The objective of this study was to prove the effect of pig slurry application with charcoal on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), feed value and ammonia (NH3) emission from maize forage. The four treatments were applied: 1) non-pig slurry (only water as a control), 2) only pig slurry application (PS), 3) pig slurry application with large particle charcoal (LC), 4) pig slurry application with small particle charcoal (SC). The pig slurry was applied at a rate of 150 kg N ha-1, and the charcoal was applied at a rate of 300 kg ha-1 regardless of the size. To determine the feed value of maize, crude protein, dry matter intake, digestible dry matter, total digestible nutrient, and relative feed value were investigated. All feed value was increased by charcoal treatment compared to water and PS treatment. Also, the NUE for plant N was significantly higher in charcoal treatments (LC and SC) compared to PS treatment. On the other hand, there is no significant difference for feed value and NUE between LC and SC. The NH3 emission was significantly reduced 15.2% and 27.9% by LC and SC, respectively, compared to PS. Especially, SC significantly decreased NH3 emission by 15% compared to LC. The present study clearly showed that charcoal application exhibited positive potential in nitrogen use efficiency, feed value and reducing N losses through NH3 emission.

In this work, a simple nonenzymatic glucose sensor has been proposed based on coconut shell charcoal (CSC) modified nickel foil as working electrode in a three-electrode electrochemical cell. Charcoal was prepared by the pyrolysis of coconut shells. The most important advantages of coconut shells are cost-effectiveness and their abundance in nature. The morphology and phase of the CSC powder were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical performance of the CSC powder coated Nickel foil electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The sensor shows a higher sensitivity of 2.992 mA cm−2 mM−1 in the linear range of 0.5–5.5 mM and slightly lower sensitivity of 1.1526 mA cm−2 mM−1 in the range of 7–18.5 mM glucose concentration with a detection limit of 0.2 mM. The anti-interference property of CSC powder also was investigated and found that the response of interfering species was less significant compared to glucose response. The proposed sensor offers good sensitivity, wide linear range, and a very low response to interfering biomolecules.

Charcoal canisters are broadly used for radon detection because of their handiness and short sampling period. Radon detection using charcoal canisters are known to be susceptible to surrounding conditions such as temperature and humidity. Public radon inspectors cannot handle extreme temperature, and the relative humidity can differ in districts due to the use of different types of construction. Thus, if relative humidity can be controlled at the entrance of a charcoal canister, radon inspectors will be able to procure more reliable data. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of existing filters in a charcoal canister and to apply a new type of filter (Super Absorbent Polymers, SAP) that can control the moisture penetrating into the charcoal canister. Based on adequate case studies using the new filter, radon data have shown over 98% close to the reference data irrespective of varying moisture levels. Meanwhile, basic filters showed 88% similarity compared to the reference data, which means that charcoal canisters were affected by moisture. The SAP filter is reasonably inexpensive and once it turns into its gel shape (which, in turn, is saturated by moisture), it can be easily replaced. This filter will not only be able to provide more accurate radon data, but also apply to other gas phase material detections that are sensitive to moisture in the air.

This study investigated the effect of Charcoal:Dextran Stripped fetal bovine serum (CDS FBS) and heat-inactivated FBS (HI FBS) in embryo culture medium on their ability to support in vitro development of bovine embryos. The developmental ability and quality of bovine embryos were determined by assessing their cell number, lipid content, mitochondrial activity, gene expression, and cryo-tolerance. The percentages of embryos that underwent cleavage and formed a blastocyst were significantly (P<0.05) higher in medium containing CDS FBS than in medium containing HI FBS (42.84 ± 0.78% vs. 36.85 ± 0.89%, respectively). Furthermore, the beneficial effects of CDS FBS on embryos were associated with a significantly reduced intracellular lipid content, as identified by Nile red staining, which increased their cryo-tolerance. The post-thaw survival rate of blastocysts was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the CDS FBS than in the HI FBS group (85.33 ± 4.84% vs. 68.67 ± 1.20%). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the mRNA levels of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3, acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase long-chain, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, and insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor were significantly increased upon culture with CDS FBS. Moreover, the mRNA levels of sirtuin 1, superoxide dismutase 2, and anti-apoptotic associated gene B-cell lymphoma 2 in frozen-thawed blastocysts were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the CDS FBS group than in the HI FBS group, however, the mRNA level of the pro-apoptotic gene BCL2-associated X protein was significantly reduced. Taken together, these data suggest that supplementation of medium with CDS FBS improves in vitro bovine embryo developmental competence and cryo-tolerance.

The white-spotted chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) was recently listed as a temporal food ingredient by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Traditionally, this beetle has been regarded as a medicine for suppressing live cancer and preventing liver-related disease. Based on these facts, this beetle has been focused as a economically important insects in Korea. Therefore, this beetle is commercially reared and distributed in Korea. As the economic importance is growing, we have investigated to enhance insect rearing conditions for better commercial value. In this study, we compared two food supplements, clay and charcoal, on the larval weight gain for second instar larvae of P. brevitarsis. Clay and charcoal are generally known as a good adsorbent for heavy metals and bio-waste. However, clay and charcoal is not a conventional feed supplements, so its effects were not investigated for insect rearing. The second instar P. brevitarsis larvae were fed fermented sawdust with seven different combinations of cla and/or charcoal, and measured body weight for 17 weeks until pupated. Addition of clay at 2.5 % w/w of the fermented sawdust diet had no negative effect on larval weight gain, and thus may improve the quality of P. brevitarsis as a commercial food.

The breakthrough behaviour of activated charcoal cloth samples against an oxygen analogue (OA) of sulphur mustard has been studied using the modified Wheeler equation. Activated charcoal cloth samples having different surface area values in the range of 481 to 1290 m2/g were used for this purpose. Breakthrough behaviour was found to depend on the properties of the activated charcoal cloth, properties of the OA and the adsorption conditions. Activated charcoal cloth with a high surface area of 1290 m2/g, relatively large surface density of 160 g/m2 and coarser fiber structure exhibited better kinetic saturation capacity value, 0.19 g/g, against OA vapours when compared to others, thus confirming its potential use in foldable masks for protection against chemical warfare agents.

흑목이 버섯의 자실체로부터 열수추출에 의해 얻은 조다당 분획물은 흑갈색 색소를 함유하였으므로 활성탄에 의한 탈색공정이 검토된 바 있다. 하지만 활성탄에 흡착된 색소 성분의 회수 및 활성탄의 재사용이 필요하였으므로 용매추출법을 이용한 용출 실험을 실시하였다. 증류수, 중성용매(3종) 및 알칼리 용매(4종) 등 8종 용매에 의한 1단 침출 실험 결과, 색소성분의 용해성은 1 M KOH 용액이 가장 우수하였다. 이러한 최적 용매인 1M KOH 용액을 이용하여 용액의 부피 및 시간에 따른 용출효과를 조사한 결과, 용액의 부피는 활성탄 1 g당 45 mL에서 최적의 용출량을 보였으며, 10분 이내에 빠르게 용출평형에 도달하였고, 용출공정의 용출속도는 2차 속도식으로 나타낼 수 있었다. 또, 25oC에서 1 M KOH 용액에 의한 다단침출의 실험 결과, 7단계 침출에서 최종 용출효율은 88.9%이었다. 그러나 온도가 증가할수록 용출효율이 급격히 높아져 95oC에서는 단일용출만으로 82.6%의 용출효율을 보였다. 한편, 용출 후의 재사용된 활성탄의 흡착효율(75.3%)은 신선한 활성탄(78.5%)과 거의 비슷하였고, 다당 정제율도 거의 비슷하여(1.21-1.25배) 재생 가능함을 보였다. 따라서, 흑목이 버섯의 흑갈색 성분의 탈색 후 흡착된 활성탄으로부터 용매추출을 이용한 효율적인 색소성분의 회수 및 활성탄 재생 공정의 가능성이 확인되었다.

The electromagnetic wave absorption sheets were fabricated by mixing of nanocrystalline soft magnetic powder, charcoal powder and polymer based binder. The complex permittivity, complex permeability, and scattering parameter have been measured using a network analyzer in the frequency range of 10 MHz10 GHz. The results showed that complex permittivity of sheets was largely dependent on the frequency and the amount of charcoal powder : The permittivity was improved up to 100 MHz, however the value was decreased above 1 GHz. The power loss of electromagnetic wave absorption data showed almost the same tendency as the results of complex permittivity. However, the complex permeability was not largely affected by the frequency, and the values were decreased with the addition of charcoal powder. Based on the results, it can be summarized that the addition of charcoal powder was very effective to improve the EM wave absorption in the frequency range of 10 MHz1 GHz.

Dyed loess and charcoal fabrics are sold in market as bedding. They have a lot of functions so that people are getting to increase their expenditure for them. Thus we investigated a repellent effect of loess fabrics and charcoal fabrics against house dust mites. The evaluation of the repellent effect of dyed loess fabrics and charcoal fabrics was conducted by using Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus. We compared the repellent effect of dyed loess fabrics at different doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.2, 10.0 ㎎/㎠ and dyed charcoal fabrics at different doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.0 ㎎/㎠. Commercial loess fabrics did not have a repellent effect against house dust mites. but commercial charcoal fabrics had the repellent effect by 78% against them. In case of dyed charcoal fabrics added with charcoal powder over 0.6 ㎎/㎠, they showed the repellent effect by over 80%. These results suggest that loess fabrics and charcoal fabrics have a repellent effect of against house dust mites and they can be commercially used for the purpose.

활성탄 혼합비율을 달리하여 육모상토의 이화학성 변화 및 참외묘의 생육에 미치는 효과를 검토하였다. 활성탄의 혼합비율이 많을수록 상토내의 pH는 높아졌으며 육묘기일이 경과될수록 초기에 비해 높아지는 경향으로 활성탄을 20% 혼합한 상토에서의 pH는 5.2~5.8로 참외생육에 적합한 pH가 유지되었다. 무기성분 또한 활성탄의 혼합비율에 의하여 성분에 차이가 있었으며 육모기간이 경과함에 따라 낮아지는 경향으로 Ca는 5.4~6.5cmol+ · kg-1 Mg는 7.6~12.3cmol+ · kg-1, K는 37.8~55.3cmol+ · kg-1이었다. 참외묘의 생육 또한 활성탄의 혼합비율에 의하여 차이를 보였는데, 활성탄을 20% 혼합한 상토의 참외묘는 엽장, 엽폭, 초장, 엽면적에서 생육이 좋았다. 상토에 활성탄을 혼합하는 비율에 따라 용적밀도, 수분보유력, pH, 무기성분 등의 함량에 변화가 있었으며, 생육에도 차이가 있었다.