• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-103
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• 2023

The in-situ remediation of a solidified stratum containing a large amount of fine-texture material like clay or organic matter in contaminated soil faces limitations such as increased remediation cost resulting from decreased purification efficiency. Even if the soil conditions are good, remediation generally requires a long time to complete because of non-uniform soil properties and low permeability. This study assessed the remediation effect and evaluated the field applicability of a methodology that combines pneumatic fracturing, vacuum extraction, and plasma blasting (the PPV method) to improve the limitations facing existing underground remediation methods. For comparison, underground remediation was performed over 80 days using the experimental PPV method and chemical oxidation (the control method). The control group showed no decrease in the degree of contamination due to the poor delivery of the soil remediation agent, whereas the PPV method clearly reduced the degree of contamination during the remediation period. Remediation effect, as assessed by the reduction of the highest TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) concentration by distance from the injection well, was uncleared in the control group, whereas the PPV method showed a remediation effect of 62.6% within a 1 m radius of the injection well radius, 90.1% within 1.1~2.0 m, and 92.1% within 2.1~3.0 m. When evaluating the remediation efficiency by considering the average rate of TPH concentration reduction by distance from the injection well, the control group was not clear; in contrast, the PPV method showed 53.6% remediation effect within 1 m of the injection well, 82.4% within 1.1~2.0 m, and 68.7% within 2.1~3.0 m. Both ways of considering purification efficiency (based on changes in TPH maximum and average contamination concentration) found the PPV method to increase the remediation effect by 149.0~184.8% compared with the control group; its average increase in remediation effect was ~167%. The time taken to reduce contamination by 80% of the initial concentration was evaluated by deriving a correlation equation through analysis of the TPH concentration: the PPV method could reduce the purification time by 184.4% compared with chemical oxidation. However, the present evaluation of a single site cannot be equally applied to all strata, so additional research is necessary to explore more clearly the proposed method's effect.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate effects of cryopreservation by vitrification on the seed germination rate and growth and physiological properties of seedlings of Maackia amurensis. Cryopreservation significantly decreased the germination rate of seeds of M. amurensis, but the reduction of germination rate was mitigated by the treatment of cryoprotectant (plant vitrification solution, PVS2) before plugging into liquid nitrogen and fast thawing rate after cryopreservation. Long-term PVS2 exposure decreased seed germination rate, whereas cryopreservation time didn't have influence on seed germination rate. In addition, growth and physiological properties of seedlings were not affected by PVS2 exposing time and cryopreservation time. Therefore cryopreservation could be widely used as a technique of long-term ex situ conservation without any damage and deterioration of cells or tissues of the forest seeds. However, in order to increase the effect of cryopreservation, we have to develope the lower toxic cryoprotectant and suitable techniques to the structural or chemical properties of a variety of seeds.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.149-156
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• 1999

In the United States (U.S.), the monitored natural attenuation (MNA) approach has been used as an alternative remedial option for organic and inorganic compounds retained in soil and dissolved in groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the MNA as“in-situ naturally-occurring processes include biodegradation, diffusion, dilution, sorption, volatilization, and/or chemical and biochemical stabilization of contaminants and reduce contaminant toxicity, mobility or volume to the levels that are protective of human health and the environment”. The Department of Soil Environment. National Institute Environmental Research (NIER) is in the process for demonstrating the MNA approach as a potential remedial option for the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City. The project is charactering the research site in terms of the nature and extend of contamination, biological degradation rate, and geochemical and hydrological properties. The microbial-degradation rate and effectiveness of nutrient and redox supplements will be determined through laboratory batch and column tests. The geochemical process will be monitored for determining the concentration changes of chemical species involved in the electron transfer processes that include methanogenesis, sulfate and iron reduction, denitrification, and aerobic respiration. Through field works, critical soil and hydrogeologic parameters will be acquired to simulate the effects of dispersion, advection, sorption, and biodegradation on the fate and transport of the dissolved-phase BTEX plume using Bioplume III model. The objectives of this multi-years research project are (1) to evaluate the MNA approach using the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City, (2) to establish a standard protocol for future application of the approach, (3) to investigate applicability of the passive approach as a secondary treatment remedy after active treatments. In this presentation, the overall picture and philosophy behind the MNA approach will be reviewed. Detailed discussions of the site characterization/monitoring plans and risk-based decision-making processes for the demonstration site will be included.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2023

In general, the presence of non-selective intercrystalline (grain boundary) defects in polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) or zeolite membranes, which are known to be ca. 1 nm in size, causes lower membrane performance (selectivity) than the intrinsically expected. In this study we show that applying a thin polymeric coating of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on a polycrystalline MOF membrane is effective to cap the non-selective intercrystalline defects and therefore improve membrane performance. To demonstrate the concept, first, polycrystalline UiO-66, one of Zr-based MOFs, membranes were prepared by an in-situ solvothermal growth. By controlling membrane growth condition with respect to growth temperature, we were able to obtain polycrystalline UiO-66 membranes at 150 ℃ with intercrystalline defects of which the quantity is not significant, so it can be plugged by the suggested PDMS deposition. Second, their performances were compared before and after the PDMS deposition. As expected, the PDMS deposition ended up with a noticeable increase in CO₂/N₂ ideal selectivity from 6 to 14, indicating successful intercrystalline defect plugging. However, the enhancement in CO₂/N₂ selectivity was accompanied by a significant reduction in CO₂ permeance from 5700 to 33 GPU because the PDMS deposition not only plugs defects but also forms a continuous coating on membrane surface, adding an additional transport resistance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.612-618
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• 2023

Modern society spends more than 80% of its daily life indoors, emphasizing the need for attention to indoor air pollution due to the improvement in living standards. In this study, the performance and reaction characteristics of the Pt/TiO₂ catalysts prepared by liquid-phase reduction for the removal of formaldehyde (HCHO), one of the indoor air pollutants, at room temperature without the need for additional light or heat were investigated. As a result, it showed that catalysts prepared by the same method showed approximately 40~80% various activities depending on the type of TiO₂. XRD, BET, and XPS analyses were performed to investigate the particle size, crystal structure, specific surface area, and O/Ti molar ratio of the support material, and it revealed that the correlation between the properties and performance was insignificant. To explore the oxidation reaction pathway of formaldehyde (HCHO), in situ DRIFT analysis using carbon monoxide and H₂-TPR was perfomed. The results revealed that the performance was demonstrated by the oxidation state of the active metal and the adsorption-desorption characteristics of the adsorbate species.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.126-132
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• 2014

A pilot-scale electrokinetic (EK) separation field test ($2{\times}3{\times}0.2m^3$, $W{\times}L{\times}D$) was performed in a greenhouse to remove salts from saline soil. Initially, the greenhouse soil had high electrical conductivity (EC), about 9 dS/m, and contained mainly $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$ and $SO_4^{2-}$ ions. After 2 weeks of EK treatment, the soil EC was reduced to 52% compared with its initial value. The EC reduction was mostly achieved within the first week (47%) due to removal of $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ ions, but ions with a high adsorption capacity such as $Ca^{2+}$ and $SO_4^{2-}$ ions were difficult to be removed. During the EK test, the soil temperature increased and it reached around $50^{\circ}C$ at some regions. For in situ application to soils in cultivation, the current should be controlled to limit increases in temperature, especially near the cathodes. In conclusion, the in situ EK technique is feasible for the restoration of saline greenhouse soils in or no cultivation and an appropriate strategy is necessary for more effective remediation.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.178-184
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• 2007

In the present work, the vermicomposting index was investigated using leakage water from sludge to develop the process of mechanization and automation in the earthworm-cast treatment. The in situ sewage sludge was used batch and continuous experiments. Due to different treatment processes, the physico-chemical characteristics of liquid extracted from sludge was the similar change pattern. However, some items, such as Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and $NH_3-N$, showed the distinct changes between pre- and post-vermicomposting. Also, The ORP and EC were the best parameters for the vermicomposting index. These results offered that the present vermicomposting technology was an actual earthworm-cast treatment.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.80-90
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• 2014

The laboratory and field studies were conducted to identify an optimal injection concentration of nanoscale zero-valent iron particles (NZVI) and to evaluate the applicability of NZVI-based reactive zone technology to the site contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) DNAPL (Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid). The laboratory test found an optimal injection concentration of NZVI of 5 g/L that could remove more than 95% of 0.15 mM TCE within 20 days. Eleven test wells were installed at the aquifer that was mainly composed of alluvial and weathered soils at a strong oxic condition with dissolved oxygen concentration of 3.50 mg/L and oxidation-reduction potential of 301 mV. NZVI of total 30 kg were successfully injected using a centrifugal pump. After 60 days from the NZVI injection, 86.2% of the TCE initially present in the groundwater was removed and the mass of TCE removed was 405 g. Nonchlorinated products such as ethane and ethene were detected in the groundwater samples. Based on the increased chloride ion concentration at the site, the mass of TCE removed was estimated to be 1.52 kg. This implied the presence of DNAPL TCE which contributed to a higher estimate of TCE removal than that based on the TCE concentration change.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

More addition of calcium carbonate in printing paper allows savings of the wood fibers and the drying energy. Pre-flocculation of GCC (ground calcium carbonate) using functional polymers was known as the best available technology to make high loaded paper until now, and it allowed less reduction of the paper essential properties such as tensile strength and smoothness at higher GCC content. However, pre-flocculated GCC became unstable in size under the continued agitation in the mill. Therefore, pre-flocculation method was modified in such a way that the in-situ calcium carbonate was formed between the GCC particles of the pre-flocculated GCC, and the resultant became more stable in size, which we named as HCC (hybrid calcium carbonate). HCC turned out to make high tensile strength and smoothness as much as the pre-flocculated GCC and gave much better size stability against stirring. Furthermore, HCC gave high bulk that pre-flocculation could not make.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 1999

Naturally-occurring iron minerals, goethite, magnetite, and hydrogen peroxide were used to catalyze and initiate Fenton-like oxidation of silica sand contaminated with mixture of diesel and kerosene in batch system. Optimal reaction conditions were investigated by varying pH(3, 7), $H_2O_2$ concentration(0%, 1%, 7%, 15%, 35%), initial contaminant concentration(0.2, 0.5, 1.0 g-mixture of diesel and kerosene/ kg-soil), and iron mineral contents(1, 5, and 10 wt % magnetite or goethite). Contaminant degradations in silica sand-iron mineral-$H_2O_2$ systems were identified by determining total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH) concentration. The optimal pH of the system was 3. The system which iron minerals were the only iron source was more efficient than the system with $FeSO_4$ solution due to lower $H_2O_2$ consumption. In case of initial contaminant concentration of 1g-contaminant/kg-soil with 5 wt % magnetite, addition of 0%, 1%, 7%, 15%, and 35% of $H_2O_2$ showed 0%, 24.5%, 44%, 52%, and 70% of TPH reduction in 8 days, respectively. When the mineral contents were varied 0, 1, 5, and 10wt%, removal of contaminants were 0%, 33.5%, 50%, and 60% for magnetite and 0%, 29%, 41%, and 53% for goethite, respectively. Reaction of magnetite system showed higher degradation than that of goethite system due to dissolution of iron and mixed presence of iron(II) and iron(III); however, dissolved iron precipitated on the surface of iron mineral and seemed to cause reducing electron transfer activity on the surface and quenching $H_2O_2$. The system using goethite has better treatment efficiency due to less $H_2O_2$ consumption. When cach system was mixed by shaker, removal of contaminants increased by 41% for magnetite and 30% for goethite. Results of this study showed catalyzed $H_2O_2$ system made in-situ treatment of soil contaminated with petroleum possible without addition of iron source since natural soils generally contain iron minerals such as magnetite and goethite.