Jae-Kon Kim

Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 translocates to mitochondria in the early phase of apoptosis induced by synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid derivatives in human stomach cancer cell line SNU-1.

Abstract: Apoptosis‐inducing activity of synthetic CDCA derivatives, HS‐1199 and HS‐1200, on gastric cancer cell line SNU‐1 cells was explored. CDCA derivatives demonstrated various apoptosis hallmarks, such as mitochondrial changes, activation of caspase, DNA fragmentation, and nuclear condensation. Importantly, the orphan receptor Nur77 (TR3) was shown to translocate from the nucleus to mitochondria at the early time points after CDCA derivatives treatment. These data support the theory that CDCA derivatives‐induced apoptosis of SNU‐1 gastric cancer cell lines is mediated by mitochondria and caspase, and, at least in part, by Nur77.

Upgrading of pyrolysis bio-oil using WO3/ZrO2 and Amberlyst catalysts: Evaluation of acid number and viscosity

Tungstated zirconia (WO3/ZrO2 with WO3 loadings of 9.9 (WZ9.9), 15.5 (WZ15.5), and 15.7 wt% (WZ15.7)) and Amberlyst (15, 35, 36, 39 and 45) catalysts were employed to upgrade pyrolysis bio-oil of acacia sawdust through an esterification reaction using methanol at atmospheric pressure and room temperature or 80 °C. The upgrading efficiency was evaluated by measuring the total acid number (TAN) and viscosity. The viscosity and TAN of the resulting upgraded bio-oil were found to be dependent on the calcination temperature of the WO3/ZrO2 catalysts. At room temperature, the largest decrease in viscosity and TAN of the bio-oil and methanol mixture was obtained using WZ9.9 tungstated zirconia calcined at 900 °C. An increase in reaction temperature to 80 °C improved the flowability and TAN of the methanol-added bio-oil using WZ9.9 activated at 900 °C. The product distribution of the bio-oil upgraded using methanol revealed esterification to be the dominant reaction pathway under the reaction conditions of this study. When the ether extracted bio-oil was upgraded at 80 °C using methanol over catalysts, the Amberlyst catalysts were found more effective than tungstated zirconia catalysts in enhancing the esterification reaction and reducing TAN.

Stabilization of bio-oil over a low cost dolomite catalyst

A low cost alkaline catalyst of dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) was used to stabilize acacia sawdust bio-oil mixed with methanol. The upgrading efficiency was evaluated in terms of the total acid number (TAN) and viscosity. A change in the dolomite calcination temperature from 700 to 900 °C led to a significant change in the TAN and viscosity of the methanol-added bio-oil. Dolomite activated at higher temperatures had larger amounts of active CaO and MgO species due to the enhanced decarboxylation of calcium and magnesium carbonates. An increase in the dolomite content (1-5 wt%) decreased the TAN value of bio-oil remarkably. A thermal aging test of the methanol-added bio-oil upgraded using dolomite (calcined at 900 °C) at 50 °C for 24 h was carried out by storing the bio-oil at 80 °C for one week. Although the TAN value increased after the aging process, it was still lower than the TAN of raw bio-oil. In addition, increasing the methanol content (10-30 wt%) decreased the TAN and viscosity of the bio-oil significantly.

Study on Potential Feedstock Amount Analysis of Biodiesel in Korea

>> Recently, the Renewable Fuel Standard(RFS) has been commenced from July 31, 2015 in the New and Renewable Energy Act for expanding the supply of renewable energy and reduction of national GHG target in Korea. The biodiesel is only a means of implementation for the RFS, therefore the biodiesel supply expansion is important for fulfilling the RFS obligation policy. The major key points of the biodiesl supply are expanding domestic feedstocks due to the over 60% dependence on foreign feedstock and reducing the price of feedstock because of the over 70% occupation of feed stock price in the biodiesl production cost. Therefore, we estimated actual amount of potential feedstocks which are possible to use for biodiesl production in Korea and investigated technical and political improvements for expanding biodiesl. For estimating a potential feedstocks, first selected the potential biodiesl feedstocks by investigating the status of global biodiesl feedstocks and then analyzed the possible potential amount of each feedstock by surveying the generation situations, the distribution structures and the technical level.

A Study on the Performance and Exhaust Emissions Characteristics of LPG Engine using LPG Fuel with New Sulfur Free Odorant

In general, odorants are added to fuel gases, such as LPG, LNG and city gas, to prevent gas poisoning, ignition, explosion, or other accident caused by fuel gases, and to enable immediate and easy detection of fuel-gas leakage by emitting an offensive smell. This study describes a study on the performance and exhaust emissions (CO, THC, CO 2, NO x, SO 2) characteristics of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engine using LPG fuel with new sulfur free odorant (K-Petro S-Free). New sulfur free odorant (40 mg/kg) was added to 2 type LPG fuels for summer, and winter and it was used in performance and exhaust emissions, compare to LPG fuel with sulfur containing odorant (EM, ethyl mercaptan). Engine performance using LPG with sulfur free odorant was similar to LPG with sulfur-containing odorant. Exhaust emissions (CO, THC, CO 2, NO x) of LPG with sulfur free odorant were also similar characteristics, compare with sulfur containing odorant. Especially, SO 2 emission using LPG with K-Petro S-Free odorant was more reduced 83 % than LPG with sulfur containing odorant(EM) at 2000 rpm.

Study on Effect of Phase Separation of Bioethanol Blends Fuel by Water Contents

>> When bioethanol and water are mixed at a proper ratio, phase separation can occur because of the immiscibility of biobutanol with water. Phase separation in bioethanol blends fuels is a major problem for gasoline vehicle users due to effect of octane number and component corrosion. Thus, in this study, the phase separation of bioethanol was examined effect of bioethanol blends (E3 (3 vo.% bioethanol in gasoline), E5 and E10) in presence of water. The effect were evaluated behavior with phase separation test, simulation test of fuel tank in gas station according to water addition volume and it was investigated change of water content, bioethanol content and octane number for gasoline phase in bioethanol blends (E3, E5 and E10) every 1 week after water addition. The E3 occurred phase separation more easily than the E5 and E10 in small water contents because solubility of water on ethanol content difference in gasoline-ethanol. It was kept a initial level of water content, bioethanol content, and octane number by repeated sample replacing in simulation test of fuel tank.

A Study on Contaminants Analysis of Components in LPG Fuel System

Recently, it was reported that complaints about problems being experienced with the performance of vehicles operating on autogas in Korea. The problem was being assumed due to contaminants in LPG and an oily material which was being deposited in vaporizer, injector in LPG fuel system. This study is focused on the analysis of contaminant of automobile parts on LPG fuel system. The sampling points of contaminants are injectors, fuel filters, vaporizer in automobile equipment and it was also investigated by GC-MS, ICP-AES, SIMDIS and EDS. According to results, it was presumed that this contaminants had been analyzed plasticizers with hydrocarbons with high boiling point, Fe from steel corrosion, greases from gas station.