High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is widely used as sweetener, and its overconsumption is become a major health problem. In the present study, we used adult female rats and applied a 28 days HFCS feeding model to monitor the estrous cycle and changes in tissue weights and histology. Adult female rats were divided into three groups. Animals were fed with ad libitum normal chow and (1) 24 hours tap water (Control group), (2) 12 hours HFCS access during dark period and 12 hours tap water (12H group), and (3) 24 hours HFCS only access (24H group). Total exposure period was 28 days. There is no significant change in body weight between control and HFCS-fed animals. Both absolute and relative weights of ovary in 24H animals were significantly heavier than those in control or 12H animals. The absolute and relative weights of the kidney and liver in 24H groups were significantly heavier than those in control or 12H animals. The estrous cycles of the 24H animals were significantly longer. Histological analyses revealed that 24H ovaries were relatively bigger and possessed more corpus lutea than control ovaries. Uterine sections of 12H and 24H animals showed a well-developed stratum vasculare between inner and outer myometrial layers. The number of endometrial glands were decreased in 12H uteri, and recovered in 24H uteri compared to control. Numbers of convoluted tubule in distal region increased in 12H and 24H kidney samples. Liver specimens of 12H and 24H showed the increased number of fat containing vacuoles. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that HFCS treatment for 28 days could induce (1) changes in length of estrous cycle with extended estrous and diestrous stages, (2) altered ovarian and uterine histology, and (3) liver and renal lipid accumulation. These findings reveal the adverse effects of HFCS drinking on the reproductive function and lipid metabolism of female rats.

본 연구에서는 연료, 공기, 냉매, 수증기가 3중관으로 동시에 공급되는 버너를 개발하였다. 냉매 및 수증기가 화염을 방해하지 않으면서 고온 영역에서의 체류시간을 최대한 길게 유지할 수 있는 위치에서 공급하면, 폐 HFCs와 같이 안정된 물질을 고온에서 빠르게 파괴하여 보조연료 소비를 최소화 할 수 있다. 또한 폐HFCs 파괴에 필요한 수증기를 정량 공급하기 위하여 수증기 공급장치를 설치하여 수증기를 버너 팁과 소각로 몸체에 직접 공급하였다. 본 연구에서는 폐HFCs 전용 소각을 위한 소각로에서 폐HFCs 및 수증기 공급위치와 방법을 변경하면서 파괴실험을 수행하였다. 다양한 변수로 실험하여 소각장치 내부 온도측정 및 배기가스 농도측정, 폐HFCs 분해실험을 수행하였다.

Since 1987, the use of CFCs and HCFCs in various fields such as refrigerant of a refrigerator and a vehicle, a propellant for a spray, and a urethane foaming agent has been prohibited by Montreal protocol related to ozone depletion materials. Instead of the CFCs having a high ozone depletion potential (ODP), HFC-based refrigerants without a chlorine content were developed but determined as global warming materials. Therefore, to reduce greenhouse gas such as HFCs, including CFCs and HCFCs, having a global warming potential (GWP) of 150 or more, which is abandoned from the existing apparatus, it is required to develop a new eco-friendly, economic, and stable treatment technology. When the auxiliary fuel LPG was used at a flow of 1.0 kg/h with an air ratio of 1.1, the average temperature at the vertical section in the combustion chamber was 1,300 K, which is sufficient to destroy waste HFCs. In the waste refrigerant destruction test, the destruction ratio of waste HFCs was 100% when waste HFCs were injected at a flow of 2.8 kg/h.