• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.395-403
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• 2023

The paper investigates the effect of two parameters - sand content (SC) and grain migration during shearing - on the mechanical properties of gravel-sand mixtures. Consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial tests were carried out on eight series of mixtures containing gravel (1<d<16 mm) and sand (0.1<d<1 mm). The prepared mixtures have sand contents of 0, 10, 15, 20, 40, 54, 94 and 100%, and a relative density of 60%. The transition sand content (TSC) is experimentally defined and marks the transition from gravel-driven to sand-driven behavior. For SC<TSC, the dry density of the mixture increases with SC. This induces an increase in undrained peak strength and dilative trend. The slope and position of the critical state line (CSL) are also deeply dependent on SC. At SC=TSC, the mixtures exhibit the largest dry density and yield the highest undrained peak strength and the largest dilative trend. During shearing, large internal migration of grains was observed at the TSC, causing heterogeneity in the sample. Analysis of the CSL deduced from the final points of the triaxial tests shows that, at the TSC, failure appears to correspond to the behavior of the coarsest fraction of the soil. This fraction is located in the upper part of the sample, where the sand particles had been eliminated by suffusion. On the other hand, in the more stable materials, the CSL is consistent with the bulk grain size distribution of the soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.33-44
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• 2023

A risk assessment on the heavy metals including arsenic (As), cupper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) was investigated by setting exposure routes in agricultural fields. Moreover, the factors requiring improvement in risk assessment were also discussed through a review of the dermal absorption slope factor (SF_abs) and total amount of suspended particles (TSP) in the current risk assessment guidelines. Assessment results show that the total cancer risk (TCR) of As through crop and soil ingestion was 1.51E-03 in adults and 6.37E-4 in children, which indicated a carcinogenic risk (exceeding 1E-05). On the other side, the harzard index (HI) was 3.37 in adults and 1.41 in children, which was evaluated as having a non-carcinogenic risk (>1). The carcinogenic purification targets for As were calculated to be 6.84 mg/kg in adults and 6.86 mg/kg in children, while the non-carcinogenic purification targets were calculated to be 13.43 mg/kg for adults and 22.54 mg/kg for children. When applying SF_abs 61 of the current guidelines, it appears that there is a carcinogenic risk even though the As exposure concentration is below the area of concern 1 standard (25 mg/kg), which suggestes that additional research on this factor is required for the risk assessment. In order to apply the measured suspended particle concentration to risk assessment, TSP should be derived from PM10 using an appropriate correlation equation. As a result, it is suggested to improve the risk assessment guidelines so that the mesured PM10 value measured in the field can be used directly.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-171
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the effect of physicochemical properties and mix ratios of iron ore (oxide feed): coke (reductant) on the carbothermic reductions of iron ore. Coke size was fixed at ≤63 ㎛ while iron ore size varied between 150-63 ㎛ and ≤63 ㎛ respectively. Mix ratios were changed from 100:0 (reference) to 80:20 and 60:40 while the temperature, heating rate and soaking duration in muffle furnace were fixed at 1100 ℃, 10 ℃/min and 1 hour. Particle size analyzer, XRF, CHNS and XRD analyses were used for determination of raw feed characteristics. The occurrence of phase transformations from various forms of iron oxides to iron during the carbothermal reductions were identified through XRD profiles and supported with weight loss (%). XRF analysis proved that iron ore is of high grade with 93.4% of Fe₂O₃ content. Other oxides present in minor amounts are 2% Al₂O₃ and 1.8% SiO₂ with negligible amounts of other compounds such as MnO, K₂O and CuO. Composite pellet with finer size iron particles (≤63 ㎛) and higher carbon content of 60:40 exhibited 45.13% weight lost compared to 32.30% and 3.88% respectively for 80:20 and 100:0 ratios. It is evident that reduction reactions can only occur with the presence of coke, the carbon supply. The small weight loss of 3.88% at 100:0 ratio occurs due to the removal of moisture and volatiles and oxidations of iron ore. Higher carbon supply at 60:40 leads into better heat and mass transfer and diffusivity during carbothermic reductions. Overall, finer particle size and higher carbon supply improves reactivity and gas-solid interactions resulting in increased reductions and phase transformations.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.204-208
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• 2012

Water repellency which affects infiltration, evaporation, erosion and other water transfer mechanisms through soil has been observed under several natural conditions. Water repellency is thought to be caused by hydrophobic organic compounds, which are present as coatings on soil particles or as an interstitial matter between soil particles. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of the water repellent soil and transport characteristics of trace elements within this soil. Capillary height of the water repellent soil was measured. Batch and column studies were accompanied to identify sorption and transport mechanism of trace elements such as $Cu^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$ and $Mo^{5+}$. Difference of sorption capacity between common and repellent soils was observed depended on the degree of repellency. In the column study, the desorption of trace elements and the spatial concentration distribution as a function of time were evaluated. The capillary height was in the repellency order of 0% > 15% > 40% > 70% > 100%. No water was absorbed in soil indicating >70% repellency. Using trace elements, $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mo^{5+}$ showed higher sorption capacity in the repellent soil than in non-repellent soil. The sorption performance of $Fe^{2+}$ was found to be in the repellency order of 40% > 15% > 0%. Our results found that transfer of $Mo^{5+}$ had similar sorption tendency in soils having 0%, 15% and 40% repellency at the beginning, however, the higher desorption capacity was observed as time passes in the repellent soil compared to in non-repellent soils.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.271-281
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• 2001

The characteristics of the heavy metal contamination in the soils affected by the tailings of the Palbong mine have been studied. The soils in the studied area consist mostly of loam by the particle size analysis, but a little of it, located near the stream, consist of loamy sand to sandy loam, finally to loam downward. The organic contents of soils are significantly low aoom 2 percent and the pH is in acidic ranging 6.0 $\pm$ 0.1. The samples of the parent rocks, the normal soils, the tailings and the channel deposits from the studied area were chemically analysed. From the result, the heavy metal concenlration of the soils is a little Jow compared with that of the parent rocks, shows the hydrologic process of the surface and the groundwater. The contamination of the tailings from the ore mining are high in lead, copper and arsenic. In the channel deposits the concenlrations of lead and copper are abnormally high but that of arsenic is uniquely low. And most of heavy metal contamination are decreased with the distance from the mine. It is caused by the properties of the surface and the ground water during the process of the heavy metal migration. The correlation-coefficient between sand and silt contents and the concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb are significant but the amounts of As and Hg are increased with the clay contents. The dispersion of the heavy metals with the distance shows that the concentrations of them in the soils sampled at distance of 100 m to 200 m along the stream started near the Palbong mine are extremely high compared with those from other distances. These discrepancies are significant in Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg, but low in As. All the samples contain below detection limit of Cr+6 In the present stream water the concentrations of the heavy metals are not detected. So, it is interpreted that the concentrations in the soils are caused by the activities of the mining during the operation and have been continued by the dispersion from the tailings since after the closure of the mining, especially by the surface and ground water. The concentrations are diminished with the distance from the mining site, but in the interval of 800-2000 m increases abruptly. In the soil samples counted on the dispersion direction by wind, the lowering of the concentration is relatively uniform with the distance from the mining site. So, the rapid increase of the heavy metal concentrations is presumed to have been caused by the ground-water movement. In the migration of the heavy metals, the groundwater conditions, such as pH, Eh, the contents of colloidal particles, and Mn and Fe oxides are closely involveo. Integrating with these factors, it is interpreted that the groundwater conditions which have caused the heavy metal contamination of the studied area are those that the pH is about 3 in oxidized conditions, the contents of the colloidal particles are low, and Mn and Fe oxides are not involved in the migration of the heavy metals. Meanwhile, the vegetables growing on the soils in the studied area are not affected by the contamination of the heavy metals.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2005

Background : Airborne particles during Yellow Sand phenomena are known to be associated with the respiratory disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentration and metal component properties of Yellow Sand particles and compare with airborne microbial concentration and species in non Yellow Sand and Yellow Sand phenomena. Methods : Samplings were carried out in 2002 in Seosan, during non Yellow Sand and Yellow Sand phenomena. Samples were taken using the 8-stage Cascade impactor and metallic elements were analyzed by XRF. Those were culture on the media for bacterial and fungal culture and celline for virus. Results : The concentration of total suspended particulate matter were respectively $80.2{\mu}g/m^3$, $40.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in non Yellow Sand and Yellow Sand phenomena. The concentration of metallic elements such as Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in Yellow Sand phenomena were higher than its in non Yellow Sand. Two bacteria, Bacillus species and Staphylococcus were grown in two periods. In both periods, several fungal spores(Mucor species, Cladosporum, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Alternaria species) were identified. The differences of bacteria and fungus species not observed in Yellow Sand and non Yellow Sand. Any viruses were not isolated in between both periods. Conclusions : The concentration of total suspended particulate matter and some metallic elements in Yellow Sand phenomena were higher than its in non Yellow Sand. The difference of bacteria and fungus species was not observed in non Yellow Sand and Yellow Sand phenomena.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1360-1365
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to present the basic data for nonpoint pollutant loads from bridge road drainage sediments using the results to analyze organic matter and heavy metals from the four bridge drainage sampling sites with sediments of different particle size ranges. The sediment sample was collected from the bridge road drainage and the masses of nine sediments fractions were obtained after drying the separated sediment in an over at $85^{\circ}C:>2,000{\mu}m$, $1,000\sim2,000{\mu}m$, $850\sim1,000{\mu}m$, $425\sim850{\mu}m$, $212\sim425{\mu}m$, $125\sim212{\mu}m$, $90\sim125{\mu}m$, $75\sim90{\mu}m$, $<75{\mu}m$. The sediment extract was analyzed water quality constituents, including chemical oxygen demand(COD), total nitrogen(T-N), total phosphorus(T-P), heavy metals and particle size distribution. The results indicate that most of particle size ranges of the bridge road sediments was $125\sim425{\mu}m$, and portion of $<75{\mu}m$ was low. But most of the pollutants are associated with the finer fractions of the load sediments. As the results of analysis, the range and average values of COD, T-N, T-P, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb were $177\sim198.8$ mg/kg(77.6 mg/kg), $23\sim200$ mg/kg(83 mg/kg), T-P $18\sim215$ mg/kg(129 mg/kg), and $1,508\sim5,612$ mg/kg(3,835 mg/kg), $9.2\sim69.3$ mg/kg(49 mg/kg), $19.1\sim662.2$ mg/kg(214 mg/kg), and $28.4\sim251.4$ mg/kg(114 mg/kg), respectively. The relationship between sediment size and pollutants concentration have an inverse proportion. The removal of road sediments with frequently could be reduced the significant nonpoint pollutant load, because of the bridge road sediment contains considerable micro-particles and heavy metals.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.855-863
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• 2012

This study analyzed mass concentrations of TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 and elemental constituents according to the isentropic backward trajectories of air parcel from Cheongwonin East Asia during the period January - October, 2011. Mass concentrations of the continental polluted airflow (CP) showed levels of TSP and PM10 mass concentrations higher than the continental background airflow (CB). Also, PM2.5 mass concentrations of anthropogenic fine particles ran higher in CP than in CB. The elemental constituents and elemental constituent ratio ended up varying depending on the origin of atmospheric aerosols generated. The average absolute content of elemental constituents reached its height in CB, the ratio of anthropogenically originating elements (PE) among the all elements (AE) analyzed marked a high in CP, and Mg+Na/AE reached its height in the oceanic airflow (OA). At the same time, TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations, the ratio of PM2.5/TSP and PE/AE element ratio ran higher in CP than CB. Episodes of large-scale transport of atmospheric pollutants as observed at Cheongwon were 8 cases and 22 days. The ratios of PM10, PM2.5 among TSP mass concentrations showed different results and the ratios of PM2.5 showed an increasing trend in the episodes of anthropogenic air pollution transport. Overall, dustfall episodes show a level of elemental constituents higher than those of anthropogenic air pollution.Dustfall episodes were observed to contain more of Fe, Al and Ca originating from continental soils and those of air pollution were observed to contain more of Zn, Mn, Cu and Pb. By difference in contents of absolute elemental constituents, episodes of anthropogenic air pollution showed a high PE/AE rate, and dustfall episodes a high SE/AE rate.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2013

The concentration and composition of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere can directly reflect the environmental pollution. The atmospheric pollution in some Cameroonian cities is increasing with the industrial development and urbanization. Air pollution is inherently complex, containing PM of varied size and composition. This PM exists as a dynamic cloud interacting with sunlight and is modified by the meteorology. The reflectometer and the EDXRF spectrometry are applied to determine the concentration of some specific elements at four sites in the city of Yaound$\acute{e}$. The particular aim of the present work is to put in place data base on air pollution in urban area and elaborate regulations on the emissions issued to industrial and vehicle activities. This study provides an overview of the concentration of black carbon and some specific elements in the air, which have impacts on human health. The measurement was done by distinguishing the size of particle. So that, the particle with aerodynamic diameter between $2.5-10{\mu}m$ (so-called coarse particle) and aerodynamic diameter < $2.5{\mu}m$ (so-called fine particle) were considered to obtain more information about levels of the inhalable fraction of the location. The results obtained in four locations of the city of Yaound$\acute{e}$ show that the black carbon concentration is very considerable, the element sulfur is a major pollutant and the concentration of fine particle is very greater. The results obtained of fine and coarse filters range from $5-17{\mu}g/m^3$ and $10-18{\mu}g/m^3$ for the black carbon. S, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Se and Hg are the specific findings of this work. The pollutants with a greater concentration are S, Pb, and Zn. These later seem to be non-uniformly, non-regular in some location and high compared to other countries. This work allows us to make a potential relation between pollutants and emission sources. In this framework, some suggestions have been proposed to reduce emissions for an improvement of the air quality in the environment and thus, the one of the city of Yaound$\acute{e}$.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1297-1306
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• 2017

This study identified physical characteristics and aerosol particle sources of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in the industrial complex of Busan Metropolitan City, Korea. Samples of $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and also soil, were collected in several areas during the year of 2012 to investigate elemental composition. A URG cyclone sampler was used for collection. The samples were collected according to each experimental condition, and the analysis method of SEM-EDX was used to determine the concentration of each metallic element. The comparative analysis indicated that their mass concentration ranged from 1% to 3%. The elements in the industrial region that were above 10% were Si, Al, Fe, and Ca. Those below 5% were Na, Mg, and S. The remaining elements (1% of total mass) consisted of elements such as Ni, Co, Br and Pb. Finally, a statistical tool was applied to the elemental results to identify each source for the industrial region. From a principal components analysis (SPSS, Ver 20.0) performed to analyze the possible sources of $PM_{10}$ in the industrial region, five main factors were determined. Factor 1 (Si, Al), which accounted for 15.8% of the total variance, was mostly affected by soil and dust from manufacturing facilities nearby, Factors 2 (Cu, Ni), 3 (Zn, Pb), and 4 (Mn, Fe), which also accounted for some of variance, were mainly related to iron, non-ferrous metals, and other industrial manufacturing sources. Also, five factors determined to access possible sources of $PM_{2.5}$, Factor 1 (Na, S), accounted for 13.5% of the total variance and was affected by sea-salt particles and fuel incineration sources, and Factors 2 (Ti, Mn), 3 (Pb, Cl), 4 (K, Al) also explained significant proportions of the variance. Theses factors mean that the $PM_{2.5}$ emission sources may be considered as sources of incineration, and metals, and non-ferrous manufacturing industries.