Publications by authors named "Jeong-Ann Park"

The ubiquity of microplastics (MP) in aquatic environments has been raising concerns. Although the μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR) technique is commonly used to detect MPs, it is an expensive and time-consuming process that requires expert operation. Moreover, the mass concentration of MPs cannot be determined, thereby necessitating the development of an inexpensive and simple analytical technique for identifying and quantifying MPs in aquatic environments using thermal-based technologies.

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Microplastics (MPs), plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are pervasive pollutants challenging wastewater treatment due to their size and hydrophobicity. They infiltrate freshwater, marine, and soil environments, posing ecological threats. In marine settings, MPs ingested by organisms cause cytokine release, cellular and DNA damage, and inflammation.

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While traditional combination anticancer treatments have shown promising results, there remains significant interest in developing innovative methods to enhance and integrate chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This study introduces a recombinant fusion protein-based cell surface modification system that synergistically combines chemotherapy and immunotherapy into a single-targeted chemo-immunotherapy approach. A cell surface-modified protein composed of an antibody-specific binding domain and a cell-penetrating domain rapidly converts immune cells into chemo-immuno therapeutics by binding to antibodies on the surface of immune cells.

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Lithium (Li) metal is regarded as a next-generation anode material owing to its high energy density. However, issues such as dendritic growth and volume changes during charging and discharging pose significant challenges for commercialization. We propose using lithiophilic reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and carbonized zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (C-ZIF-8) composites as host materials for Li to address these problems.

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Microplastics (MPs) enter lakes through various pathways, including effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), surface runoff, and improperly disposed of plastic waste. In this study, the extent of MPs pollution in Uiam Lake in fall of 2022 and spring of 2023 was assessed by determining both the number (n/m) and mass concentrations (μg/m) of MPs. Moreover, the correlation between water quality parameters and MP properties was analyzed, and an ecological risk assessment was conducted.

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Emerging micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics (MPs), have become a pressing water environmental concern. The aim of this study is to synthesize chitosan sponges using graphene oxide (GO) and genipin (GP) for the removal of pharmaceuticals (diclofenac (DCF) and triclosan (TCS)) and MPs, verify their adsorption mechanisms, evaluate the effects of temperature, pH, and salinity on their adsorption capacities, and determine their reusability. The GO/CS/GP sponge exhibited a macroporous nature (porosity = 95%, density = 32.

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Article Synopsis
  • The review addresses the growing problem of plastic pollution, focusing on the harmful effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the environment and human health.
  • It explores the role of enzymes and microbes in breaking down common synthetic plastics, like polyethylene and PET, and assesses their effectiveness in degrading these resistant materials.
  • Additionally, the paper stresses the importance of advanced research and analytical methods to find sustainable solutions for managing plastic waste and mitigating its impacts on ecosystems and public health.
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Diclofenac (DCF) is frequently detected in water bodies (ng/L to g/L) as it is not completely removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants. Adsorption and photocatalysis have been studied as promising methods for treating DCF; however, both processes have limitations. Thus, in this study, the removal efficiency of DCF is evaluated using a magnetite/reduced graphene oxide (FeO/RGO) nanocomposite via a coupled adsorption-catalysis process.

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Gongji Stream flows into Lake Uiam, a potable water source for the capital region of Chuncheon, South Korea. Algal blooms often occur downstream of the Gongji stream in combination with drastic flow rate variations. Downstream water quality may also be affected by Yaksa stream.

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Mercury (Hg) is widely used in many industrial processes and is released into the environment. Therefore, efficient removal of Hg from water is of vital importance worldwide. Here, we explored the adsorption characteristics of Hg(II) on polyethyleneimine-functionalized carboxymethylcellulose (PEI-CMC) beads and studied the toxicity of the beads toward Daphnia magna and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata.

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Microplastics (MP) have been recently identified as emerging water contaminants in worldwide. Owing to its physicochemical properties, MP have been considered as a vector of other micropollutants and may affect their fate and ecological toxicity in the water environment. In this study, triclosan (TCS), which is a widely-used bactericide, and three frequently found types of MP (PS-MP, PE-MP, and PP-MP) were investigated.

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Tetracyclines are one of the antibiotics widely employed worldwide and frequently detected in surface waters because of incomplete removal from wastewater treatment. Various advanced oxidation processes have been investigated for tetracyclines degradation and their transformation products (TPs) have recently gained more attention. Studies on ozonation are however seldom for the degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and doxycycline (DTC).

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Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, antibiotics, estrogens, and antiandrogens are found widely in aquatic environments. Monitoring studies by sampling surface water and effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been conducted recently to monitor antiandrogens, which, along with estrogens, cause endocrine disruption. However, few studies have investigated antiandrogenic activity (AA) combined with a chemical analyses of emerging antiandrogens.

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In this study, a metal organic framework MIL-100(Fe) was synthesized for rhodamine B (RB) removal from aqueous solutions. An experimental design was conducted using a central composite design (CCD) method to obtain the RB adsorption data (n = 30) from batch experiments. In the CCD approach, solution pH, adsorbent dose, and initial RB concentration were included as input variables, whereas RB removal rate was employed as an output variable.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Adsorption using amino silane-graphene oxide composites, such as pN-GO, psN-GO, and pssN-GO, is an effective approach to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from contaminated water.
  • - The study found that the composite with pssN-GO had the highest Cr(VI) adsorption capacity (260.74 mg/g) due to the synergistic effect of secondary amines, while primary amines showed lower efficiency.
  • - Kinetic analysis revealed that pssN-GO favored monolayer adsorption, whereas psN-GO and pN-GO experienced multilayer adsorption, with adsorption behavior best described by the pseudo-second-order model for p
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Advanced oxidation processes have gained significant attention for treating tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC), however, their oxidation using the photo-Fenton process has not been sufficiently studied. Although degradations of TC and OTC were enhanced by increasing HO and Fe within the ranges investigated (HO = 20-50 mg/L and Fe = 1-10 mg/L) under UV irradiation, further experiments for the photo-Fenton process were conducted with 20 mg/L of HO and 5 mg/L of Fe to balance efficiency and cost. The photo-Fenton process (UV/HO/Fe) was shown to be more effective to remove TC and OTC than HO, ultraviolet (UV), and UV/HO at the same doses of oxidants.

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Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most common cyanotoxin released from algal-blooms. The study investigated the MC-LR adsorption mechanisms by comparing adsorption performance of protonated mesoporous carbon/silica (MC-H, MS-H) and their amino-functionalized forms (MC-NH and MS-NH) considering surface chemistry and pore characteristics. The maximum MC-LR adsorption capacity (Langmuir model) of MC-H (37.

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Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is common polymer for electrospinning, however, its high hydrophobicity is a major drawback, which cause fouling. To introduce hydrophilicity and antibacterial activity, quaternary ammonium-functionalized amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized and blended with a PVDF/graphene oxide (GO) solution, then, electrospun and coated with a hydrophilic polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The amphiphilic block copolymer, consisting of a hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) block and a hydrophilic poly[N,N-2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl methacrylate) block (PMMA-b-PDMAEMA), was synthesized.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers developed functionalized mesoporous silica using (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) to remove chromium(VI) from water.
  • * As the concentration of APTMS increased, the surface area of the silica decreased, but its ability to absorb Cr(VI) improved significantly.
  • * The study suggests that an optimal APTMS concentration of around 0.05 M maximizes Cr(VI) removal, where electrostatic interactions play a key role.
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Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a growing issue as it is toxic and difficult to remove in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Mesoporous carbon (MC) is evaluated as an alternative adsorbent for MC-LR removal and compared with three widely-used powdered activated carbons (PACs). MC was more favorable for MC-LR removal than PACs.

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Graphene oxide (GO)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) electrospun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs) have been fabricated to remove tetracycline (TC) from water via adsorptive-filtration. The pure water permeation flux of GO/PVDF ENMs (27,407-29,337 LMH/bar) was increased compared with that of PVDF ENMs. The flow pore diameter was steadily reduced by increasing the GO content from 0 to 1.

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Article Synopsis
  • Understanding the adsorption mechanism and removal efficiency is crucial for effectively using adsorption techniques to eliminate toxic heavy metals from wastewater.
  • The study focused on the chromium removal efficiency of a silica-based nanoparticle synthesized using a one-pot technique, which showed a high adsorption capacity of 183.7 mg/g.
  • Results indicated that the adsorption of chromium ions is influenced by solution pH and involves a reduction process, where Cr(VI) is transformed into Cr(III) and Cr, with different functional groups on the nanoparticle playing distinct roles in the adsorption.
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Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/anatase TiO composite was prepared using a simple one-step technique-ultrasonic spray pyrolysis-in order to inhibit the aggregation of TiO nanoparticles and to improve the photocatalytic performance for degradation of methylene blue (MB). Different proportions (0-5 wt%) of RGO/TiO composites were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to verify mechanism. From these analysis, TiO nanoparticles are distributed uniformly on the RGO sheets with crumpled shape during ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and surface area is increasing by increasing portion of RGO.

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Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a common toxin derived from cyanobacterial blooms an effective, rapid and non-toxic method needs to be developed for its removal from drinking water treatment plants (DWTP). For an adsorption-based method, mesoporous carbon can be a promising supplemental adsorbent. The effect of mesoporous carbon (MC1, MC2, and MC3) properties and water quality parameters on the adsorption of MC-LR were investigated and the results were analyzed by kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO), and intraparticle diffusion models.

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The aim of this study was to quantify the interactions between graphene oxide (GO) and quartz sand by conducting experimental and modeling analyses. The results show that both GO and quartz sand were negatively charged in the presence of 0-50 mM NaCl and 5 mM CaCl (GO = -43.10 to -17.

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