• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.411-429
• /
• 2015

The Korea Ministry of Environment has established an air quality standard for $PM_{2.5}$ in 2012 and it is effective from January 2015. In this study, we review various aspects of $PM_{2.5}$ in China, including its measurement, modeling, source apportionment, and health effect, and suggest future research directions for $PM_{2.5}$ studies in Korea. Measurements studies for $PM_{2.5}$ have examined organic marker compounds and $^{14}C$ as well as inorganic aerosols for distinguishing sources. Modeling results supported that the control of $PM_{2.5}$ pollution in big city needs effective cooperation between city and its surrounding regions. The major $PM_{2.5}$ sources in China have been identified to be secondary sulfur, motor vehicle emissions, coal combustion, dust, biomass burning, and industrial sources, however, they have seasonal dependency. Especially, the severe haze pollution event during January 2013 over eastern and northern China was driven to a large extent by secondary aerosol formation. Short-term exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ is strongly associated with the increased risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as total non-accidental mortality. Considered previous $PM_{2.5}$ studies in China, analysis of specific organic species using online measurement, chamber experiment for secondary aerosol formation mechanism, and development of parameterizing this process in the model are needed to elucidate factors governing the abundance and composition of $PM_{2.5}$ in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2018

Degradations of durability and aesthetic performance in concrete happen during service life due to surface deterioration and dirt stains. Recently, many researches have been performed on self-cleaning and surface enhancement through surface impregnant using photocatalytic reaction with VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) removal. This paper is for preliminary study on surface impregnation with silicate and photocatalysis - $TiO_2$. For the work, two types of silicate based impregnants(CS - Coloidal Silica and SC - Sodium Alumina Silicate) are considered. Several tests for viscosity and surface tension are performed, and pull-off test on impregnated concrete is performed. For the surface impregnated concrete, $TiO_2$ is absorbed through submerging and spraying conditions. Through compressive strength test and SEM analysis, it is evaluated that spraying $TiO_2$ on surface impregnated concrete after 30min. of drying period is very effective both for strength enhancement and surface densification.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.104-110
• /
• 2015

The activities on the inhibition of NO on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were investigated in this work. A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for fingerprinting analysis of leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W. Smith (AGS). The cytotoxicity and inhibition of NO on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells of the extract and triterpenoids were determined. Optimal conditions of HPLC analysis were established as follows. The separation was performed with an ODS-C₁₈ column at $30^{\circ}C$, the detected wavelength was 210 nm, the flow rate was 1 mL/min, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (0.05% phosphoric acid)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution. Our results showed that impressic acid and acankoreaogenin was more effective on the inhibition of NO than the methanol extract and other compounds. There were seventeen peaks coexisted with similarities above 0.95 and nine lupane-triterpenoids including acankoreaogenin and impressic acid detected and identified. The result of anti-inflammatory activities provides a potential explanation for the use of AGS leaves as a herbal medicine in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our results also show that acankoreanogenin and impressic acid may be potentially useful in developing new anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, the fingerprint chromatography clearly illustrated and confirmed the material basis for the anti-inflammatory activities of this plant.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2008

To explore the optimal conditions for the removal of $H_{2}S$ gas by biofiltration, various conditions, including inlet $H_{2}S$ concentration, flow rate, moisture, and cell number, were examined. Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the compost of the animal excreta. A strain that effectively removed $H_{2}S$ was selected and identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous B261 by analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence. A cell number of $10^{7}\;cfu/g^{-}compost$ was sufficient to dominate the microbiota, and an effective removal was observed at $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations below 220 mg/L. The moisture content of 33-38% was suitable for activation of the microbial activity and delaying the desiccation. Higher flow rates resulted in lower removal rates of the $H_{2}S$ gas. Under the conditions of $10^7\;cfu/g^{-}compost$, $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 220 mg/L, and moisture content of 33-38%, the inlet $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 120 and 400 mg/L were completely removed for 34 and 12 days, respectively. The amount of sulfur removed was $2.99{\times}10^{-9}H_{2}S-S/cell$, which was suggested as the amount of sulfur removed by a single cell. The biofilter consisting of the compost and R. rhodochrous B261 could be suitable for a long-term biofilteration for the removal of $H_{2}S$ and other malodorous compounds.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.366-371
• /
• 2005

In this study treatment efficiencies of methylene blue were evaluated in term of BOD, COD, TOC, absorbance and initial decolorization rates. Ozonation of the dye in distilled water was performed in a laboratory scale cylindrical batch reactor. The decolorization process of methylene blue was carried out by bubbling ozone at the bottom of a bubble column reactor containing the dye solution. Decolorization, determined by measuring the light absorbance at the maximum wavelength in the (${\lambda}_{max}$, 660 nm), was almost complete after 40 min with an ozone concentration of $50{\pm}10mg/L$. The $TOC/TOC_0$ ratio after ozonation was about 83.8%, the COD was diminished to 44.0% of the initial value. The $BOD_5/COD$ ratio was increased from 64.2% to about 90.8%, indicating an enhancement of biodegradable compounds in the ozonated solutions. The pseudo first-order rate constants of the ozonation was $3.30{\times}10^{-2}min^{-1}$ and the activation energy was $3.01kcal{\cdot}mol^{-1}$ at $30^{\circ}C$.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 1999

Antioxidative and scavenging effects were investigated by using two hyaroxycinnamic acids (caffeetannins). such as caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, on oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity that induced by paraquat. The results are summerized as follows: 1. To assess radical scavenging ability, reduction concentration (IC$\sub$50/) of 1.1 diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrazine (DPPH) were measured. IC$\sub$50/ values of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid were 29.7 ${\pm}$0.6 ${\mu}$M and 26.0${\pm}$0.5 ${\mu}$M respectively. Their radical scavenging activities showed concentration-dependent manner. 2. In H$_2$O$_2$-induced hemolysis assay to rat blood, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid led to different effects, whose hemolysis inhibition ratios at 100 ${\mu}$M were 45.2${\pm}$7.1% and 11.6${\pm}$3.1% respectively 3. In hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system producing superoxide anion, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid showed different inhibitory activities of xanthine oxidase showing 36.8${\pm}$4.3% and 5.4${\pm}$2.3% respectively. 4. To microsomal NADPH dependent cytochrome p-450 reductase in rat liver, paraquat consumed NADPH at a dose-dependent manner from 0 to 1 ${\mu}$M paraquat concentration. Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid blocked NADPH consumption rates at concentration-dependent manner and inhibition ratios at 100 ${\mu}$M were 67.6% and 59.2% respectively. 5. Administration (30mg/kg, iv) of paraquat to rats caused the marked elevation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxides (LPO) in the serum and lipid peroxides in the microsome as compared to the control group. Serum GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP and LPO and liver microsomal LPO were reduced significantly by caffeic acid (50mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (25mg/kg) and silymarin (150 mg/kg) as compared to the paraquat group. From these results, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid exerted their antioxidative agents by removing reactive oxygen substance (ROS) and scavenging effects by inhibiting ROS generating enzyme. As a general, two hydroxyeinnamic acids showed the useful compounds for scavenger and reducer on the paraquat induced hepatotoxicity.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.224-231
• /
• 2020

With the improvement in the standard of living and extension of life expectancy, the incidence of prostate diseases has increased yearly, thus becoming a serious disease affecting the health of men. The extract mixture of Cornus officinalis and Stauntonia hexaphylla leaves is a developed functional food formula to improve prostate health. This study developed a simultaneous analytical method of bioactive compounds for quantifying the mixture of Cornus officinalis and S. hexaphylla leaves using high-pressure liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV). HPLC analytical condition was performed on a Hector C₁₈ column with a mobile phase of 0.1 % formic acid in water (A) and 0.1 % formic acid in acetonitrile (B) under the following gradient conditions: 0-50 min, 12 %-40 % (B) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Meanwhile, this method was validated properly and successfully used to quantify the bioactive components of morroniside and hederacoside D in 20 sample batches and assess the quality of different ages and seasons of S. hexaphylla leaves. The result showed that the content of morroniside in the extract mixture of Cornus officinalis and S. hexaphylla leaves ranged from 1.38-1.62 mg/g, and the hederacoside D ranged from 28.42-32.02 mg/g, suggesting that this novel analytical method will be suitable for the quality control of the extract mixture to improve benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.165-175
• /
• 2017

In Japan, the primary carbonaceous particles emitted from motor vehicles and waste incinerators have been reduced due to strict regulations against exhaust gas. However, the relative contribution of carbonaceous particles derived from plants and biomass has been increasing. Accordingly, compositional analysis of carbonaceous particles has become increasingly important to determine the sources and types of particles produced. To reveal the sources of the organic particles contained in particulate matter with diameters of ${\leq}2.5{\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$) and the processes involved in their generation, we analyzed molecular marker compounds (2-methyltetrols, cis-pinonic acid, and levoglucosan) derived from the plants and biomass in the $PM_{2.5}$ collected during daytime- and nighttime-sampling periods in summer (July and August) and autumn (November) in Kazo, which is in the northern area of Saitama prefecture, Japan. We also measured $^{14}C$ carbonaceous concentrations in the same $PM_{2.5}$ samples. The concentrations of 2-methyltetrols were higher in the summer than in the autumn. Because the deciduous period overlaps with this decrease in the levels of 2-methyltetrols, we considered the emission source to broad-leaved trees. In contrast, the emission source of the cis-pinonic acid precursor was considered to be conifers, because its concentration remained almost constant throughout the year. The concentration of levoglucosan was considerably increased in the autumn due to frequent biomass open burning. The ratio of plant-derived carbon to total carbon, obtained by measuring of $^{14}C$, in summer $PM_{2.5}$ sample was higher in the nighttime, and could be influenced by anthropogenic sources during the daytime.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 2020

Nitrogen flux release from organically enriched sediments into overlying water, which may have significantly influence on water quality and increasing continuous eutrophication. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the remediation efficiency of oyster shell powder and its treated product into organically enriched sediment in terms of nitrogen flux, organic matter, chlorophyll-a, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO). The TOSP was mainly composed of CaO2. The application of TOSP into the sediment has increased the pH, DO and significantly decreased the concentrations of NH₄⁺-N and T-N compared to other basins. On the other hand, nitrate was enriched with the addition of treated oyster powder, an oxygen releasing compound on both phases. Furthermore, chlorophyll-a was found to be increasing with time in the control basin meanwhile it dropped drastically with the addition of TOSP, which implied on the repression of algal growth owing to blockage of nitrogen source migrating from the sediment. This study has shown that the TOSP was effective to improve sediment-water quality, diminish eutrophication and control harmful algae blooms in a marine environment. Therefore, it is a good reference as an effective environmental remediation agent.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.139-152
• /
• 2018

The urban model inter-comparison study (UMICS) was conducted in order to improve the performance of air quality models (AQMs) for simulating fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. UMICS consists of three phases: the first phase focusing on elemental carbon (UMICS1), the second phase focusing on sulfate, nitrate and ammonium (UMICS2), and the third phase focusing on organic aerosol (OA) (UMICS 3). In UMICS2/3, all the participating AQMs were the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system (CMAQ) with different configurations, and they similarly overestimated $PM_{2.5}$ nitrate concentration and underestimated $PM_{2.5}$ OA concentration. Various sensitivity analyses on CMAQ configurations, emissions and boundary concentrations, and meteorological fields were conducted in order to seek pathways for improvement of $PM_{2.5}$ simulation. The sensitivity analyses revealed that $PM_{2.5}$ nitrate concentration was highly sensitive to emissions of ammonia ($NH_3$) and dry deposition of nitric acid ($HNO_3$) and $NH_3$, and $PM_{2.5}$ OA concentration was highly sensitive to emissions of condensable organic compounds (COC). It was found that $PM_{2.5}$ simulation was substantially improved by using modified monthly profile of $NH_3$ emissions, larger dry deposition velocities of $HNO_3$ and $NH_3$, and additionally estimated COC emissions. Moreover, variability in $PM_{2.5}$ simulation was estimated from the results of all the sensitivity analyses. The variabilities on CMAQ configurations, chemical inputs (emissions and boundary concentrations), and meteorological fields were 6.1-6.5, 9.7-10.9, and 10.3-12.3%, respectively.