• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.180-188
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• 2018

Biopolymer based on microbial ${\beta}$-glucan and xanthan gum is a rising geotechnical material that can enhance the cohesion between soil particles and consequently reduce soil erosion. Recently, biopolymer is proposed to utilize for the riverbank strengthening. As an effort of the ecological assessment of biopolymer application in civil engineering, this study examined the effects of biopolymer on seed germination and growth of nine plant species inhabiting in the Korean riverside. Responses of above-ground growth to the biopolymer differed among plant species. One species grew less but others maintained their growth when plants were grown in the soil with biopolymer. In contrast, root grew more vigorously and root/shoot ratio decreased in the biopolymer across testing plant species. These results indicate that biopolymer application on the river bank likely stimulate root growth of native plant species, which, in turn, possibly reinforces riverbank. Species specific responses of above-ground growth implies that ecological effects of biopolymer application would depend on the species composition of the ecosystem.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.304-313
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• 2019

Biopolymer based on microbial β-glucan and xanthan gum is effective for vegetation and has a function of enhancing soil strength, which can be used as soil reinforcement and stabilization materials in river embankment. The purpose of this study is to verify the vegetation effect of the surface of levee by biopolymer with seed spraying method. Mixed soils with biopolymer were used to cover the surface of embankments. The strength is higher in biopolymer-treated soil and xanthan gum based biopolymer has advantage for quality control in field scale. In addition, the vegetation of F. arundinacea and L. perenne showed various reactions with types of biopolymers. Biopolymer has a positive effect on the vegetation of them. In contrast, root growth tended to decrease in biopolymer-treated soils. The results indicate that root growth is slow down due to increasing ability to retain water in biopolymer-treated soil. In order to apply biopolymer to river embankment, it is necessary to examine the effects of biopolymers on a wide range of plant species in river embankment.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 1998

An obligately methylotrophic bacterium which produces extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was isolated through methanol-enrichment culture technique. The isolate was aerobic, nonmotile, and gram negative rod and exibited catalase, but no oxidase, activity. Plasmid, carotenoid, and poly-${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid were not found. The guanine plus cytosine content of DNA was 52-56%. The isolate was found to grow only on methanol and monomethylamine. Growth was optimal ($t_d=2.4h$) at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5 in a mineral medium containing 0.5% (v/v) methanol, 25 mM phosphate, and 0.212% ammonium sulfate. Methanol was assimilated through the ribulose monophosphate pathway. Maximun amount of EPS was produced in cells growing at the mid-stationary growth phase at $30^{\circ}C$ in a mineral medium (PH 6.5) containing 1.0% (v/v) methanol in the CIN ratio of 54.7. Thin-layer chromatographic and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that the EPS was composed of glucose and galactose. EPS which was not treated with ethanol (Pbe) exhibited stable viscosity under various concentrations of salts and temperatures hut showed high viscosity at low pH. EPS precipitated with ethanol (Pae) was found to be more stable in viscosity than the Pbe at various salt concentrations, temperatures, and pH. The Pae also exhibited higher viscosity than the Pbe and xanthan gum. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the lyophilized Pbe and Pae have a multi-layered structure and a structure of thick fibers, respectively.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2019

The civil engineering materials used to stabilize the slopes of new riverbanks have a great impact on the types and growth of vegetation introduced after the completion of construction procedure. Recently, microbial-derived, ${\beta}$-glucan- and xanthan gum-based biopolymers are attracting attention as an ecofriendly strengthening material of riverbanks that can possibly stimulate plant growth. This study aimed to assess ecological effects of biopolymer application on native plants in Korean riverbanks. In particular, since dominant plant species could shape characteristics of an ecosystem, we examined the effects of biopolymer on the dominant plant species in riverbanks. Overall, biopolymer did not affect seed germination rates of testing plant species. In contrast, plants grew more vigorously in the soil mixed with biopolymer compared to those in the control soil. The biomass of Echinochloa crus-galli especially increased around two times more in the biopolymer treatment. Plants produced heavier root biomass and leaves with larger specific leaf area, which possibly contributes to the tolerance of environmental stress like drought. These results suggest that biopolymers treated on river banks are expected to stimulate plant growth and increase stress tolerance of domestic dominant plant species.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2008

Effects of commercial and lab-generated gellan gums on the textural properties, structure, and aging of wheat and maize starch gels were investigated using a rapid visco-analyzer (RVA), rheometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer. Gellan and guar gums increased the peak and final viscosities, but xanthan gum and gum arabic reduced them. The maize starch had higher breakdown viscosity than the wheat starch, regardless of the type of gum. The hardness of all starch gels increased during storage, but their cohesiveness and springiness decreased. The degree of the gel hardness showed higher in maize starch than in wheat starch and the effect of gum addition had a difference with gum type. The wheat starch-guar and -gellan gum mixed gels showed higher elasticity and cohesiveness after storage. The starch-gellan gum mixed gels had dense and stable network structures, and were well maintained even after 7 days of storage. Most of the gums had anti-aging effect on X-ray diffraction pattern of starch gels.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2016

Flow and dynamic rheological properties of thickened waters prepared with commercial food thickeners were investigated at different pH levels (3, 4, 5, 6, and 7). The commercial xanthan gum (XG)-based thickener (thickener A) and starch-based thickener (thickener B), which have been commonly used in a domestic hospital and nursing home for patients with swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) in Korea, were selected in this study. Thickened samples with both thickeners at different pH levels showed high shear-thinning flow behaviors (n=0.08~0.22). Thickened samples at pH 3 showed higher n values and lower consistency index (K) values when compared to those at other pH levels. The K values of thickener A increased with an increase in pH level, while the n values decreased, showing that the flow properties greatly depended on pH. There were no noticeable changes in the K values of thickener B between pH 4 and 7. At pH 3, the thickened water with thickener A showed a higher storage modulus (G') value, while that with thickener B showed a lower G'. These rheological parameters exhibited differences in rheological behaviors between XG-based and starch-based thickeners, indicating that the rheological properties of thickened waters appear to be greatly influenced by the acidic condition and the type of food thickener. Appropriately selecting a commercial food thickener seems to be greatly important for the preparation of thickened acidic fluids with desirable rheological properties for safe swallowing.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.986-989
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• 2006

Sweet potato starch noodles prepared without freezing exhibited higher cooking loss and water uptake during cooking and usually resulted in noodles with a softer and stickier texture compared to commercial sweet potato starch noodles manufactured using a freezing process. By utilizing the starches of different plant sources (potato, cowpea, and sago in an equivalent mixture with sweet potato starch), however, the cooking properties and texture of the starch noodles could be improved. Among the starches tested, cowpea starch was most effective in providing cooking and textural properties similar to those of commercial noodles. As an alternative approach, the addition of a minor amount (0.1 % based on total solid weight) of various gums (xanthan, gellan, locust bean gum, curdlan, and carboxymethyl cellulose) was also examined. The addition of curdlan to noodles was effective in increasing the gumminess and hardness, and reducing the stickiness of noodles. Utilizing different starches and gums can improve the overall texture and quality of sweet potato starch noodles produced without freezing.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.979-984
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• 2007

The physicochemical properties of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by marine bacterium Zoogloea sp. KCCM10036 were investigated. Two types of isolated EPSs were shown to have average relative molecular masses $(M_r)\;of\;4.07{\times}10^6$ of CBP (cell-bound polysaccharide) and $3.43{\times}10^6$ of WSP (water-soluble polysaccharide), respectively. When the CBP was utilized as an emulsifier, it stabilized the emulsifier, for up to 148 h. Compared with other commercially available hydrocolloids such as xanthan gum, the Tween series, and Triton, the CBP showed much better emulsifying capability on a water-in-oil system. Phase separation occurred in the Tween series after 24 h, whereas the emulsion was better stabilized by the CBP. The CBP thus has potential as an emulsifying agent in commercial emulsions. The flocculating activity was also greatest at 0.01% (w/v) and decreased at higher concentrations than the optimized concentration of the WSP and CBP. The results also showed that both types of expolysaccharides from Zoogloea sp. had excellent flocculating activity.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.281-282
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• 2019

We have developed a composition containing three kinds of plant extracts (Deris, Citronella, and Cinnamon) and supplements (xanthan gum and silicone-based compounds) having high control effects on Metcalfa pruinosa. This composition had more than 90% of the nymph bug control effect in the ginseng plantation. In addition, since the insecticidal rate is high for other absorptive pests, it is considered that it can be used as a countermeasure against the implementation of the PLS (positive list system).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.297-301
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• 2004

The dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase from Salmonella enterica was immobilized using covalent binding to cyanogen bromide activated sepharose. The immobilized enzyme was used to produce dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose, a key sugar intermediate that can be used economically to produce diverse classes of unusual sugars appended in various antibiotics. The enzyme was immobilized on the sepharose after activation with cyanogen bromide. The maximum immobilization (80.03％) was achieved after 14 h of coupling. The covalently immobilized enzyme was stable, and an average of 78.4 ％ conversion was achieved until 120 h of immobilization when it was repeatedly used. Similar conversion was noticed for the first batch using the enzyme entrapped-hydrogel but activity was gradually decreased in the following batches. The production of dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose by using an immobilized enzyme has high potential for commercial application.