• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1599-1606
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• 2011

To evaluate the effects of microorganism agents on oil biodegradation, treatability and microcosm studies were conducted. Petroleum oil degrading bacteria were isolated from enriched cultures of oil-contaminated sediment samples using a mineral salts medium (MSM) containing 0.5% Arabian heavy crude oil as the sole carbon source. After a 5 day-incubation period using MSM, mixed microorganisms of three species (strains BS1, BS2 and BS4) degraded 48.4% of aliphatic hydrocarbons and 30.5% of aromatic hydrocarbons. Treatability and microcosm tests were performed in the three different treatment conditions (AO: Arabian heavy crude oil, AO+IN: Arabian heavy crude oil+inorganic nutrient, AO+IN+MM: Arabian heavy crude oil+inorganic nutrient+mixed microorganism agents). Among these, significantly enhanced biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons were observed in AO+IN and AO+IN+MM conditions, without showing any different biodegradation rates in either condition. However, the degradation rates of aromatic hydrocarbons in an AO+IN+MM condition were increased by 50% in the treatability test and by 13% in the microcosm test compared to those in an AO+IN condition. Taken together, it can be concluded that mixed microorganism agents enhance the biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in laboratory, a treatability test, and a microcosm test. This agent could especially be a useful tool in the application of bioremediation for removal of aromatic hydrocarbons.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.362-368
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• 2009

Roasting may lead to the formation of undesired compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, green coffee beans were roasted under controlled conditions and the formation of PAHs during the roasting process was monitored. Roasting was performed in a hot air roaster, with an inlet air temperature varying from 150 to $250^{\circ}C$ for 5, 10, and 20 min. The PAH content of the roasted coffee was then evaluated by HPLC-FLD. The levels of total PAHs in Arabica (Colombia, Brazil) and Robusta (India) coffee samples were 1.26-215.07, 1.85-178.14, and 0.18-2.61 ${\mu}g$/kg, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2009

We evaluated the activity and abundance of the crude-oil-degrading bacterium Nocardia sp. H17-1 during bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil, using real-time PCR. The total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH) degradation rate constants(k) of the soils treated with and without H17-1 were $0.103\;d^{-1}$ and $0.028\;d^{-1}$ respectively. The degradation rate constant was 3.6 times higher in the soil with H17-1 than in the soil without H17-1. In order to detect and quantify the Nocardia sp. H17-1 in soil samples, we quantified the genes encoding 16S ribosomal RNA(16S rRNA), alkane monooxygenase(alkB4), and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase(23CAT) with real-time PCR using SYBR green. The amounts of H17-1 16S rRNA and alkB4 detected increased rapidly up to 1,000-folds for the first 10 days, and then continued to increase only slightly or leveled off. However, the abundance of the 23CAT gene detected in H17-1-treated soil, where H17-1 had neither the 23CAT gene for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons nor the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activity, did not differ significantly from that of the untreated soil($\alpha$=0.05,p>0.22). These results indicated that H17-1 is a potential candidate for the bioaugmentation of alkane-contaminated soil. Overall, we evaluated the abundance and metabolic activity of the bioremediation strain H17-1 using real-time PCR, independent of cultivation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.451-456
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• 1999

Microorganisms utilizing petroleum as substrate were screened from the seawater in Pusan coastal area. Among them, fifty strains utilized bunker-A oil as a sole carbon and energy source. Five of these fifty strains were selected to experiment this study. According to the taxonomic characteristics of its morphological, cultural and biochemical properties, the selected stains were named Pseudomonas sp. EL-12, Flavobacterium sp. EL-15, Acinetobacter sp. EL-18, Enterobacter sp. EL-27 and Micrococcus sp. EL-43, respectively. The optimal medium compositions and cultural conditions for assimilation of bunker-A oil by the selected strains were 1.5-2% bunker-A oil, 0.1% $NH_4NO_3$, 1-1.5% $MgSO_4$.$7H_2O$, 0.05-0.15% KCl, 0.1-0.15% $CaCl_2$.$2H_2O$, 2.5-3.5% NaCl, initial pH 8-9, temperature 3$0^{\circ}C$ and aeration, respectively. The utilization and degradation characteristics on the various hydrocarbons by the selected stains were showed that bunker oil, n-alkane and branched alkane compounds were highly activity than cyclic alkane and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.772-786
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• 2017

This study investigated the characteristics of wood tar, produced as a byproduct during the production of charcoal using oak wood by the modified traditional kiln and mechanical steel kiln. The wood tar was analyzed with a number of techniques, including Py-GC/MS, NMR, MALDI-TOF, FT-IR, TG and DSC. The Py-GC/MS analysis indicated that modified traditional kiln generated a higher hydrocarbon ratio in the wood tar than that of mechanical steel kiln. On the other hand, mechanical steel kiln resulted in a higher proportion of phenolic and aromatic hydrocarbon components than that of modified traditional kiln. Those results were also confirmed by NMR analysis. The MALDI-TOF analysis suggested that the wood tar produced in the mechanical steel kiln had a slightly higher molecular weight than the wood tar produced in the modified traditional kiln. In addition, the FT-IR analysis showed characteristic peak of symmetrical stretching vibration of $CH_3$ from the modified traditional kiln while characteristic peaks of the C-C and C-O stretching vibration were observed from the mechanical steel kiln. Moreover, TG and DSC analysis suggested that the mechanical steel kiln is more thermally stable than that of modified traditional kiln. Those findings clearly showed that the method of making charcoal greatly affects the properties of wood tar.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2012

Ambient particulate matter (PM) and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were measured continuously for 70 days at a Korean elementary school located near a highway. The $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_1$ values were measured with a light-scattering, multi-channel, aerosol spectrometer (Grimm, Model 1.107). The number concentrations of the particles were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer and counter (SMPS+C) which counted particles from 11.1 to 1083.3 nm classified in 44 channels. Particle-bound PAHs were measured with a direct reading, photoelectric aerosol sensor. The daily $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and CO concentrations were obtained from a national air-monitoring station located near the school. The average concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_1$ were 75.3, 59.3, and $52.1{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The average number concentration of the ultrafine particles (UFPs) was $46,307/cm^3$, and the averaged particle-bound PAHs concentration was $17.9ng/cm^3$ during the study period. The ambient UFP variation was strongly associated with traffic intensity, particularly peak concentrations during the traffic rush hours. Particles <100 nm corresponded to traffic-related pollutants, including PAHs. Additional longterm monitoring of ambient UFPs and high-resolution traffic measurements should be carried out in future studies. In addition, transient variations in the ambient particle concentration should be taken into consideration in epidemiology studies in order to examine the short-term health effects of urban UFPs.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 2007

This study was to determine long-term changes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in paddy soils. To do this, we analyzed 16 PAHs in soil samples which were stored in the archive of Yeoungnam Agricultural Research Institute, Milyang, Kyeoungnam province, Korea. The samples used in this study were collected every year from 1978 to 2001 at the plough layer (0-12cm). In average, total PAHs accumulated in paddy soil was continuously decreased since 1980 when it peaked to be $237g\;kg^{-1}$. No significant changes were observed for PAHs having 5-6 phenyl rings for the past two decades, whereas PAHs with 3-4 phenyl rings were greatly decreased, reaching at about a half levels of the 1980's. It is worthy to be noted that the large reduction in PAHs with 3-4 phenyl rings has mainly been attributed to the decrease of PAHs in paddy soils for last 20 years. The major compounds accumulated were: phenanthrene > fluoroanthene > chrysene/benzo(b)fluoroanthene. The present results suggest that the switch of main fuels used in Korea from coal to petroleum around at the end of 1970's is likely contributed to decrease in PAH accumulation in paddy soils.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2003

Biological activities of PAHs are not known although PAHs are considered as carcinogens. Recent industrial society has human widely exposed to PAHs (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) that are comming from the incomplete combustion of organic material as wider spread environmental contaminants. Our laboratory have been studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. In this study, we examined the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells as a new system to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. We have selected 13 PAHs to examine bioassay using CYP1A1-luciferase reporter gene expression system where CYP1A1 1.6 Kb 5flanking region DNA was cloned in front of luciferase reporter gene and this plasmid was transfected into MCF-7 cells transiently. This cells then used for the study to observe the effect of PAHs. We demonstrated that PAHs induced the CYP1A1 promoter, CYP1A1 mRNA and 7-ethoxyresolufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in a concentration-dependant manner. None of PAHs that we have tested showed stronger stimulatory effect on CYP1 gene expression than TCDD. Benz(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene were weak responders to CYP1A1 promoter activity stimulation, CYP1A1 mRNA and EROD induction in MCF-7 cells and these chemicals seemed to respond less either CYP1A1 mRNA or EROD than CYP1A1 promoter activity. Benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene showed strong response to CYP1A1 promoter activity stimulation, CYP1A1 mRNA increase and also EROD induction in MCF-7 cells. Results of dose response study suggested that two strong responding PAHs, such as benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene might be mediated through Aryl hydrocarbon receptors system in MCF-7 cells.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.45-51
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• 2005

The sorption/desorption characteristics of phenanthrene on the natural manganese oxide (NMD) were investigated in the presence of phenolic compounds. 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) was effectively oxidized by NMD catalyzed reaction and transformed into humic-like macromolecular compound through inter-or cross-coupling reaction between byproducts. As 4-CP was degraded with time, sorbed amount of phenanthrene on NMD was significantly increased, resulting from the formation of oxidative coupling products. These results imply that NMD can be used for simultaneous treatment of phenolic contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils, sediments, or water. Also, sorbed phenanthrene on NMD in the presence of 4-CP showed high degree of desorption resistance, indicating that sequestration process of phenanthrene was ongoing with time.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.352-357
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• 1998

Biodegradation of benzoate and m-toluate was investigated using a Pseudomonas sp. isolated in a continuous culture for 45 days with a step-wise increase of the subsrates. The optimum mixture ratio of benzoate and m-toluate was 75% and 25%, respectively. During 45-day culture, removal of benzoate and m-toluate, which was replaced 2,000 ppm on the 30th day were 94% and 79%, respectively, when COD removal rate was 80%. The enzymatic activity of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase increased and that of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase decreased as the concentration of m-toluate was increased. These results suggested that m-toluate induced enzyme activity for degradation of benzoate. The shape of isolated strain in the continuous culture was investigated with SEM and the results showed that the cell shape was more damage according to the higher concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons. Therefore, we suggested that the tolerance against aromatic hydrocarbons was related to not only enzymatic activity but also characteristic of cell membrane or cell wall.