• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2007

To overcome certain disadvantages of past typical control techniques for toxic contaminants emitted from various industrial processes, the current study was conducted to establish a thermal catalytic system using mesh-type transition-metal platinum(Pt)/stainless steel(SS) catalyst and to evaluate catalytic thermal destruction of five chlorinated hydrocarbons[chlorobenzene(CHB), chloroform(CHF), perchloroethylene (PCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane(TCEthane), trichloroethylene(TCE)]. In addition, this study evaluated the catalyst poison effect on the catalytic thermal destruction. Three operating parameters tested for the thermal catalyst system included the inlet concentrations, the incineration temperature, and the residence time in the catalyst system. The thermal decomposition efficiency decreased from the highest value of 100% to the lowest value of almost 0%(CHB) as the input concentration increased, depending upon the type of chlorinated compounds. The destruction efficiencies of the four target compounds, except for TCEthane, increased upto almost 100% as the reaction temperature increased, whereas the destruction efficiency for TCEthane did not significantly vary. For the target compounds except for TCEthane, the catalytic destruction efficiencies increased up to 30% to 97% as the residence time increased from 10 sec to 60 sec, but the increase of destruction efficiency for TCEthane stopped at the residence time of 30 sec, suggesting that long residence times are not always proper for thermal destruction of VOCs, when considering the destruction efficiency and operation costs of thermal catalytic system together. Conclusively, the current findings suggest that when applying the transition-metal catalyst for the better destruction of chlorinated hydrocarbons, VOC type should be considered, along with their inlet concentrations, and reaction temperature and residence time in catalytic system. Meanwhile, the addition of high methyl sulfide(1.8 ppm) caused a drop of 0 to 50% in the removal efficiencies of the target compounds, whereas the addition of low methyl sulfide (0.1 ppm), which is lower than the concentrations of sulfur compounds measured in typical industrial emissions, did not cause.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2017

Arsenic (As) is known to be the most toxic element and frequently detected in groundwater environment. Inorganic As exists as arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] in reduced and oxidized environments, respectively. It has been reported that the toxicity of arsenite is much higher than that of arsenate and furthermore arsenite shows relatively higher mobility in aqueous environments. For this reason, there have been numerous researches on the process for oxidation of arsenite to arsenate to reduce the toxicity of arsenic. In particular, photooxidation has been considered to be simple, economical, and efficient to attain such goal. This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of naturally-occurring goethite as a photocatalyst to substitute for $TiO_2$ which has been mostly used in the photooxidation processes so far. In addition, the effects of several factors on the overall performance of arsenite photocatalytic oxidation process were evaluated. The results show that the efficiency of the process was affected by total concentration of dissolved cations rather than by the kind of those cations and also the relatively higher pH conditions seemed to be more favorable to the process. In the case of coexistence of arsenite and arsenate, the removal tendency by adsorption onto goethite appeared to be different between arsenite and arsenate due to their different affinities with goethite, but any effect on the photocatalytic oxidation of arsenite was not observed. In terms of effect of humic acid on the process, it is likely that the higher concentration of humic acid reduced the overall performance of the arsenite photocatalytic oxidation as a result of competing interaction of activated oxygen species, such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, with arsenite and humic acid. In addition, it is revealed that the injection of oxygen gas improved the process because oxygen contributes to arsenite oxidation as an electron acceptor. Based on the results of the study, consequently, the photocatalytic oxidation of aqueous arsenite using goethite seems to be greatly feasible with the optimization of process.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2008

Current soil remediation principles for toxic metals have some limitations even though they vary with different technologies. An alternative technology that transforms hazardous substances into nonhazardous ones would be environmentally beneficial. Objective of this research was to assess optimum conditions for Cr(VI) reduction in soils as influenced by ZVI(Zero-Valent Iron), organic matter and moisture content. The reduction ratio of Cr(VI) was increased from 37 to 40% as organic matter content increased from 1.07 to 1.75%. In addition, Cr(VI) concentration was reduced as soil moisture content increased, but the direct effect of soil moisture content on Cr(VI) reduction was less than 5% of the Cr(VI) reduction ratio. However, combined treatment of ZVI(5%), organic matter(1.75%) and soil moisture(30%) effectively reduced the initial Cr(VI) to over 95% within 5 days and nearly 100% after 30 days by increasing oxidation of ZVI and concurrent reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The overall results demonstrated that ZVI was effective in remediating Cr(VI) contaminated soils, and the efficiency was synergistic with the combined treatments of soil moisture and organic matter.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.569-579
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• 2019

In this study, the effect anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver protective activity was investigated via quick ultrasonic disintegration of pine pollen using a probe sonicator (PS) followed by the extraction with water, 70% ethanol, and 100% ethanol. The anti-inflammatory effect was studied by measuring the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine in RAW264.7 cells induced with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The cell toxicity was also checked with an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the experiment was conducted using non-toxic $100{\mu}g/mL$. The NO inhibition rate was highest in the 70% ethanol PS group at $85.99{\pm}0.12%$. Also an excellent efficiency was obtained from the results of interlukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), which is related to inflammation-related cytokine, with the respective inhibition rates of 63 and 22%. To examine liver protective activity, HepG2 cells were treated with Taclin, and the generation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured in the culture solution. From GOT and LDH generation results, the inhibition rates in the 70% ethanol PS group were 28% and 13%, respectively, which was higher compared to that of using negative control group. Our results suggest that pine pollen extracted in 70% ethanol using PS may be used to develop food products that have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and liver protective effects.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2015

Skin is exposed to sunlight or artificial indoor light on a daily. The reached solar light on the earth surface consist of 50% visible light and 45% infrared (IR) except for ultra violet (UV). The negative effects of UV including UVB and UVA have been steadily investigated within the last decades. However, little is known about the effects of visible or IR light. In this study, we irradiated human dermal fibroblasts using light emitting diode (LED) to investigate the optimal parameter for enhancing cell growth and collagen synthesis. We found that red of 630 nm and green of 520 nm enhance the cell proliferation, but irradiation with purple and blue light exerts toxic effects. To examine the response of irradiation time and light intensity on the fibroblasts, cells were exposed to red or green light with intensities from 0.05 to $0.75mW/cm^2$. Procollagen secretion was increased of 1.4 fold by 10 min irradiation, while 30 min treatment decreased the collagen synthesis of dermal fibroblasts. Treatment with red of $0.3mW/cm^2$ and green of 0.15 and $0.3mW/cm^2$ resulted in enhancement of collagen mRNA. Lastly, we investigated the combinatorial effect of red and green light on dermal fibroblasts. The sequential irradiation of red and green light is an efficient way for the purpose of the increase in the number of fibroblasts than single light treatment. On the other hand, the exposure of red light alone was more effective method for enhancing of collagen secretion. Our study showed that specific light parameters accelerated cell proliferation, gene expression and collagen secretion on human dermal fibroblasts. In conclusion, we demonstrate that light exposure with specific parameter has beneficial effects on the function of dermal fibroblasts, and suggests the possibility of its cosmetically and clinical application.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

Although Semisulcospira libertina is generally regarded as a supplement for the alleviation of alcohol hangover, little is known about its effects on cell metabolism. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the constituents of the extracts prepared using different extraction methods and to compare their biochemical properties. The amino acid contents were found to be much higher in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates than hot water extracts from S. libertina. DPPH radical scavenging activities in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates were higher than those of hot water extracts. Three types of S. libertina hydrolysate was added to HepG2 cells damaged by acetaminophen (AAP), after which the survival rate of HepG2 cell were measured. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the culture media were evaluated. The survival rates of HepG2 cells were $77.0{\pm}4.3%$ and $81.5{\pm}1.3%$ at 3 h and 5h enzymatic hydrolysates, respectively. These cell survival rates were higher compared to those of the negative control group ($67.8{\pm}4.3%$) treated only with acetaminophen. Cellular toxicities induced by treatment with AAP were also significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of S. libertina. In addition, the activities of 2 key enzymes that metabolize ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, were upregulated by 4.7- and 2.7-fold respectively in response to treatment with a 3 h enzymatic hydrolysate of S. libertina. Taken together, these results provide biochemical evidence of the method by which S. libertina exerts its biological functions, including the alleviation of alcohol hangover and the protection of liver cells against toxic insults.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.307-319
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• 2009

Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology has been regarded as one of the most possible and practical option to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and consequently to mitigate the climate change. Korean government also have started a 10-year R&D project on $CO_2$ storage in sea-bed geological structure including gas field and deep saline aquifer since 2005. Various relevant researches are carried out to cover the initial survey of suitable geological structure storage site, monitoring of the stored $CO_2$ behavior, basic design of $CO_2$ transport and storage process and the risk assessment and management related to $CO_2$ leakage from engineered and geological processes. Leakage of $CO_2$ to the marine environment can change the chemistry of seawater including the pH and carbonate composition and also influence adversely on the diverse living organisms in ecosystems. Recently, IMO (International Maritime Organization) have developed the risk assessment and management framework for the $CO_2$ sequestration in sub-seabed geological structures (CS-SSGS) and considered the sequestration as a waste management option to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This framework for CS-SSGS aims to provide generic guidance to the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and Protocol, in order to characterize the risks to the marine environment from CS-SSGS on a site-specific basis and also to collect the necessary information to develop a management strategy to address uncertainties and any residual risks. The environmental risk assessment (ERA) plan for $CO_2$ storage work should include site selection and characterization, exposure assessment with probable leak scenario, risk assessment from direct and in-direct impact to the living organisms and risk management strategy. Domestic trial of the $CO_2$ capture and sequestration in to the marine geologic formation also should be accomplished through risk management with specified ERA approaches based on the IMO framework. The risk assessment procedure for $CO_2$ marine storage should contain the following components; 1) prediction of leakage probabilities with the reliable leakage scenarios from both engineered and geological part, 2) understanding on physio-chemical fate of $CO_2$ in marine environment especially for the candidate sites, 3) exposure assessment methods for various receptors in marine environments, 4) database production on the toxic effect of $CO_2$ to the ecologically and economically important species, and finally 5) development of surveillance procedures on the environmental changes with adequate monitoring techniques.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.128-142
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of memory impairment in rats fed alcohol liquid diets. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. While the control(C) group received a diet containing 12% of the daily calories with isocarbohydrate, the other groups received a diet containing 12% of the daily total calories with 36% Soju (A), 25% Cynanchi wilfordii radix liquors (WA), and 25% Polygoni multiflori radix liquors (RA) for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, ADH activity in the brain tissue of the Group A was found to be significantly lower than Group C but significantly higher than both Groups WA and RA(p<0.05). ADLH activity was revealed to be the highest in the Group WA (p<0.05). The concentration of acetaldehyde, a highly toxic metabolite, was the highest in the Group A, but its concentration decreased significantly if fed a liquid diet containing WA. The concentration of acetylcholine, which has a high correlation with memory impairment, was significantly lower in Group A, although Group RA group was the highest compared to the other groups (p<0.05). AChE activity of the Group A was higher than Group C but lower in Groups WA and RA (p<0.05).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.2 s.171
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• pp.101-111
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• 2005

The objectives of this study we to assess the extent and degree of environmental contamination and to draw general conclusions on the fate of toxic elements derived from mining activities in Korea. 인t abandoned mines with four base-metal mines and four Au-Ag mines were selected and the results of environmental surveys in those areas were discussed. In the base-metal mining areas, the Sambo Pb-Zn-barite, the Shinyemi Pb-Zn-Fe, the Geodo Cu-Fe and the Shiheung Cu-Pb-Zn mine, significant levels of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in mine dump soils developed over mine waste materials, tailings and slag. Furthermore, agricultural soils, stream sediments and stream water near the mines were severely contaminated by the metals mainly due to the continuing dispersion downstream and downslope from the sites, which was controlled by the feature of geography, prevailing wind directions and the distance from the mine. In e Au-Ag mining areas, the Kubong, the Samkwang, the Keumwang and the Kilkok mines, elevated levels of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in tailings and mine dump soils. These levels may have caused increased concentrations of those elements in stream sediments and waters due to direct dis-charge downstream from tailings and mine dumps. In the Au-Ag mines, As would be the most characteristic contaminant in the nearby environment. Arsenic and heavy metals were found to be mainly associated with sulfide gangue minerals, and mobility of these metals would be enhanced by the effect of oxidation. According to sequential extraction of metals in soils, most heavy metals were identified as non-residual chemical forms, and those are very susceptible to the change of ambient conditions of a nearby environment. As application of pollution index (PI), giving data on multi-element contamination in soils, over 1.0 value of the PI was found in soils sampled at and around the mining areas.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2002

Biodegradation of monochlorophenols by wood rot fungi such as Daldina concentrica, Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus was evaluated by determining their resistance or toxic test and biodegradability. The metabolites of monochlorophenols were also analyzed. Among the three fungi, T. versicolor was the most resistant to 200 ppm of 2-, 3- and 4-chlorophenols, and did not show any inhibitory mycellium growth. But D. concentrica had a little inhibition effect at more than 100 ppm of 3- or 4-chlorophenol. Control cultures of P. ostreatus took even 14 days far the completion of mycellium growth, but the hyphal growth was improved when 2- or 3-chlorophenol were added to the culture. In biodegradation analysis, P. ostreatus showed the highest degradation of 2- or 3-chlorophenol, while T. versicolor was the most effective in 4-chlorophenol. D. concentrica and P. ostreatus slowly degraded 4-chlorophenol. However, T. versicolor had similar degradation capability in the three monochlorophenols, suggesting that the biode- gradation nude is dependent on the fungi as well as the type of monochlorophenol. Several metabolites such as 1,3,5-trihydroxyl benzene, 1-ethyl-1-hydroxyl pentane, 2-propenoicacid, methylmalonic acid and 2-methyl-4-keto-pentan-2-ol were found as products of primary oxidation of 2-, 3- and 4-chlorophenols by intact fungal cultures. fatty acids including tetradecanoic, heptadecanoic and octadecanoic acids were also detected The order of increase of mycellium weight during incubation were P. ostreatus > T. versicolor > D. concentrica. The pH in the culture was not constantly changed depending on incubation days, but the mycellium weight was slightly increased, indicating that the biodegradation of monochlorophenol might have low relationship with the mycellium growth Laccase activities of T. versicolor and P. ostreatus were continuously increased depending on the incubation days, suggesting that the ligninolytic enzyme activity play an important role in the biodegradation of monochlorophenol.