• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.413-420
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• 2015

Objective of this study was to investigate adsorption characteristics and kinetic models of $NH_4-N$ to biochar produced from rice hull in respective to mitigation of greenhouse gases. $NH_4-N$ concentration was analyzed by UV Spectrophotometer. For the experiment, the soil texture used in this study was sandy loam soil, and application rates of chemical fertilizer and pig compost were $420-200-370kgha^{-1}$ (N-P-K) and $5,500kgha^{-1}$ as recommended amount after soil test for corn cultivation. Biochar treatments were 0.2-5% to soil weight. Its adsorption characteristic was investigated with application of Langmuir isotherm, and pseudo-first order kinetic model and pseudo-second order kinetic model were used as kinetic models. Adsorption amount and removal rates of $NH_4-N$ were $39.3mg^{-1}$ and 28.0% in 0.2% biochar treatment, respectively. The sorption of $NH_4-N$ to biochar was fitted well by Langmiur model because it was observed that dimensionless constant ($R_L$) was 0.48. The maximum adsorption amount ($q_m$) and binding strength constant (b) were calculated as $4.1mgg^{-1}$ and $0.01Lmg^{-1}$ in Langmuir isotherm, respectively. The pseudo-second order kinetic model was more appropriate than pseudo-first order kinetic model for high correlation coefficient ($r^2$) of pseudo-second order kinetic model. Therefore, biochar produced from rice hull could reduce $N_2O$ by adsorbing $NH_4-N$ to biochar cooperated in sandy loam soil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Urban Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.439-453
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to evaluate water quality characteristics of main drinking waters in natural parks, for providing the basic information of water quality and to propose the appropriate management method. to maintain the water quality standards. As a result of the analysis, microorganisms were mostly detected in the nature of natural park. And some sites are currently using UV sterilizer and ozone treatment, and it is considered appropriate to extend the use to other main drinking water. It is also good to boil drinking water at home. Turbidity is expected to improve through environmental cleanup. Overall, the main drinking water in the natural park is suitable for water quality standards, and it is considered that maintenance such as cleaning is necessary.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2018

Continuous input into the aquatic ecosystem and persistent structures have created concern of antibiotics, primarily due to the potential for the development of antimicrobial resistance. Degradation kinetics and mineralization of vancomycin B (VAN-B) by photocatalysis using $TiO_2$ and ZnO nanoparticles was monitored at natural pH conditions. Photocatalysis (PC) efficiency was followed by means of UV absorbance, total organic carbon (TOC), and HPLC results to better monitor degradation of VAN-B itself. Experiments were run for two initial VAN-B concentrations ($20-50mgL^{-1}$) and using two catalysts $TiO_2$ and ZnO at different concentrations (0.1 and $0.5gL^{-1}$) in a multi-lamp batch reactor system (200 mL water volume). Furthermore, a set of toxicity tests with Daphnia magna was performed to evaluate the potential toxicity of oxidation by-products of VAN-B. Formation of intermediates such as chlorides and nitrates were monitored. A rapid VAN-B degradation was observed in ZnO-PC system (85% to 70% at 10 min), while total mineralization was observed to be relatively slower than $TiO_2-PC$ system (59% to 73% at 90 min). Treatment efficiency and mechanism of degradation directly affected the rate of transformation and by-products formation that gave rise to toxicity in the treated samples.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2011

Photocatalysis using UV light and catalysts is an attractive low temperature and non-energy- intensive method for remediation of a wide range of chemical contaminants like chloroform (CF). Recently development of environmental friendly and sustainable catalytic systems is needed before such catalysts can be routinely applied to large-scale remediation or drinking water treatment. Titanium dioxide is a candidate material, since it is stable, highly reactive, and inexpensive. Diatoms are photosynthetic, single-celled algae that make a microscale silica shell with nano scale features. These diatoms have an ability to biologically fabricate $TiO_2$ nanoparticles into this shell in a process that parallels nanoscale silica mineralization. We cultivated diatoms, metabolically deposited titanium into the shell by using a two-stage photobioreactor and used this biogenic $TiO_2$ to this study. In this study we evaluated how effectively biogenic $TiO_2$ nanoparticles transform CF compared with chemically-synthesized $TiO_2$ nanoparticlesthe and effect of pretreatment of diatom-produced $TiO_2$ nanoparticles on photocatalytic transformation of CF. The rate of CF transformation by diatom-$TiO_2$ particles is a factor of 3 slower than chemically-synthesized one and chloride ion production was also co-related with CF transformation, and 79~91% of CF mineralization was observed in two $TiO_2$ particles. And the period of sonication and mass transfer due to particle size, evaluated by difference of oxygen tention does not affect on the CF transformation. Based on the XRD analysis we conclude that slower CF transformation by diatom-$TiO_2$ might be due to incomplete annealing to the anatase form.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.320-324
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• 2021

Effects of growth variables and post-growth annealing on the optical, structural and electrical properties of magnetron-sputtered Ga_0.04Mg_0.10Zn_0.86O films are characterized in detail. It is observed that films grown from pure oxygen plasma showed high resistivity, ~10² Ω·cm, whereas films grown in Ar plasma showed much lower resistivity, 2.0 × 10^-2 ~ 1.0 × 10^-1 Ω·cm. Post-growth annealing significantly improved the electrical resistivity, to 4.3 ~ 9.0 × 10^-3 Ω·cm for the vacuum annealed samples and to 1.3 ~ 3.0 × 10^-3 Ω·cm for the films annealed in Zn vapor. It is proposed that these phenomena may be attributed to the improved crystalline quality and to changes in the defect chemistry. It is suggested that growth within oxygen environments leads to suppression of oxygen vacancy (Vo) donors and formation of Zn vacancy (V_Zn) acceptors, resulting in highly resistive films. After annealing treatment, the activation of Ga donors is enhanced, Vo donors are annihilated, and crystalline quality is improved, increasing the electron mobility and the concentration. After annealing in Zn vapor, Zn interstitial donors are introduced, further increasing the electron concentration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.990-998
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• 2021

Melanin is a natural skin pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes via a multistage biochemical pathway known as melanogenesis, involving the oxidation and polymerization of tyrosine. Melanogenesis is initiated upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, causing the skin to darken, which protects skin cells from UVB radiation damage. However, the abnormal accumulation of melanin may lead to the development of certain skin diseases, including skin cancer. In this study, the antioxidant and antimelanogenic activities of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of twenty strains were evaluated. Based on the results of 60% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, 21% 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging capacity, and a 50% ascorbic acid equivalent ferric reducing antioxidant power value, Limosilactobacillus fermentum JNU532 was selected as the strain with the highest antioxidant potential. No cytotoxicity was observed in cells treated with the CFS of L. fermentum JNU532. Tyrosinase activity was reduced by 16.7% in CFS-treated B16F10 cells (but not in the cell-free system), with >23.2% reduction in melanin content upon treatment with the L. fermentum JNU532-derived CFS. The inhibitory effect of the L. fermentum JNU532-derived CFS on B16F10 cell melanogenesis pathways was investigated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The inhibitory effects of the L. fermentum JNU532-derived CFS were mediated by inhibiting the transcription of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF and the protein expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF. Therefore, L. fermentum JNU532 may be considered a potentially useful, natural depigmentation agent.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2022

A chemically sintered and binder-free paste of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared using a binary-liquid mixture of 1-octanol and CCl₄. The 1:1 (v/v) complex of CCl₄ and 1-octanol easily interacted chemically with the TiO₂ NPs and induced the formation of a highly viscous paste. The as-prepared binary-liquid paste (P_BL)-based TiO₂ film exhibited the complete removal of the binary-liquid and residuals with the subsequent low-temperature sintering (~150℃) and UV-O₃ treatment. This facilitated the fabrication of TiO₂ photoanodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (f-DSSCs). For comparison purposes, pure 1-octanol-based TiO₂ paste (P_O) with moderate viscosity was prepared. The P_BL-based TiO₂ film exhibited strong adhesion and high mechanical stability with the conducting oxide coated glass and plastic substrates compared to the P_O-based film. The corresponding low-temperature sintered P_BL-based f-DSSC showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.5%, while it was 2.0% for P_O-based f-DSSC. The P_BL-based low- and high-temperature (500℃) sintered glass-based rigid DSSCs exhibited the PCE of 6.0 and 6.3%, respectively, while this value was 7.1% for a 500℃ sintered rigid DSSC based on a commercial (or conventional) paste.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.537-544
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• 2020

Background and objective: Artemisia argyi has a long history as an effective treatment for various diseases. The detection of environmental pollutant benzo(a)pyrene, a known human carcinogen, in the leaves of Artemisia argyi is cause for concern. For medicinal plant extracts, both a reduction of benzo(a)pyrene as well as the maintained effectiveness of the compound are important. Therefore, in this study, we propose an optimized process for the addition and filtration of activated carbon to reduce benzo(a)pyrene and change the contents of the indicating substance(jaceosidine and eupatilin). Methods: Artemisia argyi EtOH extract containing 36 ppb of benzo(a)pyrene was added to 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% (w/w) of activated carbon for 120 min and filtered using an activated carbon filter 1, 2, 3, and 5 times respectively. The content of benzo(a)pyrene and indicating substances in Artemisia argyi extract were then measured with high performance liquid chromatography (fluorescence and UV detectors). Results: As the amounts of activated carbon powder and filtering cycles increased, the content of benzo(a)pyrene in the Artemisia argyi extract decreased. However, when activated carbon powder 1.5% was added to the extract, and when the activated carbon filter was filtered five times, the results were reduced by 15% and 30~40% respectively. The optimal extraction condition for reducing benzo(a)pyrene was adding 1.5% of activated carbon powder. This resulted in reducing benzo(a)pyrene by 83% and indicating substances by about 4%. Conclusions: Here we present a process for reducing benzo(a)pyrene in Artemisia argyi extract using activated carbon to reduce toxicity and minimize the loss of active ingredients. This approach has potential application within a manufacturing process of various medicinal plant extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 2024

The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQ) has taken much attention during the first COVID-19 pandemic phase for the treatment of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients. Hence it is interest to study the electrochemical properties and photocatalytic degradation of the HCQ drug. Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO) and CuO/GO NC (nanocomposite) modified carbon paste electrodes (MCPE) are used for the detection of HCQ in an aqueous medium. Electrochemical behaviour of HCQ (20 μM) was observed using CuO/MCPE, GO/MCPE and CuO/GO NC/MCPE in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7 with a scan rate of 20 to 120 mV s^-1 by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of HCQ was performed for 0.6 to 16 μM HCQ. The CuO/GO NC/MCPE showed a reasonably good sensitivity of 0.33 to 0.44 μA μM cm^-2 with LOD of 69 to 92 nM for HCQ. Furthermore, the CuO/GO NC was used as a catalyst for the photodegradation of HCQ by monitoring its UV-Vis absorption spectra. About 98% was degraded in about 34 min under visible light and after 4 cycles it was 87%. The improved photocatalytic activity may be attributed to decrease in bandgap energy and enhanced ability for the electrons to migrate. Thus, CuO/GO NC showed good results for both sensing and degradation applications as well as reproducibility.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.165-170
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• 2023

Isolation of the culture broth of a marine-derived Acremonium sp. CNQ-049 guided by HPLC-UV yielded compound 1 (3-phenethyl-2-phenylquinazolin-4(3H)-one), and its inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidases (MAOs), cholinesterases (ChEs), and β-secretase 1 (BACE1) were evaluated. Compound 1 was an effective selective MAO-B inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 9.39 µM and a selectivity index (SI) value of 4.26 versus MAO-A. In addition, compound 1 showed a potent selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 7.99 µM and an SI value of 5.01 versus acetylcholinesterase (AChE). However, compound 1 showed weak inhibitions against MAO-A, AChE, and BACE1. The Ki value of compound 1 for MAO-B was 5.22±1.73 µM with competitive inhibition, and the Ki value of compound 1 for BChE was 3.00±1.81 µM with mixed-type inhibition. Inhibitions of MAO-B and BChE by compound 1 were recovered by dialysis experiments. These results suggest that compound 1 is a dual-functional reversible inhibitor of MAO-B and BChE, that can be used as a treatment agent for neurological disorders.