• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.68-75
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• 2018

The rare earth elements (REE) contents in coal ashes generated from domestic circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) were identified for evaluating the exploitation possibilities for recovering rare earth elements. Total REE contents for all of the samples in this study ranged from 82.2 ~ 311.7 ppm, much lower than the 403.5 ppm given on the average value of world coal ash. As a result of analysis using REE concentration and Outlook coefficient, six types of coal ashes falls in the unpromising area (I). These results suggest that it is difficult to recover rare earth element from coal ashes at this stage. It has been confirmed that to recover rare earth elements in coal ashes, research on the pretreatment and concentration process for critical REE is requirement.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2007

The objectives of this study are: (1) to compare the rates and pathways of organic matter minerlaization at stagnant freshwater wetland in Shiwha to highly irrigated coastal wetland in Ganghwa; and (2) to discuss the significance of irrigation into the sediment in controlling the organic carbon oxidation in Shiwha wetland. Concentrations of $CO_2$, $NH_4{^+}$ and $H_2S$ in the pore water of the Shiwha wetland were 3 times, 30 times, and 3 times higher than that in the pore water of the Ganghwa wetland, respectively. The ratio of Fe(III) to total reduced sulfur at the Ganghwa wetland was 12 times higher than at the Shiwha wetland. The results indicated that the Ganghwa wetland with frequent tidal inundation were relatively oxidized than highly stagnant Shiwha wetland. Rates of organic matter oxidation at the Ganghwa wetland ($0.039mM\;C\;h{-1}$) was 390 times higher than that at the Shiwha wetland ($0.0001mM\;C\;h{-1}$). Rates of sulfate reduction at the Shiwha wetland ($314{\sim}580nmol\;cm^{-3}\;d{-1}$) were comparable to the sulfate reduction at Ganghwa wetland ($2{\sim}769nmol\;cm^{-3}\; d{-1}$), whereas Fe(III) reduction rates were 1.7 times higher at the Ganghwa wetland ($0.1368{\mu}mol\;cm^{-3}\;d{-1}$) than at the Shiwha wetland ($0.087{\mu}mol\;cm^{-3}\;d{-1}$). The results implied that the water flow system of the Shiwha wetland was too stagnant to flush out the reduced pore water from the sediment, and thus anaerobic microbial respiration was limited by the availability of electron acceptors.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.5 s.174
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• pp.547-561
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• 2005

General characteristics of groundwater contamination by As were reviewed with several recent researches, and its occurrence in groundwater of Korea was investigated based on a ffw previous studies and a groundwater quality survey in Nonsan and Geumsan areas. In Bangladesh, which has been known as the most serious arsenic calamity country, about $28\%$ of the shallow groundwaters exceeded the Bangladesh drinking water standard, $50{\mu}g/L$, and it was estimated that about 28 million people were exposed to concentrations greater than the standard. Groundwater was characterized by circum-neutral pH with a moderate to strong reducing conditions. Low concentrations of $SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$, and high contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and $NH_4^+$ were typical chemical characteristics. Total As concentrations were enriched in the Holocene alluvial aquifers with a dominance of As(III) species. It was generally agreed that reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides was the main mechanism for the release of As into groundwater coupling with the presence of organic matters and microbial activities as principal factors. A new model has also been suggested to explain how arsenic can naturally contaminate groundwaters far from the ultimate source with transport of As by active tectonic uplift and glaciatiion during Pleistocene, chemical weathering and deposition, and microbial reaction processes. In Korea, it has not been reported to be so serious As contamination, and from the national groundwater quality monitoring survey, only about $1\%$ of grounwaters have concentrations higher than $10{\mu}g/:L.$ However, it was revealed that $19.3\%$ of mineral waters, and $7\%$ of tube-well waters from Nonsan and Geumsan areas contained As concentrations above $10{\mu}g/:L.$. Also, percentages exceeding this value during detailed groundwater quality surveys were $36\%\;and\;22\%$ from Jeonnam and Ulsan areas, respectively, indicating As enrichment possibly by geological factors and local mineralization. Further systematic researches need to proceed in areas potential to As contamination such as mineralized, metasedimentary rock-based, alluvial, and acid sulfate soil areas. Prior to that, it is required to understand various geochemical and microbial processes, and groundwater flow characteristics affecting the behavior of As.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2018

Baekasan Acheon cave located in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do is a natural limestone cave only found in this province. In this study, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of speleothems collected from Baekasan Acheon cave were identified and the capability of carbonate mineral formation by aerobic microorganisms enriched from the cave and the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of carbonate minerals formed by the microorganisms were investigated. The samples of sediments (clay) and speleothems (shelfstone and cave coral) were collected at three sites in the cave. The samples of shelfstone and cave coral were identified mainly as carbonate mineral, Mg-rich calcite, and clay minerals were composed of quartz, muscovite, and vermiculite by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. To cultivate the carbonate forming microorganisms, parts of the sediment and speleothems were placed in D-1 medium containing urea, respectively, and the growth of microorganisms was observed under the aerobic condition at room temperature. The capability of carbonate mineralization of the cultured Baekasan Acheon cave microorganisms was examined through adding 1% (v/v) of the cultured microorganisms and calcium sources, Ca-acetate or Ca-lactate, into the D-1 medium. XRD analysis showed that the microorganisms cultured in cave deposits formed calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) under all conditions, and these microbial carbonate minerals included calcite and vaterite. The morphological characteristics and chemical composition of biologically formed minerals were observed by SEM-EDS showed various crystal forms such as rhomboid, spherical, perforated surface with Ca, C, and O of major chemical components. The existence of such microorganisms in the cave can contribute the formation of carbonate minerals, and it is likely to affect the geochemical cycles of carbon and calcium in the cave.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2003

The two experiments in this study compared litter nitrogen (N) contents after broiler chicks were raised for 42 days. Experiment I compared litter treated with aluminum sulfate (alum) [Al$_2$(SO$_4$)$_3$ㆍ14$H_2O$] (T$_1$) with nontreated litter (T$_2$) when the broiler chicks were fed the same levels of dietary protein (23% for 0∼3 weeks, 21% for 4∼6 weeks) Experiment 2 compared the alum treated litters of broiler chicks fed high protein diets (T$_3$) having 20.4% protein for 0∼3 weeks and 19.3% for 4∼6 weeks, with lower protein diets (T$_4$) having protein levels of 18.0% for 0∼3 weeks and 17.0% for 4 6 weeks. Each treatment had four replicate cages. As shown in Table 1, T$_1$ had a significantly (P<0.0l) lower pH and significantly (P<0.05) higher total N (TN), NH$_4$-N and inorganic N (IN) than T$_2$. T$_1$ and T$_2$ had similar moisture, organic carbon (OC), NO$_3$-N and organic N (ON). Alum treatment increased available N (AN) significantly (P<0.05) from 13.75$\pm$0.0l mg/g to 14.90$\pm$0.01 mg/g and predicted available N (PAN) significantly (P<0.05) from 15.00$\pm$0.0l to 16.50$\pm$0.02. The C : N ratios were 18.84$\pm$0.40 (T$_1$) and 19.46$\pm$0.10 (T$_2$) while the C : ON ratios were 28.49$\pm$1.15 (T$_1$) and 28.34$\pm$0.20 (T$_2$) although C : N ratios or C : ON ratios did not show any difference between T$_1$ and T$_2$. In Table 2, T$_3$ had significantly (P<0.05) higher moisture, TN, NH$_4$-N, ON and IN than T$_4$, while the pH, OC and NO$_3$-N were similar in both groups. The AN of T$_3$ increased significantly (P<0.05) from 10.99$\pm$0.0l mg/g to 12.98$\pm$0.03 mg/g, while the PAN increased significantly (P<0.05) from 12.39$\pm$0.10 mg/g (T$_4$) to 14.68$\pm$ 0.30 mg/g (T$_3$). The C : N ratios increased significantly (P<0.0l) from 20.07$\pm$0.20 (T$_3$) to 24.40$\pm$0.10 (T$_3$). The C : ON ratios also increased significantly (P<0.0l) from 28.99$\pm$1.15 (T$_3$) to 35.51$\pm$0.20 (T$_4$). These current research results show increased AN contents and PAN contents in alum treated litter or with increased CP levels regardless of alum treatment. However, none of the litters in this study could initially increase mineralization.