• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.847-870
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• 2023

The safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste requires accurate predictions of the long-term geochemical behavior of radionuclides. To achieve this, the present study was conducted to model geochemical behaviors of uranium (U), plutonium (Pu), and palladium (Pd) under different hydrogeochemical conditions that represent deep groundwater in Korea. Geochemical modeling was performed for five types of South Korean deep groundwater environment: high-TDS saline groundwater (G1), low-pH CO₂-rich groundwater (G2), high-pH alkaline groundwater (G3), sulfate-rich groundwater (G4), and dilute (fresh) groundwater (G5). Under the pH and Eh (redox potential) ranges of 3 to 12 and ±0.2 V, respectively, the solubility and speciation of U, Pu, and Pd in deep groundwater were predicted. The result reveals that U(IV) exhibits high solubility within the neutral to alkaline pH range, even in reducing environment with Eh down to -0.2 V. Such high solubility of U is primarily attributed to the formation of Ca-U-CO₃ complexes, which is important in both G2 located along fault zones and G3 occurring in granitic bedrocks. On the other hand, the solubility of Pu is found to be highly dependent on pH, with the lowest solubility in neutral to alkaline conditions. The predominant species are Pu(IV) and Pu(III) and their removal is predicted to occur by sorption. Considering the migration by colloids, however, the role of colloid formation and migration are expected to promote the Pu mobility, especially in deep groundwater of G3 and G5 which have low ionic strengths. Palladium (Pd) exhibits the low solubility due to the precipitation as sulfides in reducing conditions. In oxidizing condition, anionic complexes such as Pd(OH)₃^-, PdCl₃(OH)₂^-, PdCl₄^2-, and Pd(CO₃)₂^2- would be removed by sorption onto metal (hydro)oxides. This study will improve the understanding of the fate and transport of radionuclides in deep groundwater conditions of South Korea and therefore contributes to develop strategies for safe high-level radioactive waste disposal.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2011

The application of fibrous activated carbon (FAC)-titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) hybrid system has not been reported yet for the control of malodorous dimethyl sulfide (DMS) at residential environmental levels. Accordingly, the current study was designed not only to characterize this hybrid system using x-ray diffraction method, particulate surface measurement and Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) method, but also to evaluate its adsorptional photocatalytic activity (APA) for the DMS removal. The physical/surface characteristics of FAC-$TiO_2$ which was prepared in this study suggested that the hybrid material might have certain APA for DMS. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific area, total pore volume, micropore volume and mesopore volume decreased all as the $TiO_2$ amounts coated on FAC increased, whereas the reverse was true for average pore diameter. $TiO_2$ coated onto FAC did not influence the adsorptional activity of FAC for the DMS input concentration of 0.5 ppm. The APA test of the hybrid material presented that the initial removal efficiencies of DMS were 93, 78, 71 and 57% for the flow rates of 0.5, 1.0, l.5 and 2.0 L/min, respectively, and they decreased somewhat 2 h after the experiment started and kept almost constant for the rest experimental period. Under this pseudo-equilibrium condition, the DMS removal efficiencies were 78, 58, 53 and 36% for the four flow rates, respectively. Meanwhile, there were no significant byproducts observed on the surfaces of the hybrid material. Consequently, this study suggests that, under the experimental conditions used in the present study, the hybrid material can be applied for DMS at residential environment levels without being interfered by any byproducts.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.295-303
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Anaerobic digestion process is recently adapted technology for treatment of organic waste such as animal manure because the energy embedded in the waste can be recovered from the waste while the organic waste were digested. Ever increased demand for consumption of meat resulted in the excessive use of antimicrobials to the livestocks for more food production. Most antimicrobials administered to animals are excreted through urine and feces, which might highly affect the biological treatment processes of the animal manure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of antimicrobials on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion process and to clarify the interactions between antimicrobials and anaerobes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experiment was consisted of two parts 1) batch test to investigate the effects of individual antibiotic compounds on production of methane and VFAs(volatile fatty acids), and removal efficiency of organic matter, and 2) the continuous reactor test to elucidate the effects of mixed antimicrobials on the whole anaerobic digestion process. The batch test showed no inhibitions in the rate of methane and VFAs production, and the rate of organic removal were observed with treatment at 1~10 mg/L of antimicrobials while temporary inhibition was observed at 50 mg/L treatment. In contrast, treatment of 100 mg/L antimicrobials resulted in continuous decreased in the rate of methane production and organic removal efficiency. The continuous reactor test conduced to see the influence of the mixed antimicrobials showed only small declines in the methane production and organic matter removal when 1~10 mg/L of combined antimicrobials were applied but this was not significant. In contrast, with the treatment of 50 mg/L of combined antimicrobials, the rate of organic removal efficiency in effluent decreased by 2~15% and the rate of biogas production decreased by 30%. CONCLUSION(s): The antimicrobials remained in the animal manure might not be removed during the anaerobic digestion process and hence, is likely to be released to the natural ecosystem. Therefore, the efforts to decline the usage of antimicrobials for animal farming would be highly recommended.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.584-595
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• 2021

In this study, the correlation between operating stages of waste air-treating system composed of two alternatively-operating UV/photocatalytic reactors, and the deactivation of photocatalyst used in each operating stage, was investigated by instrumental analysis thereon. The repeated deactivation and subsequent re-generation of photocatalyst used in the waste air treating system of previous investigation performed by Lee and Lim (Korean Chem. Eng. Research, 59(4), 574-583(2021)), were characterized on virgin photocatalyst-carrying porous SiO₂ media (A4), used photocatalyst-carrying porous SiO₂ media (A1, A2 and A3) collected from the corresponding photocatalytic reactor upon 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd run, respectively, regenerated photocatalyst-carrying porous SiO₂ media upon 1 time-run (AD1) and 3 times regenerated photocatalyst-carrying porous SiO₂ media upon 3 time-runs (AD3) by instrumental analysis including BET analysis, SEM, XPS, SEM-EDS and FT-IR. As a result, the proper regeneration-temperature for deactivated photocatalyst to be regenerated several times (more than 3 times), was suggested below 200 ℃. Such temperature of deactivated photocatalyst-regeneration was almost consistent to the one, according to BET analysis, at which tiny nano-pores blocked by adsorbed ethanol-oxidative and degraded intermediates (AEODI), were regenerated to be reopened through almost complete mineralization of AEODI. In particular, the results of XPS analysis indicated an incurrence of insignificant deactivation of photocatalysis upon 1^st run of UV/photocatalytic reactor (A or C) of the previous investigation. In addition, the results of XPS analysis were consistent with the experimental results of the previous investigation in that 1) deactivation of photocatalyst incurred during 2^nd run of the UV/photocatalytic reactor (A or C) resulted in decreased removal efficiency, by ca. 5% and 5%, of ethanol and hydrogen sulfide, respectively, compared with its 1^st run; 2) there was insignificant difference between the removal efficiencies of its 2^nd run and 3^rd run. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies of ethanol and hydrogen sulfide for hypothetical 4^th run of photocatalytic reactor in the previous investigation, using AD3, were expected to decrease, compared with its 3^rd run, by much more than those for 2^nd run in the previous investigation did, compared with its 1^st run.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2022

CuCl₂-loaded V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ catalyst showed excellent activity in the catalytic oxidation of elemental mercury to oxidized mercury even under SCR condition in the presence of NH₃, which is well known to significantly inhibit the oxidation activity of elemental mercury by HCl. Moreover, it was confirmed that, when SO₂ was present in the reaction gas together with HCl, excellent elemental mercury oxidation activity was maintained even though CuCl₂ supported on the catalyst surface was converted to CuSO₄. This is thought to be because not only HCl but also the SO₄ component generated on the catalyst surface promotes the oxidation of elemental mercury. However, in the presence of SO₂, the total mercury balance before and after the catalytic reaction was not matched, especially as the concentration of SO₂ increased. In order to understand the cause of this, further studies are needed to investigate the effect of SO₂ in the SnCl₂ aqueous solution employed for mercury species analysis and the effect of sulfate ions generated on elemental mercury oxidation. It was confirmed that SO₂ also promotes NO_x removal activity, which is thought to be because the increase in acid sites by SO₄ generated on the catalyst surface by SO₂ facilitates NH₃ adsorption. The composition change and structure of the components present on the catalyst surface under various reaction conditions were measured by XRD and XRF. These measurement results were presented as a rational explanation for the results that SO₂ enhances the oxidation activity of elemental mercury and the NO_x removal activity in this catalyst system.

• 한국산학경영학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.101-123
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• 2004

This study examines empirically the significant changes in tax payments when the consolidated tax return is introduced in the future. We estimate the consolidated tax payments under the eight cases which are classified as such : whether only 100% ownership subsidiaries should be included or 80% and over, whether all subsidiaries should be included or only subsidiaries with loss, and whether unrealized profits from intercompany transactions should be excluded or not. After estimating the consolidated tax payments, we test the difference between the consolidated tax payments and the sum of the individual tax payments of the subsidiaries. The results of the test show that the consolidated tax payments are significantly less than the sum of the individual tax payments of the subsidiaries. We interpret that the inclusion of the losses of the subsidiaries in the consolidated tax base makes the tax payment decrease. Based on our analysis about 3.8 billion Won per each parent company would decrease due to the introduction of the consolidated tax return. And we find that under the mandatory consolidated tax return system the significant difference between the consolidated and individual tax payment exists except that the only 100% ownership subsidiaries are included and unrealized profits from intercompany transactions are not excluded. However, when the parent companies have the discretion to select the consolidated subsidiaries, the consolidated tax payments are significantly less than the sum of the individual tax payments of the subsidiaries regardless of the ownership percentage, inclusion of the loss of the subsidiaries and exclusion of the unrealized profits.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2006

Laboratory column experiment for simultaneous removal of Cd and Cr(VI) were conducted using newly developed material of Fe-loaded zeolite having both reduction ability and sorption capacity. The solution containing Cd and Cr(VI) was injected into the column and the breakthrough curves (BTCs) for the contaminants were observed at the effluent port. Cd breakthrough was not initialized until Cr(VI) breakthrough was completed. Therefore it could be concluded that overall efficiency of Fe-loaded zeolite should be determined by the reactivity for Cr(VI). The relative concentration of Cr(VI) BTC increased to the unit value while initial breakthrough was delayed and the propagation of breakthrough was slowed. In order to quantitatively describe the shape of Cr(VI) BTC, new parameters of ${\alpha}\;and\;{\beta}$ designated to be shape parameters, were defined and applied in contaminant transport concentration. These parameters were employed to represent the degree of initial breakthrough delay and the degree of breakthrough propagation, respectively. As initial contaminant concentration increased, ${\alpha}$ decreased, which indicated the delay of BTC's initiation. And as initial contaminant flow rate increased, ${\beta}$ decreased, which represented the faster propagation of the BTC. From these results, Fe-loaded zeolite was found to be an effective reactive material for PRBs against heavy metals having different ionic forms in groundwater. And it could be expected that as groundwater flows faster, the propagation of breakthrough would be faster and as contaminant concentration is higher, the initial point of breakthrough would appear earlier.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 2005

Catalytic wet oxidation of ppm levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) in water has been conducted using $TiO_2$-supported cobalt oxides at a given temperature and weight hourly space velocity. 5% $CoO_x/TiO_2$ might be the most promising catalyst for the wet oxidation at $36^{\circ}C$ although it exhibited a transient behavior in time on-stream activity. Not only could the bare support be inactive for the wet decomposition reaction, but no TCE removal also occurred by the process of adsorption on $TiO_2$ surface. The catalytic activity was independent of all particle sizes used, thereby representing no mass transfer limitation in intraparticle diffusion. Characterization of the $CoO_x$ catalyst by acquiring XPS spectra of both fresh and used Co surfaces gave different surface spectral features of each $CoO_x$. Co $2p_{3/2}$ binding energy of Co species exposed predominantly onto the outermost surface of the fresh catalyst appeared at 781.3 eV, which is very similar to the chemical states of $CoTiO_x$ such as $Co_2TiO_4$ and $CoTiO_3$. The spent catalyst possessed a 780.3 eV main peak with a satellite structure at 795.8 eV. Based on XPS spectra of reference Co compound, the TCE-exposed Co surfaces could be assigned to be in the form of mainly $Co_3O_4$. XRD measurements indicated that the phase structure of Co species in 5% $CoO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst even before reaction is quite comparable to the diffraction lines of external $Co_3O_4$ standard. A model structure of $CoO_x$ present on titania surfaces would be $Co_3O_4$, encapsulated in thin-film $CoTiO_x$ species consisting of $Co_2TiO_4$ and $CoTiO_3$, which may be active for the decomposition of TCE in a flow of water.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 1999

The reaction properties of Pd. Pd-Ce and Pd-La catalysts supported on ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ were investigated in the oxidation reaction of methane($CH_4$) exhausted from the compressed natural gas vehicle in a U-tube flow reactor with gas hourly space velocity of $72,000h^{-1}$. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), BET surface area and hydrogen chemisorption. Pd catalyst prepared by $Pd(NO_3)_2$ as a palladium precursor and calcined at $600^{\circ}C$ showed the highest activity for a methane oxidation. Catalytic activity of calcined $Pd/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ in which most of palladium was converted into palladium oxide species was higher than that of reduced $Pd/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ in which most of palladium existed in palladium metal by XRD. As increasing the number of reaction cycles in the wide range of redox, the catalytic activity of $Pd/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ was decreased and the highly active window became narrower. Lanthanum oxide promoted Pd catalyst, $Pd/La/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ showed enhanced thermal stability compared with $Pd/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ even after aging at $1000^{\circ}C$, which was ascribed to the role of La as a promoter to suppress the sintering of palladium metal and ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ support. Almost all of methane was removed by the reaction with NO at the redox ratio of 1.2 in case of oxygen excluded steam, but that activity was significantly decreased in the steam containing oxygen.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.388-395
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• 2016

This paper explores the photocatalytic sensitivity of cement mortar incorporated with recycled $TiO_2$ from waste water sludge. Basically, $TiO_2$ cluster sank down slowly to the bottom of cement mortar specimen before setting and hardening process. This leads the mismatch of $TiO_2$ concentration on the top and the bottom faces of a specimen. This poorly dispersed $TiO_2$-cement mortar naturally exhibits poor NOx removal efficiency especially on the top of cementitious structure. In architectural engineering application such as building or housing structures, one can simply filp over from the bottom so that more $TiO_2$ concentrated surface can be placed outward into the air. However, in highway pavement case, this could not be applicable due to in-situ installation of concrete pavement. Hence, the dispersion of $TiO_2$ cluster inside the cementitous material is getting important issue onto road construction application. To elaborate this issue, according to our results, silica fume, high-ranged water reducer, viscosity agent, blast furnace slag were not enhanced much of dispersion characteristics of $TiO_2$ cluster. The combination of foaming agent and accelerator of hardening with viscosity agent and small grain size of fine aggregate may help the dispersion of $TiO_2$ inside cementitious materials. Even though the enhanced dispersion were applied to the specimen, NOx removal efficiency doest not change much for the top surface of the specimen. This concurrently affected by the presence of tiny air voids and the dispersion of $TiO_2$ in that these voids could easily adsorbed NOx gas with the aid of large surface area.