본 발표에서는 고분자막의 열화(Degradation)원인과 열화 조건, 열화방지 방법, 고분자막 내구성 평가 방법 등에 대해서 논의하고자 한다. PEMFC 고분자 막의 열화원인은 전기화학적인 열화를 포함한 화학적인 열화와 물리적인 열화, 열에 의한 열화로 분류할 수 있다. 고분자 막이 전기화학적열화가 잘되는 조건은 OCV와 같은 높은 전압, 저 가습, 고온, 높은 수소/산소 압력 조건이다. 고분 자막의 내구성을 평가하기 위해서 열화 가속화 기법을 사용하는데, 전기화학적 내구성은 OCV holding 기법을, 물리적 내구성은 Wet/Dry 기법을 일반적으로 사용한다. 이들 내구성 평가 방법에 관한 미국의 DOE 프로토콜과 일본의 NEDO 프로토콜을 비교 검토한다.

We studied a extraction and degradation of alginate from seaweed-stems using microorganism DS-02. DS-02 has a maximum growth rate at 30℃ and the enzyme has a maximum activity of alginate extraction at 35℃. The yield of alginate extraction using DS-02 is about 16.0% for 3.0 hour and molecular weight of the alginate decreased to about 1/8 of initial value after 24 hour extraction. Alginate extraction method by DS-02, compared with general alkali-extraction method, has an advantage of decreasing the molecular weight of alginate during extraction.

We studied a storage of waste-brown seaweed at room temperature and degradation of alginate in seaweed by microorganism DS-02. The seaweeds, mixed with 5.0 wt% DS-02 and sealed in vinyl package without any other treatment, could be stored longer than 1 year without spoilage at room temperature. During the storage process, the alginate of seaweed was decomposed by enzyme of DS-02 and the molecular weight of alginate decreased to about 1/10 of initial quantity. DS-02 growed as fast as it had maximum weight after 24 hour culture and it's enzyme had a maximum activity of alginate degradation at 40℃. The seaweed sample became particles in DS-02 culture solution and the M.W of alginate decreased to about 1/10 of initial value after 24 hour decomposition. The effect of alginate degradation with DS-02 was similar to that of degradation with 3.0 M HCl solution for 24 hour.

Effective alginate extraction from waste-brown seaweeds was studied. The waste-brown seaweeds almost consist of stems of seaweeds. Alginate could be obtained from the stems as well as leaves of seaweed. Ultrasonic vibration(47kHz) facilitated filtering step in the alginate extraction process. Among various alkalies for alginate extraction, NaHCO3 was most appropriate concerning use of dealginates. The yield of alginate extraction using NaHCO3 2wt% solution was 19.3% at 60℃. The dealginates from NaHCO3-extraction process have been found most suitable food for red-worms.

The biosorption abilities of different parts of waste brown seaweeds and their derivatives to remove heavy metals(Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn) from waste water were evaluated. The two parts of waste brown seaweeds (Undaria pinnatifida) were stems and sporophyls, and the brown seaweed derivatives were alginic fibers, active carbon added alginate(AC-alginate) and dealginate. The abilities of the sporophyls to adsorb the heavy metal ions were higher than those of stems, and those of alginates were slightly higher than those of dealginate in single ion solution. With decreasing the size of biosorbents, the velocity and the amount of adsorption increased. The abilities of alginate to remove the heavy metal ions increased in multi-ion solutions by adding active carbon to alginate. The selectivity of these biosorbents(alginate, AC-alginate) to lead ion was highest and to manganese ion was lowest.