• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to understand the limitation of organic pollutant indexes ($BOD_5$, $COD_{Mn}$, $COD_{Cr}$) and estimate to set the TOC standard by comparing oxidation rates of $BOD_5$, $COD_{Mn}$, $COD_{Cr}$ and TOC based on the 487 organic compounds and 11 effluents from industrial wastewater containing various and unknown organic compounds. The range of ratio of theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) to theoretical organic carbon (TOCt) was 0.00~5.33 and average ratio of classes of organic compounds was 2.68~3.70. According to classes of organic compounds, the average ratio of $O_2/C$ was 1.2 (range : 1.02~1.39). The order of oxidation rate for 15 organic compounds was TOC (90.7%) > $COD_{Cr}$ (88.8%) > $BOD_5$ (54.4%) > $COD_{Mn}$ (30.8%) indicating the lower oxidation rate of $BOD_5$ and COD compared with TOC. The ranking for average oxidation rate was $COD_{Cr}$ > $COD_{Mn}$ > $BOD_5$ indicating that $BOD_5$, $COD_{Mn}$ could be underestimated comparing with ThOD of organic compounds in case of industrial wastewater containing high concentration of refractory organic compounds. Most of the relationships between organic pollutant indexes and TOC were higher than 0.9. The ratio of TOC to organic compound indexes decreased in the order : $COD_{Cr}$ (3.4) > $COD_{Mn}$ > (1.9) > $BOD_5$ (0.7).

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.969-975
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• 2010

Estimating the organic matter loadings from individual treated sewage has become important for establishment of effective management strategies to control refractory organic matter (R-OM) in watersheds. For this study, regression equations were constructed using treated sewage data to convert the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations, which are mostly available from open database, into total organic carbon (TOC) and R-OM concentrations. Effluent samples were collected from five major sewage treatment plants (STPs) located upstream of the lake Paldang. Variations in the OM concentrations were not associated with either the location of the STP or the sampling season. The effluent investigated were characterized by higher ratio of R-OM with respect to biodegradable organic matter (B-OM) and higher presence of dissolved organic matters (DOM) versus particulate organic matter (POM). Compared to $COD_{Mn}$, $COD_{Cr}$ exhibited higher oxidation efficiencies and greater variations in the concentrations. The concentrations of $COD_{Mn}$ were positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total organic carbon (TOC), and R-OM concentrations. There was nearly no seasonal and annual variation in the regression equations between $COD_{Mn}$ and TOC or R-OM concentrations. The constructed regression equations for TOC and R-OM were $0.650({\pm}0.071){\times}COD_{Mn}+1.426({\pm}0.575)$ and $0.340({\pm}0.083){\times}COD_{Mn}+2.054({\pm}0.670)$, respectively. The established equations are expected to contribute to estimating OM loadings from the STPs into the lake Paldang and also to compensating for the deficiency of the data for effluent OM concentrations in STP.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4 s.92
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• pp.328-335
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• 2000

Seasonal and vertical variations of organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand (COD$_{Mn}$ were investigated to estimate a suitability of COD$_{Mn}$ methods as an index of the quantity of organic matter in Lake Soyang. Organic matter in the lake may be composed matters resistant to oxidation by COD$_{Mn}$ method, especially in de데 layers. Rations of COD$_{Mn}$ to TOC varied with season and depth layer in Lake Soyang. In the inflowing river, the ratios after summer monsoon were very low and significantly different compared with other seasons (p<0.0001 between after summer monsoon and other seasons by unpaired sample t-test). At the dam site the ratio was low in the deep layer. The ratios in deep layer were significantly different compared with those of upper and middle layers (p<0.0001 by paired sample t-test). In Lake Soyang COD$_{Mn}$ yielded only 40$ of TOC and the oxidation rate of COD$_{Mn}$ varied largely with season and depth. These results implied that the COD$_{Mn}$ does not seem to be an index or organic matter in lakes.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 1999

This study discussed the appropriateness of organic matter indexes such as biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) and chemical oxygen demand with potassium permanganate($COD_{Mn}$) in water quality environmental standard of streams and lakes and the applicability of the items to water quality environmental standard to add or substitute COD with potassium dichromate ($COD_{Cr}$) and total organic carbon(TOC) being used as index of organic matter. And indexes of organic matter content and organic carbon concentration were distinguished between dissolved and particulate component in water sample to estimate their effect on pollutants loading in lake and stream. The ratio of $COD_{Cr}$/BOD was 5.1 under BOD concentration 3mg/L in river water quality environmental standard II, and 2.67 above it. This ratio was diminished to 2.04 when BOD concentration was more than 8mg/L, in river quality environmental standard IV. Also the ratio of $COD_{Mn}$/BOD showed 2.16 under 3mg/L(BOD), and 1.1 above it. This ratio is also diminished to 0.84 over 8mg/L(BOD). Accordingly, we should apply this ratio depending on the concentration level to add and change organic matter index of water quality environmental standard newly. The ratio $COD_{Cr}/COD_{Mn}$ both in lake and stream shows 2.37(r=0.986, p<0.001). But the ratios showed range of 2.34~2.50, which is no much difference of this ratio according to $COD_{Mn}$ concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.494-502
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to understand distribution characteristics of organic matters through concentration of $BOD_5$, $COD_{Mn}$ and TOC in 31 streams in Han River region, and to establish the relationship among organic matter concentration, and discharge load and flow rate. Concentration of $BOD_5$ and TOC in 22 streams were above IV grade except 9, and the average 80.9 % of total organic matter (by TOC) accounted for dissolved organic type. Correlation among organic matter parameters were higher ($r^2$ > 0.78) and the relationship between TOC and $COD_{Mn}$ concentration was higher than $BOD_5$. Ratio of biodegradable organic matter/total organic matter in the 31 streams was estimated at 41.4 % with $BOD_5$ oxidation rate, and 78.0 % with $BOD_5/COD_{Mn}$ concentration ratio. Ratio of $NBOD/BOD_5$ concentration in four sites with $BOD_5/COD_{Mn}$ concentration ratio exceeding 1 ranged from 54.5 % ~ 79.3 %. Among 979 flow rate data measured at 31 streams, 87 % of measured data was below 0.1 cms and increased water pollution under low flow conditions. Correlation between $BOD_5$ concentration and $BOD_5$ discharge load in the watershed was low, and it was revealed that several streams have more $BOD_5$ delivery load than $BOD_5$ discharge load. Results suggest that many biodegradable forms of organic matter are being introduced into the stream from pollutant sources in the watershed.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.165-180
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• 2019

Water quality data of 81 lakes in Korea, 2013 ~ 2017 were analyzed. Most water quality parameters showed left-skewed distribution, while dissolved oxygen showed normal distribution. pH and dissolved oxygen showed a positive correlation with organic matter and nutrients, which appeared to be a nonsense correlation mediated by the algae. The ratio of $BOD_5$ and $COD_{Mn}$ to CBOD was 21 % and 52 % in the freshwater lakes, respectively. TOC concentration appeared to be underestimated by the UV digestion method, when salinity exceeds $700{\mu}S\;cm^{-1}$. In terms of nitrogen/phosphorus ratio, the limiting factor for algal growth seemed to be phosphorus in most of the lakes. Chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ increased acutely with decrease of N/P ratio. However, it seemed to be a nonsense correlation mediated by phosphorus concentration, since the N/P ratio depended on phosphorus. The N/P ratio of brackish lakes was lower than that of the freshwater, at the same concentration of phosphorus. It is worth examining denitrification that occurs, in bottom layer and sediment, during saline stratification. $Chl.{\alpha}$ concentration decreased in the form of a power function with increase of mean depth. The primary reason is that deep lakes are mainly at the less-disturbed upstream. However, it is necessary to investigate the effect of sediment, on water quality in shallow lakes. Light attenuation in the upper layer, was dominated by tripton (non-algal suspended solids) absorption/scattering (average relative contribution of 39 %), followed by CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter) (average 37 %) and $Chl.{\alpha}$ (average 21 %).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the distribution and decomposition characteristics of organic matter in stream water and sewage effluent located in Gwangju. Average of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to total organic carbon (TOC) ratio was approximately 73.9% in the Youngsan river system. The concentration of refractory dossolved carbon (RDOC) was 3.7 mg/L corresponding to 80.9% of the DOC. The ratio of recalcitrant organic carbon was relatively higher than that of biodegradable organic carbon in stream. Oxidation efficiencies in the stream were 45.0% for BOD, 63.0% for $COD_{Mn}$ and 106.5% for CODcr. In case of sewage effluent was 33.6%, 65.7% and 136.1% respectively. Mean decomposition rate ($K_d$) of Youngsan river mainstream, its tributary sites and sewage effluent were about $0.042\;day^{-1}$, $0.043\;day^{-1}$ and $0.028\;day^{-1}$, respectively and the difference was not significant between the mainstream and its tributary sites (t-test, p>0.05). $K_d$ of the sewage effluent was lower than that of stream water.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2012

This study investigated the water quality of effluents from the wastewater treatment plants, located at the Gumi Complex 4, Gumi, and Wonpyong, in Gumi. DOC accounted for higher than 70% of TOC, and oxidation efficiencies, calculated from carbon, were 13~43% for BOD and 37~73% for CODMn, respectively. Based on the biological decomposition experiments, R-DOC account for higher than 70% of DOC, mostly being occupied by refractory organic matters. This indicated that the biodegradable organics occupied more proportions of organic loadings than the refractory organics. The effect of the organics from a discharge of a sewage treatment plant on rivers, Gumi industrial Complex 4, Gumi, and Wonpyong on lower streams of the Nakdong River were found to be 15%, 6% and 16% respectively. The ratio of 15% suggests that comparatively, no large portions of TOC loadings are occupied, but the problem is that the biodegradable organic matters occupy a lot more proportions than that of the refractory organic matters. Thus, it is highly estimated that the refractory organics can gradually increase the pollution level of organics and precursors of disinfection by-products to the down-stream water treatment plants.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.413-419
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• 2010

A silica mine monitoring was conducted from March to December in 2008 to measure rainfall, runoff amounts and pollution loads. A total of 13 rainfall-runoff events were measured and analyzed with respect to runoff ratio, pollutant concentration and load, and initial flush. Over rainfall-runoff events, 95% confidence range of SS concentration was 942.5~2,056.2 mg/L. Other measured water quality indices also showed relatively large variation. This wide concentration variation was thought to be caused by the bare working ground of the mine that was used to store, process and transport the mined silica. Total pollution load of the 13 rainfall-runoff events was SS 17,901 kg/ha, $COD_{Cr}$ 160.9 kg/ha, $COD_{Mn}$ 111.24 kg/ha, BOD 79.6 kg/ha, T-N 13.8 kg/ha, T-P 3.5 kg/ha, and TOC 39.3 kg/ha. Initial flush was not well observed except SS. Very high SS concentration and load was occurred when rainfall was large. Therefore, it was recommended to manage the bare ground not to discharge excessive pollutants during wet days by covering the ground or constructing runoff treatment systems such as a sediment basin.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2013

The temporal and spatial variations of water quality in a stratified reservoir are fully dependent on the characteristics of inflow loading from its watershed and the transport regimes of pollutants after entering the reservoir. Because of the meteorological and hydrological conditions in Korea, the pollutants loading to reservoirs are mostly occur during rainfall events. Therefore it is important to understand the characteristics of pollutants loading from upstream rivers and their spatial propagation through the stratified reservoir during the rainfall events. The objectives of this study were to characterize the water quality variations in upstream rivers of Imha Reservoir during a rainfall event, and the transport and spatial variations of pollutants in the reservoir through extensive field monitoring and laboratory analysis. The results showed that the event mean concentration (EMC) of SS, BOD, $COD_{Mn}$, T-N, T-P, $PO_4-P$ are 8.6 ~ 362.1, 2.5 ~ 5.1, 1.5 ~ 5.1, 1.1 ~ 1.9, 8.3 ~ 57.1, 5.6 ~ 25.7 times greater than the mean concentrations of these parameters during non-rainfall period. The turbidity and SS data showed good linear correlations, but the relationships between flow and SS showed large variations because of hysteresis effect during rising and falling periods of the flood. The ratio of POC to TOC were 12.6 ~ 14.7% during the non-rainfall periods, but increased up to 28.2 ~ 41.7% during the flood event. The turbid flood flow formed underflow and interflow after entering the reservoir, and delivered a great amount of non-point pollutants such as labile and refractory organic matters and nutrients to the metalimnion layer of reservoir, which is just above the thermocline. Spatially, the lateral variations of most water quality parameters were marginal but the vertical variations were significant.