• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.395-406
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• 2009

The determination of iodine in the spent nuclear fuel and the volatile behavior during its acid dissolution have been studied by NAA(neutron activation analysis) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Simulated spent fuels (SIMFUELs) were dissolved in $HNO_3$(1+1) at $90^{\circ}C$ for 8 hours. The iodine remained in a dissolver solution after dissolution, and that condensed in dissolution apparatus and trapped in the adsorbent by volatilization during the dissolution were determined, respectively. The condensed iodine was recovered by the redistillation with $HNO_3$(1+1) after transfer of the dissolver solution. The iodines in the dissolver and redistilled solution were separated by solvent extraction followed by ion exchange or precipitation method and determined by RNAA (radiochemical neutron activation analysis). The ion exchange column and filtration kit used for the isolation of iodine, which were prepared with a polyethylene tube, were used as an insert in the pneumatic tube for neutron irradiation. The iodine volatilized during the dissolution of SIMFUELs was collected in a trapping tube containing Ag-silica gel (Ag-impregnated silica gel) adsorbent, and the distribution of iodine trapped in the adsorbents were determined by EPMA. The adsorbing characteristics shown with the SIMFUELs were compared with those shown with a real spent fuel from the nuclear power plant.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.282-289
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• 2023

Background: As wildlife habitats are being destroyed and growth environments are changing, the survival of animals and plants is under threat. Epilobium hirsutum L., a species that inhabits wetlands, has held legally protected status since 2012. However, no specific measures are currently in place to protect its habitat, leading to a decline in remaining populations as a result of land use change and human activities. Results: The growth environment (including location, climate, land use, soil, and vegetation) of the five habitat sites (Samcheok, Taebaek1, Taebaek2, Cheongsong, Ulleung) of E. hirsutum L. was investigated and analyzed. These habitats were predominantly situated in flat areas with gentle south-facing slopes, at an average altitude of 452.7 m (8-726 m) above sea level in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The average annual temperature ranged 11.5℃ (9.2℃-12.9℃), whereas the average annual precipitation ranged 1,304.5 mm (1,062.7-1,590.7 mm). The surrounding land use status was mainly characterized by mountainous areas, and human interference, such as agricultural land and roads, was commonly found in proximity to these natural habitats. Soil physicochemical analysis revealed that the soil was predominantly sandy loam with a slightly high sand content. The average pH measured 7.64, indicating an alkaline environment, and electrical conductivity (EC) averaged 0.33 dS/m. Organic matter (OM) content averaged 66.44 g/kg, available phosphoric acid (P₂O₅) content averaged 115.73 mg/kg, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) averaged 23.43 cmolc/kg. The exchangeable cations ranged 0.09-0.43 cmol⁺/kg for potassium (K), 10.23-16.21 cmol⁺/kg for calcium (Ca), 0.67-4.94 cmol⁺/kg for magnesium (Mg), and 0.05-0.74 cmol⁺/kg for sodium (Na). The vegetation type was categorized as E. hirsutum community with high numbers of E. hirsutum L., Persicaria thunbergii (Siebold & Zucc.) H. Gross, Phragmites japonica Steud., Humulus japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.), and Bidens frondosa L.. An ecological flora analysis, including the proportion of lianas, naturalized plants, and annual herbaceous plants, revealed that the native habitat of E. hirsutum L. was ecologically unstable. Conclusions: Analysis of the habitat of E. hirsutum L., a class II endangered wildlife species, provided essential data for local conservation and restoration efforts.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2014

The electrochemical properties using the cells assembled with the synthesized $LiCoO_2$(LCO) were evaluated in this study. The LCO was synthesized from high-purity cobalt sulfate($CoSO_4$) which is recovered from the cathode scrap in the wastes lithium ion secondary battery(LIB). The leaching process for dissolving the metallic elements from the LCO scrap was controlled by the quantities of the sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The metal precipitation to remove the impurities was controlled by the pH value using the caustic soda. And also, D2EHPA and $CYANEX^{(R)}272$ were used in the solvent extraction process in order to remove the impurities again. The high-purity $CoSO_4$ solution was recovered by the processes mentioned above. We made the 6 wt.% $CoSO_4$ solution mixed with distilled water. And the 6 wt.% $CoSO_4$ solution was mixed with oxalic acid by the stirring method and dried in oven. $LiCoO_2$ as a cathode material for LIB was formed by the calcination after the drying and synthesis with the $Li_2CO_3$ powder. We assembled the cells using the $LiCoO_2$ powders and evaluated the electrochemical properties. And then, we confirmed possibility of the recyclability about the cathode materials for LIBs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 1999

The rain water samples were collected at Chunchon and Seoul by using wet only automatic sampler from January 1996 through 1997. The daily base rain water samples collected over than 95% rainy events components, $SO_4^{-2}$, $NO_3^-$, $CI^-$, NH_4^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, and $K^+$, by ion chromatography. In 1996, about 77% of sampled rain water showed below pH 5.6 and the 60% of rain water was lower than pH 5.0. The volume weighted average pH was 4.7 at all sites. In 1997, the volume weighted average pH was 4.6 and 4.9 at Seoul and Chunchon, respectively. Among the rain water samples,, 87% and 55% fo samples showed below than pH 5.6 and 5.0, respectively. The pH value of Chunchon was significantly (p＜0.05) lower than Seoul at the rain samples for less than 20mm rainfall. However conductivity of the rain samples were 20.9$\mu$S/cm for 1996 and 27.7$\mu$S/cm for 1997 at Seoul, and 19.1$\mu$S/cm for 1996 and 14.1$\mu$S/cm for 1997 at Chunchon. $H_2SO_4$ and $HNO_3$ contributed 65.9% and 29.6% of free acidity at Seoul, respectively. The ratio of [$NO_3^-$]/[nss-$SO_4^{-2}$] were 0.43 at Seoul and 0.51 at Chunchon for rain samples for less than 20mm rainfall. The annual wet deposition of $CI^-$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{-2}$, $H^+$M, $Na^+$, NH_4^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $Ca^{2+}$, respectively, 568.8kg/$ extrm{km}^2$, 1489.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 3184.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 20.9kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 249.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1091.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 189.8kg/ $\textrm{km}^2$, 90.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ and 702.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at Seoul for 1996; 656.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 2029.7kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 3280.7kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 27.2kg /$\textrm{km}^2$, 229.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1063.9kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 106.9kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 78.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 645.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at Seoul for 1997; 116.9kg/ $\textrm{km}^2$, 983.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1797.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 21.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 83.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 648.1kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 78.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 22.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 368.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at chunchon for 1996; 100.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1077.6kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1754.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 13.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 146.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 602.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 88.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 16.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ and 206.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at chunchon for 1997.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.132-145
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• 1998

The coal-bearing siliciclastic rocks of the Lower Permian Jangseong Formation, Samcheog coalfield, represent a megacyclothem which shows cyclic repetitions of sandstone, shale, coaly shale, and coals. Petrographic, geochemical, and SEM studies for sandstone samples, and XRD analysis for clay minerals were carried out to understand diagenesis in the sandstones of the Jangseong Formation. The Jangseong sandstones are composed of 60% quartz (mainly monocrystalline quartz) and 36% clay matrix and cement with minor amounts of feldspar, lithic fragments and accessory minerals (less than 4%). Jangseong sandstones are classified mostly as quartzwackes and partly as lithic graywackes according to the scheme of Dott(1964). The textural relationships between authigenic minerals and cements in thin sections and SEM photomicrographs suggest the paragenetic sequence as follows; (1) mechanical compaction, (2) cementation by quartz overgrowth, (3) formation of authigenic clay minerals (illite, kaolinite), (4) dissolution of framework grains and development of secondary porosity, and (5) later-stage pore-filling by pyrophyllite. We propose that these diagenetic processes might be due to organic-inorganic interaction between the dominant framework grains and the formation water. The Al, Si ions and organic acid, derived from dewatering of interbedded organic-rich shale and coals, were transported into the Jangseong sandstones. This caused changes in the chemistry of the formation water of the sandstones, and resulted in overgrowth of quartz and precipitation of authigenic clay minerals of kaolinite and illite. The secondary pores, produced during dissolution of clay and framework grains by organic acid and $CO_2$ gas, were conduit for silica-rich solution into the Jangseong sandstones and the influx of silica-rich solution produced the late-stage pyrophyllite after the expanse of kaolinite. The origin of the solution that formed pyrophyllite is not likely to be the organic-rich formation water based on the observation of fracture-filling pyrophyllite in the Jangseong sandstones, but the process of pyrophyllite pore-filling was indirectly related to organic-inorganic interaction.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1097-1106
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• 1998

Biodegradable edible films were prepared from rice protein concentrates (RPC) made from rice wine meal by alkaline extraction and isoelectric precipitation. The effect of film forming solution pH and plasticizers were studied, and cross-linkers were added to improve mechanical properties and water vapor permeabilities (WVP) of films. Films could be formed within pH $8{\sim}11$ with tensile strength (TS) of 4.3{\sim}5.7\;MPa$. Films produced under pH 11 had the highest TS (5.7 MPa) and the lowest WVP $(0.44\;ng{\cdot}m/m^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}Pa)$. Added glycerol, polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG) and its mixture (GLY:PEG=50:50) as plasticizers also affected the mechanical properties and WVP of films. TS and elongation at break (E) of films at various plasticizer levels were $5.5{\sim}1.0\;MPa$ and $3.6{\sim}24.3%$, respectively. At the same plasticizer concentration, the highest TS was observed when glycerol was used whereas the highest E was measured when mixture was used as plasticizer. WVPs of films with thickness of $60\;{\mu}m$ were $0.39{\sim}0.54\;ng{\cdot}m/m^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}Pa$. WVP of films decreased as the ratio of glycerol/PEG 200 was decreased, and WVP increased as the total amount of plasticizer added to the films increased. Film strength was improved by the addition of small amount of sodium hydrogen sulfate, succinic anhydride, ascorbic acid and citric acid, whereas TS of films containing $0.5{\sim}2.0%$ of NaCl and $CaCl_2$ were lower than those without the salts. The highest TS (6.3 MPa) was achieved with films containing 0.1% of succinic anhydride.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2004

Our previous research has demonstrated that the bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. NFQ-l capable of utilizing quin­oline (2,3-benzopyridine) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy was isolated and characterized [Yoon et ai. (2003) Kor. J. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 18(3):174-179]. In this study, we have found that Pseudomonas sp. NFQ-l could degrade quinoline as well as benzoate, and extended this work to characterize the catechol 1,2­dioxygenase (C1,2O) purified from the bacterium cultured in benzoate media. Initially, C1,2O has been purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel permeation chromatography, and Source 15Q. After Source 15Q, puri­fication fold was increased to approximately 14.21 unit/mg. Molecular weight of C1,2O was about 33 kDa. Physicochemical characteristics (e.g., substrate specificity, Km, Vmax, pH, temperature and effect of inhibitors) of purified C1,2O were examined. C1,2O demonstrated the activity for catechol, 4-methylcatechol and 3-meth­ylcatechol as a substrate, respectively. The Km and Vmax value of C1,2O for catechol was 38.54 ${\mu}M$ and $25.10\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}min^{-1}{\cdot}mg^{-1}.$ The optimal temperature of C1,2O was $30^{\circ}C$ and the optimal pH was approximately 8.5. Metal ions such as $Ag^+,\;Hg^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;and\;Cu^{2+}$ show the inhibitory effect on the activity of C1,2O. N-terminal amino sequence of C1,2O was analyzed as ^1TVKISQSASIQKFFEEA^{17}.$ In this work, we found that the amino acid sequence of NFQ-l showed the sequence homology of 82, 71, 59 and $53\%$ compared with C1,2O from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA0l, Pseudomonas arvilla C-1., P. putida KT2440 and Pseudomonas sp. CA10, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.603-618
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• 2023

This study focused on evaluating the suitability of the WRK (waste repository Korea) bentonite as a buffer material in the SNF (spent nuclear fuel) repository. The U (uranium) adsorption/desorption characteristics and the adsorption mechanisms of the WRK bentonite were presented through various analyses, adsorption/desorption experiments, and kinetic adsorption modeling at various pH conditions. Mineralogical and structural analyses supported that the major mineral of the WRK bentonite is the Ca-montmorillonite having the great possibility for the U adsorption. From results of the U adsorption/desorption experiments (intial U concentration: 1 mg/L) for the WRK bentonite, despite the low ratio of the WRK bentonite/U (2 g/L), high U adsorption efficiency (>74%) and low U desorption rate (<14%) were acquired at pH 5, 6, 10, and 11 in solution, supporting that the WRK bentonite can be used as the buffer material preventing the U migration in the SNF repository. Relatively low U adsorption efficiency (<45%) for the WRK bentonite was acquired at pH 3 and 7 because the U exists as various species in solution depending on pH and thus its U adsorption mechanisms are different due to the U speciation. Based on experimental results and previous studies, the main U adsorption mechanisms of the WRK bentonite were understood in viewpoint of the chemical adsorption. At the acid conditions (＜pH 3), the U is apt to adsorb as forms of UO₂²⁺, mainly due to the ionic bond with Si-O or Al-O(OH) present on the WRK bentonite rather than the ion exchange with Ca²⁺ among layers of the WRK bentonite, showing the relatively low U adsorption efficiency. At the alkaline conditions (>pH 7), the U could be adsorbed in the form of anionic U-hydroxy complexes (UO₂(OH)₃^-, UO₂(OH)₄^2-, (UO₂)₃(OH)₇^-, etc.), mainly by bonding with oxygen (O^-) from Si-O or Al-O(OH) on the WRK bentonite or by co-precipitation in the form of hydroxide, showing the high U adsorption. At pH 7, the relatively low U adsorption efficiency (42%) was acquired in this study and it was due to the existence of the U-carbonates in solution, having relatively high solubility than other U species. The U adsorption efficiency of the WRK bentonite can be increased by maintaining a neutral or highly alkaline condition because of the formation of U-hydroxyl complexes rather than the uranyl ion (UO₂²⁺) in solution,and by restraining the formation of U-carbonate complexes in solution.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2010

Pepper mild mosaic virus(PMMoV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are important pathogens in various vegetable crops worldwide. We have found that hot water extract of Phellinus linteus mycelium strongly inhibit PMMoV and CMV infection. Based on these results, the inhibitor named as 'PLM-WE1' formulated from extract of Phellinus linteus mycelium was tested for its inhibitory effects on PMMoV and CMV infection to each local lesion host plant (Nicotiana glutinosa: PMMoV, Chenopodium amaranticolor: CMV). Pretreatment effect of PLM-WE1 against infections of each virus (PMMoV and CMV) to local host plant was measured to be 99.2% to PMMoV and 80.3% to CMV, and its permeability effect was measured to be 45.0% to PMMoV and 41.9% to CMV. Duration of inhibitory activity of PLM-WE1 against PMMoV infection on N. glutinosa was maintained for 3 days at 75% inhibition level and CMV infection on C. amaranticolor maintained for 3 days at 62% inhibition level. Inhibitory effects on systemic host plants of PLM-WE1 were measured to be 75~85% to PMMoV and 75% to CMV. Under electron microscope, PMMoV particles were not denatured or aggregated by mixing PLM-WE1. It is suggested that the mode of action of PLM-WE1 differ from that of inactivation due to the aggregation of viruses. The methanol extract of P. linteus mycelium was sequentially partitioned with haxane, ethyl acetate, BuOH and $H_2O$. The $H_2O$ fraction was showed high activity than the other fractions. The active compound was isolated with a partial acid hydrolysis, fractional precipitation with ethanol. The inhibitory effect of the precipitate isolated from 70% ethanol fraction was 99.1% to PMMoV and 88.0% to CMV. The structure of isolated compound was determined by $^1H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR. This compound was identified as a polysaccharide consisting alpha or beta-glucan.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 1993

Influences of metal concentration, pH and temperature on metal-ligand precipitate formation were investigated, as a part of projects for removing heavy metals from aqueous solution employing the principles in metal-ligand complexation. Aqueous solutions of HA or FA were reacted with those of heavy metals with 1:1 ratio. Efficiency of humic (HA) or fulvic acid (FA) on removing metals was evaluated by separating the precipitates from soltuions with the filtering method. When HA was a counter ligand, there existed three ranges of metal concentrations affecting precipitation : precipitate fromation was not available, was reached to the maximum, and afterwards was decreased again. The concentration ratios of metal to HA for initiating complexation were dependent upon kinds of metal and concentrations of ligand. Amount of Pb to form maximum precipitates per unit mg of HA was 1.3 times higher than that of Cu. When FA was a counter ligand, concentrations of metal-FA precipitates were increased proportionally with the treated metal concentrations. Efficiency of FA fro removing Pb was nearly 100%, but it was ranged from 12 to 19% for Cu, depending on FA concentration. pH exerted a considerable effect on complexation between Pb and FA, showing precipitates were increased six times at most per unit increase of pH. Ranges of pH increasing significantly the mounts of precipitates were coincied with pH jump ranges of the titration curve of organic ligands. As increasing temperature from 15 to $55^{\circ}C$, increases of FA-Cu precipitates were doubled, but those of FA-Pb were accounted for only 6%, However, HA-metal complexation was not affected by temperature.