• 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.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.469-476
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• 2015

Button mushroom compost (BMC) was prepared by fermenting the mixture of waste button mushroom bed collected from Boryeong area in South Korea (4): sawdust (8) : pig and fowl manure (1) for 40 days at $30^{\circ}C$. The BMC compromised diverse microorganisms including aerobic bacteria $8.1{\times}10^6cfu\;g^{-1}$, Gram negative bacteria $1.7{\times}10^7cfu\;g^{-1}$, genus Bacillus $6.4{\times}10^6cfu\;g^{-1}$, genus Pseudomonas $1.5{\times}10^4cfu\;g^{-1}$, actinomycetes $1.0{\times}10^4cfu\;g^{-1}$, and fungi $3.5{\times}10^3cfu\;g^{-1}$. BMC was used as a microbial inoculant for estimating the mobilization of heavy metals in soil or plant. When metal solubilization potential of BMC was assessed in a batch experiment, the inoculation of BMC was shown to increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn by 29, 26, 27, and 43% respectively, than those of non-inoculated soils. BMC-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was also evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 17, 15, 18, and 21% respectively in Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the BMC. The apparent results suggested that the BMC could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction from the soils contaminated with heavy metals such as Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2022

This work aims to assess the threat to human health of hazardous materials in groundwater that is used domestically and for drinking. Two distinct sub-assessments are considered: cancer and non-cancer risk. The studied groundwater is in an agricultural area of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, and is contaminated by arsenic at a mean level of 16.27 ㎍/L, far greater than the WHO guideline (10 ㎍/L for drinking water). We collected groundwater data from the National Groundwater Information Center (gims.go.kr) and assessed the risk to human health following the methodology of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We considered three exposure scenarios: domestic use (scenario 1) and drinking use with different doses (scenarios 2 and 3). Scenario 1 had a median hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.77 and a cancer risk (CR) of 0.013. Scenario 2 had a median HQ of 0.08 and a CR of 3.69 × 10^-5, and the values for scenario 3 were 0.11 and 4.82 × 10^-5, respectively. Scenario 1 is likely the most hazardous to human health. Further study of the origin of arsenic in groundwater in the study area is required, as are remedial measures to mitigate its health effects.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2009

During the past few years, titanium salts were investigated as alternative coagulants for the removal of organic matter of different molecular sizes in contaminated water. The flocculation efficiency of Ti-salt was comparable to those of $FeCl_3$ and $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ salts, commonly used coagulants. Incinerated sludge-$TiO_2$ showed higher surface area and photocatalytic activity than commercially available $TiO_2$. Metal-doped forms were produced by adding coagulant aids such as iron (Fe-), aluminium (Al-) and (Ca-) calcium salts during Ti-salt flocculation to increase pH. Ca- and Al- doped $TiO_2$ showed very high photocatalytic activity compared to Fe-doped $TiO_2$. When tested in a pilot scale plant for treatment of dye wastewater to check practical feasibility of the novel process, the removal ratio of the chemical oxygen demand was comparable to those of commonly used coagulants but the settling of sludge was faster. The $TiO_2$ generated after sludge incineration showed a high photocatalytic activity for degradation of volatile organic compounds and increased the rate of hydrogen production by water photosplitting. $TiCl_4$ coagulant and $TiO_2$ produced from different water sources with different concentrations had low acute toxicity compared to heavy metals and commercial $TiO_2$ when examined based on D. Magna mortality. This paper presents the production, characterisation and the photoactivity of $TiO_2$ produced from Ti-salt flocculated sludge. Different case studies are discussed to highlighted recent advances in this field.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-50
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• 2003

Physicochemical Properties of acid mine water of the Chonam-ri Creek and the Sagok-ri Creek in the Kwangyang Au-Ag mine area were determined using geochemical approaches. Metal contamination (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) is more serious in the Chonam-ri Creek than in the Sagok-ri Creek. However, the contents of Al and Fe is higher in the Sagok-ri Creek. Such differences between the two creeks probably reflect the abundance and composition of ore minerals. The attenuation processes for acid mine water in both creeks were investigated. In the Chonam-ri Creek, a small retention pond which contains limestone plays an important role in the removal of heavy metals by adsorption or coprecipitation due to increase of pH. The capacity of metal scavenging in this pond depends on the seasonal variation of inflow volume. Reddish yellow precipitates sampled in the Chonam-ri Creek were analyzed by XRD, SEM-EDS, EPMA, and chemical decomposition. The precipitates mainly consist of goethite and are also enriched in Al, Mn, Cu and Zn. This inditates that precipitation of goethite is important for scavenging those trace elements, possibly due to adsorption or coprecipitation. In the Sagok-ri Creek, on the other hand, hydrologic mixing of uncontaminated tributaries results in removal of heavy metals with iron hydroxides precipitation due to the pH increase. The mechanisms proposed for metal attenuation at the confluence between contaminated mine water and uncontaminated tributary water are also explained by the property-property plots.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.464-472
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• 2014

The Codex Committee of Contaminants in Food (CCCF) has been discussing a new standard for arsenic (As) in rice since 2010 and a code of practice for the prevention and reduction of As contamination in rice since 2013. Therefore, our current studies focus on setting a maximum level of As in rice and paddy soil by considering bioavailability in the remediation of As contaminated soils. This study aimed to select an appropriate single chemical extractant for evaluating the mobility of As in paddy soil and the bioavailability of As to rice. Nine different extractants, such as deionized water, 0.01 M $Ca(NO_3)_2$, 0.1 M HCl, 0.2 M $C_6H_8O_7$, 0.43 M $HNO_3$, 0.43 M $CH_3COOH$, 0.5 M $KH_2PO_4$, 1 M HCl, and 1 M $NH_4NO_3$ were used in this study. Total As content in soil was also determined after aqua regia digestion. The As extractability of the was in the order of: Aqua regia > 1 M HCl > 0.5 M $KH_2PO_4$ > 0.43 M $HNO_3$ > 0.2 M $C_6H_8O_7$ > 0.1 M HCl > 0.43 M $CH_3COOH$ > deionized water > 1 M $NH_4NO_3$ > 0.01 M $Ca(NO_3)_2$. Correlation between soil extractants and As content in rice was in the order of : deionized water > 0.01 M $Ca(NO_3)_2$ > 0.43 M $CH_3COOH$ > 0.1 M HCl > 0.5 M $KH_2PO_4$ > 1 M $NH_4NO_3$ > 0.2 M $C_6H_8O_7$ > 0.43 M $HNO_3$ > 1M HCl > Aqua regia. BCF (bioconcentration factor) according to extractants was in the order of : 0.01M $Ca(NO_3)_2$ > 1 M $NH_4NO_3$ > deionized water > 0.43 M $CH_3COOH$ > 0.1 M HCl > 0.43 M $HNO_3$ > 0.2 M $C_6H_8O_7$ > 0.5 M $KH_2PO_4$ > 1 M HCl > Aqua regia. Therefore, 0.01 M $Ca(NO_3)_2$ ($r=0.78^{**}$) was proven to have the greatest potential for predicting As bioavailability in soil with higher correlation between As in rice and the extractant.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1029-1038
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• 2010

In meteorology Korea has 2/3 of rain of annual total rainfall at the month of Jun through Sept and it has possibility to have serious flood damage because geographically it is composed of mountainous area with steep slope which account for 70% of its country. Also, the increase of impervious layer due to industrialization and urbanization causes direct runoff, which deteriorates contamination of rivers by moving the contaminated material on the surface at the beginning of rain. In particular, the area of leisure facilities needs the management of water quality absolutely because dense population requires space of park function and place to relax and increases moving capability of non-point pollution source. For disposition of rainfall & runoff, the standard of initial rainfall, which is to be used for the computation of disposition volume, is significant factors for the runoff study of non-point pollution source, Until now, a great deal of study has been done by many researchers. However, it is the current reality that the characteristics of runoff varies according to land protection comprising river basin and the standard of initial rainfall by each researcher is not clearly defined yet. Therefore, in this research, it is suggested that, with the introduction of SOM (Self-Organizing Map), the standard of initial rainfall be determined after analyzing each sectional data by executing pattern classification about runoff and water quality data measured at the test river basin for this research.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2013

Since the decommissioning of nuclear plants and facilities, large quantities of slightly contaminated concrete waste have been generated. In Korea, the decontamination and decommissioning of the KRR-1, 2 at the KAERI have been under way. And concrete waste was generated about 800 drums of 200 L. The conditioning of concrete waste is needed for final disposal. The concrete waste is conditioned as follows: mortar using coarse and fine aggregates is filled void space after concrete rubble pre-placement into 200 L drum. Thus, this research has developed an optimizing mixing ratio of concrete waste, water, and cement and has evaluated characteristics of a cement waste form to meet the requirements specified in disposal site specific waste acceptance criteria. The results obtained from compressive strength test, leaching test, thermal cycling test of cement waste forms conclude that the concrete waste, water, and cement have been suggested to have 75:15:10wt% as the optimized mixing ratio. Also, the compressive strength of cement waste form was satisfied that including fine powder up to maximum 40wt% in concrete debris wastes about 75%. As a result of scale-up test, the mixture of concrete waste, water, and cement is 75:10:15wt% meet the satisfied compressive strength because the free water increased with and increased in particle size.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2011

Recently, researches that a variety of contaminants in water are removed by sonolysis technology with oxidation and pyrolysis process from cavitation were conducted. However, there are few studies for sonochemical treatment by a pilot-scale ultrasound system. This research focused on developing pilot-scale ultrasound systems, which could be an continuously effective treatment for a large volumes of contaminants, and demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing these systems to remove naphthalene from groundwater. V-120 type reactor was found to be 1.4~2.2 times higher effective than the normal type. A total of three different pilot scale's systems consisted of installing effluent and irrigation water in order to be a continuos system, including supplemental additives, and applying a V-120 type reactor and a external cooling cycle system. Naphthalene levels treated by three systems were lower than a recommended guideline of naphthalene for drinking water in EPA. Especially, the naphthalene removal efficiencies of PS1 and PS2 systems were over 97%. The pilot-scale continuous ultrasound clean-up system delivered over 84~95% naphthalene removal efficiency for treatment of 10~20 liter of groundwater. In addition, the ultrasound system could be successfully applied to the conditions of artificial and genuine groundwater contaminated with naphthalene.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2015

Ecological reservoir is a multifunctional space where provides the functions of retention, animal habitat and improvement of ecosystem health and landscape. The ecological reservoir of Anteo Eco Park located in Gwangmyeong-si has established to functions for water purification, maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystem. Because the Anteo Eco Park is located in the site where nonpoint pollutant materials flow in, Anteo Eco Park has potential factors which aquatic ecosystem health deteriorates and damages the habitat of golden frog(Rana plancyi chosenica) which is restoration target species. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to suggest the plan to manage the variables which impede the right functions of aquatic ecosystem by understanding the causal loop diagram for the change of water quality environment and the interaction of predator-prey through system thinking. The results are as follows. First, the study showed that the individual number of golden frog which is an indicator species of Anteo Eco Park is threatened by snakeheaded fish, which is an upper predator. Therefore, balanced food chain should be hold to protect golden frog by capturing the snakeheaded fish which is individual number's density is high, and the monitoring management of the individual number for predator(snakeheaded fish)-prey(golden frog) should be performed. Second, the study represented that water pollution and carnification is caused by the sediment as the dead body of the large emergent vegetation in the winter cumulates as sediment. Ecological reservoir in Anteo Eco Park has been managed by eliminating the dead body of the large emergent vegetation, but the guideline for the proper density maintenance of vegetation community is additionally needed. Lastly, the study showed that aquatic ecosystem of Anteo Eco Park where is contaminated from the inflow of nonpoint pollutants affects the individual number's decline of golden frog and snakeheaded fish. Accordingly, the creation of a buffer area and a substitution wetland is needed in the periphery of the Anteo Eco Park to control the inflow of nonpoint pollutants including organic matters, nutrients and heavy metals. This study will be helpful that Anteo Eco Park improves the regional landscape and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystem space for the park visitors including local residents.