• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2024

The study investigated the effect of thermo-alkaline pretreatment on the solubilization of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its potential to enhance of thermophilic anaerobic digestion, focusing on biochemical methane potential (BMP) and methane production rate, using two different particle sizes of PHB (1500 ㎛ and 400 ㎛). Thermo-alkaline pretreatment tests were conducted at 90 ℃ for 24 hours with varying NaOH dosages from 0-80% (w/w). BMP tests with untreated PHB exhibited methane production ranging from 150.4~225.4 mL CH₄/g COD and 21.5~24.2 mL CH₄/g VSS/d, indicating higher methane production for smaller particle sizes of PHB, 400 ㎛. Thermo-alkaline pretreatment tests achieved a 95.3% PHB solubilization efficiency when 400 ㎛ PHB particles were treated with 80% NaOH dosage at 90 ℃ for 24 hours. BMP tests with pretreated PHB showed substantial improvement in thermophilic anaerobic digestion, with an increase of up to 112% in BMP and up to 168% in methane production rate. The results suggest that a combined pretreatment process, including physical (400 ㎛ PHB particles) and thermo-alkaline (90 ℃, 40-80% NaOH dosage, and 24 hours reaction time), is required for high-rate thermophilic anaerobic digestion of PHB with enhanced methane production.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.609-616
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of different reaction times for thermal-alkaline pretreatment on the solubilization and biogasification of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were evaluated. Thermal-alkaline pretreatment tests were performed at 73 ℃ and pH 13 at 0-120 h reaction times. The mesophilic anaerobic batch tests were performed with untreated and pretreated PHB samples. The increase in the pretreatment reaction time results in a 52.8-98.8% increase of the abiotic solubilization efficiency of the PHB samples. The reaction time required to achieve solubilization efficiencies of 50%, 90%, and 95% were 10.5, 52.0, and 89.6 h, respectively. The biogasification of the untreated PHB samples achieved a specific methane production rate of 3.6 mL CH₄/g VSS/d and require 101.3 d for complete biogasification. The thermal-alkaline pretreatment significantly improved specific methane production rate (10.2-16.0 time increase), lag time (shortened by 76-81%), and time for complete biogasification (shortened by 21-83%) for the biogasification of the PHB samples when compared to those of the untreated PHB samples. The improvement was higher as the reaction time of the thermal-alkaline pretreatment increased. The findings of this study could be used as a valuable reference for the optimization of the biogasification process in the treatment of PHB wastes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.567-573
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• 2003

The pretreatment process was carried out to solubilize the sewage sludge for enhancing its biodegradability using alkaline treatment, ultrasonic treatment(15kHz), ozone treatment and different combination of these three methods: alkaline followed by ultrasonic as well as ozone, and ultrasonic followed by alkaline. The solubilization efficiency was evaluated based on the SCOD/TCOD ratio and VSS/TS ratio. In results, the proper condition of alkaline treatment was shown as 30meq/l of NaOH, pH 12 and 3hours of reaction time. Solubilization efficiency increased to 17% from initial 2% based on SCOD/TCOD ratio under this condition. In ultrasonic treatment, the higher ultrasonic power, the longer treatment time and the lower sludge volume resulted in higher solubilization respectively. There was a rapid increase in solubilization efficiency after 20 minute, then it was measured as 32% of SCOD/TCOD ratio in 1 hour at a ultrasonic power of 1,300W with 1/sludge. Solubilization efficiencies in combined treatment using alkaline and ultrasonic were 47-53% higher than single treatment at a sonicated time of 1 hour. Ozone treatment followed by alkaline treatment also represented the enhanced solubilization compared to ozone treatment. Therefore, ultrasonic or ozone treatment assisted by alkaline could achieve the short treatment time as well as high solubilizetion efficiency.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3547-3553
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• 2014

Background: The prognostic value of serum alkaline phosphatase (S-ALP) has not been fully validated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods: S-ALP levels were measured in 601 patients newly diagnosed with NPC before radical treatment, and possible associations of these levels with 5-year overall survival (OS) and tumor-free survival (TFS) were explored using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Elevated pretreatment S-ALP (>85 U/L) was significantly less frequent among patients classified as T1+2 or stage I+II than among those classified as T3+4 or stage III+IV. Multivariate analysis showed that elevated pretreatment S-ALP (>85 U/L), age, T classification and N stage were independent predictors of poor OS and TFS. Conclusions: Pretreatment S-ALP may be a reliable biomarker to evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients with NPC.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2015

This study examined the pretreatment effect, appropriate dyeing conditions, color fastness and functionality of cotton fabrics dyed with Zizania latifolia Turcz. Dye uptake was substantially increased by pretreatment and chitosan pretreatment was much more effective than tannic acid pretreatment. Optimal dyeing conditions were colorant concentration of 100%, dyeing temperature of $100^{\circ}C$, dyeing time of 80 minutes and dyebath pH of 5.5. Color fastness of chitosan pretreatment and dyed cotton to washing, rubbing, perspiration and light was 4, 5, 3-4(acidic), 3(alkaline) and 3 respectively. Color fastness of tannic acid pretreatment and dyed cotton to washing, rubbing, perspiration and light was 4, 5, 3-4(acidic), 4-5(alkaline) and 4 respectively. Deodorization rates of ammonia(NH3) were 99.9% in both cases. UV protection rate were 98.3% of UV-A and 98.5% of UV-B in case of chitosan pretreatment. UV protection rate were 98.2% of UV-A and 98.5% of UV-B in case of tannic acid pretreatment. UV protection factor(UPF) was 50+ in both cases. Reduction rate of Staphyloccus aureus were 99.9% in both cases. Therefore Zizania latifolia Turcz. could be used a new functional colorant.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.412-418
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• 2023

The surge in the oil prices, increasing global population, climate change, and waste management problems are the major issues which have led to the development of biofuels from lignocellulosic wastes. Cellulosic or second generation (2G) bioethanol is produced from lignocellulosic biomass via pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation. Pretreatment of lignocellulose is of considerable interest due to its influence on the technical, economic and environmental sustainability of cellulosic ethanol production. In this study, furniture waste sawdust was subjected to alkaline peroxide (H₂O₂) for the production of reducing sugars. Sawdust was pretreated at different concentrations from 1-3% H₂O₂ (v/v) loadings at a pH of 11.5 for a residence time of 15-240 min at 50, 75 and 90 ℃. Optimum pretreatment conditions, such as time of reaction, operating temperature, and concentration of H₂O₂, were varied and evaluated on the basis of the amount of total reducing sugars produced. It was found that the changes in the amount of lignin directly affected the yield of reducing sugars. A maximum of 50% reduction in the lignin composition was obtained, which yielded a maximum of 75.3% total reducing sugars yield and 3.76 g/L of glucose. At optimum pretreatment conditions of 2% H₂O₂ loading at 75 ℃ for 150 min, 3.46 g/L glucose concentration with a 69.26% total reducing sugars yield was obtained after 48 hr. of the hydrolysis process. Pretreatment resulted in lowering of crystallinity and distortion of the sawdust after the pretreatment, which was further confirmed by XRD and SEM results.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.191-201
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• 2017

Background: Limited availability of corn stover due to the competing uses (organic manure, animal feed, bio-materials, and bioenergy) presents a major concern for its future in the bio-economy. Furthermore, biomass research has exhibited different results due to the differences in the supply of enzymes and dissimilar analytical methods. The effect of the two leading pretreatment techniques (dilute acid and alkaline) on glucose yield from three corn stover fractions (cob, stalk, and leaf) sourced from a single harvest in Uganda were studied at temperatures 100, 120, 140, and $160^{\circ}C$ over reaction times of 5, 10, 30, and 60 min. Results: From this study, the highest glucose concentrations obtained from the dilute acid (DA) pretreated cobs, stalks, and leaves were 18.4 g/L (66.8% glucose yield), 16.2 g/L (64.1% glucose yield), and 11.0 g/L (49.5% glucose yield), respectively. The optimal pretreatment settings needed to obtain these yields from the DA pretreated samples were at a temperature of $160^{\circ}C$ over an incubation time of 30 min. The highest glucose concentrations obtained from the alkaline (AL) pretreated cobs, stalks, and leaves were 24.7 g/L (81.73% glucose yield), 21.3 g/L (81.23% glucose yield), and 15.0 g/L (51.92% glucose yield), respectively. To be able to achieve these yields, the optimal pretreatment settings for the cobs and stalks were $140^{\circ}C$ and for a retention time of 30 min, while the leaves require optimal conditions of $140^{\circ}C$ and for a retention time of 60 min. Conclusions: The study recommends that the leaves could be left on the field during harvesting since the recovery of glucose from the pretreated cobs and stalks is higher.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2008

In order to meet the stringent requirement of sludge disposal and to find ecological alternative, aerobic digestion coupled with alkaline pretreatment was studied. The treated sludge was tested for the potential of liquid fertilizer. In the aerobic digestion, it was obvious that the performance of digester B(fed with the sludge pretreated by NaOH) was better than that of digester A(fed with raw sludge) in terms of COD and SS removal. SS and VSS removal rates in digester B were 66% and 69%, respectively. At 5 days, TSS removal rate reached 47% in the digester B, which was 71% of final TSS removal rate. It revealed that the pretreatment process can shorten the retention time of aerobic digestion. 94.1% of TCOD in the raw sludge was reduced by alkaline pretreatment and aerobic digestion. Final SCOD was in the range of 220$\sim$230 mg/L implying the sludge was stabilized. Nitrification and pH drop were observed in the aerobic digestion. Final nitrate concentrations in digester A and B were 445.4 and 223.1 mg/L and final pH in digester B was 3.0. Biological assays reported that leaf size of cucumber seedling increased with nitrate concentration and sludge to soil ratio. The sludge treated by alkaline and aerobic digestion promoted the growth of seedling leaf and stem remarkably compared to raw sludge. In contrast, the aerobically digested sludge without pretreatment improved leaf growth and inhibited stem growth.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2011

In this study, individual(alkaline, ultrasonic) and combined(alkaline+ultrasonic) pretreatment effect on sewage sludge solubilization was investigated. COD solubilization rates increased with the dose of NaOH added: solubilization reached 27.6%. Additional alkaline agents did not increase solubilization further. Ultrasonic pretreatment achieved 33~39% solubilization when 140 W/L amplitude. In(alkaline(pre-treatment)+ultrasonic (after-treatment)) treatment, solubilization increased as the combined intensity in creased($70.4{\pm}9.4%$). SCOD rising rate(0.076) was achieved.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.845-854
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• 2016

Characteristics and properties of gelatin from goat skin pretreated with NaOH solutions (0.50 and 0.75 M) for various times (1 to 4 days) were investigated. All gelatins contained ${\alpha}$-chains as the predominant component, followed by ${\beta}$-chain. Gelling and melting temperatures of those gelatins were $23.02^{\circ}C$ to $24.16^{\circ}C$ and $33.07^{\circ}C$ to $34.51^{\circ}C$, respectively. Gel strength of gelatins increased as NaOH concentration and pretreatment time increased (p<0.05). Pretreatment for a longer time yielded gelatin with a decrease in $L^*$-value but an increase in $b^*$-value. Pretreatment of goat skin using 0.75 M NaOH for 2 days rendered the highest yield (15.95%, wet weight basis) as well as high gel strength (222.42 g), which was higher than bovine gelatin (199.15 g). Gelatin obtained had the imino acid content of 226 residues/1,000 residues and the gelatin gel had a fine and ordered structure. Therefore, goat skin gelatin could be used as a potential replacer of commercial gelatin.