Thermal decomposition of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was monitored by thermogravimetry under N2 atmosphere in the presence of solid acid catalysts such as alumina (α-Al2O3, γ-Al2O3), crystalline silica-alumina (SA, molar ratio of Si/Al = 0.19) and amorphous silica-alumina catalysts (ASA, molar ratio of Si/Al = 4.9). Crystal structure and surface area of solid acid catalysts were measured by XRD and BET, respectively. The strength and distribution of acid sites of solid acid catalysts were estimated by NH3- TPD. It was observed that total acidity strength is in the order of ASA (1.77 μmmol NH3/ g) > AS (1.42 μmol NH3/ g) > γ-Al2O3 (1.06 μmol NH3/ g) > α-Al2O3 (0.06 μmol NH3/ g). Thermal degradation behavior of LDPE with and without solid acid catalyst was monitored by TGA, where heating rates (β) of 5, 10, and 20 °C/min were employed under an inert atmosphere, and their activation energies ( Ea), onset temperatures ( Tinitial), decomposition temperatures ( Tdecomp) were calculated and compared. The activation energy ( Ea) was evaluated using the Coats-Redfern method. Solid acid catalysts with stronger acidity and higher surface area showed a decrease in activation energy and onset temperature. Activation energy of LDPE over ASA catalyst is decreased to 97.3 kJ/mol from thermal decomposition of LDPE without catalyst of 117.2 kJ/mol under heating rate of 10 °C/min. The isothermal decomposition of LDPE was monitored at 300 °C for 3 h with a heating rate of 10 °C/min, where 13.1% and 24.2% wt. loss were observed over SA and ASA, respectively, while only 0.7% wt. loss was observed for LDPE without a solid acid catalyst.

The proteins from functional rice cultivars (Nogwonchalbyeo, Giant embryonic, Arhyangchalbyeo, and Goamibyeo) and general white rice were extracted and separated using two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis. A wide variation in the molecular weight (MW) and pH range of the expressed proteins in rice samples were observed. The green-kerneled rice (Nogwonchalbyeo) exhibited proteins with MW of 9-57 kDa and appeared at a pH range of 4-7. The Giant embryonic contained proteins with MW of 31-63 kDa and a pH range of 5-6. The aromatic glutinous rice (Arhyangchalbyeo) showed proteins with MW of 24-28 and pH of 5.8-6.8. The high-amylose rice (Goamibyeo) exhibited proteins with MW of 3-63 and pH of 5.2-5.6. The identified proteins uniquely found and highly expressed in each cultivar may have a significant role on rice functionality. The results illustrate that the 2D gel electrophoresis is a valuable method in the determination of the protein expression profiles in functional rice grains and may be useful in the identification of specific marker proteins associated with the functional property of rice.

A population ofrecombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between Ilpumbyeo, a blast-susceptibleyopowca cultivarofhigh eating-quality and high yield potential, and GL33, a blast-resistance/apowca weedy rice was used to identifv QTLs affect-ing importan

This study was conducted to find out a desirable screening condition for the salinity tolerance in germination of rice. Seeds of 33 rice varieties were tested in NaCl solutions with various concentration levels. The germination percentage had a decreasing tendency with increasing NaCl concentration and inhibition concentration of 50% germination was 320mM. Standard deviation of germination percentage was highest (28.6) under 300mM NaCl. There was a highly significant correlation between the 50% germination concentration and the germination percentage at 20th day after seeding in 300mM NaCl. Also in 300mM NaCl, the germination percentage at 20th day after seeding was significantly correlated with the germination percentage at the 6th day after seeding. The salinity tolerance on the basis of germination percentage at 6th day after seeding in 300mM NaCl, was strong in 'Hyangnambyeo', 'Ilmibyeo', 'Kancheogbyeo', and 'Namwonbyeo', while weak in 'Ansanbyeo', 'Odaebyeo', 'Nonganbyeo', 'Dasanbyeo', and 'Namcheonbyeo'.