School of Chemistry and Biochemistry senior Heo Joon-nyeong (principal author) and Doh Jung-yeon (corresponding author) in the Graduate School of Chemistry PhD program
Students completed the entire thesis drafting process without assistance from an advisor
Research paper published in the latest issue of an international journal in the industrial chemistry sector
[February 13, 2019]
The joint research of an undergraduate and graduate school student of the YU School of Chemistry and Biochemistry came to fruition.
This research achievement was especially more significant because students completed the entire process of drafting a thesis from finding a problem, experimenting and coming up with conclusions without the assistance of an advising professor. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry senior Heo Joon-nyeong (24, bottom on photo) was the principal author and Doh Jeong-yeon (27, top on photo) currently working on her doctorates at the Graduate School of Chemistry was the corresponding author for this study. This paper was pre-released on the online version of the international academic journal in industrial chemistry <Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, impact factor (IF) 4.84> and it is scheduled to be carried in the journal to be released on February 25.
The study they presented was on the development of dye waste water treatment photocatalysts that are cheap, yet highly efficient. In this study, they used rice bran as carbon resources to recycle wastes, while lowering catalyst manufacturing costs.
The principal author Heo Joon-nyeong said, “It takes less than 60 minutes to completely remove 100ppm of methyl orange by using rice brans. It exhibits better photo-activation than the better-known titania photocatalyst.” He added, “We presented a method to supply cheap photocatalysts that are excellent for organic decomposition in mass quantities.”
Ms. Doh Jeong-yeon said, “By designing the catalyst to collect catalysts after reaction to be reused by utilizing the magnetic properties of iron, not only is it economical, but it also collects the magnetic catalysis using a magnet, therefore making it eco-friendly that can prevent secondary environmental pollution resulting from the catalysts after reaction. Moreover, it uses rice bran as carbon resources thus increasing the recycling of wastes, giving it triple effects and making it very useful both academically and industrially.”
The research capacities of the YU School of Chemistry and Biochemistry is famous for both undergraduate and graduate schools. Students participate in research with professors and graduate school students from their undergraduate years and has thus achieved outstanding research results such as continuously presenting SCI papers from undergraduate school years.
Mr. Heo who will graduate on February 22 said, “I will go on to graduate school and conduct research on developing heat catalysts that have high value for industrial use,” and added, “I would like to contribute in Korea’s renewable energy industry.”
