• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the removal efficiencies of organic matter and pharmaceuticals and to identify the removal mechanism of pharmaceuticals using sand obtained from Hwangryong River in Jangsung. Batch and column studies were used to simulate managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems. All experiments were performed using field effluent containing pharmaceuticals from Damyang Wastewater Treatment Plant as an influent. Based on the removal results of organic matter and pharmaceuticals from the batch and column experiments, soil organic matter (SOM) and microbial activity were found to effectively remove target contaminants. The removal of organic matter was found to increase under biotic conditions. Neutral and cation pharmaceuticals (iopromide, estrone, and trimethoprim) exhibited removal efficiencies higher than 70% from natural sand and baked sand media in batch and column studies. Carbamazepine persisted in the sand batch and column studies. Anion pharmaceuticals (ketoprofen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac) can be removed under conditions featuring high SOM and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations in the sand surface. Based on the experimental Batch and column results, biodegradation and sorption were found to be important mechanisms for the removal of pharmaceuticals within the simulated MAR systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.637-643
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate how reversible and irreversible fouling were distributed in the filtration using ceramic membrane of 300 kDa pore size for secondary effluent of wastewater. It was performed by calculating fouling as numerical method for diverse TMPs and measured F-EEM and SEC for raw water, treated water and backwashed water. Water quality was also checked to know whether treated water quality was stable or not. The results showed that reversible fouling formation was increased when lower TMP was applied and it is caused by protein like organic matters having higher molecular weights. The secondary wastewater effluent had diverse molecular weight materials, especially contaminants lower than 0.5 kDa and bigger than 12 kDa. Decreasing TMP induced contaminants above 12 kDa and below 1 kDa to become reversible fouling.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2012

In this study, experiment on phosphorus removal was performed by using microbubble liquid film flotation tank with microbubble module. After dissolving gas and liquid in dissolving tank, microbubble liquid film system created microbubbles in equal size under fixed low pressure. After being passed through $A_2O$ and m-$O_3$ process, secondary treatment wastewater was used as influent in phosphorus removal process. When the T-P concentration of influent was 2.89 mg/L, alum(8%, 30 mg/L) was injected into a microbubble flotation tank, the treatment resulted 94% of T-P removal rate. Remaining T-P concentration was less than 0.2 mg/L, which is in accord with the effluent quality standard. Seasonal variations in water temperature showed no differences in T-P removal property. When the inflow concentration of SS was 1.0 mg/L or more, it served as coagulation nuclei in the coagulation process. In that condition, average T-P removal rate was higher than 97%. When 50% of floated scum was returned, coagulator Al included in scum assisted the injected coagulator and maximized the coagulation efficiency of pollutant. In such treatment, the T-P concentration was measured as 0.18 mg/L and satisfied the outflow water quality standard, which is 0.2 mg/L or less.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.277-289
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• 2011

Since 1980s, wastewater treatment facilities in Korea have been rapidly expanded by 90 percent as the government invested them continuously. Considering social and environmental factors such as the needs of alternative water resources for water shortages, energy saving and new energy production sources for decrease of greenhouse gases, and the demand for the improvement of the water quality in rivers and lakes, advanced technologies in wastewater treatment are essential in the 21st century. In this aspect, new conceptual technology is systematically combined with the advanced treatment technology such as the control and treatment technology of hazardous and toxic material, customized reusing skill, and energy saving/recovery technology. The new R&D project for advanced technology of wastewater treatment and reuse will focus on these advanced technologies which will improve the water quality and foster the competitiveness in world environmental markets, building a solid foundation particularly in the market of developing countries. The project will be divided up into high quality reusing of wastewater, energy self-sufficiency, and integrated management system. It will be carried out for five years, 2011~2015, as Phase I.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.574-579
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• 2019

As interest in health issues increases, it is imperative to ensure good water quality from wastewater treatment plant effluent to preserve environmental health. In particular, currently there is a lack of water ecosystem risk assessment on pharmaceutical substances remaining in effluent. In this study, antidepressant escitalopram (ESC), antiepileptic carbamazepine (CBZ) and lead, which impact the behavior of aquatic organisms, were used to test their impact on the potential behavior of zebrafish. Zebrafish have been widely used in toxicological assessment studies due to the ease of handlinggenerically and genetically. It was possible to observe changes in the growth of organisms through monitoring the embryos' cognitive and behavior assessment. In this study, the embryo lethal dose test showed that the lethal concentration of ESC and CBZ was at 10 ppb, which is below the water quality criterion (100 ppb), increased by 32.5 % and 40 %, respectively. In the cognitive test, it was found that the cognitive ability function decreased by 22 % and 17% for ESC(500 ppb) and CBZ(1,000 ppb) respectively relative to control. Based on these results, it is necessary to initiate efforts to remove these trace pollutants from sewage treatment facilities to protect the health of aquatic organisms.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1643-1650
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• 2013

This study investigated water quality of effluents and stream from the sewage treatment plants located at Gumi Complex 4, Gumi, and Wonpyeong in Gumi. Downstream region was found to increase the concentration of nutrients for sewage treatment plant effluent. Both phosphorus and nitrogen were accounted most as soluble form. In particular, the high ratio of dissolved effluent of sewage treatment plants were investigated. In the streams, Phosphorus concentration was high during rainy season and nitrogen concentration was high in the dry season. Sewage treatment plant effluent was relatively less microbial activity and nutrient concentrations were higher in the winter. TN/TP ratio was the highest in the upstream region and the lowest in the sewage treatment plant effluent. The effect of the nutrient matter from a discharge of a sewage treatment plant on rivers varied depending on the size of the river and the treatment plant. However, the influence of the concentration was greater than that of flowrate. Sewage treatment plant effluent loads phosphorus, nitrogen accounted for 8% and 6% respectively at the point N3 of the Nakdong river.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.12 no.2 s.31
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• pp.49-56
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• 2006

The application of domestic wastewater on rice paddies results in the accumulation of sodium(Na$^+$) to the soil. Excessive concentration of sodium may cause the deterioration of the physical characteristics of the soil, change in the osmosis of the soil, destruction of soil aggregates as well as ion toxicity due to sodium accumulation. Using domestic wastewater as irrigation water should be preceded by measures to prevent or control the soil salinization caused by sodium. Agricultural reuse of domestic wastewater were found not to cause serious problems with food safety due to heavy metals. However, pre-treatment using ultraviolet or ozone is recommended to reduce the number of bacteria and gem and for public health reasons. Using domestic wastewater has shown that reducing the standard application of chemical fertilizers by as much as 50% reduced the harvesting index by only 10%. This study has shown that it is feasible to reuse domestic wastewater on rice paddies. In order to facilitate the application, it is deemed necessary to establish wastewater treatment technologies in the future, to review criteria for recycling domestic wastewater for agricultural purposes such as conditions of soil and cropping system and to resolve conflicts with farmers and public health issues.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.12 no.2 s.31
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• pp.57-64
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• 2006

The experiment was carried out to determine the distribution of total coliform the translocation of heavy metals and the salt accumulation in soils following the supply of ground water, the domestic wastewater and the ultraviolet treatment of domestic wastewater during the spinach and the chinese cabbage cultivation. There were not much changes in the Total-N, Total-P and cations in soils following the ultraviolet treatment of the domestic wastewater. However, the density of total coliform was dramatically reduced from 894MPN/100mL to 5MPN/100mL. The diagnosis of composition of soil after the harvest of chinese cabbages and spinach has shown that the concentration of Na$^+$ was 3-4 times higher in plot using domestic wastewater than in plot using ground water. When domestic wastewater and ground water were used in growing spinach md chinese cabbage at 50% each, the application of chemical fertilizers reduced about 25% to 50% compared to the criteria set down by the Rural Development Administration and there was not significant difference in terms of harvest. Using non-ultraviolet treatment of domestic wastewater directly on spinach and chinese cabbage has resulted in excessive density of total coliform at 25,000MPN/100mL. Even when ultraviolet treatment, the density was still high at 2,000MPN/100mL. The high density of total coliform even following ultraviolet treatment of domestic wastewater is considered to be caused by photo-reactivation of micro-organism. When reusing domestic wastewater, the application of sterilization such as ultraviolet, ultrasonic and electron-beam for public health and hygiene reasons may provide safe supply of agricultural water.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.216-225
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• 2018

Over the past 40 years, the public sector has continued to invest in the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Korea. Currently, the domestic sewage treatment rate is over 90% with the enhancement of operating efficiency of the STPs, and water quality of major rivers has been continuously improved. However, COD and T-N indicators are stagnating or slightly worsening, and though advanced treatment facilities are installed in most of the STPs, there is a limit to the removal of nutrients. Since there are a lot of water pollution sources in the vicinity of the watershed because of high population density in Korea, it is essential to reduce the inflow of the nutrients in order to prevent the eutrophication of the rivers and lakes. While the effluent T-P standard in STPs has greatly strengthened since 2012, which results in the considerable investment for the improvement of treatment process in STPs for the last few years, it is necessary to strengthen the T-N standards, as the effluent standard of T-N has been maintained at 20 mg/L since 2002. In this study, based on the analysis of the effluent T-N standard status of major industrialized countries, and the domestic nitrogen load in public waters, the option of appropriate T-N standard level is reviewed, and the required investment costs and the effect of strengthening the standard are estimated.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.323-323
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• 2019

최근 충주댐 하류에 위치한 남한강 본류에서는 봄철 지속되는 가뭄으로 인한 유량부족과 인근 주요 유입하천으로부터의 과다한 영양염류 유입으로 갈수기 수질오염 문제가 빈번히 발생하고 있다. 그러나 아직까지 충주댐 하류 남한강 본류 하천을 대상으로 기후변화에 따른 장래 갈수기 수질변화 예측과 상류 유역에서의 유량 확보가 본류 하천 갈수기 수질에 미치는 영향을 정량적으로 분석한 연구는 미흡한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 충주댐 하류 남한강 본류 구간과 주요 유입하천을 대상으로 유역 및 수질 모델 연계를 통해 극한 가뭄 사상에 따른 남한강 본류의 장래 갈수기수질 변화를 예측하고, 섬강 유역 내 갈수기 유량 확보 시나리오 적용을 통해 극한 가뭄 사상에서의 섬강 말단 및 남한강 본류 갈수기 수질 개선 효과를 분석하였다. 갈수기 유량 확보 시나리오는 산림 간벌에 따른 증발산량 저감 및 침투량 증진 시나리오로 구성하였다. 시나리오 적용 결과, 섬강 유역에서의 갈수기 평균 유량은 최대 2.19배까지 증가하는 것으로 분석되었으며, 갈수기 수질평균 농도는 최대 BOD5 20.5%, T-N 40.8%, T-P 53.4%까지 개선되는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 섬강 유역에서의 갈수기 유량 확보에 따라 남한강 본류 갈수기 수질 평균 농도는 최대 BOD5 5.22%, T-N 5.42%, T-P 7.69%까지 개선되는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구의 결과를 통해서 산림 간벌에 따른 기저유량의 확보가 갈수기 하천 수량 및 수질에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것을 간접적으로 확인할 수 있었으며, 이는 수량 수질뿐만 아니라 수생태계 건강성 연속성 유지 측면에서 큰 기여를 할 수 있을 것이라 판단된다. 따라서, 섬강 유역 내 갈수기 유량 확보 방안으로 적절 수준의 산림 간벌 대책이 강구되어야 할 것이며, 산림 간벌 이외에 갈수기 유량 확보를 위한 빗물 이용, 공공하수처리시설 방류수 재이용, 우수의 저류 및 침투시설 확충 등 다양한 대책이 검토되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.