초록 ▼

○ 해양심층수 산업 현장에 필요한 지원기술 및 정책의 연구개발을 통한 해양심층수 산업 활성화 지원함을 목표로 함
○ 해양심층수 미네랄 수질조정 기술과 미네랄 염 분리 추출 기술을 개발하여 보급형 Hybrid 수질조정 담수화 시스템 개발하여 먹는물 수질기준 만족하는 경도 1000 mg/L 고 미네랄 수 제조 및 에너지 절감 30%을 달성 함.
○ 최종 연구개발 성과물인 해양심층수 고 미네랄탈염수 및 미네랄농축수의 식품 사용 확대를 위한 안전성 평가자료 확보를 통한 해양심층수 처리수의 식품이용 범위 확대 함.
○ 해양심

○ 해양심층수 산업 현장에 필요한 지원기술 및 정책의 연구개발을 통한 해양심층수 산업 활성화 지원함을 목표로 함
○ 해양심층수 미네랄 수질조정 기술과 미네랄 염 분리 추출 기술을 개발하여 보급형 Hybrid 수질조정 담수화 시스템 개발하여 먹는물 수질기준 만족하는 경도 1000 mg/L 고 미네랄 수 제조 및 에너지 절감 30%을 달성 함.
○ 최종 연구개발 성과물인 해양심층수 고 미네랄탈염수 및 미네랄농축수의 식품 사용 확대를 위한 안전성 평가자료 확보를 통한 해양심층수 처리수의 식품이용 범위 확대 함.
○ 해양심층수 고경도 미네랄 추출물의 세포 및 동물실험에서 의학적 효능 (비만/당뇨/혈류개선/암 전이예방 등)과 안전성을 확인하여 해양심층수 고미네랄 처리수의 기능성 데이터베이스화 및 다양한 제품개발에의 활용 기반 마련.
○ 해양심층수 시장 인식조사을 거쳐 마켓팅 전략을 수립하고, 관련 법률을 재정비하여 해양심층수 활성화 정책을 개발하고 제2차 해양심층수 기본계획을 수립함.

Abstract ▼

IV. R&D Results

The execution results by the study contents and scope for the present R&D, are summarized as follows.
For this purpose, we performed (1) mineral water quality adjustment technology development, (2) evaluation of the safety/functionality of mineral desalted water and mineral

IV. R&D Results

The execution results by the study contents and scope for the present R&D, are summarized as follows.
For this purpose, we performed (1) mineral water quality adjustment technology development, (2) evaluation of the safety/functionality of mineral desalted water and mineral salt, (3) validation of the clinical efficacy of deep sea water mineral extracts with regard to obesity and diabetes, (4) Study on regulations and laws, (5) awareness survey and market strategy formulation. These results can be summarized as follows.

(1) Mineral water quality adjustment technology development: The purpose of this study is to develop a high hardness water manufacturing process, which conforms to potable water quality standards, by a mineral water quality adjustment technology which removes sulfate and chlorine ions while retaining useful minerals such as magnesium and calcium during sea water desalination process. Concentrated deep seawater and desalted deep sea water were manufactured by passing the deep sea water through reverse osmosis membrane. Primary mineral enriched deep seawater, from which sodium chloride was not removed, was manufactured using nano-filtration membrane. Mineral enriched desalted water was manufactured by removing sodium chloride from the mineral enriched deep seawater through electro dialysis ion-exchange membrane. The mineral enriched desalted water was diluted with desalted deep seawater, which was obtained through RO, to produce high hardness drinkable deep sea water . RO can separate dissolved substance and fresh water from deep sea water. When RO is used for the second time, a pure desalted water can be produced, which is completely free from dissolved substances (more than 99.9% of the dissolved substances are removed), and has a hardness of less than 1 mg/L and a chloride ion concentration of 2.3 mg/L. The gap (10- 9 m ) of the NF membrane allows the passage of 50% of the magnesium and calcium, and more than 90% of the monovalent ions such as chloride and sodium ions. The NF membrane can separate and concentrate hardness components such as magnesium and calcium, and salt components such as sodium and chloride ions; however, complete separation is not achieved. The ED separates the divalent ions of the hard components, and monovalent ions of the salt component according to electrical conductivity. When the electrical conductivity is more than 20 mS/cm, hard components (such as magnesium and calcium ions) are not removed; conversely, salt components (sodium and chloride ions) are continuously removed. Therefore, a high hardness concentrated water removed with hardness concentration of 12,600 mg/L and chloride ion concentration of 2,446 mg/L could be manufactured by concentrating hard components such as magnesium and calcium in high hardness water (initial) using nano-filtration membrane, and removing the salt components using electrodialysis membrane. When such high hardness water is diluted 10 times with secondary RO production water, in which the dissolved substances are completely removed using RO, it was possible to manufacture high hardness water (hardness concentration, 1,260 mg/L; chloride ion concentration, 244 mg/L) which confirms potable water quality standards. RO / NF / ED or NF / ED associated processes can concentrate hard components such as magnesium and calcium while removing salt components such as chloride, sodium, potassium, and sulfate ions, and produce high hardness water which meets drinkable water quality standards. Moreover, the energy consumption during this process could be reduced.

(2) Evaluation of safety/functionality of mineral desalted water and mineral salt: Through the present study, we validated blood circulation improvement, liver damage improvement, and improvement in blood lipid components incurred due to the high cholesterol diet, by deep sea mineral desalted water. In addition, such effects were most visible when the hardness was 1,500 mg/L; conversely, the effects were insignificant at hardness of 2,000 mg/L. This implies that the hardness adjustment of deep sea mineral desalted water is important for the cholesterol related metabolic diseases.
Along with the above study, we also investigated the effects on the occurrence and metastasis of cancer, anticancer drug resistance, and anticancer drug side effects to expand the functionality evaluation of deep sea mineral desalted water. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility of the anti-metastatic enhancement activity of chitosan oligosaccharide through the combined treatment with chitosan oligosaccharide. The results validated that deep sea water effectively inhibits metastasis in all the three types of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3).1n addition, metastasis inhibition efficacy study on IIT-29 human colon cancer cells showed that deep sea mineral desalted water inhibits metastasis. Moreover, our research team confirmed that the anti-metastatic activity by the deep sea mineral desalted water is controlled by other mechanism according to type of cells. Also, it was validated that the combination treatment with chitosan oligosaccharide would promote the metastasis inhibition effect of chitosan oligosaccharide. In addition, we investigated the effects of the efficacy of deep sea mineral water on Epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition, which is the starting point of metastasis activity, and Wnt signal transmission. Deep sea mineral desalted water also shows inhibitory effect on Epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition and Wnt signal transmission. As the metastasis inhibitory ability of deep sea water are materialized and systematized, the above results prove that deep sea water can be utilized as a material for the development of metastasis inhibitor, and it can significantly increase anti-metastasis functionality by combining with chitosan oligosaccharide.
The problems that are encountered during cancer treatment process are the side effects such as drug resistance and damage to the normal cells by the anti -cancer drugs. In particular, the drug resistance is closely related to Epithelial mesenchymal transition that is observed during the anti-cancer drug treatment process. Therefore, these problems must be overcome to Improve the cancer treatment efficiency. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of deep sea mineral desalted water on drug resistance due to anticancer drug, and cardiac toxicity due to doxorubicin which is extensively used in cancer treatment. Firstly, we investigated whether deep sea mineral desalted water would promote the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs. The results showed that deep sea mineral desalted water increases the rate of cell death due to anticancer drug. Next, it was also validated that deep sea mineral desalted water effectively inhibits the manifestation of drug resistance and the epithelial - mesenchymal cell transition due to anti-cancer drug. In addition, the study on the effects of doxorubicin on the death of myocardial cells validated that deep sea mineral desalted water inhibits the death of myocardial cells due to doxorubicin. The validation was represented by a way of DNA damage suppression. The above results prove that deep sea mineral desalted water is an excellent material for preventing the side effects and drug-resistance due to anti -cancer drug
Our research team conducted toxicity tests with regard to mineral desalted water and functionality validation of deep sea mineral desalted water. The results indicated that deep sea mineral desalted water of hardness 4,000mg/L did not show toxicity even when consumed. In addition, along with deep sea water related functionality and safety evaluation data, domestic and overseas deep sea water related functionality data was constructed. Total of 54 functionality data were investigated, and a database was created by classifying the data by diseases so that it would help in analyzing future deep sea water related data.
Combining all the above study results, the present study team successfully conducted a comprehensive and specific survey for the functionality expansion of deep sea mineral desalted water, and validated the improvement of the anticancer drug resistance and side effect on efficacy of deep sea mineral desalted water which was never validated by any domestic and overseas research institutions. In addition, providing a classification system of the functionality data of deep sea water, this study is highly significant in that it has facilitated easy systematic approach of future study on deep sea water.

(3) Validation of the medical efficacy of deep sea water mineral extracts for obesity and diabetes: It could be validated that deep sea water increases the function and biosynthesis of mitochondria by directly involving in mitochondrial metabolism. Such action mechanism is inferred as one of the anti-diabetic and anti-obesity action mechanism of deep sea water, and can be proposed as one of the important subject matter in formulating strategies for preventing and treating metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, which result from imbalance in energy metabolism such as the mitochondrial metabolism.
High hardness mineral extract 1) inhibited adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in cells since both are dependent on hardness, 2) inhibited the manifestation of genes involved in the generation of triglycerides and lipid degeneration which are the important functions of adipocytes, 3) inhibited the manifestation of core gene involved in adipocyte differentiation, 4) inhibited the manifestation of gene related to lipid synthesis, 5) controlled the manifestation of adipocyte derived cytokines, 6) increased glucose uptake by fat and muscle cells.7) controlled the manifestation of gene related to glucose metabolism in muscle cells,8) controlled the manifestation of target gene in the treatment of metabolic diseases in fat and muscle cells. It was possible to validate the efficacy capacity and action mechanism of high hardness mineral extracts by validating these results. In addition, the following were validated through high-fat diet induced obesity and type 2 diabetes animal model, and streptozotocin induced type 1 diabetes animal model experiment: 1) inhibition of weight gain and fatty liver formation, 2) reduction of blood triglycerides and cholesterol, 3)Anti-obesity effect such as decrease in adipose tissue according to decrease in the size of adipocytes. Also, the following anti-diabetic effects were confirmed: 1) suppression of hyperglycemia, 2) glucose tolerance improvement, 3) improvement in pancreases functions such as increase in insulin secretion, 4) reduction in the manifestation of genes related to gluconeogenesis, 5) increase in the manifestation of genes related to glycolysis and glucose uptake. On the other hand, it could be validated by an experiment related to anti-obesity and anti-diabetic action mechanism of high hardness mineral extracts that mycocytes and liver cells showed mcrease in mitochondrial biosynthesis and functions due to high hardness mineral extracts. In summary, the activity of reduced mitochondrial metabolism, which is often observed in diabetes and obesity, increases due to high hardness mineral extracts; and thus, the metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes will be finally improved, which are induced by the imbalance in energy metabolism, through activation of energy metabolism such as glucose and lipid metabolism

(4) Study on regulations and laws: Deep sea water resource can be developed only in some countries such as the USA, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea due to location criteria. As for South Korea, most sea water of the East Sea have conditions that can be developed as deep sea water. However, the USA, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea show some difference in the maturity of industry and utilization types from the time when these countries started showing interest in deep sea water. For example, the USA is utilizing deep sea water mainly in air-conditioning, differential thermal generation, and fisheries sector, whereas in Japan, the proportion of using deep sea water in product generation and industrial utilization has been high. However, related studies are being actively carried out for expansion into relatively high value-added areas such as medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, and tertiary industries, and some of them are practically used. Thus, the utilization of deep sea water is expected to expand to the value-added industries such as medical and pharmaceutical industries in future.
South Korea's deep sea water development policies have been changing step by step from the earlier stages of development till present. In particular, South Korea Is only country managing development activity and industry by legislating deep sea water law. However, these legislated laws have rather posed limitations to industry in some parts, and thus, issues are being raised to improve the legal system in several areas at industrial sites. Initially, the legislation was started with the objective of preventing the disturbance of the market from excessive competition and managing uncertain environmental damage factors, and thus, it is inherited with such regulatory aspects. However, the domestic industry is in the new environment, which is different from that of the time when the laws were enacted, and now it is the time to attempt new changes in deep sea water development and industry. For example, Taiwan, which is a latecomer compared to South Korea, and Japan are switching from the local government-oriented support system for R&D to high -value added industry for utilizing the characteristics of rich minerals of deep sea water in the medicine and pharmaceuticals in addition to drinking water. Such foreign country cases provide good suggestions for finding ways of changing the conditions of industrial stagnations currently faced by the deep sea water industry. Likewise, the regulatory aspect of law should be actively reviewed to improve the legal system by reflecting the substantial demand of industry to increase the internal and external competitiveness and vitalize the industry.
On the other hand, the problem in expanding the food product utilization range of deep sea concentrated water, which has been pointed out as the biggest issue in the diversification promotion of deep sea industry, should be addressed in terms of industry vitalization by improving the decreasing phenomenon of international industrial competitiveness caused by limiting the parts that are not regulated in foreign countries. For example, considering deep sea water as a kind of sea water, Taiwan approves its edible source and is not limiting the manufacture of related products. She is commercially manufacturing various products utilizing mineral concentrated water, which is the core element of deep sea water. In addition, these products are aimed to promote the expansion of future overseas market. Even in Japan, deep sea mineral concentrated water Is used in various forms in food products, which are in the limelight.
Industry competitive country, which expects to develop deep sea water industry and occupy market share in overseas market of related products, puts efforts to secure related technology and market by opening the industrial utilization, which is similarly regulated by South Korea. Hence, recognizing this fact, South Korea should carefully review the regulations for various utilization of deep sea water and high value-added industrial development
On the other hand, in South Korea, because the awareness about deep sea water is low and the scientific base with regard to efficacy and characteristics of deep sea water is insufficient, the purchasing power of deep sea water related products is decreasing. Moreover, there is a lack of consistent effort with regard to industrial technology R&D of country or enterprise. Therefore, the scientific base data of deep sea water must be created from a long-term perspective, and relevant R&Ds should be carried out in practical aspects, in which companies and research institutions are linked.
Since 2014, a new five year development plan of deep sea water has been started. The second basic plan of deep sea water proposed a new industrial policy direction by examining the existing deep sea industry development form and the problems of industry. Such new policy directions are rough sketches that would provide a new turning point for South Korea's deep sea industry. However, actual practice through securing finance is important so that such plans do not remain just in planning but possess execution ability for them to be able to contribute to actual industrial development. Efforts and investment should be continuously made at the government level with a focus on main challenges for action plan by derived parts, and executing this action plan. Such main challenges should be promoted organically with major policy directions of the government.
In addition, the conditions should be created to expand the utilization and use scope of deep sea water within the market principles by creating awareness about the efficacy and characteristics of deep sea water among food manufacturers and general public. To this end, there is an urgent need to continuously carry out studies on the efficacy and pharmacological action of deep sea water that have not been identified yet. In future, the government should provide a base that enables to organically perform technology development and policy, and industrial policy by showing more interest in building a cooperation system of academia - Industrial cooperative associations

(5) Awareness survey and market strategy formulation : In the present study, the basic strategies for deep sea water industry development were proposed by 27 detailed strategies in five strategic factors such as the technology-driven industrial development strategy, industry cluster configuration strategy, deep sea water marketing strategy, information technology (IT) utilization strategy, and industry advancement strategy. Among the proposed results, three strategies, deep sea water industry DB construction, industry portal website construction, and content co-production/dissemination have been developed completely and are operating, 13 strategies are being promoted, and remaining strategies are in suggestion/planning stage. Six detailed strategies have been proposed for the effective configuration of industry cluster, which is a new deep sea water industry development strategy of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Technology-driven industrial development strategy is a strategic goal for designing future deep sea water challenges through the status of current deep sea water related market, identifying industry competency, and investigating developed country industry and market cases.
The main methodology of the present study is to derive conclusions through various statistical and scientific analysis method by collecting material and data through consumer survey, expert survey, official interview, reference literature review, market and industry research, various data related to industry and macro-economy/industry, and various relevant DB. Strategies were derived according to strategy development process, and case analysis and industrialization strategies were derived using management framework such as benchmarking and best practice. Patents related to deep sea water of overseas important deep sea water developed country were investigated and analyzed to propose technology development direction for future deep sea water development.
○ The status of short term development strategy shows that deep sea water industry have recorded a continuous deficit for several years due to excessive initial capital investment and deep sea water oversupply. When main corporate investment index i.e. Return on Asset (ROA) index is viewed, it was analyzed that for three major deep sea water industry it was very difficult to procure investment from outside. Deep sea water awareness and reliability in domestic market has not been significantly improved, and public relations (PR) for improving the lack of corporate funding have not been vitalized. Because of this, the sales have not increased significantly. Due to lack of funds, at first it was difficult to continuously perform premium water strategy that was the main strategy adopted by the deep sea water industry, and due to this, differentiation of deep sea water was not achieved and factory price were cut. This is related to turnover and liquidity deterioration, and leads to continuous vicious circle of further worsening the financial indicators.
Deterioration of financial indicators of deep sea water industries is the biggest obstacle for the current deep sea water industry development. Hence, as a short term development strategy, reliving financial difficulties through financial investment should be the priority. For this purpose, promotion of funding strategy through various financial techniques such as deep sea water funds were proposed. After improving the financial indicators, efforts should be made for maintaining continuous company finance/charity soundness through a sound investment promotion and vitalization. Mitigation of the financial burden of companies can be considered through collectivization of water intake equipment installation operation, which has been recently discussed. Funding is required for deep sea water promotions and umbrella branding for sales increases. In particular, marketing strategies were proposed through search engine marketing such as Internet media by considering the financial limitations faced by the deep sea industry, and the characteristics of deep sea water products and target market.
The current status of medium-and long-term development strategy shows that deep sea water industry tried deep sea water ads through vanous media in the past, but there was no significant effect. It was because the PR which Is not accompanied with deep sea water product differentiation and awareness promotion does not show sustained effect. It was analyzed from the survey results that the difficulty in deep sea water product differentiation was due to lack of accurate scientific evidence till now. In addition, the deep sea water product family released in the market were produced as natural mineral water, and awareness has not be created well due to lack of product diversification. On the other hand, it was analyzed that in the case of Japan, which has experienced maturity of deep sea water industry, product diversification showed successful results by creating a synergy effect in market awareness improvement. Deep sea water financial analysis showed that competitiveness strengthening of deep sea water industry in market is difficult due to decrease in the business management efficacy of deep sea water industry, and this is predicted as the big obstacle for sales increase.
For this, the medium-and long-term development strategies are as follows. A study on the scientific evidence of deep sea water efficacy is required for the maximization and sustainable promotion of deep sea water promotion effect that was proposed as a short-term strategy. As in the success cases of deep sea water developed country, promotional/advertising activities should be performed for creating awareness synergy effect between deep sea water products by seeking deep sea water awareness improvement in the market through deep sea water product diversification. Core technology development is necessary for product diversification; to this end, there is a need for the execution of product development strategy at each step. Industry competitiveness strengthening is required through systematic management of deep sea water related technology and technology transfer/diffusion between deep sea water industries. The industry rationalization and competitiveness strengthening should be pursued through construction and utilization of information system.