Fe-Si-Cr ferroalloy is predominantly produced by carbothermic reduction. In this study, silicothermic and carbothermic mixed reduction of chromite ore to produce Fe-Si-Cr alloy is suggested. As reductants, silicon and silicon carbide are evaluated by thermochemical calculations, which prove that silicon carbide can be applied as a raw material. Considering the critical temperature of the change from the carbide to the metallic form of chromium, thereduction experiments were carried out. In these high temperature reactions, silicon and silicon carbide act as effective reductants to produce Fe-Si-Cr ferroalloy. However, at temperatures lower than the critical temperature, silicon carbide shows a slow reaction rate for reducing chromite ore. For the proper implementation of a commercial process that uses silicon carbide reductants, the operation temperature should be kept above the critical temperature. Using equilibrium calculations for chromite ore reduction with silicon and silicon carbide, the compositions of reacted metal and slag were successfully predicted. Therefore, the mass balance of the silicothermic and carbothermic mixed reduction of chromite ore can be proposed based on the calculations and the experimental results.

The CO2 separation membranes based on a graft copolymer consisting of hydrophobic poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) backbone and hydrophilic poly(propylene glycol) PPG side chains were fabricated by a facile one-pot process. The reaction between O-(2-aminopropyl)-O’-(2-methoxyethyl) polypropylene glycol (AMPPG) and PEMA was conducted in butanol at room-temperature. Without any post-treatment, the as-synthesized PEMA-g-PPG solution could be directly coated onto a microporous polysulfone support to fabricate thin-film composite membranes. The PEMA-g-PPG membrane exhibited high selectivity (82.6 for CO2/N2 and 26.8 for CO2/CH4) and good CO2 permeability (99.1 Barrer), which is a close value to the upper boundary limit (2008). The PEMA-g-PPG membrane could be commercially feasible owing to simple, inexpensive and scalable process.

The mixed matrix membranes for CO2/N2 separation, which is composed of commercially available MgCO3 and amphiphilic comb polymer matrix based on poly(ethyleneglycol) behenyl ether methacrylate and poly(oxyethelene methacrylate) synthesized via a facile free radical polymerization, were fabricated. The use of a CP improved the dispersion of the MgCO3 in ethanol due to the specific interaction between CP and MgCO3. The MMMs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HR-TEM), and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The best performance of gas separation for CP/MgCO3 MMM was shown in the case of 45wt% MgCO3 with the highest CO2 /N2 selectivity(93.8) and good CO2 permeance (30.9GPU). This performance of this CP/MgCO3 MMM is higher than other MgCO3 commercially available MMMs.

In this study, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS) was introduced into polymer gas separation membrane. The composite membrane consisted of poly(2-[3-(2H-benzotriazol –2-yl)-4-hydroxyphenyl] ethyl methacrylate)-poly(oxyethylene methacryalate) (PBEMPOEM) comb copolymer matrix and PEDOT-PSS filler. PEDOT-PSS has strong ionic bonding interaction between PEDOT and PSS, and sulfonic acid groups in PSS interact with water molecules with hydrogen-bond. Because of these specific properties, the incorporation of PEDOT-PSS could form CO2 pathway for gas transport through the membrane. PEDOT-PSS chains were homogeneously dispersed in the PBEM-POEM matrix as a network. The best performance of prepared PEDOT-PSS/PBEM-POEM composite membranes was CO2 permeability of 59.6 Barrer with a CO2/N2 selectivity of 77.4, being close to the 2008 Robeson upper boundlines.

역삼투 공정은 현재 해수담수화 공정으로 가장 많이 사용되는 공정으로 향후 지속적으로 사용량이 증가될것으로 보인다. 보론은 인체와 동물, 식물에게 필수적인 영양소이지만, 과잉 공급된 보론은 인체 및 식물의 신경계 장애 및 생식능력 저하를 초래하고, 식물성장 및 과실의 성장을 방해하는 독성물질로 의심받고 있다. 보론은 흔히 쓰이는 하수처리 및 폐수처리 공정에서 제거되지 않으며, 역삼투 공정에서도 중성인 B(OH)3로 남아 있어 역삼투 후에 보론 한계기준보다 훨씬 높은 농도가 생산수에 존재하는 경우가 종종 있다. 그래서 물에서 보론이 제거되는 공정이 절실한 상황이다. 본 연구에서는 보론 제거율 향상을 위해 첨가제를 활용한 polyamide를 계면중합을 통해 합성하여 역삼투막을 제조하였으며, 제조된 역삼투막의 성능평가를 수행, 비교하였다.

지난 2011년부터 수처리용 멤브레인 개발을 진행하던 롯데케미칼은 침지식 PVDF 중공사 멤브레인을 기반으로 MBR을 포함하는 수처리 시장에 진출하기 위하여, 2015년 2월 삼성 SDI의 관련 기술 및 연구장비, 파일럿을 인수하여 기술개발과 실적확보를 위한 연구를 지속적으로 수행하였다. 롯데케미칼의 침지식 멤브레인은 평균 기공크기가 30 nm의 한외여과막으로서 고강도 멤브레인과 저에너지형 멤브레인의 두 종류로 구성되어 있다. 특히, 저에너지형 멤브레인은 고강도 대비 30%의 fiber 무게를 감소시킴으로서 적은 세정용 공기 소비량에서도 세정효율을 유지할 수 있도록 하였다. 또한 내경의 단면적을 약 90% 정도 향상시켜 중공사막 내부의 유체저항을 최소화시켰다.

The graft copolymer consisting of poly(vinyl chloride)-graft-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC-g-POEM) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with a copper/ligand complex that functions as a reaction catalyst. Mesoporous perovskite with a high porosity and interfacial properties were synthesized via a solvothermal reaction using PVC-g-POEM as a structure-directing agent. A PVC-g-POEM graft copolymer with a worm-like morphology was utilized as a soft matrix to prepare a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) with mesoporous perovskite through a solution-casting method. The MMM with MgTiO3 25wt% exhibited a CO2 permeability improvement of 140% up to 138.7 Barrer without a large loss of CO2/N2 selectivity. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS) is a widely used conductive polymer in various electronic devices. We also reported the first use of PEDOT-PSS to enhance CO2 capture performance of all-polymeric membranes.

This study investigated the stability of ethanolic extract from fermented Cirsium setidens Nakai (FCSN) in order to develop functional materials during different storage conditions. We evaluated pectolinarin and pectolinarigenin contents, total phenol content and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP assay) of ethanolic extract from FCSN obtained by bioconverison at various temperatures (4, 25 and 50℃) and pHs (4.0, 7.0 and 10.0). Our results show that the pectolinarin, pectolinarigenin, and total phenol contents in ethanolic extract from FCSN were decreased during the storage periods. Moreover, the DPPH radical scavenging activity did not significantly change at 4℃ and 25℃. Pectolinarin and pectolinarigenin contents, total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract from FCSN at acidic pH (pH 4.0) and neutral pH (pH 7.0) were higher than those at the alkaline pH range. These results indicate that the optimum storage condition of the ethanolic extract from FCSN was 4℃ and pH 4.0~7.0 range.

Muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in the mass of the muscle. With an increase in life expectancy and chronic illnesses, the incidence of muscle atrophy is increasing and the quality of life of patients is decreasing. Thus, reducing muscle atrophy is of high clinical and socio-economic importance. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that has been used as a traditional medicine in many countries to treat various human illnesses. It has been reported that Korean mistletoe extract (KME) has diverse biological functions including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity properties, and extension of lifespan. Especially, we have recently reported that KME improves exercise endurance in mice, indicating its beneficial roles in enhancing the capacity of skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated whether KME could activate the signaling pathway related to protein synthesis in a mouse model of muscle atrophy. Interestingly, KME efficiently activated the Akt/mTOR pathway, and Akt and mTOR are important signaling hub molecules for the acceleration of protein synthesis in muscle cells. In addition, KME also increased the activity of S6 kinase which is involved in the regulation of muscle cell size. Moreover, the ERK activity, required for transcription of ribosomal RNA for protein synthesis, was also enhanced in KME-treated mouse muscle. These data support the idea that KME increases muscle mass via increased protein synthesis. Our findings also suggest that Korean mistletoe might be a promising candidate for the development of functional foods that are beneficial for preventing muscle atrophy.

단백질과 사포닌 함량이 높은 해삼 열수 추출물을 첨가한 산성 음료는 응집, 침전 및 해삼 특유의 이취로 인하여 음료 제조에 많은 제한점이 있다. 단백질 클라우드 에멀션 음료 시스템은 고단백질 기능성 음료 제조 및 이취를 차폐할 수 있는 특성이 있고, 증점제로 사용되는 펙틴은 산성 조건에서 단백질과 콤플렉스를 형성함으로써 응집과 침전을 억제할 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 클라우드 에멀션 시스템에 해삼 열수 추출물 분말을 첨가하여 모델 음료를 제조하였으며 펙틴의 함량을 조절하면서 pH와 열처리 조건에 따른 모델 음료의 이화학적 특성을 관찰하였다. 해삼 열수 추출물 분말은 고온(121oC), 고압(15 psi) 조건에서 추출한 후 분무 건조하여 확보하였으며 단백질, 다당, 회분, 수분함량은 각각 43.46, 44.97, 5.38, 4.19%이었다. 모델 음료는 올리브유(0.1%), 해삼 열수 추출물 분말(2%), 유청 단백질(2%), 펙틴(0.01-2%)을 혼합한 후 고압 균질기(4500 psi)를 이용하여 균질화하였다. 제조한 클라우드 에멀션 모델 음료는 30oC와 85oC에서 각각 2 또는 30 min 동안 열처리를 하였다. 펙틴, 유청 단백질의 ξ-potential과 입자크기는 pH를 7에서 3으로 감소시킴에 따라서 증가하였다. 펙틴을 0.01%에서 2% 범위로 첨가한 모델 음료의 ξ-potential과 입자크기는 펙틴함량의 증가에 따라서 증가하였다. 저농도의 펙틴(0.01-0.1%)을 첨가한 경우에는 응집과 상분리 현상이 발생하지 않았다. 그러나 고농도 펙틴(0.5-2.0%)의 첨가, pH를 7에서 3으로 감소 및 85oC에서 30 min 동안의 열처리 조건에서는 complex coacervation에 의한 응집과 상분리 현상이 발생하였다.

The purpose of this study was to compare hand washing awareness and microorganism contamination on the hands for evaluating the difference between awareness and conditions of hand hygiene. The average number of total aerobic bacteria and coliform was 2.7 log CFU/hand and 1.8 log CFU/hand, respectively. Coliform bacteria were detected in all of the students tested in this study. The questionnaire survey data obtained via a direct interview were collected from 100 university students with microorganism analysis. A majority (90%) of the students recognized that good hand hygiene is important in order to prevent food poisoning. In the hand washing survey data, the responses suggesting “always washed” from “before eating food”, “after handling money”, “after finishing study” and “after visiting patients” were observed in 18, 13, 15 and 33 out of the 100 students, respectively. The questionnaire data of hand washing frequency and time duration showed that 14 students and 6 students answered “more than 8 times of hand washing per day” and “more than 30 seconds of hand washing time”, respectively. These results indicated that improper hand washing practices and poor hand hygiene were identified in the majority of the students. This emphasizes the difference between awareness and conditions of hand hygiene. Repeated hand washing education about the frequency, time duration and methods is constantly required to improve hand hygiene. Installation of hand washing equipment in the space of a restaurant and cafeteria is suggested for enhancing hand hygiene before eating food.

Recently, functionalization of construction materials using nano materials is being studied in domestic and overseas. In this study, functionalization of cement composites using excellent mechanical characteristics, electrical and thermal conductivity characteristics was carried out. The basic study on the heat characteristics of cement mortar containing Single-walled Carbon Nano Tube(SWCNT), one of the CNT types, has been carried out and this study is aimed to verify whether heat characteristics is effective at low content mixing. The experimental parameters were selected as CNT content, curing age, and supplied voltage. The size of specimens was 50 x 50 x 50mm3 and three specimens were fabricated. As a result, heat characteristics of the SWCNT cement mortar was confirmed even at a low CNT content. As the curing progressed, it was confirmed that heat generation effect was low. But it was confirmed that the heat characteristics were sufficiently exhibited when 100V or more voltage was supplied.