• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.200-207
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• 2017

A new approach to the solubilization of waste activated sludge (WAS) using alginate-quaternary ammonium complex beads was investigated under controlled mild alkaline conditions. The complex beads were prepared by the reaction of sodium alginate (SA) with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-octadecyldimethylammonium chloride (TSA) in acid solution, followed by crosslinking with $CaCl_2$. Treatment of WAS with SA-TSA complex beads was effective for enhancing the efficacy of WAS solubilization. The highest value of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration (3,900 mg/L) was achieved after 10 days of treatment with 30% (v/v) SA-TSA complex beads. The WAS solubilization efficacy of the complex beads was also evaluated by estimating the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The maximum value of VFAs was 2,961 mg/L, and the overall proportions of VFAs were more than 75% of SCOD. The main components of VFAs were acetic, propionic, iso-butyric, and butyric acids. These results suggest that SA-TSA complex beads might be useful for enhancing the solubilization of WAS. The potential use of VFAs as the external carbon substrate for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by a mixed microbial culture (MMC) was also examined. The enrichment of PHA-accumulating MMC could be achieved by periodic feeding of VFAs generated from WAS in a sequencing batch reactor. The composition of PHA synthesized from VFAs mainly consisted of 3-hydroxybutyrate. The maximum PHA content accounted for 25.9% of dry cell weight. PHA production by this process is considered to be promising since it has a doubly beneficial effect on the environment by reducing the amount of WAS and concomitantly producing an eco-friendly biopolymer.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the hair protection effect of fermented black soybean extracts. The morphological characteristics, tensile strength and constitutional changes of the hair were analyzed and compared when the hair was chemically oxidized and then treated with fermented black soybean extract. As a result, treatment of oxidizing agent on virgin hair caused damage on the cuticle layer of the epidermis and decreased in tensile strength of hair from $14.32{\pm}0.83g/cm^2$ to $12.32{\pm}0.79g/cm^2$. FT-IR analysis showed the peaks at 1,077, 1,041, and $801cm^{-1}$ of the hair treated with oxidizing agent were increased compared to peak values of virgin hair, indicating that cystein in hair was decreased which is crucial to disulfide bond between keratin. On the other hand, when the damaged hair is treated with the fermented black soybean extract, cracks in the cuticle layer of the epidermis were filled, tensile strength was restored to $14.27{\pm}0.96g/cm^2$ and the ratio of oxidized cysteine in hair was decreased. These results suggest that the fermented black soybean extract is worthy of further investigation as a protective material for hair damaged by oxidizing agents.