This study comprehensively investigates three types of graphite materials as potential anodes for potassium-ion batteries. Natural graphite, artificial carbon-coated graphite, and mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) are examined for their structural characteristics and electrochemical performances. Structural analyses, including HRTEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and laser particle size measurements, reveal distinct features in each graphite type. XRD spectra confirm that all graphites are composed of pure carbon, with high crystallinity and varying crystal sizes. Raman spectroscopy indicates differences in disorder levels, with artificial carbon-coated graphite exhibiting the highest disorder, attributed to its outer carbon coating. Ex-situ Raman and HRTEM techniques on the electrodes reveal their distinct electrochemical behaviors. MCMB stands out with superior stability and capacity retention during prolonged cycling, attributed to its unique spherical particle structure facilitating potassium-ion diffusion. The study suggests that MCMB holds promise for potassium-ion full batteries. In addition, artificial carbon-coated graphite, despite challenges in hindering potassium-ion diffusion, may find applications in commercial potassium-ion battery anodes with suitable coatings. The research contributes valuable insights into potassiumion battery anode materials, offering a significant extension to the current understanding of graphite-based electrode performance.

본 논문은 회분식 반응기에서 습식 산화법으로 합성한 칼륨 페레이트(VI)에 의한 난분해성 아조 염료Reactive Black 5의 분해 과정을 연구하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 수용액에서 RB5의 분해는 pH, Ferrate (VI) 투입량, 초기 농도, 수용액 온도 등 다양한 변수의 조건에서 연구되었다. RB5 경우에는 최대 분해 효율은 pH 7.0에서 63.2%가 달성되었으며, 이 실험 조건에서 얻은 kapp 값은 190.49 M-1s-1 으로 나타났다. 온도 또한 가장 중요한 매개 변수 중 하나로 연구되었으며, 그 결과로부터 온도(45°C까지)를 증가시키면 페레이트(VI)에 의한 아조 화합물 염료의 분해 효율이 증가하고, 온도가 45°C를 초과하면 분해 효율이 저하되는 것으로 나타났다.

The synthesis of a novel first stage GIC containing simultaneously lithium, potassium and barium through a solid–liquid reaction by molten salts method is described. Such a route has been largely developed in our laboratory for intercalation of metals into graphite. The interplanar distance of this quaternary compound reaches 950 pm and exhibits poly-layered intercalated sheets defined by X-ray measurements. The Li0.2K0.75Ba0.6C6 chemical formula of the compound is determined by ion beam analysis and this GIC is remarkably homogeneous. This GIC is the first poly-layered one containing barium.

Although the effect of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) on Phalaenopsis plant flowering, biomass, and photosynthesis has received intensive study, whether elevated CO2 affects plant requirements and sensitivity to potassium sulfate (SOP) during the reproductive growth stage remains unclear. To evaluate the combined effect of CO2 and SOP provision on crassulacean acid metabolism orchids, we cultivated Phalaenopsis Queen Beer ‘Mantefon’ under ambient and elevated CO2 treatments (≈ 400 or ≈ 720 μmol×mol-1, respectively) and four levels of SOP supply for 20 weeks after treatments (WAT): potassium and sulfate levels by 10.41 and 1.96 mmol·L-1 (SOP1), 5.98 and 0.90 mmol·L-1 (SOP2), 12.80 and 1.96 mmol·L-1 (SOP3), and 14.83 and 3.16 mmol·L-1 (SOP4), respectively. The number of floral buds and flowers decreased in the plants grown under elevated CO2 than in those grown under ambient CO2, regardless of the SOP level; however, the reduced production of floral buds and flowers did not affect the dry mass of shoot, root, and spike at 20 WAT. There were significant interactive effects of CO2 and SOP on root biomass accumulation and net CO2 uptake. The stimulation of biomass partitioning on the root, as a sink source, observed due to the uptake of elevated CO2 was improved under increased SOP supply. Under ambient CO2, the leaf critical SOP level was SOP1 for root and spike biomass accumulation. Plants grown under elevated CO2 were more sensitive to SOP treatments, with higher essential leaf levels of SOP.

수용액에서 EBT의 분해는 pH, Ferrate (VI) 투입량, 초기 농도, 수용액 온도 등 다양한 변수의 조건에서 연구되었다. 최대 분해 효율은 pH 7.0에서 95.42%가 달성되었으며, 이 실험 조건에서 얻은 kapp 값은 872.87 M-1s-1 이었다. EBT 분해율은 Ferrate (VI)의 투입량이 증가함에 따라 증가하였으며 EBT 초기 농도가 감소함에 따라 EBT 분해의 초기 속도 상수가 증가하였다. 또한 EBT의 분해율은 온도가 10°C에서 45°C에 도달할 때까지 수용액의 온도에 따라 증가하였으며 이 실험조건에서 활성화 에너지 값은 EBT 분해에 대해 11.9 kJ/mol의 값이 도출되었다. 따라서 분해 실험의 결과는 Ferrate (VI)가 수용액상에서 EBT를 효과적으로 분해시킬 수 있음을 보여주고 있다.

Vaccinations, surveillance, quarantine, and disposal of the infected poultry are the common strategies for prevention and control of the highly infectious poultry diseases; however, many pathogens still persist and are potential causes threatening the nationwide spread of poultry diseases. A strict biosecurity strategy including disinfection is the key to control the spread of avian pathogens, such as the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). It is important to select and use the disinfectants whose efficacy and the effective concentrations against the specific pathogens are known. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the virucidal efficacy of five active substances of commercial disinfectants, namely potassium peroxymonosulfate (PPMS), sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), glutaraldehyde (GLT), benzalkonium chloride (BZK), and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), that are used against NDV. Further, we validated the efficacy of eight pre-approved disinfectants. The minimal virucidal concentrations of the active substances against NDV were as follows: PPMS, 2.50 g/L; NaDCC, 2.00 g/L; GLT, 0.40 g/L; BZK, 2.00 g/L, and DDAC, 1.00 g/L. Furthermore, all the eight disinfectants were found to be effective against NDV at the recommended concentrations, thereby confirming that the active substances are functional against NDV. This is the first study reporting the virucidal activity of the active substances of commercial disinfectants against NDV, in accordance with the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency guidelines, in South Korea. The results of the virucidal efficacy testing of chemical disinfectants from this study will help poultry industries implement improved strategies for controlling infection.

The decommissioning of a nuclear power plant generates large amounts of radioactive waste, which is of several types. Radioactive concrete powder is classified as low-level waste, which can be disposed of in a landfill. However, its safe disposal in a landfill requires that it be immobilized by solidification using cement. Herein, a safety assessment on the disposal of solidified radioactive concrete powder waste in a conceptual landfill site is performed using RESRAD. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses of certain selected input parameters are conducted to investigate their impact on exposure doses. The exposure doses are estimated, and the relative impact of each pathway on them during the disposal of this waste is assessed. The results of this study can be used to obtain information for designing a landfill site for the safe disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated from the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant.

The structural transformationss of oriented poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fibers impregnated with potassium bisulfate (PBS) were studied in detail on the way from PVA precursor fibers till carbonized at a temperature of 1000 °C fibers. It has been shown that the impregnation of PVA fibers with a sulfur-containing compound (PBS) is an efficient technique to decrease the thermoplasticity of PVA fibers during heat treatment at high temperatures in air and argon and contributes to a high yield of coke residue after heat treatment up to 1000 °C. TMA, TGA, DSC, mass spectrometry, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, WAXS and SAXS were used to study the structural transformations of oriented PVA fibers impregnated with PBS at the stages of their preliminary thermal stabilization (215 °C), thermal stabilization (215–400 °C) and carbonization (400–1000 °C). A reaction scheme has been proposed that fully describes carbonization chemistry in the entire studied temperature range. The processing temperature of 215 °C was found to be optimal for preliminary thermal stabilization of PVA fibers impregnated with PBS. The heat treatment in an inert medium can be recommended as the optimal for thermal stabilization of fibers impregnated with PBS. The characteristics of the carbonized PVA fibers, such as strength, modulus and electrical conductivity, were close to the characteristics of commercial cellulose-based carbon fibers yarns.

This study was to evaluate the skin sensitization of potassium hydroxide (KOH) by the guinea pig maximization test. In the preliminary test, the induction and challenge dose of KOH were determined as 1.0 and 0.2%, respectively. Guinea pigs were sensitized with intradermal injection of 0.1ml KOH for 24 h. After 1 week, 1.0% of KOH was treated on the site of injection and 0.2% of KOH was challenged 2 weeks later. The average skin reaction evaluated by erythema and edema on the challenge sites and sensitization rate in the KOH-treatment group at 24 h were 0.0 and 0%, respectively, which are substantially low compared with in the 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-treatment group (positive control group) (average skin reaction: 3.0, sensitization rate: 100%) and identical with in the distilled water-treatment group (negative control group), representing a weak sensitizing potential. The average skin reaction and sensitization rate observed at 48 h were 0.0 and 0% in the KOH-treatment group, respectively, and 2.0 and 100% in the positive control group, respectively. It was concluded that 1.0% of KOH classified to Grade I, induced no sensitization when tested in guinea pigs.

본 연구는 원통형 종이포트를 활용한 토마토 육묘시, 염스트레스를 활용하여 고온기 도장 억제가능성을 검토하기 위하여 수행되었다. 시험구는 K2SO4, KCl과 KH2PO4을 각 5, 10 dS·m-1로 처리하였고, 또한, 토마토 모종에 고염도의 칼륨을 처리하여 수분 및 저온스트레스 환경에서의 적응성 및 생존성을 조사하였다. 조사결과, 처리 농도가 높아질수록 지상·지하부 건물중, 옆면적, 순동화율 (NAR)이 감소하고, 경경과 충실도는 증가하였다. 수분 스트레스 처리 이후, 대조구는 심한 위조현상을 보였지만, KCl처리구는 양호하였다. 상대수분함량은 대조구에서 23%, KCl처리구에서 8% 감소 하였다. 또한, 대조구에 비하여 KCl 처리구는 저장시(9, 12 및 15°C) 모종의 손상 비율이 낮았다. 이와 같은 결과로 보아, KCl과 같은 고농도의 칼륨 처리가 원통형 종이포트 토마토 육묘의 도장 억제에 효과적이며 환경 스트레스 내성을 향상시키는 것으로 판단된다.

We report potentiometric performances of ion-to-electron transducer based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) for application of all-solid-state potassium ion sensors. A large surface area and pore structure of RGO are obtained by a hydrothermal self-assembly of graphene oxide. The extensive electrochemical characterization of RGO solid contact at the interface of ionselective membrane and gold electrode shows that the potassium ion-selective electrode based on RGO had a high sensitivity (53.34 mV/log[K+]), a low detection of limit (− 4.24 log[ K+], 0.06 mM) a good potential stability, and a high resistance to light and gas interferences. The potentiometric K+- sensor device was fabricated by combining of screen-printed electrodes and a printed circuit board. The K+- sensor device accurately measures the ion concentration of real samples of commercial sports drinks, coke and orange juice, and then transfers the collected data to a mobile application through a Bluetooth module. The screen-printed ion sensors based on RGO solid contact show a great potential for real-time monitoring and point-of-care devices in human health care, water-treatment process, and environmental and chemical industries.

정삼투 공정에 유용한 유도용질로서 diethyl malonate를 사용한 citrate 계열의 유기 화합물을 합성하였다. 최종적으로 얻은 potassium pentane-1,3,3,5-tetracarboxylate는 1H-NMR과 13C-NMR을 통하여 확인하였다. 유도용질의 물성을 확인 하기 위해 삼투압, 용해도, 수투과도, 역염 투과도를 측정하였다. 합성한 유도용액을 사용하여 정삼투 공정을 진행한 결과, 동일한 citrate 계열인 trisodium citrate 및 tripotassium citrate보다 높은 수투과량을 나타내었으며 염의 역확산 정도는 NaCl에 비하여 매우 낮은 값을 나타내었다. 합성된 유도용질의 삼투압은 NaCl보다 약 25% 낮았으나 물에 대한 용해도는 NaCl의 8.8 배인 317 g/100 g water의 값을 나타내었다. 정삼투 종료 후 유도용질의 회수를 위해 상용화된 나노여과막을 사용하였고, 낮은 압력에서 효율적으로 회수가 가능하였다.

정삼투 공정에 유용한 유도용질로서 n-nitrilotris(methylene) phosphonic acid (NTPA) 염을 합성하였다. NTPA에 첨가하는 KOH의 함량을 변화시켜 NTPA-4K, NTPA-5K, NTPA-6K 세 종류의 유도용질을 합성하고 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR을 통하여 확인하였다. 유도용질의 물성을 확인하기 위해 삼투압, 점도, 수투과도, 역염 투과도를 측정하였다. 정삼투 공정에서는 증류수를 유입용액으로 사용하고 0.5 M의 유도용액으로 실험한 결과 각각 수투과도는 35.8, 38.8, 42.2 LMH를 나타내고 5.4, 6.9, 7.4 gMH의 역염 투과도를 나타내었다. 이는 기존의 NaCl 유도용액보다 높은 수투과도와 훨씬 낮은 역염 투과도를 확인 하였다. 정삼투 공정 후 묽어진 유도용질의 회수를 위해 나노여과 방식으로 상용막을 사용하여 제거율을 측정한 결과 90% 이상의 높은 성능을 확인하였다.