• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2005

Several tests were conducted to determine the optimum operational conditions of soil washing techniques for floe-forming arsenic-contaminated soils, collected from D abandoned Iron-mine in Korea. The optimum cut-off size was 0.15 mm $(sieve\;\#100)$, about $94\%$ of the mass of soils. Both sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid were effective to remove arsenic and the optimum mixing ratio (soil [g] : washing solution [mL]) was 1:5 for both washing agents. Arsenic concentrations, determined by KST Methods, for the dried floe solids obtained from flocculation at pH 5-6 were $990\~1,086\;mg/kg$ dry solids, which were higher concentrations than at the other pH values. Therefore, batch tests for sequential washings with or without removing floc were conducted to find the enhancement of washing efficiencies. After removing floe with 0.2 M HCl, sequential washings of 1 M HCl followed by 1 M NaOH showed the best results (15 mg/kg dry soil). The arsenic concentrations of washing effluent from each washing step were about $2\~3\;mg/L$. However, when these acidic and basic effluents were mixed together, arsenic concentration was decreased to be less than $50\;{\mu}g/L$, due to the pH condition of coagulation followed by precipitation for arsenic removal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.475-484
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to develop model for estimating biodegrability of organic sludge (sewage and papermill) in various environmental conditions. to assume degradable degree with operating time of SRB reactor. and evaluate duratior of organic sludge as carbon source. Average TCOD was 28.7~63.2mg/L in effluent. organic sludge did not much supply carbon source for experimental period. But in point of durability. it seemed that organic sludge was efficient because it was not consumed by degradation of much organic matter within short period. With increasing $SO_4{^{2-}}$ reduction rate. Pb and Fe was removed 77~82% and 33~59%. respectively. Because Al was precipitated as a hydroxide. its removal rate wa,. about $54{\pm}2%$ in R-l~R-3 maintaining low pH but about 78% in R-4 maintaining high pH. Because Mn was large in solubility. it showed to be much lower than other heavy metals. Considering supportable capacity or durability of orgainc matter for initial SRB mixing ratio of sewage/papermill 0.5 was regarded as appropriate substituting material and at this time. it estimated that carbon source continued about 3.08 year but safety factor must apply to be thought over. because various factors had an effect on degradation of organic sludge.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.575-585
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• 2007

Microbial control of the geochemical behavior of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) and As in contaminated subsurface soil and sediment was investigated through activation of indigenous bacteria with lactate under anaerobic condition for 25 days. The results indicated that dissolved Cd, Pb and Zn were microbially removed from solutions, which was likely due to the formation of metal sulfides after reduction of sulfate by indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria. Soils from the Dukeum mine containing a large amount of sulfate resulted in complete removal of dissolved As after 25 days by microbial activities, while there were gradual increases in dissolved As concentration in soils from the Hwabuk mine and sediments from the Dongducheon industrial area which showed low $SO_4{^2-}$ concentrations. Addition of appropriate carbon sources and sulfate to contaminated geological media may lead to activation of indigenous bacteria and thus in situ stabilization of the heavy metals; however, potential of As release into solution after the amendment should be preferentially investigated.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.445-455
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• 2009

Microbiological sulfate reduction is the transformation of sulfate to sulfide catalyzed by the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria using sulfate as an electron acceptor. Low solubility of metal sulfides leads to precipitation of the sulfides in solution. The effects of microbiological sulfate reduction on in-situ precipitation of arsenic and copper were investigated for the heavy metal-contaminated soil around the Songcheon Au-Ag mine site. Total concentrations of As, Cu, and Pb were 1,311 mg/kg, 146 mg/kg, and 294 mg/kg, respectively, after aqua regia digestion. In batch-type experiments, indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria rapidly decreased sulfate concentration and redox potential and led to substantial removal of dissolved As and Cu from solution. Optimal concentrations of carbon source and sulfate for effective microbial sulfate reduction were 0.2~0.5% (w/v) and 100~200 mg/L, respectively. More than 98% of injected As and Cu were removed in the effluents from both microbial and chemical columns designed for metal sulfides to be precipitated. However, after the injection of oxygen-rich solution, the microbial column showed the enhanced long-term stability of in-situ precipitated metals when compared with the chemical column which showed immediate increase in dissolved As and Cu due to oxidative dissolution of the sulfides. Black precipitates formed in the microbial column during the experiments and were identified as iron sulfide and copper sulfide. Arsenic was observed to be adsorbed on surface of iron sulfide precipitate.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1063-1070
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• 2011

In this study, total of 5 different chemical amendments were evaluated for determining kinetic parameters and stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in aqueous phase. Standard solution of Cd and Pb ($100mg\;L^{-1}$) was mixed with various ratio of amendments (1, 3, 5, 10%) and heavy metal stabilization efficiency was monitored for 24hrs. All examined amendments showed over 90% of removal efficiency for both Cd and Pb except zerovalent iron (ZVI) for Cd (43-63%). Based on result of heavy metal stabilization efficiency, it was ordered as $CaCO_3$ > Dolomite > Zeolite > Steel slag > ZVI for both Cd and Pb in aqueous phase. For kinetic study, first order kinetic model was adapted to calculate kinetic parameters. In terms of reaction rate constants (k), zeolite showed the fastest reaction rate (k value from 0.4882 for 1% to 2.0105 for 10%) for Cd and ZVI (k value from 0.2304 for 1% to 0.5575 for 10%) for Pb. Considering reaction rate constant and half life for heavy metal stabilization, it was ordered as Zeolite > $CaCO_3$ > Dolomite > Steel slag > ZVI for Cd and $CaCO_3$ > Dolomite > Steel slag > Zeolite > ZVI for Pb. Overall result in this study can be interpreted that lime containing materials are more beneficial to remove heavy metals with high efficiency and less time consuming than absorbent materials.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.123-134
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• 1998

To analyse the stability of a slope composed of waste material produced in a closed lead mine, numerical modeling has been carried out in two dimension using FLAC, finite difference program. The research was focused on the effect of the earthquake as well as a rise of water table upon slope stability. The numerical results have shown that the slope would not be safe against earthquake event and that the increase of pore pressure due to a rise of water table up to the ground level may result in a failure of the slope. On the basis of numerical analyses and site investigation, two sorts of measures have been taken. In short term, removal of a part of materials deposited on the top of the pile is required to increase immediately safety factor of the slope even a little. In ling term, it is necessary to repair drainage facilities and dam which covers waste material so that the slope is prevented from failure in a radical manner. It has been confirmed by numerical analyses that an improvenment of the stability can be in a great extent expected after such measures have been performed.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a laboratory test on arsenic reduction efficiency for ARD (Acid Rock Drainage) using limestone and apatite, and to design an apatite drain system. As a result of the laboratory test, results of this study show that pH, arsenic removal ratio, and dissolution amount of limestone ＆ apatite are inversely proportional to flow rates, and apatite removes 100％ of arsenic at 0.6 ml/min/kg flow rate. It is supposed that dissolution rate of apatite is ten times higher than that of limestone. The arsenic compounds are assumed to be Johnbaumnite, and/or Ca-arsenic hydrate. According to the results of the laboratory test, apatite drain system is designed as follow; Sixty two tons of apatite will be needed per one year and six months, and the precipitates will be removed from the precipitation pond per 3 months.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Arsenic is one of the most abundant contaminant found in waste mine tailings and soil around refinery, Because of its carcinogenic property, the countries like United States of America and Europe have made stringent regulations which govern the concentration of arsenic in soil. The study focuses on solidification/stabilization for removal of arsenic from soil. Cement was used to solidify/stabilize the abandoned soil primarily contaminated with arsenic (up to 68.92 mg/kg) in and around refinery. Solidified/stabilized (s/s) forms in the range of cement contents 5-30 wt % were evaluated to determine the optimal binder content. Revised Korean standard leaching tests (KSLT), toxicity characteristic leaching procedures (TCLP), Old Korea standard leaching test and revised Korea standard leaching test were used for chemical characterization of the S/S forms. The addition of 10 % cement remarkably reduced the leachability of arsenic in contaminated soil. The concentration of As in leachate of TCLP, KSLT, and old KSLT for soil are below the standard. However that in leachate of revised KSLT is above the standard. Because of extraction fluid used in revised KSLT is very strong acid. It is arsenic in s/s with binder should be exhaustingly leached. Therefore S/S process would not be available for As treatment in soil in Korea.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.19-28
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• 2009

The acid mine drainage (AMD) and landfill leachates released into the subsurface environment can result in serious environmental problems like soil and groundwater contamination. The AMD and the leachates of landfill were known to contain many heavy metals. In this study, the author assessed the reactivity and ability of the FeS coated-ALC for the removal of contaminants (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, Al) in AMD and leachates in landfill. The synthetic nano-FeS and Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete (ALC) were used as reactive materials in the permeable reactive barriers(PRBs). The result of batch test indicated that synthetic nano-FeS can remove 99% of heavy metals for the 1hr of reaction time except for As and Ni(about 90%). However, the 80% of As and Ni was removed in column 1(FeS coated-ALC). The column 2(Ore FeS) removed more than 99% of heavy metals. The pH of the column 1 was increased from 3.51 to 6.39~6.50, and the pH with column 2 was increased from 3.51 to 9.20. As the result of this study, the author can surmise that the synthetic nano-FeS coated ALC will use as a very good reactive material of the PRBs to treat the contaminated groundwater with AMD and leachate of landfill.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1222-1227
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• 2006

In this study, nine strains were isolated from heavy metal-contaminated soil in a mine. The high efficiency bacteria, JH1, to be able removal cadmium and copper, was selected by the screen test. JH1 was identified as Ralstonia eutropha by 16S rDNA analysis, fatty acid analysis, and its morphological and biochemical characteristics. After the cadmium-contaminated soil was washed with citric acid solution(pH 6, 10 mM), Ralstonia eutropha JH1 was inoculated in the soil washing water. In order to determine the optimal cell concentration for inoculation, cell concentrations were considered in 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 g/L, respectively. The removal efficiencies for cadmium in each cell concentration of Ralstonia eutropha JH1 were 49.9, 84.4, 89.7% and 89.9% of 110 mg/L(Cd), after 5 days culture in soil washing water. When Ralstonia eutropha JH1 was inoculated in soil washing water containing each cadmium(110 mg/L) and copper(100 mg/L), each of them was removed completely during 6 days culture. The completely removing time for cadmium and copper in each low concentration, 10, 30 and 60 mg/L were 12, 18 and 48 hrs, respectively.