• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.315-333
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• 2009

In this study, the hydrochemical and the isotopic characteristics of major streams in the Daejeon area were investigated during rainy and dry seasons. The stream water shows the electrical conductivity of the range of $37{\sim}527{\mu}s$/cm, and pH $6.21{\sim}9.83$. The chemical composition of stream waters can be grouped as three types: the upper streams of Ca(Mg)-$HCO_3$ type, Ca(Mg)-$SO_4(Cl)$ type of middle streams flowing through urban area, and Na(Ca)-$HCO_3$(Cl, $SO_4$) type of the down streams. Based on in-situ investigation, the high pH of stream waters flowing through urban area is likely to be caused by the inflow of a synthetic detergent discharging from the apartment complex. The electrical conductivity of stream waters at a dry season is higher than those of at a rainy season. We suggest that the hydro-chemical composition of stream waters in the Daejeon area was affected by the discharging water from the sewage treatment facilities and anthropogenic contaminants as well as the interaction with soil and rocks. ${\delta}D$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of the stream waters show the relationship of ${\delta}D=6.45{\delta}^{18}O-7.4$, which is plotted at a lower area than global meteoric water line(GMWL) of Craig(1961). It is likely that this isotopic range results from the evaporation effect of stram waters and the change of an air mass. The isotope value shows an increasing trend from upper stream to lower stream, that reflects the isotopic altitude effect. The relationship between ${\delta}^{13}C$ and $EpCO_2$ indicates that the carbon as bicarbonate in stream water is mainly originated from $CO_2$ in the air and organic materials. The increasing trend of ${\delta}^{13}C$ value from upper stream waters to lower stream waters can be attributed to the following reasons: (1) an increasing dissolution of $CO_2$ gas from a contaminated air in downtown area of the Daejeon, and (2) the increment of an inorganic carbon of groundwater inflowed into stream by base flow. Based on the relationship between ${\delta}^{34}S$ and $SO_4$ of stream waters, the stream waters can be divided into four groups. $SO_4$ content increases as a following order: upper and middle Gab stream${\delta}^{34}S$ value decreases as above order. ${\delta}^{34}S$ value indicates that sulfur of stream waters is mainly originated from atmosphere, and is additionally supplied by pyrite source according to the increase of sulfate content. The sulfur isotope analysis of a synthetic detergent and sewage water as a potential source of the sulfur in stream waters is furtherly needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2020

Since industrialization, the production and utilization of various chemicals has contributed to improving the quality of our lives, but the subsequent discharge of massive waste is inevitable, and environmental pollution is becoming more serious every day. Exposure to chemicals as a result of environmental pollution is having a negative effect on human health and the ecosystem, and cleaning up the polluted environment that can affect our lives is a very important issue. Toxic aromatic compounds have been detected frequently in soil, groundwater, and wastewater because of the extensive use of oil products, and phenol, which is used to produce synthetic resins, textiles, and dyes, is one of the major pollutants, along with insecticides and preservatives. Phenol can cause dyspnea, headache, vomiting, mutation, and carcinogenesis. Phenol-degrading bacterium DWB-1-8 was isolated from the activated sludge of textile wastewater; this strain was identified as Comamonas testosteroni by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The optimal culture conditions for the cell growth and degradation of phenol were 0.7% K₂HPO₄, 0.6% NaH₂PO₄, 0.1% NH₄NO₃, 0.015% MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.001% FeSO₄·7H₂O, an initial pH of 7, and a temperature of 30℃. The strain was also able to grow by using other toxic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, or xylene (BTX), as the sole source of carbon.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.651-660
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• 2007

Acid drainage has been recognized as an environmental concern in abandoned mine sites for long time. Recently, the environmental and structural damage by acid drainage is a current issue in construction sites in Korea. Here, the author introduces the type of damages by acid drainage in construction sites and emphasizes the importance of geoscience discipline in solving the problem. Metasedimentary rock of Okcheon group, coal bed of Pyeongan group, Mesozoic volcanic rock. and Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks are the major rock types with a high potential for acid drainage upon excavation in Korea. The acid drainage causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater, the reduction of slope stability, the corrosion of slope structure, the damage on plant growth, the damage on landscape and the deterioration of concrete and asphalt pavement. The countermeasure for acid drainage is the treatment of acid drainage and the prevention of acid drainage. The treatment of acid drainage can be classified into active and passive treatments depending on the degree of natural process in the treatment. Removal of oxidants, reduction of oxidant generation and encapsulation of sulfide are employed for the prevention of acid drainage generation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-122
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• 2014

For accurate laboratory evaluations of soil deposits, it is essential that the samples are undisturbed. An artificial ground-freezing system is the one of the most effective methods for obtaining undisturbed samples from sand deposits. The objective of this study is to estimate the shear strengths and the characteristics of elastic waves of frozen-thawed and unfrozen specimens through the undrained triaxial compression test. For the experiments, Jumunjin standard sands are used to prepare frozen and unfrozen specimens with similar relative densities (60% and 80%). The water pluviation method is used to simulate the fully saturated condition under the groundwater table. When thawing the frozen specimens, the temperature is measured every minute. After the specimens are completely thawed, undrained triaxial compression tests are conducted using the same procedures as for the unfrozen specimens. During the triaxial tests (saturation, consolidation, and shear phase), compressional and shear waves are measured. The results show that the freeze-thaw process has minor effects on the peak deviatoric stress and shear strength values, and that the process does not affect the internal friction angle. The compressional wave velocity increases with increasing B-value to 1800 m/s in the saturation phase, but tends to remain constant in the process of consolidation and shearing. The shear wave velocity decreases with increasing B-value in the process of saturation, but changes velocity in accordance with the change in effective stress in the processes of consolidation and shearing. The compressional wave velocity has similar values regardless of the freeze-thaw process, but values of shear wave velocity are slighly lower in frozen-thawed specimens than in unfrozen specimens. This study is a preliminary experiment for estimating the shear strength and characteristics of elastic wave velocity in undisturbed frozen specimens that have been obtained using the artificial ground-freezing method.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

We examined the flow characteristics by direct runoff and base flow in a headwater stream during observed 59 rainfall events of flood season (June~September) from 2017 to 2020 yrs. Total precipitation ranged from 5.0 to 400.8 mm, total runoff ranged from 0.1 to 176.5 mm, and runoff ratio ranged from 0.1 to 242.9% during the rainfall events. From hydrograph separation, flow duration in base flow (139.3 days) was tended to be longer than direct runoff (78.3 days), while the contribution of direct runoff in total runoff (54.2%) was greater than base flow (45.8%). The total amount and peak flow of direct runoff and base flow had the highest correlation (p<0.05) with total precipitation and duration of rain among rainfall and soil moisture conditions. Dominant rainfall events for the total amount and peak flow of base flow were generated under 5.0~200.4 and 10.5~110.5 mm in total precipitation. However, when direct runoff occurred as dominant rainfall events, total amount and peak flow were increased by 267.4~400.8 and 169.0~400.8 mm in total precipitation. Therefore, the unique aspects of our study design permitted us to draw inferences about flow characteristic analysis with the contribution of base flow and/or direct runoff in the total runoff in a headwater stream. Furthermore, it will be useful for the long-term strategy of effective water management for integrated surface-groundwater in the forested headwater stream.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

This study was aimed at assess environmental conservation functions by analyzing the change of land use areas in agricultural fields between 1999 and 2006, and comparing land surface temperature distribution between 1994 and 2006 in Yongin city. Land use maps of Yongin city were obtained from soil maps for 1999, Quickbird satellite images(less than 1 m) and parcel map for 2006. The land use area for Yongin city was in the order of forest > paddy field > upland > residence & building in 1999, and forest > residence & building > paddy field > upland in 2006. Decrease of paddy and upland fields reduced 34% and 41% of the capability of agricultural multifunctionality as to environment including flood control, groundwater recharge, and air cooling. Land surface temperature(LST) was derived from Landsat TM thermal infrared band acquired in September of 1994 and 2006 and classified into three grades. The results impplied that green vegetation in agricultural field and forest play an important role to reduce land surface temperature in warm season.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.4 s.42
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• pp.447-462
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• 2005

The purposes of this study are to evaluate and discuss the importance of geochemical properties of soil materials that play an important role in the occurrence of the landslide, using analyses of microtexture, particle size distribution, XRC, and FE-SEM equipped with energy dispersive spectrum on soils collected from landslide slopes of gneiss, granite and sedimentary rock areas. Soils from gneiss and granite areas where landslides took place have much clay content relative to those from non landslide areas, particularly pronounced in the granite area. Therefore the clay content is considered a sensitive factor on landslide. Clay minerals contained in soils are illite, chlorite, kaolinite and montmorillonite. Especially the content of clay minerals in soils from the Tertiary sedimentary rocks is highest, with abundant montmorillonite as expandable species. It is believed that this area was much vulnerable to landslide comparable to other areas because of its high content of monoorillonite, even though there might be weak precipitation. Since no conspicuous differentiation in mineralogy between the landslide area and non landslide area can be made, the occurrence of landslide may be influenced not by mineralogy, but by local geography and mechanical properties of soils. Geochemical information on weathering properties, mineralogy, and microtexture of soils is helpful to better understand the causes and patterns of landslide, together with engineering geological analyses.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.281-302
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• 2023

Carbon is not only an essential element for life but also a key player in climate change. The radiocarbon (¹⁴C) analysis using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a powerful tool not only to understand the carbon cycle but also to track pollutants derived from fossil carbon, which have a distinct radiocarbon isotope ratio (Δ¹⁴C). Many studies have reported Δ¹⁴C of carbon compounds in streams, rivers, rain, snow, throughfall, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and wastewater treatment plant effluents in South Korea, which are reviewed in this manuscript. In summary, (1) stream and river carbon in South Korea are largely derived from the chemical weathering of soils and rocks, and organic compounds in plants and soils, strongly influenced by precipitation, wastewater treatment effluents, agricultural land use, soil water, and groundwater. (2) Unprecedentedly high Δ¹⁴C of precipitation during winter has been reported, which can directly and indirectly influence stream and river carbon. Although we cannot exclude the possibility of local contamination sources of high Δ¹⁴C, the results suggest that stream dissolved organic carbon could be older than previously thought, warranting future studies. (3) The ¹⁴C analysis has also been applied to quantify the sources of forest throughfall and PM_2.5, providing new insights. The ¹⁴C data on a variety of ecosystems will be valuable not only to track the pollutants derived from fossil carbon but also to improve our understanding of climate change and provide solutions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.529-542
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• 2020

The cesium (Cs) sorption characteristics of a bead-type polysulfone carrier contained HNO₃-treated bamboo charcoal (3 - 5 mm in diameter) in water system were investigated and its Cs removal efficiency as an adsorbent from water was also identified by various laboratory experiments. From the results of batch sorption experiments, the bead-type polysulfone carrier with only 5% HNO₃-treated bamboo charcoal (P-5NBC) represented the high Cs removal efficiency of 57.8% for 1 hour sorption time. The Cs removal efficiency of P-5NBC in water after 24 hours reaction maintained > 69% at a wide range of pH and temperature conditions, attesting to its applicability under various water systems. Batch sorption experiments were repeated for P-5NBC coated with two cultivated microorganisms (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus drentensis), which were typical indigenous species inhabited in soil and groundwater. The Cs removal efficiency for two microorganisms coated polysulfone carrier (BP-5NBC) additionally increased by 19% and 18%, respectively, compared to that of only P-5NBC without microorganisms coated. The average Cs desorption rate of P-5NBC for 24 h was lower than 16%, showing the Cs was stably attached on HNO₃-treated bamboo charcoal in so much as its long-term use. The maximum Cs sorption capacity (q_m) of P-5NBC calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model study was 60.9 mg/g, which was much higher than those of other adsorbents from previous studies for 1 h sorption time. The results of continuous column experiments showed that the P-5NBC coated with microorganisms packed in the column maintained > 80% of the Cs removal efficiency during 100 pore volumes flushing. It suggested that only 14.7 g of P-5NBC (only 0.75 g of HNO₃ treated bamboo charcoal included) can successfully clean-up 7.2 L of Cs contaminated water (the initial Cs concentration: 1 mg/L; the effluent concentration: < 0.2 mg/L). The present results suggested that the Cs contaminated water can be successfully cleaned up by using a small amount of the polysulfone carrier with HNO₃-treated bamboo charcoal.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2016

Perchlorate (ClO₄⁻) is an emerging pollutant detected in surface water, soil, and groundwater. Previous studies provided experimental evidence of autotrophic ClO₄⁻ removal with elemental sulfur (S⁰) particles and activated sludge, which are inexpensive and easily available, respectively. In addition, ClO₄⁻ removal efficiency was shown to increase when an enrichment culture was used as an inoculum instead of activated sludge. PCR-DGGE was employed in the present study to investigate the microbial community in the enrichment culture that removed ClO₄⁻ autotrophically. Microorganisms in the enrichment culture showed 99.71% or more ClO₄⁻ removal efficiency after a 7-day incubation when the initial concentration was approximately 120 mg ClO₄⁻/l. Genomic DNA was isolated from the enriched culture and its inoculum (activated sludge), and used for PCR-DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes. Microbial compositions of the enrichment culture and the activated sludge were different, as determined by their different DGGE profiles. The difference in DGGE banding patterns suggests that environmental conditions of the enrichment culture caused a change in the microbial community composition of the inoculated activated sludge. Dominant DGGE bands in the enrichment culture sample were affiliated with the classes β-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes. Further investigation is warranted to reveal the metabolic roles of the dominant populations in the ClO₄⁻ degradation process, along with their isolation.