Jongsoo Jurng

A novel colorimetric aptasensor using gold nanoparticle for a highly sensitive and specific detection of oxytetracycline.

We have successfully developed a novel colorimetric aptasensor using gold nanoparticles for highly sensitive and specific detection of oxytetracycline (OTC), one of the most common antibacterial agents. A highly specific ssDNA aptamer that bind to OTC with high affinity was employed to discriminate other tetracyclines (TCs), such as doxycycline (DOX) and tetracycline (TET). Aggregation of AuNPs was specifically induced by desorption of the OTC binding aptamers (OBAs) from the surface of gold nanoparticles as a result of the aptamer-target interaction, leading to the color change from red to purple. The detection limit of OTC was enhanced up to 25 nM, which is 20-fold lower than the limit USA-EPA regulated, with two orders of magnitudes in its linear dynamic range by successful optimization on the amount of the aptamers, AuNPs, and salts. This colorimetric aptasensor is advantageous over the other conventional methods in terms of its simple signal generation and detection with the naked eye, which can be realized in on-site detection of antibacterial agents.

Mercury removal from incineration flue gas by organic and inorganic adsorbents

Experiments were performed to investigate various adsorbents for their mercury removal capabilities from incineration flue gases. Four different materials were tested; Zeolite, Bentonite, activated carbon (AC), and wood char. Real incineration off-gas and in-lab simulated combustion flue gases (N2 + Hg) were used. Three cylindrical-shaped sorbent columns with 5 cm in diameter and 20 cm in length were used. The gas flow rate was fixed at 660 l/h at all times. Concentrations of NO, CO, O2, CO2, SO2, H2O, HCl, and mercury were continuously monitored. Mercury removal efficiencies of natural Zeolite and Bentonite were found to be much lower than those of the referenced AC. Amount of Hg removed were 9.2 and 7.4 microg/g of Zeolite and Bentonite, respectively. Removal efficiencies of each layer consisted of inorganic adsorbents were no higher than 7%. No significant improvement was observed with sulfur impregnation onto the inorganic adsorbents. Organic adsorbents (wood char and AC) showed much higher mercury removal efficiencies than those of inorganic ones (Zeolite and Bentonite). Mercury removal efficiency of wood char reached over 95% in the first layer, showing almost same effectiveness as AC which currently may be the most effective adsorbents for mercury. Amount of mercury captured by wood char was approximately 0.6 mg/g of wood char, close to the amount captured by AC tested in this study. Hence, wood char, made from the waste woods through a gasification process, should be considered as a possible alternative to relatively expensive AC.

Spherical-shaped ice particle production by spraying water in a vacuum chamber

A theoretical and experimental study was performed to examine the water spray evaporation method for ice particle production. The conditions for the formation of ice particles were investigated theoretically by the diffusion-controlled evaporation model. The prediction by the model was proved to agree relatively well with experiments. The production of cold storage heat will increase almost proportionally to the number of spray nozzles because no substantial difference was found in the mean droplet size of the overlapped sprays from twin nozzles. Finally, based on the results, the vacuum chamber was designed, and spherical ice particles of size below 300 μm were experimentally obtained by spraying water droplets of ambient temperature in the vacuum chamber where pressure is maintained below the freezing point of water. From the experiment for producing ice particles, it was found that the spray flow rate influences the performance of the system more than the position of spray nozzle.

Study on ice slurry production by water spray

Abstract A theoretical and experimental study was performed to examine the water spray method of ice slurry production. First, the conditions for the formation of ice particles were investigated theoretically by the diffusion-controlled evaporation model. The prediction of the model was proved to agree relatively well with experiments in which we examined the conditions for a droplet of initial temperature 20°C and size 50 μm to change into an ice particle in a chamber of height 1.33 m. Second, the production of cold storage heat will increase almost proportionally to the number of spray nozzles because no substantial difference was found in the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) of sprays from single and twin nozzle. Third, an ice slurry was experimentally obtained by spraying droplets of 7% ethylene glycol aqueous solution in a vacuum chamber where pressure is maintained below the freezing point of the solution. Finally, based on the theoretical and experimental results, we propose an optimizing chart for providing the operating conditions to make ice slurry using the relations of the staying time of the droplet in the chamber, the injection pressure, the spray droplet size and the chamber pressure.

Aptamer cocktails: enhancement of sensing signals compared to single use of aptamers for detection of bacteria.

Microbial cells have many binding moieties on their surface for binding to their specific bioreceptors. The whole-cell SELEX process enables the isolation of various aptamers that can bind to different components on the cell surface such as proteins, polysaccharides, or flagella with high affinity and specificity. Here, we examine the binding capacity of an aptamer mixture (aptamer cocktail) composed of various combinations of 3 different DNA aptamers isolated from Escherichia coli and compare it with one of the single aptamers using fluorescence-tagged aptamers. The aptamer mixtures showed higher fluorescence signal than did any single aptamer used, which suggests that use of aptamer mixtures can enhance the sensitivity of detection of microbial cells. To further evaluate this effect, the signal enhancement and improvement of sensitivity provided by combinatorial use of aptamers were examined in an electrochemical detection system. With regard to current decreases, the aptamer cocktail immobilized on gold electrodes performed better than a single aptamer immobilized on gold electrodes did. Consequently, the detection limit achieved using the aptamers individually was approximately 18 times that when the 3 aptamers were used in combination. These results support the use of aptamer cocktails for detection of complex targets such as E. coli with enhanced sensitivity.

Isolation and characterization of DNA aptamers against Escherichia coli using a bacterial cell-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment approach.

Aptamers are powerful capturing probes against various targets such as proteins, small organic compounds, metal ions, and even cells. In this study, we isolated and characterized single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers against Escherichia coli. A total of 28 ssDNAs were isolated after 10 rounds of selection using a bacterial cell-SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) process. Other bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were used for counter selection to enhance the selectivity of ssDNA aptamers against E. coli. Finally, four ssDNA aptamers showed high affinity and selectivity to E. coli, The dissociation constants (K(d)) of these four ssDNA aptamers to E. coli were estimated to range from 12.4 to 25.2 nM. These aptamers did not bind to other bacterial species, including four counter cells, but they showed affinity to different E. coli strains. The binding of these four aptamers to E. coli was observed directly by fluorescence microscopy.

Catalytic conversion of 1,2-dichlorobenzene using V2O5/TiO2 catalysts by a thermal decomposition process

This study examined the catalytic oxidation of 1,2-dichlorobenzene on V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) nanoparticles. The V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) nanoparticles were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of vanadium oxytripropoxide and titanium tetraisopropoxide. The effects of the synthesis conditions, such as the synthesis temperature and precursor heating temperature, were investigated. The specific surface areas of V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) nanoparticles increased with increasing synthesis temperature and decreasing precursor heating temperature. The catalytic oxidation rate of the V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) catalyst formed by thermal decomposition process at a catalytic reaction temperature of 150 and 200 degrees C was 46% and 95%, respectively. As a result, it was concluded that the V(2)O(5)/TiO(2) catalysts synthesized by a thermal decomposition process showed good performance for 1,2-DCB decomposition at a lower temperature.

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by chemical vapor condensation method with different precursor concentration and residence time.

Nanosized TiO(2) photocatalysts were synthesized using a chemical vapor condensation method under a range of synthesis conditions (precursor vapor concentration and residence time in a tubular electric furnace). X-ray diffraction showed that the prepared TiO(2) powders consisted mainly of anatase (>94%) with a small amount of rutile. The mean particle diameter from the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and transmission electron microscopy measurements ranged from 9.4 to 16.6 nm. The specific surface area (92.5-163.5 m(2) g(-1)) of the prepared TiO(2) powders was found to be dependent on the synthesis conditions. The content of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the prepared TiO(2) sample was higher than those on commercial TiO(2), resulting in increased photocatalytic oxidation. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO(2) samples prepared in a methylene blue solution was strongly dependent on the crystallinity and specific surface area, which were affected by the TTIP vapor concentration and residence time.

Co-firing of paper sludge with high-calorific industrial wastes in a pilot-scale nozzle-grate incinerator.

Experiments on the co-firing of high-calorific industrial wastes with paper sludge were performed in a pilot-scale industrial waste incinerator with a nozzle-type grate system. The incineration capacity was approximately 160kg/h. The temporal variations in the temperatures and exhaust gas emissions were monitored and used as parameters for determining the desirable incineration conditions. The high CO emissions that were mainly due to the rapid vaporization of combustibles from high-calorific industrial wastes could be alleviated through the co-firing of sludge with the high-calorific industrial wastes. Because of the high nitrogen content in the sludge, the increase in the co-firing rate caused higher NO emissions in the flue gas. If the total calorific value of the feed was lower than 750,000kcal/h, for 25-30% of sludge co-firing, the temperature of gases exiting the secondary combustion chamber might be lower than that required by regulations.

An aptamer cocktail-functionalized photocatalyst with enhanced antibacterial efficiency towards target bacteria

We developed TiO2 particles conjugated with an Escherichia coli surface-specific ssDNA aptamer cocktail (composed of three different aptamers isolated from E. coli) for targeted and enhanced disinfection of E. coli. We examined the target-specific and enhanced inactivation of this composite (TiO2-Apc), which were compared to those of TiO2 conjugated with a single aptamer (one of the three different aptamers, TiO2-Aps) and non-modified TiO2. We found that TiO2-Apc enhanced the inactivation of targeted E. coli under UV irradiation compared to both the non-modified TiO2 and TiO2-Aps. A higher number of TiO2-Apc than TiO2-Aps particles was observed on the surface of E. coli. The amount of TiO2-Apc required to inactivate ∼99.9% of E. coli (10(6) CFU/ml) was 10 times lower than that of non-modified TiO2. The close proximity of functionalized particles with E. coli resulting from the interaction between the target surface and the aptamer induced the efficient and fast transfer of reactive oxygen species to the cells. In a mixed culture of different bacteria (E. coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis), TiO2-Apc enhanced the inactivation of only E. coli. Taken together, these results support the use of aptamer cocktail-conjugated TiO2 for improvement of the target-specific inactivation of bacteria.