This study was performed to examine the effect of the clay mineral illite on the improvement of soil and plant growth. Red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was used as a test vegetable crop. The experiment was performed during six weeks in the plantation of the Chungbuk National University. Its seedlings were cultivated in the soil normally used for horticultural purpose. Among the seedlings germinated the healthy and regular size of seed were selected and cultivated in the plantation. They were treated with two forms of illite, particulate (PA) and powder (PW), at the following application rates: standard application[P1 (PA1, PW1), soil: illite = 1:20 (w/w)] and two times [P2 (PA2, PW2), 1:10 (w/w)] of standard application. Untreatment (P0) was used as a control soil. At six weeks of cultivation, their growth lengths were correspondingly increased as the application rate was increased ranging from P0, P1, and P2. Their growth length was a little greater with the application of powder illite (PW) than with the particulate illite (PA). Based on the plant analysis of root, leaf, and stem of red pepper, the uptake amounts of K, Ca, and Mg, were correspondingly increased, as the application rate was increased ranging from P0, P1, and P2 respectively. At the same application rate, their amounts taken up in the respective parts were higher with the application of PW illite than on the PA one. Especially the amounts of Ca and Mg were higher in the stem and leaf than root. Consequently, it appears that the illite treatment, especially, PW form of illite, enhance the growth of red pepper in the plantation during the six weeks of experiment.

This study aimed at developing an accelerated collection method that reduces measurement and collection time by improving and complementing the desiccator method, which is mainly used for quality control in wood-based panels and furniture production sites. First, this study measured the formaldehyde emissions from the wood-based panels by grade using the desiccator method. Further, this study compared the desiccator method with the developed process and analyzed the correlation in optimal temperature, time, and exposed area. The results showed that the developed process resulted in relatively similar outcomes in comparison to the desiccator method when the temperature was 100 °C, the time was 1 h, and two specimens were used, at which the correlation was high. To verify the developed process, this study commissioned Korea Conformity Laboratories with the standardized temperature, time, and the number of specimens to compare them with the specimen that was not used in the actual test. As a result, the correlation to the desiccator method was shown to be very high. However, the formaldehyde emission measured by the accelerated collection process was mostly higher than that measured by the desiccator method. The formaldehyde emission grades from several specimens were one level higher. However, from the perspectives of quality control, it was determined that the accelerated collection method developed in this study could be sufficiently used.

Background: The removal of phosphate(P) in the wastewater is essential for the prevention of eutrophication in the river and stream. This study was initiated to evaluate the P removal by three strains of bacteria isolated from industrial wastewater. The three strains of bacteria, A1, A2, and A3, isolated were identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain CUPS 3, Rhodococcus erythropolis

BACKGROUND:This study was performed to evaluate the effects of environmental factors and heavy metals on the growth and phosphorus removal capacity of Alcaligenes sp., which was well known as one of PAOs(Phosphorus Accumulating Microorganisms). METHODS AND RESULTS: The environmental factors used in this study were temperature, pH and carbon sources, and the heavy metals included Cu, Cd, Zn, As, and Ni. The growth and P removal efficiency of Alcaligenes sp. was maximal as temperature, pH, and carbon source were 25℃, 7, and glucose+acetate, respectively. Also, the IC 50 (median inhibitory Concentration) values of Alcaligenes sp. for the Cu, Cd, Zn, As, and Ni were 5.03, 0.08, 0.73, 282.20 and 4.74 mg/L, respectively. CONCLUSION(S):Based on the results obtained from this study, it appears that the growth and P removal efficiency of Alcaligenes sp. were affected by the environment factors and at the best optimum condition for its growth and P removal efficiency, as the concentrations of heavy metals were gradually increased, its growth was correspondingly decreased.

This study is performed that furniture and interior materials of MDF's (Medium Density Fiberboard) biodegradation properties, and the goal of this study is investigation of possibility of waste-MDF's composting after landfilling. To investigate biodegradation, this study was performed according to KS M ISO 14855-1, and there were two different soil conditions including a compost condition and an activated vermiculite condition as artificial soil. This experiment was tested for 40 days. The measurement of carbon-dioxide generation was processed every 24 hour in 1-2 week, and every 48 hour after 3 week. In the same days, MDF showed 24.4% of biodegradation in compost condition, and 6.2% in activated vermiculite. Also, the reference material of TLC (thin-layer chromatography) grade cellulose showed 26.4%, 11.4% in compost and activated vermiculite respectively. The dilution plate method was performed for biological analysis in the study. This experiment was used for investigation of inoculum's (Bacillus licheniformis) activity. As the result of bioassay, compost has more other germs include inoculum than activated vermiculite in the first week. Especially in the 2nd week, the reference material under the compost condition showed the most germ's activity, and also the biodegradation was the highest. Consequentially, compost condition was able to reduce a performing period of biodegradation testing than activated vermiculite. However, activated vermiculite could be stabilizing errors between repetition.