibres of E. linea n. sp. are very unique and cored with large sized sands.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.18 s.18
• /
• pp.33-50
• /
• 2006

Around Yeongsan river basin, there are Yeongkwang Gundong, Muan Inpyeong Tombs, Muu Gusan-ri Tombs and Hampyeong Guksan remain from which a lot of iron artifacts were excavated. Among them, 6 iron artifacts were chosen, and their microstructures were analyzed. As a result, Iron artifacts were produced sponge iron by the low temperature reduction process and a part of microstructure have the possibility that steel made by decarburizing. And also, by tempering the parts which need high strength, the iron artifacts had high strength and by distributing the weakness of the tempered structure to the nearby untempered parts, their breaking was prevented and they had the durability. These skills were used then. Especially these skills were found to be used in the 2nd century by high skilled people because an iron axe excavated at Yeongkwang Gundong of 2nd century by the historical record showed that the skill was used. Also microstructures were found to show the possibility that the iron technology was inherited to the late 5th century. When producing iron artifacts made of sponge iron containing small amount of carbon, that was made by the production process repeating molding, carburizing, heat treatment and hammering.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.436-442
• /
• 2003

Thermosetting elastomer such as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Dien Rubber) has been applied to the sponge weatherstrip of a vehicle as a main material. However, the thermosetting elastomers have limited recycling and have brought about the environmental problems. Furthermore, many steps of the manufacturing process such as formulation, mastication and vulcanization make difficult to control uniformity of the endproducts. These problems of current EPDM weatherstrip necessitated development of a new recyclable material, Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV). In this study the influence of the water contents, and the processing conditions. On the foam density and structure in water blowing process was carried out. We found that TPV also can be foamed with water, maintaining the uniformity form this study. Therefore, many inevitable problems of EPDM weatherstrip can be solved, and this new technique is expected to take a roll of making a breakthrough in the rubber industry.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.501-507
• /
• 2005

Small intestinal submucosa (SIS) had been widely used as a biomaterial without immune rejection responses. SIS sponges prepared by crosslinking with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). SIS powders dissolved in $3\%(v/v)$ acetic acid aqueous solution for 48hrs and freeze-dried. EDC solution ($H_2O$ : ethanol = 5 : 95) as a crosslink agent was used in concentration of 100mM. In vitro, rat-BMSCs seeded in SIS sponges and induced the osteogenesis for 28 days. We have characterized the osteogenic potential of rat-BMSCs in SIS sponges by alkaline phosphatase activity(ALP), n assay, SEM and RT-PCR for osteogenic phenotype. In SEM, all morphology of SIS sponges was regular and showed interconnected pore structure. By RT-PCR analysis, we observed type I collagen expression. These results demonstrate osteogenic differentiation of rat-BMSCs. In conclusion, we confirmed that the morphology of surface, cross-section, and side of SIS sponges were highly porous with good interconnections between each pores, which can support the surface of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. This result indicates that SIS sponge is useful for osteogenesis of BMSCs.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.14-18
• /
• 2011

A chemical investigation of the marine-derived fungi Aspergillus versicolor led to the isolation of a new aromatic polyketide (1), The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and its radical-scavenging activity, reducing power, and inhibitory activity to lipid oxidation were investigated. Those activities of compound 1 were compared with standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tertiarybutylhydroquinone (TBHQ), and ascorbic acid ($V_C$). Compound 1 showed antioxidant activity comparable to that of BHA, and siginificantly higher than that of BHT.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.377-383
• /
• 2003

The functional Jeungpyuns with dietary fiber containing cereals such as brown rice and barley flour were developed and physiochemical properties were investigated. The water binding capacity had significantly the highest value of 28.4% in raw rice flour, followed by brown rice flour and barley flour. The lowest reducing sugar value was seen in unpolished rice substituted Jeungpyun with value of 5.420 (P<0.05). The amount of reducing sugar decreased slightly after steaming, due to the increased degree of sugar dissociation. The L value of the lightness decreased significantly with the substituted samples (P< 0.05). The barley substituted samples were darker than that of brown rice sample groups with less green and yellow color. Microstructures of starch particles after fermentation showed completely dispersed starch particles with air bubbles and sponge-like structure in all samples after steaming. Thus, functional Jeungpyun replaced with brown rice and barley flour can be successfully formulated and has been influenced by the physicochemical properties.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.255-266
• /
• 2008

In tissue engineering, scaffolds play an important role in the growth of cells to 3-D organs or tissues. For the success of tissue engineering, they should be mimicked to meet the requirements of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) in the body, such as mechanical properties, adhesiveness, porosity, biodegradability, and growth factor release, etc. Contrary to other materials, polymeric materials are adequate to engineer scaffolds for tissue engineering because controlling the structure and the ratio of components and designing various shapes and size are possible. In this review, the importance, major characteristics, processes, and recent examples of polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering applications are discussed.