• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.231-236
• /
• 2011

Biological nitrogen removal, using a continuous flow packed-bed reactor (CPBR) in a consecutive nitrification and denitrification process, was evaluated. An apparent decline in the nitrification efficiency coincided with the steady increase in $NH_4{^+}$-N load. Sustained nitrification efficiency was found to be higher at longer empty bed contact times (EBCTs). The relationship between the rate of alkalinity consumption and $NH_4{^+}$-N utilization ratio followed zero-order reaction kinetics. The heterotrophic denitrification rate at a carbon-tonitrogen (C/N) ratio of >4 was found to be >74%. This rate was higher by a factor of 8.5 or 8.9 for $NO_3{^-}$-N/volatile solids (VS)/day or $NO_3{^-}-N/m^3$ ceramic media/day, respectively, relative to the rates measured at a C/N ratio of 1.1. Autotrophic denitrification efficiencies were 80-90%. It corresponds to an average denitrification rate of 0.96 kg $NO_3{^-}-N/m^3$ ceramic media/day and a relevant average denitrification rate of 0.28 g $NO_3{^-}$-N/g VS/day, were also obtained. Results presented here also constitute the usability of an innovative porous sulfur ceramic media. This enhanced the dissolution rate of elemental sulfur via a higher contact surface area.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 1992

This study was aimed to control the release characteristics of ketoprofen by microencapsulating $ketoprofen-{\beta}-cyclodextrin\;(KF-{\beta}-CyD)$ solid dispersion with Eudragit RS by the phase separation method using a nonaqueous vehicle. KF alone was also microencapsulated with Eudragit RS by the evaporation process in water phase. The results obtained showed that it was not possible to microencapsulate KF alone by phase separation in a chloroform-cyclohexane system while it was easy to microencapsulate $(KF-{\beta}-CyD)$ solid dispersion system. For the microcapsules, the release test was performed in the first fluid (pH 1.2) and the second fluid (pH 6.8) of K.P.V disintegration medium at $37^{\circ}C$. The release of KF from $(KF-{\beta}-CyD)$ solid dispersion microcapsules (1:1 core wall ratio) was more sustained than that from KF microcapsules, and followed zero-order kinetics. Especially, solid dispersion microcapsules showed pH-independent release patterns with higher wall to core ratio (1:1 w/w).

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.269-273
• /
• 2009

The objective of this investigation was to develop a gastro-retentive(GR) dosage form of gabapentin and was to evaluate of its dissolution characteristics. GR tablet consists of expandable core tablet matrix and semi-permeable membrane coating. Poloxamer 407 and sodium bicarbonate were used to prepare the core matrix. Polyvinly acetate dispersion (Kollicoat $SR30D^{(R)}$) and polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol copolymer ((Kollicoat $IR^{(R)}$)) were employed to form the semi-permeable membrane. The GR tablets significantly expanded up to fivefold in simulated gastrointestinal fluids with no apparent damage of the coating membrane over 12 hours. Also, the swelling rate was controllable with the amount of sodium bicarbonate. The drug release was observed to be substantially sustained based on coating level. The release rate of gabapentin from the GR tablet was gradually slowed down as the coasting amount was increased. The gabapentin GR tablet with 8% coating level showed a pseudo-zero order release kinetics over 12 hours. These results suggest that this swellable GR tablet system having semi-permeable membrane coating can be applicable for hydrophilic drug substances like gabapentin.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.207-211
• /
• 2000

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of molecular weight of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and release medium on the release of nifedipine (NP) from PEO tablets containing NP and to get some mechanistic insights into the release of NP. The tablets containing NP were prepared by direct compression, using a flat-faced punch and die. The molecular weights of PEOs used were 200K, 900K, 2000K and 7,000K. The release kinetics were studied for 24 hours in aqueous ethanol solution, using a dissolution tester at $36.5^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm. Drug release rate increased, as the concentration of ethanol in the dissolution medium increased, due to the increased solubility of NP. As the molecular weight of PEO increased, release rate decreased, due to the slower swelling and dissolution of PEO. The power values obtained by fitting data to the power law expression $(M_t/M_{\infty}=kt^n)$ indicated that, at low ethanol concentration, the release of NP is governed by anomalous diffusion. However, as the ethanol concentration increases, diffusional release becomes to prevail over anomalous or zero-order release. Overall, these results provided some insights into the release of NP from PEO tablet.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.273-278
• /
• 2000

Several topical preparations containing lidocaine, a widely used local anesthetic agent, have been developed and marketed recently for the treatment of premature ejaculation. In this study, microemulsion(ME)-based hydrogels containing lidocaine were prepared by dispersing ME to hydrogel bases such as Carbopol, sod. alginate, and sod. carboxymethylcellulose. Lidocaine-containing ME was thermodynamically stable over 6 months and had a diameter ranging from 10 to 100 nm. In vitro skin penetration of lidocaine from ME-based hydrogels followed apparent zero-order kinetics. ME-based hydrogel showed higher drug penetration during fifteen minutes after application than alcoholic hydrogel, reference preparation. Tail flick test in rat was introduced to compare in vivo local anesthetic effects of different hydrogels, and the results showed that ME-based hydrogels are superior to other hydrogels. In optical microscopy, recrystallization of lidocaine was observed within 5 min after application of reference hydrogel, but there was no change in ME-based hydrogels even after 30 minnute. These results indicated that ME-based hydrogels had some advantages in skin penetration, anesthetic effect and physical stability compared with alcoholic hydrogels. Finally it is possible to conclude that ME-based hydrogels containing lidocaine is a good topical drug delivery system for the treatment of premature ejaculation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 1989

Methyl methacrylate-butyl methacrylate copolymer (MMBM)-povidone (PVP) films were investigated as a potential topical drug delivery system for the controlled release of econazole nitrate as a model drug. The effect of changes in film composition, drug concentration, film thickness, pH and temperature of release medium on the in vitro release of econazole nitrate were studied. The release rate constant was found to be increased with increasing povidone content in dry films. Drug release followed zero-order kinetics in the initial stage and then release rate increased gradually with time, espicially in the films having larger proportions of PVP. The release rate was found to be dependent on drug content, film thickness, the pH and temperature of release medium. Antimicrobial test showed that microbial growth was inhibited markedly with increasing proportions of PVP in films. Also drug content and film thickness affected the antimicrobial activity.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2021

Time-temperature integrators (TTIs) based on aqueous enzyme solutions produce transparent colors which lead to difficulty in distinguishing its color change by naked eye. In this present study, this issue has been solved by increasing the opacity of laccase-based TTI without changes in the kinetics (same zero-order reaction) and temperature dependency (similar Arrhenius activation energy values) of the color change. The opacity was increased by introducing TiO₂, latex, BaSO₄, or ZnO, in combination with a hydrocolloid (xanthan gum, acacia gum, pectin, and CMC) into the TTI system. The combination of TiO₂ and xanthan gum was the best. This finding broadened the advantages of laccase-based TTI to more practical uses for consumer convenience.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.194-201
• /
• 2009

Reductive reactivity of zero-valent iron nanoparticles was investigated for removal of nitrate-nitrogen which is considered one of the major water pollutants. To elucidate the difference in reactivity between preparation methods, iron nanoparticles were synthesized respectively from microemulsion and aqueous solution of ferric ions. Iron nanoparticles prepared from microemulsion were deposited on aluminum by electrophoretic method, and their reaction kinetics was compared to that of the same nanoparticles suspended in aqueous batch reaction. With an approximation of pseudo-first-order reaction, rate constants for suspended nanoparticles prepared from microemulsion and dilute aqueous solution were $3.49{\times}10^{-2}min^{-1}$ and $1.40{\times}10^{-2}min^{-1}$, respectively. Iron nanoparticles supported on aluminum showed ca. 30% less reaction rate in comparison with the identical nanoparticles in suspended state. However, supported nanoparticles showed the superior effectiveness in terms of nitrate-nitrogen removal per zero-valent iron input especially when excess amounts of nitrates were present. Iron nanoparticles deposited on aluminum maintained reductive reactivity for more than 3 hours, and produced nitrogen gas as a final reduction product of nitrate-nitrogen.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.712-722
• /
• 2007

This study screened three natural ores (iron, mangenase, and zinc), two types of slags, and two elemental metals (elemental iron and zinc) to evaluate transformation characteristics of CAH mixtures [e.g. Carbontetrachloride (CT), 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), and Perchloroethene (PCE)]. To select an effective metal medium to treat the CAH mixtures, we measured transformation capacities (CAH mass ultimately transformed/mass of metal added) and the degree of dechlorination. We also considered economical efficiency of the metal media by comparing the value, CAH mass ultimately transformed divided by the price of metal medium added. A simplified mathematical model adapting CAH transformation capacity, first-order transformation kinetics, and available mass of metal transforming CAH was developed and used for estimating CAH transformation rate coefficient and longevity of the metal medium. CAH transformation capacity for elemental iron and elemental zinc were 4258~7129 and $4215{\sim}6330{\mu}g\;CAH\;transformed/g$ metal added, respectively, which are a factor of 80~200 higher than slags and natural ores. They also showed a factor of 1.1 to 2.2 greater degree of dechlorination than the others. Among natural ores and slags, Zinc ore showed the highest transformation capacity, $47{\sim}53{\mu}g\;CAH\;transformed/g$ metal added. Although zinc ore have smaller transformation capacity than elemental metals, economical efficiency of zinc ore is a factor of 10~20 greater than elemental metals tested. Consequently, zinc ore would be more economical medium than the others tested in this study. We estimated the pseudo first-order transformation rate of zinc ore was in the order of CT > 1,1,1-TCA > PCE.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.197-210
• /
• 2012

Hematite has been known to be the most stable form of various iron (oxyhydr)oxides in the surface environments. In this study, its properties as an adsorbent were examined and also adsorption of arsenic onto hematite was characterized as well. The specific surface area of hematite synthesized in our laboratory appeared to be $31.8g\;m^2/g$ and its point of zero salt effect, (PZSE) determined by potentiometric titration was observed 8.5. These features of hematite may contribute to high capacity of arsenic adsorption. From several adsorption experiments undertaken at the identical solution concentrations over pH 2~12, the adsorption of As(III) (arsenite) was greater than that of As(V) (arsenate). As of pH-dependent adsorption patterns, in addition, arsenite adsorption gradually increased until pH 9.2 and then sharply decreased with pH, whereas adsorption of arsenate was greatest at pH 2.0 and steadily decreased with the increasing pH from 2 to 12. The characteristics of these pH-dependent adsorption patterns might be caused by combined effects of the variation in the chemical speciation of arsenic and the surface charge of hematite. The experimental results on adsorption kinetics show that adsorption of both arsenic species onto hematite approached equilibrium within 20 h. Additionally, the pseudo-second-order model was evaluated to be the best fit for the adsorption kinetics of arsenic onto hematite, regardless of arsenic species, and the rate constant of As(V) adsorption was investigated to be larger than that of As(III).