• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2019

The purpose of this paper is whether or not the in-situ restoration of the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes which its membrane function is lost is possible. The damaged RO membranes are double coated through the salting-out method by the poly(styrene sulfonic acid) sodium salt as the cationic exchange polymer and the polyethyleneimine as the anionic exchange polymer and also conducted the opposite order of the coating materials. And according to the concentration, time and ionic strength, the flux and rejection are measured for the coated membranes. Then the best coating condition is to apply for the RO membrane module of the household water purifier to know the possibility of the in-situ restoration for the commercial module. When the condition of the PEI 30,000 ppm (IS = 0.1)/PSSA 20,000 ppm (IS = 0.7) is applied, the rejection was enhance from 69% for the damaged module to 86% (90% for the pristine module).

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2022

Water purifiers have a quite different characteristic in comparison with general membrane water treatment processes in which the running and resting are repeated dozens of times a day. In the case of water purifiers using reverse osmosis membranes, this characteristic makes a phenomenon that the total dissolved solids (TDS) of permeate in water purifiers at the beginning of running shows a higher value than a normal value (TDS reduction is lower than a normal value). It is called "TDS creep". The effects of resting times and feed concentrations on the TDS creep were investigated. The feed flushing, the volume increase in permeate side and the flushing with purified water were applied to reduce TDS creep and the effectiveness were observed. Among these trials, the minimization of concentration between feed and permeate side of reverse osmosis membrane like the flushing with purified water can be an ultimate solution to reduce the TDS creep.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.106-113
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• 2023

The supply of microbiological risk-free water is essential to keep food safety and public hygiene. And removal, inactivation, and destruction of microorganisms in drinking water are key for ensuring safety in the food industry. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is an attractive method for efficient disinfection of water without generating toxicity and adversely affecting human health. In this study, the disinfection efficiencies of UV-C irradiation on Shigella flexneri (Gram negative) and Listeria monocytogenes (Gram positive) at various concentrations in drinking water were evaluated using a water purifier. Their morphological and physiological characteristics after UV-C irradiation were observed using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry combined with live/dead staining. UV-C irradiation (254 nm wavelength, irradiation dose: 40 mJ/cm²) at a water flow velocity of 3.4 L/min showed disinfection ability on both bacteria up to 10⁸ CFU/4 L. And flow cytometric analysis showed different physiological shift between S. flexneri and L. monocytogenes after UV-C irradiation, but no significant shift of morphology in both bacteria. In addition, each bacterium revealed different characteristics with time-course observation after UV-C irradiation: L. monocytogenes dramatically changed its physiological feature and seemed to reach maximum damage at 4 h and then recovered, whereas S. flexneri seemed to gradually die over time. This study revealed that UV-C irradiation of water purifiers is effective in disinfecting microbial contaminants in drinking water and provides basic information on bacterial features/responses after UV-C irradiation.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2024

Coal ash has been used as a sand replacement in the construction industry. Due to the use of bituminous coal as a result of anthracite depletion, and quicklime as an air purifier in the desulfurization process, pop-out defects have recently occurred in concrete using coal ash, severely limiting the recycling of coal ash into concrete. In this study, the components that cause the pop-out problem of the coal ash filled concrete were identified and a pretreatment method to fully expand the expansive components in advance was proposed as a solution to this problem. By treating water twice for 10 min, allowing the CaO mixed in the coal ash to fully expand, the problems of pop-out and reduced compressive strength of the concrete were overcome. The cost and time efficient water treatment method proposed in this study is expected to promote the recycling of coal ash into concrete.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2010

Purpose: According to increment of thyroid cancer recently, patients of high dose radioiodine therapy were accumulated. Taking into consideration the acceptance capability in the current facility, this study is to calculate the maximum value of high dose radioiodine therapy in patients for treatment. Materials and Methods: The amount and radioactivity of waste water discharged from high dose radioiodine therapy in patients admitted at present hospital as well as the radiation density of the air released into the atmosphere from the high dose radioiodine therapy ward were measured. When the calculated waste water's radiation and its density in the released air satisfies the standard (management standard for discharge into water supply 30 Bq/L, management standard for release into air 3 $Bq/m^3$) set by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the maximum value of treatable high dose radioiodine therapy in patients was calculated. Results: When we calculated in a conservative view, the average density of radiation of waste water discharged from treating high dose radioiodine therapy one patient was 8 MBq/L and after 117 days of diminution in the water-purifier tank, it was 29.5 Bq/L. Also, the average density of radiation of waste water discharged from treating high dose radioiodine therapy two patients was 16 MBq/L and after 70 days of diminution in the water-purifier tank, it was 29.7 Bq/L. Under the same conditions, the density of radiation released into air through RI Ventilation Filter from the radioiodine therapy ward was 0.38 $Bq/m^3$. Conclusion: The maximum value of high dose radioiodine therapy in patients that can be treated within the acceptance capability was calculated and applied to the current facility, and if double rooms are managed by improving the ward structure, it would be possible to reduce the accumulated treatment waiting period for radioiodine therapy in patients.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.857-862
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• 2002

Porous ceramic supports with immobilized microorganisms for the water purifier were synthesized by firing green compacts of mixed powder comprising of fly ash, bentonite and an additive of yeast powder at 800∼1,000$^{\circ}C$ for 1h and the pore and mechanical properties of specimens were investigated. The compressive strength was increased in FB (Fly Ash + Bentonite) specimens while pore properties was decreased with increasing the bentonite content and sintering temperature. The compressive strength, bulk density, apparent density, porosity, mean pore size, pore volume and specific surface area of FB specimens at 800∼1,000$^{\circ}C$ were 89.6∼128.9 kgf/$cm^2$, 1.25∼1.43, 1.61∼1.78, 27.2∼62.2%, 7.9∼25.6 ${\mu}m$, 8.9∼$22.2{\times}10^{-5}\;cm^3/g$ and 35.2∼134.3 $m^2/g$, respectively. The pore properties of FBY (FB+yeast powder) specimens were superior to that of FB specimens, however compressive strength was decreased with increasing yeast powder content. The overall properties of 9F1B1Y (9F1B+10% of yeast powder) specimens at 900$^{\circ}C$ for 1 h were 98.7 kgf/$cm^2$, 1.20, 1.67, 68.1%, 48.9 ${\mu}m$, $29.5{\times}10^{-5}\;cm^3/g$ and 152.2 $m^2/g$, respectively. In this study, it was revealed that 9F1B1Y specimen demonstrated better S. saprophyticus adherence properties n their surface pores. Consequently, the microorganisms immobilized on porous ceramic supports showed better water purifying performance with many pores and adequate strength.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2018

As the lives of people have improved, the demand for improved indoor air quality has increased. Various methods are used to remove biological air pollutants, such as UV/photocatalytic devices and ozone generators. However, these methods have disadvantages such as energy consumption, high corrosivity and toxicity. To overcome these disadvantages, an antibacterial copper filter was fabricated and its antimicrobial activity was then tested against two fungi (P. pinophilum, C. globosum) and one bacteria (S. aureus) Moreover, the ability to remove suspended microorganisms was tested step by step from the chamber stage to the air conditioning system. The results revealed 100% antimicrobial activity after 24 hours for the two fungi, while this value was 99.9% after 18 hours for the bacteria. Moreover, the antibacterial activity was higher when the chamber and air purifier were used than was obtained using a general antibacterial HEPA filter. Also, as a filter for system air conditioner, the antibacterial activity was lowered in offices and hospitals. In conclusion, the copper filter was found to have sufficient antibacterial activity for use as an antibacterial filter; however, further research on its preparation methods and materials is warranted.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.149-156
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to reduce the contaminants (total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), fine particle, odor and total airborne bacteria) during cooking process in cooking chamber, and to decrease the health damage in indoor space that has bad work environment. In order to solve the shortcomings of existing air purifiers and remove all kinds of pollutants effectively, this study focused on the development of indoor air purifiers which are made of bar type. Bio-ceramics filter which combines activated carbon and loess. The air cleaners developed with 4 measuring items including TVOCs, particulate matter, complex odor and total airborne bacteria were measured comparing their pre-service test to their post-service test after a period of time. The measured results showed higher removal efficiency of 91.02% as the concentration of TVOCs was reduced from $2,500{\mu}g/m^3$ to $223{\mu}g/m^3$. Second, the particulate matter removal ratio was 97.51% efficient with average concentration of $26.68{\mu}g/m^3$. Third, the odor showed 95.20% reduction as air dilution ratio averaged out at 144. Last, total airborne bacteria was eliminated by over 94% showing the changeable concentration from $787{\sim}814CFU/m^3$ to $47{\sim}40CFU/m^3$. In addition, the removal rate of harmful pollutants is excellent, and it is expected that the environment of the existing poor cooking room will be greatly improved by using the developed air purifier in combination with the ventilation device and the stove hood.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.135-141
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• 2020

The first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was reported in Korea in 2015, after a Korean man from Bahrain tested positive for the infection. After first eruption, there were numbers of secondary infectees and whole country were frightened. At the time, isolated ambulances were available but few, and there was no specific way to prevent contamination during transfer. Therefore, Seoul National University Hospital and the University of Seoul developed isolation units and air filters. Four years after the MERS outbreak, this study measured the differential pressure inside and outside the small isolation units based on the differential pressure and air flow derived from simulation and testing, and proposed minimum values for virus leakage and internal sealing. A performance evaluation and testing method for the transfer equipment is proposed. The critical function of the small isolated transport equipment was defined and selected as an evaluation item; performance evaluation was carried out by simulating a real-world case. The results provide the proper pressure configuration of positive and negative pressure inside the segregation feeder; the clear criteria for the HEPA filter; and the performance criteria for the segregation feeder and air purifier.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2009

The definition of edible ice is frozen water for the use of food manufacturing, processing, or cooking, as well as for the direct eating. It has been reported that in the process of ice manufacturing and its selling, edible ice is contaminated with some microorganisms, which causes food poisoning and gastroenteritis. It was shown that besides in the edible ice, germ growth caused by various reasons occurred in the mineral water, tap water, water filtering system, and water purifier. With public awareness, in order to examine the sanitary conditions of edible ice in the Northern area of Daegu metropolitan city, 15 places were randomly selected. As a result, 14 places were found to be contaminated with microorganisms. After incubating on the Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar plate, 80% of Gram-negative bacilli, 17% of Gram-positive cocci, and 3% of Gram-negative cocci were cultured. Enterobacter cloacae, Chryseomonas luteola, Pantoea spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus or Providencia rettgeri were detected. Gram-positive cocci cultured in BHI agar plate from 5 specimens were identified as Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus xylosus, which is well known bacteria causing strong food poisoning. This present paper raises questions on the importance and awareness of sanitary conditions of edible ice and the identification of pathogenic microorganisms living in the edible ice in relation to their distribution. The examination of sanitary conditions of edible ice in other areas in Daegu seems to be also needed to find out if there are similar cases.