• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2020

The effectiveness of in situ sediment capping as a technique for heavy metal risk mitigation in Hyeongsan River estuary, South Korea was studied. Sites in the estuary were found previously to show moderate to high levels of contamination of mercury, methylmercury and other heavy metals. A 400 m x 50 m section of the river was selected for a thin layer capping demonstration, where the total area was divided into 4 sections capped with different combinations of capping materials (zeolite, AC/zeolite, AC/sand, zeolite/sand). Pore water concentrations in the different sites were studied using diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) probes. All capping amendments showed reduction in the pore water concentration of the different heavy metals with top 5 cm showing %reduction greater than 90% for some heavy metals. The relative maxima for the different metals were found to be translated to lower depths with addition of the caps. For two-layered cap with AC, order of placement should be considered since AC can easily be displaced due to its relatively low density. Investigation of methylmercury (MeHg) in the site showed that MeHg and %MeHg in pore water corresponds well with maxima for sulfide, Fe and Mn suggesting mercury methylation as probably coupled with sulfate, Fe and Mn reduction in sediments. Our results showed that thin-layer capping of active sorbents AC and zeolite, in combination with passive sand caps, are potential remediation strategy for sediments contaminated with heavy metals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.35-37
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• 2001

This study has investigated the chemical characteristics and the contamination of groundwater in relation to land use in Daejeon Metropolitan City. An attempt was made to distinguish anthrophogenic inputs from the influence of natural chemical weathering on the chemical composition of groundwater at Taejon. Groundwater samples collected at 170 locations in the Taejon area show very variable chemical composition of groundwater, e.9. electrical conductance ranges from 65 to 1,290 S/cm. Most groundwater is weakly acidic and the groundwater chemistry is more influenced by land use and urbanization than by aquifer rock type. Most of groundwater from green areas and new town residential districts has low electrical conductance, and is of Ca-HC $O_3$ type, whereas the chemical composition of groundwater from the old downtown and industrial district is shifted towards a Ca-Cl (N $O_3$+S $O_4$) type with high electrical conductance. A number of groundwater samples in the urbanized area are contaminated by high nitrate and chlorine, and exhibit high hardness. The Ep$CO_2$, that is the $CO_2$ content of a water sample relative to pure water, was computed to obtain more insight into the origin of $CO_2$ and bicarbonate in the groundwater. Factor analysis of the chemical data shows that the HC $O_3$ and N $O_3$ concentrations have the highest factor loadings on factor 1 and factor 2, respectively. Factors 1 and 2 represent major contributions from natural processes and human activities, respectively. The results of the factor analysis indicate that the levels of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, N $a^{+}$, Cl and SO4$^2$ derive from both pollution sources and natural weathering reactions.ons.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-76
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• 2011

This study was objected to provide suggestions for best management practices to restore the cultural and historical values of the wells in Palaces as well as their water qualities. Water resources in the five Palaces in Seoul Metropolitan, including Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Jongmyo Shrine, and Deoksugung, were surveyed for their physical flows and chemical compositions from April to July in 2010. Ground waters in most wells were found at depths within 5 m from the ground surface, showing typical water-table aquifer systems. Hydraulic gradients indicate water resources in Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung flowing toward south, and toward east in Deoksugung area. Especially, water-level fluctuation data at S-10 in Deoksugung implied the influence of groundwater discharge facility. In Jongmyo Shrine, water was not detected in wells, indicating the water level was lower than the well depth. Based on the water chemistry and stable isotope analyses, water resources and their qualities appeared to be formed by the water-rock interaction along the groundwater paths. S-10 (Deoksugung) and S-14 (Changgyeonggung) samples were contaminated with nitrate ($NO_3$) in levels of higher than Korean drinking water standard, 10 mg/L as $NO_3$-N, but once in four sampling campaigns. In the situation that water resources in Palaces still maintain natural characteristics, the materials that will be used for the restoration and improvement of the Palace water supplies should be carefully selected not to disturb the natural integrity. In addition, because the wells are located in the center of metropolitan area, a systematic monitoring should be applied to detect and to manage the potential impacts of underground construction and various pollution sources.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.38-45
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• 2005

The feasibility of stimulating in situ aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms was investigated in a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer. A series of single-well natural drift tests (SWNDTs) was conducted by injecting site groundwater amended with a bromide tracer and combinations of toluene, oxygen, nitrate, ethylene and TCE into an existing monitoring well and by sampling the same well over time. Three field tests, Push-pull Transport Test, Drift Biostimulation Test, and Drift Surrogate Activity Test, were performed in sequence. Initial rate of toluene degradation was much faster than the rate of bromide dilution resulting from natural groundwater drift, indicating stimulation of indigenous toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. Transformation of ethylene, a surrogate probing overall activity of TCE transformation, was also observed, and its transformation results in the production of ethylene oxide, suggesting that some tolueneoxidizing microorganisms stimulated may express a orthomonooxygenase enzyme. Also in situ transformation of TCE was confirmed by greater retardation of TCE than bromide after the stimulation of toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. These results indicate that, in this environment, toluene and oxygen additions stimulated the growth and aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms expressing orthomonooxygenase enzymes. The simple, low-cost field test method presented in this study provides an effective method for conducting rapid field assessments and pilot testing of aerobic cometabolism, which has previously hindered application of this technology to groundwater remediation.