• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.62-69
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• 2014

In the results of monitoring nitrate concentration in more than 8,000 groundwater wells around agro-livestock, the average and maximum nitrate concentration was 9.4 mg/L and 101.2 mg/L, respectively. Since about 31% of the monitoring wells was exceed the quality standard for drinking water, nitrate control such as remediation or source regulation is required to conserve safe-groundwater in South Korea. Typical nitrate-treatment technologies include ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and biological denitrification. Among the treatment methods, biological denitrification by indigenous microorganism has environmental and economic advantages for the complete elimination of nitrate because of lower operating costs compared to other methods. Major mechanism of the process is microbial reduction of nitrate to nitrite and nitrogen gas. Three functional genes (nosZ, nirK, nirS) that encode for the enzyme involved in the pathway. In this work, we tried to develop simple process to determine possibility of natural denitrification reaction by monitoring the functional gene. For the work, the functional genes in nitrate-contaminated groundwater were monitored by using PCR with specific target primers. In the result, functional genes (nosZ and nirK) encoding denitrification enzymes were detected in the groundwater samples. This method can help to determine the possibility of natural-nitrate degradation in target groundwater wells without multiplex experimental process. In addition, for field-remediation application we selected nitrate-contaminated site where 200~600 mg/L of nitrate is continuously detected. To determine the possibility of nitrate-degradation by stimulated-natural attenuation, groundwater was sampled in two different wells of the site and nitrate concentration of the samples was 300 mg/L and 616 mg/L, respectively. Fumarate for different C/N ratio was added into microcosm bottles containing the groundwater to examine denitrification rate depending on carbon concentration. In the result, once 1.5 times more than amount of fumarate stoichiometry required was added, the 616 mg/L of nitrate and 300 mg/L of nitrate were completely degraded in 8 days and 30 days. The nitrite, byproduct of denitrification process, was also completely degraded during the experimental period.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2012

In situ particle size spectra are obtained from two sequent cruises in order to evaluate the physical consequences of suspended particulate matters caused by episodic storm runoff from the Santa Ana River watershed, an urbanized coastal watershed. Suspended particles from various sources including surface runoff, near-bed resuspension, and phytoplankton are identified in empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis and an entropy-based parameterization (Shannon entropy). The first EOF mode is associated with high turbidity and fine particles as indicated by the elevated beam attenuation near the Santa Ana River and Newport Bay outlets, and the second EOF mode explains the suspended sediment dispersal and particle coarsening at the near-surface plume. Chlorophyll particles are also distinguished by negative magnitudes of the first EOF mode, which is supported by the relationship between fluorescence and beam attenuation. The integrated observation between the first EOF mode and the Shannon entropy index accentuates the characteristics of two different structures and/or sources of sediment particles; the near-surface plumes are originated from runoff water outflow, while the near-bottom particles are resuspended due to increased wave heights or mobilizing bottom turbidity currents. In a coastal pollution context, these methods may offer useful means of characterizing particle-associated pollutants for purposes of source tracking and environmental interpretation.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.81-100
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• 2002

While most of regulatory communities in abroad recognize ' 'natural attenuation " to include degradation, dispersion, dilution, sorption (including precipitation and transformation), and volatilization as governing Processes, regulators prefer "degradation" because this mechanism destroys the contaminant of concern. Unfortunately, true degradation only applies to organic contaminants and short- lived radionuclides, and leaves most metals and long-lived radionuclides. The natural attenuation Processes may reduce the potential risk Posed by site contaminants in three ways: (i)contaminants could be converted to a less toxic form througy destructive processes such as biodegradation or abiotic transformations; (ii) potential exposure levels may be reduced by lowering concentrations (dilution and dispersion); and (iii) contaminant mobility and bioavailability may be reduced by sorption to geomedia. In this review, authors will focus will focul on "sorption" among the natural attenuation processes of hazardous inorganic contaminants including radionuclides. Note though that sorption and transformation processes of inorganic contaminants in the natural setting could be influenced by biotic activities but our discussion would limit only to geochemical reactions involved in the natural attenuation. All of the geochemical reactions have been studied in-depth by numerous researchers for many years to understand "retardation" process of contaminants in the geomedia. The most common approach for estimating retardation is the determination of distrubution coefficiendts ($K_{d}$) of contaminants using parametric or mechanistic models. As typocally used in fate and contaminant transport calculations such as predictive models of the natural attenuation, the $K_{d}$ is defined as the ratio of the contaminant concentration in the surrounding aqueous solution when the system is at equilibrium. Unfortunately, generic or default $K_{d}$ values can result in significant error when used to predict contaminant migration rate and to select a site remediation alternative. Thus, to input the best $K_{d}$ value in the contaminant transport model, it is essential that important geochemical processes affecting the transport should be identified and understood. Precipitation/dissolution and adsorption/desorption are considered the most important geochemical processes affecting the interaction of inorganic and radionuclide contaminants with geomedia at the near and far field, respectively. Most of contaminants to be discussed in this presentation are relatively immobile, i.e., have very high $K_{d}$ values under natural geochemical environments. Unfortunately, the obvious containment in a source area may not be good enough to qualify as monitored natural attenuation site unless owner demonstrate the efficacy if institutional controls that were put in place to protect potential receptors. In this view, natural attenuation as a remedial alternative for some of sites contaminated by hazardous-inorganic components is regulatory and public acceptance issues rather than scientific issue.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.485-491
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• 2018

Because of the increase in coastal erosion problems, many studies have been conducted to prevent coastline retreat by developing low-cost, highly effective countermeasures. We developed the artificial coral reefs (ACRs) method as part of this research trend. To verify its coastal protection performance, we carried out performance tests on its wave attenuation and beach sand capture ability, which are the key barometers for this newly developed technology. In this study, three different types of methods, including natural beach, TTP, and ACRs, were used to determine the coastal protection efficiency under both ordinary and storm wave conditions. Based on the results of this study, ACRs were found to have the best wave attenuation performance and captured more than 20% of the total erosion area. This means the ACR method can be applied as a reliable countermeasure to protect a coastal zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.485-492
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• 2011

Sorption of cyanide on granular activated carbon and attenuation of the cyanide by UV-light over a wide range of conditions such as pH and concentration were investigated through batch experiments. Cyanide uptake by activated carbon is much effective at $[CN]_{ini}$ < 2 mg/L. The sorption of cyanide on activated carbon at pH 7.0 is greater than that of pH 9.0. It is found that the ratio of CN uptake to CN in solution increases at pH 9.0 whereas at pH 7.0 the ratio decreases, suggesting that reactivity of activated carbon increases as a function of pH. The sorption of cyanide rapidly increases during the first 30 min, followed by sharp desorption until 3hr, and then the sorption increases and reaches the maximum sorption during the duration of experiments, implying that the sorption mode could be changed through conformational change during the initial stage of the cyanide uptake by activated carbon. Total amount of cyanide desorbed from the activated carbon during the period of desorption experiments is less than 1.5% of total sorbed cyanide, indicative of strong and stable sorption of cyanide on the activated carbon. The sorption with mixture of activated carbon and Ham-Baek sludge shows less effective on the removal of the cyanide. It is noted that UV-light is much effective on the removal of cyanide but also the attenuation is achieved until $[CN]_{tot}$ is up to 10 mg/L. Our findings demonstrate that both activated carbon and UV-light are very effective on the attenuation of cyanide over a wide range of environmental conditions.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.959-972
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• 2017

In evaluation of blast-induced vibration, peak particle velocity (PPV) is generally calculated by using attenuation relation curve. Calculated velocity is compared with the value in legal requirements or the standards to determine the stability. Attenuation relation curve varies depending on frequency of test blasting, geological structure of the site and blasting condition, so it is difficult to predict accurately using such an equation. Since PPV is response value from the ground, direct evaluation of the structure is impractical. Because of such a limit, engineers tend to use the commercial numerical analysis program in evaluating the stability of the structure more accurately. However, when simulate the explosion process using existing numerical analysis program, it's never easy to accurately simulate the complex conditions (fracture, crushing, cracks and plastic deformation) around blasting hole. For simulating such a process, the range for modelling will be limited due to the maximum node count and it requires extended calculation time as well. Thus, this study is intended to simulate the elastic energy after fractured zone only, instead of simulating the complex conditions of the rock that results from the blast, and the analysis of response characteristics of the velocity depending on shape and size of the fractured zone was conducted. As a result, difference in velocity and attenuation character were calculated depending on fractured zone around the blast source appeared. Propagation of vibration tended to spread spherically as it is distanced farther from the blast source.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

This study presents the behavior characteristics of buried three-layered pipeline subjected to pile driving loads corresponding to its cover depth. The analysis considered the driving energy caused by 7 tonf of ram weight and 1.2m of stroke with 20m distance from buried pipeline for all the analysis cases. A cover depth of pipe is varied 0.6m to 3.8m for this research. Vibration Velocity and stress are investigated at the center section in longitudinal direction. With same distance from pile, attenuation ratio of vibration velocity for increment of cover depth has shown an increasing trend. Also, Stress attenuation ratio of inner pipe is increased with cover depth.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2018

Background: Gamma-ray spectrometry helps in radiation shielding problems and different applications of radioisotopes. Experimental arrangements including broad beam geometries are widely used. The aim is to investigate and evaluate the ${\gamma}-ray$ spectra via attenuation by environmental materials. Materials and Methods: The photo peak to nominated parts in the ${\gamma}-ray$ spectra and the attenuation coefficients ${\mu}_b/{\rho}$ from broad beam geometries are measured for the materials water, soil, sand and cement at the energies 0.662, 1.25, and 1.332 MeV with a $3{^{\prime}^{\prime}}{\times}3{^{\prime}^{\prime}}$ NaI(Tl) detector. Results and Discussion: The ${\gamma}-ray$ spectra vary according to changes in the effective atomic number $Z_{eff}$ of the attenuator, the photon energy and the solid angle. The peak to total ratios are the most sensitive parts to variations in the experimental conditions and overturn in the region 0.663 MeV to 1.332 MeV. This is indicated as inversion trend. The results are discussed in view of $Z_{eff}$ and the experimental conditions. The intensity build-up is larger at the lower energy and larger scattering angles in agreement with Klein-Nishina formula and other results. The build-up factor B is$${\sim_=}$$1 at high ${\gamma}-energies$ and small scattering angles. Conclusion: The sensitivity to material characteristics decrease gradually from peak: to total, to Compton valley, to Compton plateau ratios. Rigorous collimation is necessary at small energies. Cement, of the largest $Z_{eff}$, is characterized by the maximum broad beam mass attenuation coefficients ${\mu}_b/{\rho}$. The obtained results provide information to decide for the suitable experimental set-up based on aim of the work.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.114-116
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• 2005

Natural attenuation has been actively studied and often selected as final clean-up process in remediation of contaminated ground-water and soil for the last decade. Accordingly, understanding of natural processes affecting the fate and transport of contaminants in the subsurface becomes important for a success of implementation of the natural remediation strategy, Contaminant advection and diffusion processes in the unsaturated zone are naturally related to environmental changes in the atmosphere. The atmospheric pressure changes affecting the transport of contaminants in the subsurface are investigated in this study. Moisture content, trichloroethylene (TCE) concentration, temperature, and pressure variations in the subsurface were measured for the July, August, November, and December 2001 at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. These data were used for a one-phase flow and one-component transport model in simulating the soil-gas flow and accordingly the TCE transport in the subsurface in accordance with the atmosphere pressure variations at the surface. The soil-gas velocities during the sampling periods varied with a magnitude of $10^{-6}\;to\;10^{-7}\;m\;s^{-1}$ at land surface. The TCE advection fluxes at land surface were several orders of magnitude smaller than the TCE diffusion fluxes. A sensitivy analysis indicated that advection fluxes were more sensitive to changes in geo-environmental conditions compared to diffusion fluxes. Of all the parameters investigated in this study, moisture content has the most significant effect on TCE advection and diffusion fluxes.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the sonophysical and sonochemical effects induced by acoustic cavitation in heterogeneous systemin a 28 kHz double-bath reactor using calorimetry, the aluminiumfoil erosion test, and the luminol test. With no glass beads, calorimetric power in the inner vessel increased as much as the outer sonoreactor lost and total calorimetric power was maintained for various liquid height conditions (0.5 ~ 7 cm) in the vessel. Higher calorimetric energy was obtained at higher liquid height conditions. Similar results were obtained when glass beads were placed with various beads heights (0.5 ~ 2.0 cm) and relatively high calorimetric energy was obtained in spite of large attenuation in the glass beads layer. An aluminium foil placed between the bottom of the inner vessel and the glass beads layer was damaged, indicating significant sonophysical effects. Much less damage was detected when the foil was placed above the beads layer due to large attenuation of ultrasound. Sonochemical effects, visualized by sonochemiluminescence (SCL), also decreased significantly when the beads were placed in the vessel. It was established that the optimization of the liquid height above the solid-material layer could enhance the sonophysical and sonochemical effects in the double-bath sonoreactors.