• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2014

Methane oxidation and the production potentials of ground soil (soil A) and garden soil (soil B, C, & D) in an urban school were evaluated, and the methanotrophic and methanogen communities in the soil samples were quantified using quantitative realtime PCR. The methanotrophic community in the raw soil A sample possessed a $6.1{\times}10^3$ gene copy number/g dry weight soil, whereas those in the raw soils B~D samples were $1.6-1.9{\times}10^5$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil. Serum bottles added with the soil samples were enriched with methane gas, and then evaluated for their methane oxidation potential. The soil A sample had a longer induction phase for methane oxidation than the other soils. However, soil A showed a similar methane oxidation potential with soils B~D after the induction phase. The methanotrophic community in the enriched soil A sample was increased by up to $2.3{\times}10^7$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil, which had no significantly difference compared with those in soils B~D ($1.2-2.8{\times}10^8$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil). Methane production showed a similar tendency to methane oxidation. The methanogens community in raw soil A ($1.7{\times}10^5$ gene copy number/g dry weight soil) was much less than those in raw soils B~D ($1.3-3.4{\times}10^7$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil). However, after methane gas was produced by adding starch to the soils, soil samples A~D showed $10^7$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil in methanogens communities. The results indicate that methanotrophic and methanogenic bacteria have coexisted in this urban school's soils. Moreover, under appropriate conditions for methane oxidation and production, methanotrophic bacteria and methanogens are increased and they have the potential for methane oxidation and production.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Euptelea pleiosperma ethanol extract (EPEE) were evaluated using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. EPEE possessed a more potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl than the ascorbic acid used as a positive control. EPEE effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in addition to hydrogen peroxide induced reactive oxygen species on RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, EPEE induced the expression of the anti-oxidative enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), dose and time dependently. The modulation of HO-1 and Nrf2 expression might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/Akt as their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, EPEE inhibited LPS induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. Suppression of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by EPEE. Suppression of NO and iNOS by EPEE may be modulated by their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$, and AP-1 pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into E. pleiosperma, namely that it possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating that it could be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2014

In the course of study for the development of functional food using red beans (azuki beans, Phaseolus radiatus L.), the ethanol extracts from raw-red bean (RRB) and boiled-red bean (BRB) were prepared, and the components and various biological activities of both were compared. It was observed that the extraction yield, and the total polyphenol content, of the BRB were 1.2 times higher than that of the RRB. However, the contents of total flavonoid, total sugar and reducing sugar in the BRB were 30, 27.9 and 30.8% respectively when compared with those of RRB. In relation to antioxidative activity, both RRB and BRB exhibited moderate DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite scavenging activities and reducing power, though in all cases RRB demonstrated stronger activities than BRB. The extracts of RRB and BRB did not reveal any antimicrobial activities. In a ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity assay, RRB was higher than BRB, while BRB showed higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity than RRB. A strong and particular activity was observed in an anti-thrombosis activity assay of RRB. The extract of RRB demonstrated strong inhibitions against prothrombin and blood coagulation factors, with moderate thrombin inhibition. However, the extract of BRB did not exhibit any significant anti-thrombosis activity. Our results indicate that RRB has different, but useful biological activities, and loss or elimination of the biologically active substances in RRB occurs during the production of BRB. Therefore, to develop more functional foods from red beans, a study of suitable boiling, heating and drying processes is essential, and the efficient re-use of boiled waste water from the boiling process is necessary. These results could be applied to the further development of functional red bean beverages and sweat red bean pastes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2000

Deodorization characteristics and removal rate of sulfur-containing odor have been investigated in the soil filter reactors packed with montmorillonites (Mont.), rice hulls(Rh.), and thickening-activated sludge(Ts.). And variation of pH and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ with the removal of malodorous sulfur compounds have been investigated together. As compared removal rate of montmorillonites between wet and dry condition for sulfur compounds through batch test, it showed that wet condition was better than dry one; removal ratio, as wet/dry, was $H_2S$ of 1.2 and $CH_3SH$ of 1.9, and decrease of pH and increase of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration in the wet condition also showed to be larger than in dry condition. In continuous test for biological deodorization experiment, removal rate of sulfur compounds in reactor packed with Mont., Rh. and Ts, was more than 98 %, and the variation of static pressure was maintained stably under condition of SV $150h^{-1}$, LV 4.2 mm/sec and SV $200h^{-1}$, LV 5.6 mm/sec, and in reactor packed with Mont. and Rh., $H_2S$ was 76.4 % to 87.2 % and $CH_3SH$ was 87.8 % to 93.3 % under the same condition. From above results, it ascertained that it can obtain the high deodorization efficiency by inoculating thickening-activated sludge in soil filter using montmorillonites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.783-789
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• 2011

Recently, auto-thermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) has a great attention for destruction of wasted sludge biomass in wastewater treatment plant. Reduction of sludge concentration has been successfully achieved with pilot scale ATAD and ceramic filtration process in field condition. However, high concentration of COD, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) was observed in filtrate, which should be treated before recirculation of filtrate to biological wastewater treatment plant. This study was focused on removal of nitrogen and phosphorus contained in the filtrate of ATAD, using struvite crystallization method. The effect of operational and environmental parameters (such as, N, P and Mg ion concentration and molar ratio, pH, reaction time, agitation strength, seed dosage, and reaction temperature) on the treatment of TN and TP with struvite crystallization were evaluated. Magnesium (as $MgCl_26H_2O$) and phosphorus (as $K_2HPO_4$) ions were, if necessary, added to increase nitrogen removal efficiency by the crystal formation. Average concentration of $NH_4^+-N$ and $PO_4^{3-}-P$ of the filtrate were 1716.5 mg/L and 325.5 mg/L, respectively. Relationship between removal efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus and molar ratios of $Mg^{2+}$ and $PO_4^{3-}-P$ to $NH_4^+-N$ was examined. Crystal formation and nitrogen removal efficiencies were significantly increased as increasing molar ratios of magnesium and phosphorus to nitrogen. As molar ratio of $Mg^{2+}:PO_4^{3-}-P:NH_4^+-N$ were maintained to 2 : 1 : 1 and 2 : 2 : 1, removal efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus were 71.6% and 99.9%, and 93.8% and 98.6%, respectively. However, the effect of reaction time, mixing intensity, seed dose and temperature on the struvite crystallization reaction was not significant, comparing to those of molar ratios. Settled sludge volume after struvite crystallization was observed to be reduced with increase of seed dose and to be increased at high temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2011

NO oxidation is an important prerequisite step to assist the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) at low temperatures ($<200^{\circ}C$). Therefore, we conducted the lab- and bench-scales experiments appling the sodium chlorite powder ($NaClO_2(s)$) for the oxidation of NO to $NO_2$ and the carbon-based catalyst for the reduction of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$; the lab- and bench-scales experiments were conducted in laboratory and iron-ore sintering plant, respectively. In the lab-scale experiment, known concentrations of $NO_x$ (200 ppm), $SO_2$ (75 ppm), $H_2O$ (10%) and $NH_3$ (400 ppm) in 2.6 L/min were introduced into a packed-bed reactor containing $NaClO_2(s)$, then gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were fed into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $2,000hr^{-1}$) at $130^{\circ}C$. In the bench-scale experiment, flue gases of $50Nm^3/hr$ containing 120 ppm NO and 150 ppm $SO_2$ were taken out from the duct of iron-ore sintering plant, then introduced into the flow reactor; $NaClO_2(s)$ were injected into the flow reactor using a screw feeder. Gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were introduced into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $1,000hr^{-1}$). Results have shown that, in both lab- and bench-scales experiments, NO was oxidized to $NO_2$ by $NaClO_2(s)$. In addition, above 90% of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ removal were obtained at the carbon-based catalyst. These results lead us to suggest that the combination of $NaClO_2(s)$ with the carbon-based catalyst has the potential to achieve the simultaneous removal of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ at low temperature ($<200^{\circ}C$).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2012

Several acidogenesis batch tests, and BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) with food waste leachate was tested at various organic loading rates (OLRs) on the mesophilic ($35^{\circ}C$) and thermophilic ($55^{\circ}C$) conditions. In acidogenesis batch test, VS removal efficiencies were 27.3% and 30.6% at $35^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. Removal efficiency of VS at $55^{\circ}C$ was higher than that at $35^{\circ}C$. With decrease in VS, SCOD increased as reaction time increased. Solubilization efficiency of VS were 27.4% and 33.4% at each reaction temperature within 4 days acid fermentation. Methane yield were 461 and 413 $mLCH_4/gVS$ at mesophilic and thermophilic BMP test, respectively. SCOD solubilizations in the themophilic acid fermenter showed 8~17% higher than those in the mesophilic fermenter. COD removal efficiency showed higher in the mesophilic acid fermenter at low organic loading rate. While at high organic loading rate, it was higher in the thermophilic acid fermenter. VS removal efficiency was higher at the mesophilic temperature, however, it decreased at OLR higher than 6 kg $COD/m^3{\cdot}day$. On the contrary, VS removal efficiency did not decrease but maintain at thermophilic temperature. The amount of methane gas generated from mesophilic methanogenesis digester was 12.6, 21.6, 27.4 L/day at OLR of 4, 5, 6 $COD/m^3{\cdot}day$, respectively. The amount of methane gas generated from themophilic methanogenesis digester was 14.3, 20.6, 25.2 L/day at each OLR, respectively, which is about 15~20 L/day lower than those generated at mesophilic digester.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.812-820
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• 2011

This study was conducted to characterize $CO_2$ biomineralization on several minerals (i.e., CaO, MgO, $SiO_2$) by bottle test in an aqueous solution and solidified sludge using different aerobic bacterial strains like Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus pasteurii by batch test. These bacteria promote the formation of microenvironments that facilitate the precipitation of mineral phases that were unsaturated in the bulk solution. For one type of mineral solely amended, the $CO_2$ was reduced at the highest of 4.0 mmol for MgO while it was not that much lower for CaO and $SiO_2$ showing 1.1 and 0.3 mmol $CO_2$2, respectively. For two types of minerals simultaneously amended, the $CO_2$ was reduced at the greater extent for both Ca + Mg and Mg + Si showing 2.7 and 2.3 mmol, respectively whereas it was less for Ca + Si at 1.8 mmol. For solidified sludge, the $CO_2$ reduction rate changed depending on the volume of solidified sludge placed in the medium and the input $CO_2$ concentration.. The reduction rate of $CO_2$ was increased with increasing the volume of solidified sludge. Results of XRD analysis indicate that $CaCO_3$ (Calcite) was dominantly formed among others (e.g., Aragonite, Dolomite). SEM analysis showed that the sample with Bacillus pasteurii, could more form minerals rather than control. As demonstrated in this study, $CO_2$ would be effectively sequestered in biomineralization process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2010

Wastewater treatment using algal communities and biodiesel production from wastewater-cultivated algal biomass is a promising green growth technology. In literature, there are many studies providing information on algal species producing high content of lipid. However, very little is known about adaptability and wastewater treatability of such high-lipid algal species. In this study, we attempted to characterize algal biomass production and wastewater treatability of high-lipid algal species under municipal wastewater condition. For this, four known high-lipid algal strains including Chlorella vulgaris AG 10032, Ankistrodesmus gracilis SAG 278-2, Scenedesmus quadricauda, and Botryococcus braunii UTEX 572 were individually inoculated into municipal wastewater where its indigenuous algal populations were removed prior to the inoculation, and the algae-inoculated wastewater was incubated in the presence of light source (80${\mu}E$) for 9 days in laboratory batch reactors. During the incubations, algal biomass production (dry weight) and the removals of dissolved organics (COD), nitrogen and phosphorous were measured in laboratory batch reactors. According to algal growth results, C. vulgaris, A. gracilis and S. quadricauda exhibited faster growth than indigenuous wastewater algal populations while B. braunii did not. The wastewater-growing strains exhibited efficient removals of total-N, ${NH_4}^+$-N, Total-P and ${PO_4}^{3-}$-P which satisfy the Korea water quality standards for effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants. A. gracilis and S. quadricauda exhibited efficient and stable treatability of COD but C. vulgaris showed unstable treatability. Taken together with the results, A. gracilis and S. quadricauda were found to be suitable species for biomass production and wastewater treatment under municipal wastewater condition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2009

In this research, the removal capacity of Cr(VI) by the reused powdered wastes (RPW) containing aluminium oxides was studied. As a pre-treatment process for the preparation of calcined wastes, calcination was conducted at $550^{\circ}C$ to remove organic fraction in the raw wastes. In order to study the adsorption trend of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions, the pH-edge adsorption, adsorption kinetic and adsorption isotherm were investigated using a batch reactor in the presence of four different background electrolytes($NO_3\;^-,\;CO_3\;^{2-},\;SO_4\;^{2-},\;PO_4\;^{3-}$). Cr(VI) adsorption was greatly reduced in the presence of $SO_4\;^{2-}$ and $PO_4\;^{3-}$ over the entire pH range. Meanwhile the inhibition effect by $NO_3\;^-$ and $CO_3\;^{2-}$ was relatively lower than that by $SO_4\;^{2-}$ and $PO_4\;^{3-}$. Cr(VI) adsorption was maximum around pH 4.5 in the presence of $NO_3\;^-$ and $CO_3\;^{2-}$. As the concentration of background electrolytes increased, Cr(VI) adsorption decreased. This result mightly suggests that adsorption between the surface of RPW and Cr(VI) occurs through outer-sphere complex. Cr(VI) adsorption onto the RPW was well described by second-order kinetics. From the Langmuir isotherm at initial pH 3, the maximum adsorbed amount of Cr(VI) onto the RPW was 11.1, 10, 3.3, 5 mg/g in the presence of $NO_3\;^-,\;CO_3\;^{2-},\;SO_4\;^{2-}$, and $PO_4\;^{3-}$, respectively.