• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1656-1664
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• 2019

Isoprene has the potential to replace some petroleum-based chemicals and can be produced through biological systems using renewable carbon sources. Ralstonia eutropha can produce value-added compounds, including intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) through fatty acid and lipid metabolism. In the present study, we engineered strains of R. eutropha H16 and examined the strains for isoprene production. We optimized codons of all the genes involved in isoprene synthesis by the mevalonate pathway and manipulated the promoter regions using pLac and pJ5 elements. Our results showed that isoprene productivity was higher using the J5 promoter ($1.9{\pm}0.24{\mu}g/l$) than when using the lac promoter ($1.5{\pm}0.2{\mu}g/l$). Additionally, the use of three J5 promoters was more efficient ($3.8{\pm}0.18{\mu}g/l$) for isoprene production than a one-promoter system, and could be scaled up to a 5-L batch-cultivation from a T-flask culture. Although the isoprene yield obtained in our study was insufficient to meet industrial demands, our study, for the first time, shows that R. eutropha can be modified for efficient isoprene production and lays the foundation for further optimization of the fermentation process.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.532-537
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• 2009

The tropospheric ozone production mechanism for the gas phase additive oxidation reaction of hydroxyl radical (OH) with isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) has been studied using cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) at total pressure of 50 Torr and 298 K. The applicability of CRDS was confirmed by monitoring the shorter (~4%) ringdown time in the presence of hydroxyl radical than the ring-down time without the photolysis of hydrogen peroxide. The reaction rate constant, $(9.8{\pm}0.1){\times}10^{-11}molecule^{-1}cm^3s^{-1}$, for the addition of OH to isoprene is in good agreement with previous studies. In the presence of $O_2$ and NO, hydroxyl radical cycling has been monitored and the simulation using the recommended elementary reaction rate constants as the basis to OH cycling curve gives reasonable fit to the data.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2020

Considering the immense applicability of isoprene rubbers, such as natural rubber (NR) and synthetic polyisoprene rubber (IR), attempts are being made to introduce more functionality within the rubber structure, e.g. epoxidation, to widen their technological viability. Epoxidation introduces polar epoxy bonds into the rubber molecular chain, resulting in enhanced intermolecular interactions among the rubber chains, increasing the oil resistance and air impermeability. Although there have been many reports on the epoxidation of NR in its latex form, there has been no such report using its solid form (or gum), which limits the epoxidation in terms of portability. Furthermore, the gum form has longer lifetime, while the latex form has limited lifetime for its efficient use. In this study, the epoxidation of natural rubber and polyisoprene rubber (using meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA) as the epoxidizing agent) by dissolving their gum in hexane (i.e., the solution method) have been studied and compared. The effects of the amount of mCPBA, reaction time, and reaction temperature were investigated. The present process is easy and facilitates the epoxidation of rubbers in their solid form; therefore, it can be used for industrial upscaling of epoxidized rubber production.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2015

The emissions of ozone precursors, NOx and VOCs from a biogenic source and port-related sources (ship, shipping container truck, and cargo handling equipment) were estimated in Busan during 2013. Total biogenic isoprene emission in Busan during 2013 was estimated to be $4,434ton\;yr^{-1}$ with the highest emission (e.g., $28ton\;day^{-1}$) in summer using a BEIS method. Seasonal ozone production rates by isoprene ranged from 0.15 (winter) to 2.08 (summer) $ppb\;hr^{-1}$, contributing the predominant portion to ambient ozone levels. Total emissions of NOx and VOCs from ship traversing Busan ports were estimated to be 29,537 and $814ton\;yr^{-1}$, respectively, showing the significant contribution to total NOx emission in Busan. The emissions of ozone precursors were significantly different depending on ship tonnage and port location. Compared to the ship emission, the emissions of NOx and VOCs from the shipping container trucks in Busan were insignificant (2.9% for NOx and 3.9% for VOCs). Total NOx and VOCs emissions from the cargo handling equipment were estimated to be 1,440 and $133ton\;yr^{-1}$, respectively with the predominance of yard tractors.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2015

To investigate the distributions of BVOCs (Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds) from mountain near mega city and their role in forest atmospheric, BVOCs and their oxidized species were measured at a 41 m tower in Mt. Taehwa during May, June and August 2013. A proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) was used to quantify isoprene and monoterpenes. In conjunction with BVOCs, $O_3$, meteorological parameters, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) and LAI (Leaf Area Index) were measured. The average concentrations of isoprene and monoterpenes were 0.71 ppbv and 0.17 ppbv, respectively. BVOCs showed higher concentrations in the early summer (June) compared to the late summer (August). Isoprene started increasing at 2 PM and reached the maximum concentration around 5 PM. In contrast, monoterpenes concentrations began to increase 4 PM and stayed high at night. The $O_3$ maximum was generally found at 3 PM and remained high until 5 PM or later, which was concurrent with the enhancement of $O_3$. The concentrations of BVOCs were higher below canopy (18 m) than above canopy, which indicated these species were produced by trees. At night, monoterpenes concentrations were negatively correlated with these of $O_3$ below canopy. Using MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature), the emissions of isoprene and monoterpenes were estimated at 1.1 ton/year and 0.9 ton/year, respectively at Mt. Taehwa.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2002

The mixtures of non-conjugated dienes, 4-methyl-1,4-hexadiene and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene (MHD), were successfully synthesized by the reaction of isoprene with ethylene using Fe(III)-based catalyst in toluene. The conversion was over 96 mol% on the basis of the initial amount of isoprene used. The production yield for MHD was nearly 50 mol%, the other was polyisoprene. The mixtures were successfully copolymerized with ethylene by using zirconium-based metallocenes. The products were characterized by the combinations of gas chromatography, high temperature gel permeation chromatography, $^1$H NMR, $^{13}$ C NMR, high temperature $^1$H NMR, UV/visible spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was active enough to be incorporated into the copolymer chain but the corresponding isomeric material,4-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, was inactive in metallocene-catalyzed copolymerizations. Specifically, in the zirconocene-catalyzed copolymerizations of ethylene with MHD, ansa-structure catalysts seem to be more efficient than non-bridged type zirconocene. The degree of incorporation of MHD in the resulting copolymers was able to be controlled by the amount of non-conjugated dienes used initially.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.531-537
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• 2014

Terrestrial vegetation has been known as a main source of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). Isoprene and monoterpene among the BVOCs are most abundant species emitted by forests, and have a significant impact on atmospheric chemistry. Abundancy of these species could lead to an increase or decrease in the production of natural tropospheric ozone in forests, depending on the nitric oxide (NO) concentration. Soil is the most significant source of natural NO. Understanding of NO emission from forest soil could be critical in evaluation of air quality in the forest area. Flux-gradient similarity theory (FGST) was applied for practical use to estimate forest soil NO emission at Mt. Taewha where is available micro-meteorological data near surface monitoring from flux tower. NO fluxes calculated by FGST were compared to flux results by flow-through dynamic chamber (FDC) measurement. Surface NO emission trends were shown between two different techniques, however their magnitudes were found to be different. NO emissions measured from FDC technique were relatively higher than those from theoretical results. Daily mean NO emissions resulted from FGST during Aug. 13, 14 and 15 were $0.28{\pm}8.45$, $2.17{\pm}15.55$, and $-3.18{\pm}13.65{\mu}gm^{-2}hr^{-1}$, respectively, while results from FDC were $2.26{\pm}1.44$, $5.11{\pm}3.85$, and $2.23{\pm}6.45{\mu}gm^{-2}hr^{-1}$. Trends of daily means were shown in similar pattern, which NO emissions were increasing during late afternoon ($r^2$=0.04). These emission trends could be because soil temperature and moisture influence importantly soil microbiology.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.320-328
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• 2016

Among biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in the natural ecosystem, monoterpenes, along with isoprene, play important roles in atmospheric chemistry and make significant impacts on air pollution and climate change, especially due to their contribution to secondary organic aerosol production and photochemical ozone formation. It is essential to measure monoterpene concentrations accurately for understanding their oxidation processes, emission processes and estimation, and interactions between biosphere and atmosphere. Thus, traceable calibration standards are crucial for the accurate measurement of monoterpenes at ambient levels. However, there are limited information about developing calibrations standards for monoterpenes in pressured cylinders. This study describes about developing primary standard gas mixtures (PSMs) for monoterpenes at about 2 nmol/mol, near ambient levels. The micro-gravimetric method was applied to prepare monoterpene (${\alpha}$-pinene, 3-carene, R-(+)-limonene, 1,8-cineole) PSMs at $10{\mu}mol/mol$ and then the PSMs were further diluted to 2 nmol/mol level. To select an optimal cylinder for the development of monoterpene PSMs, three different kinds of cylinders were used for the preparation and were evaluated for uncertainty sources including long-term stability. Results showed that aluminum cylinders with a special internal surface treatment (Experis) had little adsorption loss on the cylinder internal surface and good long-term stability compared to two other cylinder types with no treatment and a special treatment (Aculife). Results from uncertainty estimation suggested that monoterpene PSMs can be prepared in pressured cylinders with a special treatment (Experis) at 2 nmol/mol level with an uncertainty of less than 4%.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 2023

Ground-level ozone affects human health and plant growth. Ozone is produced by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. In this study, two different land cover and emission factor datasets were input to the MEGAN v2.1 emission model to examine how these parameters contribute to the biogenic emissions and ozone production. Four input sensitivity scenarios (A, B, C and D) were generated from land cover and vegetation emission factors combination. The effects of BVOCs emissions by scenario were also investigated. From air quality modeling result using CAMx, maximum 1 hour ozone concentrations were estimated 62 ppb, 60 ppb, 68 ppb, 65 ppb, 55 ppb for scenarios A, B, C, D and E, respectively. For maximum 8 hour ozone concentration, 57 ppb, 56 ppb, 63 ppb, 60 ppb, and 53 ppb were estimated by scenario. The minimum difference by land cover was up to 25 ppb and by emission factor that was up to 35 ppb. From the modeling performance evaluation using ground ozone measurement over the six regions (East Seoul, West Seoul, Incheon, Namyangju, Wonju, and Daegu), the model performed well in terms of the correlation coefficient (0.6 to 0.82). For the 4 urban regions (East Seoul, West Seoul, Incheon, and Namyangju), ozone simulations were not quite sensitive to the change of BVOC emissions. For rural regions (Wonju and Daegu) , however, BVOC emission affected ozone concentration much more than previously mentioned regions, especially in case of scenario C. This implies the importance of biogenic emissions on ozone production over the sub-urban to rural regions.