• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.27-36
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate physicochemical parameters; temperature, pH, C/N ratio, water content, organic contents and volume in a pilot-scale(capacity : $100m^3$) ultra thermophilic aerobic composting. There were three types input: municipal wasted sludge, livestock manure and slurry, and food waste produced in Jung-Eb city. Each target material was carried out by the first fermentation(organic waste + seed culture) and the second one(organic waste + seed culture + recycle compost), respectively. During composting, only with supply of air and mixing, the temperature increased $90{\sim}105^{\circ}C$ after every mixing in both periods. The changes of pH, $O_2$, $CO_2$ and $NH_3$ represented typical organic decomposition pattern by microorganisms. Also, all other physicochemical parameters of ultra thermophilic aerobic composting process showed similar or better performance than these of general aerobic composting. Heavy metal concentration of fermented compost adapted to compost fertilizer regulation standard in the heavy metal and hazardous analysis.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.281-295
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• 2024

This review examines the effects of different process parameters on the production of lactic acid. Especially focusing on the factors such as, pH, temperature, utilization of fungi, viz., Rhizopus species and selection of carbon and nitrogen sources. The development of lactic acid synthesis is promoted by acidic environment, usually falling within pH < 3.5, which allows optimal lactic acid synthesis. Another important factor is temperature. Strains such as lactobacillus rhamnosus DUT1908, have a high tolerance to temperature as high as 50℃, which allows for effective substrate utilization and high lactic acid yield. This review highlights the need of tailoring these process parameters to the specific characteristics of the biomass and the metabolic pathways of the microorganisms to achieve increased lactic acid production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.162-167
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• 2007

A genetic transfer system for introducing foreign genes to biomining microorganisms is urgently needed. Thus, a conjugative gene transfer system was investigated for a moderately thermophilic, extremely acidophilic biomining bacterium, Acidithiobacillus caldus MTH-04. The broad-hostrange IncP plasmids RP4 and R68.45 were transferred directly into A. caldus MTH-04 from Escherichia coli by conjugation at relatively high frequencies. Additionally the broad-hostrange IncQ plasmids pJRD215, pVLT33, and pVLT35 were also transferred into A. caldus MTH-04 with the help of plasmid RP4 or strains with plasmid RP4 integrated into their chromosome, such as E. coli SM10. The $Km^r\;and\;Sm^r$ selectable markers from these plasmids were successfully expressed in A. caldus MTH-04. Futhermore, the IncP and IncQ plasmids were transferred back into E. coli cells from A. caldus MTH-04, thereby confirming the initial transfer of these plasmids from E. coli to A. caldus MTH-04. All the IncP and IncQ plasmids studied were stable in A. caldus MTH-04. Consequently, this development of a conjugational system for A. caldus MTH-04 will greatly facilitate its genetic study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.902-906
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• 2010

A producer of thermophilic extracellular lipase, Geobacillus kaustophilus DSM 7263, was selected from various microorganisms of the Geobacillus genus. We investigated optimum conditions for mass production of G. kaustophilus lipase. Among the different natural oil media, olive oil was optimal for enzyme production. The maximum amount of enzyme production was obtained when G. kaustophilus was grown in a medium containing 0.5% olive oil as a carbon source. The pH and temperature for optimal growth were pH 8.0 and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively, while the optimum pH and temperature for lipase production were pH 6.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. In the presence of $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$, lipase production was dramatically enhanced by 247% and 157%, respectively, whereas enzyme production was inhibited by $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$. The addition of 0.1% (v/v) triton X-100 increased lipase production and cell growth when compared to the negative control.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2002

Several kinds of thermophilic, aerobic microorganisms (Bacillus genus), metal leaching microorganisms (Thiobacillus, T. ferooxidans), and other nondegradable chemical-degrading microorganisms (Pseudomonas genus) were utilized to study the effect on composting livestock manure. Under the Carbon-Nitrogen ratio (C/N) of 35∼40 and water content of 50∼65% conditions, the composting in the cycling drum reactor showed slower composting and lower temperature increase than that of the manual reactor. Element analysis after composting indicated relatively high levels of mineral contents with the substitutional effect of chemical fertilizer. Metal analysis before and after composting showed lower As in all, Cr in pig, Pb in cow, Hg in chicken, and Cu in cow manure compost than the regulation values. Compost maturity was ascertained by the several maturity tests. Salmonella and E. cozi detection test by SS or EMB agar plate confirmed the safety from the pathogenic microorganisms. The results suggest that the inoculation of metal and some other chemical degrading microorganisms during composting might decrease metal contamination and increase composting rate.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2009

To understand contribution of thermophilic microorganisms in decomposition of litter deposits on shore of lakes, we surveyed a lakeshore litter deposit for bacteria growing at $60^{\circ}C$. Ten thermophilic isolates were selected for in-depth characterization, based on their high capacity to degrade high molecular weight organic compounds. Based on phylogenetic analysis on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, all isolates were identified as Geobacillus. The optimal growth temperature and pH of the strains ranged $55{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0${\sim}$8.0, respectively. Salinity was inhibitory to the growth of the isolates, showing marked decrease of growth rates at 3% salinity. Based on activities of hydrolytic enzymes and profiles of carbohydrate utilization (determined by API 50 CHB kit), three G. stearothermophilus strains showed patterns clearly distinctive from other isolates. Two G. kaustophilus strains also demonstrated distinctiveness in their metabolic pattern and ecological parameters. However, ecological and metabolic profiles of the other five isolates were more variable and showed some degree of digression from their phylogenetic classification. Therefore, it could be concluded that endospore-forming thermophilic bacteria in lakeshore litter deposits contribute to degradation of organic materials with diverse ecological niches while having successions similar to microbial flora in compost. We propose that the thermophilic isolates and/or their thermo-tolerant enzymes can be applied to industrial processes as appropriate mixtures.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.431-437
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• 2005

Molecular methods were employed to investigate microorganisms in a thermophilic continuous stirred tank reactor(CSTR) used for continuous $H_2$ production. The reactor was inoculated with heat-treated anaerobic sludge and fed with a glucose-based medium. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed dynamic changes of bacterial populations in the reactor during 43 days of operation. Gas composition was constant from approximately 14 days but population shift still occurred. Populations affiliated with Fervidobactrium gondwanens and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum were dominant on 21 and 41 days, respectively. Keeping pH of the medium at 5.0 could suppress methanogenic activity that was detected during initial operation period. $CH_4$ and mcrA detected in the samples obtained from the reactor or inoculum suggested the heat treatment condition employed in this study is not enough to remove methanogens in the inoculum. PCR using primer sets specific to 4 main orders of methanogens suggested that major $H_2$-consuming methanogens in the CSTR belong to the order Methanobacteriales.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.647-652
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• 2004

Thermophilic microorganisms capable of producing chitinase enzymes were screened from samples collected from several crater and geothermal areas. The chitinolytic microorganisms were grown in a selective medium containing colloidal chitin. The Bacillus K29-14 isolate was found to exhibit the highest chitinase and chitin deacetylase activities. When grown in a chitin-containing medium, the isolate produced extracellular chitinase after 24 h of incubation. The optimum temperature and pH for the chitinase were $55^\circ{C}$ and pH 7, respectively, while those for the chitin deacetylase were $55^\circ{C}$ and pH 8, respectively. The thermostable chitinase and chitin deacetylase also retained 80- 90% of their activity after incubation for 5 h at $70^\circ{C}$. The divalent cations $CoCl_2\;and\;NiCl_2$, increased the chitinase activity, while $ZnCl_2$, inhibited the enzyme. The chitin deacetylase was also activated by the presence of $MgCl_2$ and inhibited by $MnCl_2,\;NiCl_2,\;and\;CaCl_2$. A zymogram analysis revealed several forms of chitinase, with a 67 kDa form being the major enzyme.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.649-659
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• 2017

Extremophilic microorganisms have established a diversity of molecular strategies in order to survive in extreme conditions. Biocatalysts isolated by these organisms are termed extremozymes, and possess extraordinary properties of salt allowance, thermostability, and cold adaptivity. Extremozymes are very resistant to extreme conditions owing to their great solidity, and they pose new opportunities for biocatalysis and biotransformations, as well as for the development of the economy and new line of research, through their application. Thermophilic proteins, piezophilic proteins, acidophilic proteins, and halophilic proteins have been studied during the last few years. Amylases, proteases, lipases, pullulanases, cellulases, chitinases, xylanases, pectinases, isomerases, esterases, and dehydrogenases have great potential application for biotechnology, such as in agricultural, chemical, biomedical, and biotechnological processes. The study of extremozymes and their main applications have emerged during recent years.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.13
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• pp.3-17
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• 1993

The composting process is a suitable to dispose the livestock manure in terms of resources recovery. However the performence of composting process is greatly affected by the environmental conditions such as characteristics of manure, type of the bulking agent, initial moisture contents, temperature, recycle and so on. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the optimum environmental conditions of composting process for livestock manures. The analytical results indicated that no bulking agent was necessary for the cow manure because of the proper C/N ratio. However the pig manure required a bulking agent since the pig manure had not only low in C/N ration but poor ventilation characteristics. In addtion, the initial miosture content for optimum composting appeared to be about 60%. The temperature control was also an essential factor to enhance the activity of thermophilic microorganisms in the laboratory composting unit. It was further found that the recycle of composts may contributed the completion of composting precess as well as C/N ratio reduction and moisture control.