• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2024

Microplastics in water resources have been recognized as a serious problem. The discharge of microplastics from wastewater treatment plants is considered a major contributor to environmental pollution in water resources. However, a reliable analytical method for quantifying microplastics in wastewater treatment plants has not yet been established. This study proposes a reliable, quick, and easy analytical method for quantifying microplastics. For the removal of organic particles, preprocessing steps were applied including oxidation, sonication, washing, and sieving. Nile Red staining was used to visualize microplastics, and quantitative analysis was conducted using fluorescent imaging. The stained microplastics were ultimately quantified through image analysis software. Among the preprocessing steps, sonication and washing stages were particularly effective in efficiently removing interfering substances from wastewater, enhancing the accuracy of the microplastic analysis. Additionally, various solvents (methanol, acetone, and N-hexane) for the Nile Red staining solution were tested. When N-hexane was applied as the solvent, the quantity of stained microplastics was lower compared to methanol and acetone. This suggests that N-hexane has a greater potential of reducing false staining and counting of non-plastic particles. In summary, this research demonstrates a robust method for quantifying microplastics in wastewater treatment plants by employing effective preprocessing steps and optimizing the staining process with Nile Red and N-hexane.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.35 no.3 s.110
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• pp.182-195
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• 2005

The purpose of this retrospective study was to estimate the pretreatment characteristics of growing patients with Class II malocclusion. who had been treated with maxillary second molar extractions The sample comprised of 51 subjects; 18 subjects were classified into the molar extraction group, and 33 subjects were treated without extraction and classified into the nonextraction group. Pretreatment lateral cephalograms were calculated and analyzed by independent t-test and stepwise discriminant analysis. In measurements for skeletal pattern, no anteroposterior measurements and proportions of various vertical dimensions were significantly different. and only some measurements such as $AB-MP(^{\circ)$, Na-We(mm), AVD (mm) were significantly different between the two treatment groups (p<0.05). In measurements for dentoalveolar pattern. some measurements, which were related to the position and angulation of the upper and lower permanent first molars, and the angulation of the upper third molars, were significantly different between the two treatment groups In particular, the maxillary second molar extraction group exhibited more mesial angulation of maxillary first molar to the occlusal plane.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.250-259
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• 1982

The Larch was known unsuitable species for the wood cement board owing to its some inhibitory substances. Therefore this research was carried out to evaluate the effect of pretreatments and chemical additives on the properties of woodflake cement board from Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) grown in Korea. In order to improve the board qualities, the woodflakes were treated by cold water or dilute NaOH solutions(0.1, 0.5, and 2.0%), and also some chemicals($CaCl_2$, $Al_2Cl_3$ and $Na_2SiO_4$) added to the wood cement mixture. The results obtained are summarized as follow; 1. The wood cement boards from the woodflake treated with 0.1% NaOH showed remarkable higher bending strengths and internal bonding strengths than those from the flake pretreated with cold water. 2. The bending strengths showed over $60kg/cm^2$, i.e. the standard strength of JIS A-5417, with pretreatments of NaOH over 0.1% and additive of $CaCl_2$ 3.0%. The maximum strengths showed at about 0.5 of every additives. 3. Addition of $CaCl_2$ and $Al_2Cl_3$, in the case of pretreated wood with NaOH above 0.1%, had effects on increasing the internal bonding strengths of sample boards. 4. The thickness swellings became decreasing along with the increasing NaOH pretreatment concentntration. 5. The equilibrium conditions of the sample boards pretreated with NaOH over 0.1% and added with $Al_2Cl_3$ and $CaCl_2$ were maintained at 9.0~10.5% moisture contents. 6. The specific gravity of the samples showed close relationships with strength properties.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2020

In this research, we investigate the effect of microwave pretreatment on the recovery of gold from the gold concentrates by thiourea leaching. The changes in mineral phases by decomposition of pyrites in the gold concentrates using microwave were observed, and the result of microwave irradiation showed that the temperature of the irradiated sample increases with increasing irradiation time. With the reaction of temperature increases, Sulfur (S) in pyrites was converted to sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and then the content of S in the sample was reduced. The analytical results of XRD and SEM-EDS showed that pyrites are converted to magnetite and hematite, and its surfaces are changed to a porous shape where micro-cracks are developed. The Au leaching efficiency from the irradiated gold concentrates using thiourea-mixed solvent increased with the increases of irradiation time and solvent concentration. The experimental results considering leaching parameters indicate that the mechanism of microwave irradiation increases the maximum leaching efficiency and leaching rate of the gold concentrates, and the solvent does a role for the increasing of leaching rate constant.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2013

This study was demonstrated to estimate the measurement uncertainty of 23 multiple-component amino acids from beef bone extract by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sources of measurement uncertainty (i.e. sample weight, final volume, standard weight, purity, standard solution, calibration curve, recovery and repeatability) in associated with the analysis of amino acids were evaluated. The estimation of uncertainty obtained on the GUM (Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement) and EURACHEM document with mathematical calculation and statistical analysis. The content of total amino acids from beef bone extract was 36.18 g/100 g and the expanded uncertainty by multiplying coverage factor (k, 2.05~2.36) was 3.81 g/100 g at a 95% confidence level. The major contributors to the measurement uncertainty were identified in the order of recovery and repeatability (25.2%), sample pretreatment (24.5%), calibration-curve (24.0%) and weight of the reference material (10.4%). Therefore, more careful experiments are required in these steps to reduce uncertainties of amino acids analysis with a better personal proficiency improvement.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.221-226
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• 1977

The quality changes of yellow sea bream, Branchiostegus japonicus japonicus, during frozen storage were mentioned from the view point of commercial value. The experiments were conducted to find out the effective storing method by varying the storage temperatures $(-5^{\circ}C,\;-35^{\circ}C)$ and pretreatment with chemicals $(0.l\%\;BHA,\;1\%\;sodium\;Polyphosphate)$. The samples were stored for 6 months at $-5^{\circ}C$ and $-35^{\circ}C$ after dipping in the chemical solutions and packing with polyethylens film. The extractibility of salt soluble protein of sample stored at $-35^{\circ}C$ was higher than that of samples stored at $-5^{\circ}C$, while the chemical treatments were not so much effective. Difference in the amount of free water released from samples was obvious between $-5^{\circ}C$ and $-35^{\circ}C$ storage, and that of samples treated with sodium Polyphosphate was much less than the BHA-treated ones. VBN content was differed by varying the storage temperature whereas no effect by the chemical treatments. TBA value of the sample storage at $-35^{\circ}C$ was lower than $-5^{\circ}C$ and the effect of chemicals on the development of oxidation was in order of sodium polyphosphate, BHA and control. Carotenoid content also changed by varying the storage temperature and the color was completely faded out with quality deterioration after 3 months storage at $-5^{\circ}C$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.568-575
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• 1999

Two different digestion procedures for the simultaneous determination of major and platinum-group element(PGE) in spent automobile catalysts containing PGE and silicates by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES) are compared. Combinations of mixed aids using HF, $HNO_3$, HCl, $HClO_4$, $H_2O_2$, and $H_3BO_3$ are utilized for the hot plate dissolution method and the closed-vessel microwave digestion method, The latter method has been shown to be relatively superior in terms of recovery, analysis time, and amount of aqua regia (3 parts HCl + part $HNO_3$ required to dissolve PGE in comparison with conventional open vessel hot-plate dissolution. The best results were drawn from the following conditions: In closed Teflon PFA vessels under microwave heating with temperature/pressure regulation, a 0.25 g portion of sample was digested in 2 mL of HF, 2 mL of $HNO_3$ and 6mL of HCl under the pressure of 200 psi(13.79 bar) at $180^{\circ}C$ for 1hr, followed by a second digestion stage with 16 mL of 5%(w/v) boric acid under the pressure of 20 psi(1.38 bar) at $100^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. After the microwave heating, the sample was post-treated with 10 mL of aqua regia twice by hot-plate heating. This condition gives the PGE recovery within 85~110% and the relative standard deviations within 2%. The method developed can therefore be regarded as an alternative method for routine analysis of spent automobile catalysts.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2012

The objective of the study was to estimate the measurement uncertainty associated with determination of creatinine (Cr) in urine samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Centrifuged urine samples (10 ${\mu}L$) were diluted with 390 ${\mu}L$ of distilled water. To 20 ${\mu}L$ aliquots of diluted urine samples, 30 ${\mu}L$ of internal standard solution (Cr-$d_3$, 5 ${\mu}g/mL$) and 10 ${\mu}L$ of acetonitrile were added and filtered. The samples (1 ${\mu}L$) were introduced into LC-MS/MS with no further pretreatment. Cr was separated on a multi-mode ODS column (Scherzo SM-C18, 75 ${\times}$ 2.0 mm I.D., 3 ${\mu}m$) and quantified by LC-MS/MS operating in MRM mode (Cr, m/z 114.0${\rightarrow}$ 86.0; Cr-$d_3$, m/z 117.0${\rightarrow}$ 89.1). The four factors that contribute uncertainty to the final result were extracted and evaluated. The principal factors of contribution to combined standard uncertainty were sample dilution, calibration curve and repeatability, while the preparation of standard solution was only a minor factor. Relative extended uncertainty of the measured concentration was 14.2% in a real urine sample.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.827-836
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• 2013

Due to the stringent drinking water quality, formaldehyde will be included in Korean drinking water standard from year 2014. However, its standard analytical method has not yet been established. This study compares two analytical methods, DNPH-LC and ACFAS with respect to their analysis principles, Method Detection Limit (MDL), Limit Of Quantitation(LOQ), precision, accuracy, reproducibility, convenience, number of samples analyzed per hour and analysis cost. These methods measure absorption intensity at 360 nm by using HPLC after DNPH-derivatization (DNPH-LC) and at 410 nm by using Automated Continuous Flow Absorption Spectrophotometer (ACFAS), respectively. Reproducibility was tested by repeating the analysis 7 times using a standard solution for each method. For DNPH-LC method, MDL was $0.5{\mu}g/L$, LOQ was $1.58{\mu}g/L$ with standard deviation of $0.16{\mu}g/L$. For ACFAS method, they were $0.27{\mu}g/L$, $0.85{\mu}g/L$L with standard deviation of $0.09{\mu}g/L$, respectively. Both methods satisfied the requirement set by the Korean drinking water quality standard. Complexity of sample pretreatment procedure for DNPH-LC method may cause large error and, consequently, the analytical result will depend on the level of skill of analyst. In contrast, ACFAS method which used only one reagent equipped with an automated injection device showed little analytical error. It costs about $5.00 and $1.00 for one sample to analyze by the DNPH-LC method and the ACFAS method, respectively. Compared to the DNPH-LC method, ACFAS method provided more reliable analytical results. In terms of convenience, easiness and analytical cost, ACFAS method was demonstrated to be superior to the DNPH-LC method. The results of this study suggested that the ACFAS method could be adapted as a proper method for determining formaldehyde content in drinking water.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.175-195
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• 2005

Objective: This experimental study was performed to examine the in vitro and in viva anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Mori Cortex. Methods: Water extract of Mori Cortex was studied to its ability to stimulate or inhibit macrophage 264.7 cells to produce inflammatory and allergic mediators. Cytokines such as $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by immunochemical assay. In vitro, the macrophages 264.7 were classified into four groups. One group was a normal group. The other group was a (-) control group stimulated with LPS. And the third group was a (+) control group pretreated for 1 hour with hydrocortisone. And the fourth group was a sample group pretreated for 1 hour with Mori Cortex. After pretreatment, macrophage were incubated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) $100\;ng/m{\ell}$ for 12 hour and media collected and $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentrations in supernatants were measured each by Enzyme linked immuno-soubent assay. Mori Cortex were used $50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;100\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;250\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;500\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;and\;1,000\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Hydrocortisones were used $10^{-8}M,\;10^{-7}M,\;10^{-6}M,\;10^{-5}M\;and\;10^{-4}M$. In vivo, the SD rats were classified into three groups. One group was a normal group injected with normal saline into the abdominal cavity. The other was a control group prescribed to compound 48/80 after normal saline injection. And the third was a sample group prescribed to compound 40/80 after Mori Cortex injection. Then, the release of histamine, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured. Results : In vitro, Man Cortex significantly increased the release of $IL-1{\beta}\;and\;TNF-{\alpha}$ by LPS-stimulated macrophage 264.7 cells. And it significantly decreased the release of IL-10. In IL-6, Mori Cortex of low concentration significantly decreased the release of IL-6, but that of high concentration acted in reverse. In vivo, Man Cortex didn't show significant inhibitory effects on the release of histamine and IL-6 in comparison with that of the control group. But it significantly increased the release of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in comparison with that of the control group.