• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.372-378
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• 2016

This study focuses on the development of an alkaline leaching hydrometallurgy process for the recovery of tungsten from WC/Co hardmetal sludge, and an examination of the effect of the process parameters on tungsten recovery. The alkaline leaching hydrometallurgy process has four stages, i.e., oxidation of the sludge, leaching of tungsten by NaOH, refinement of the leaching solution, and precipitation of tungsten. The WC/Co hardmetal sludge oxide consists of $WO_3$ and $CoWO_4$. The leaching of tungsten is most affected by the leaching temperature, followed by the NaOH concentration and the leaching time. About 99% of tungsten in the WC/Co hardmetal sludge is leached at temperatures above $90^{\circ}C$ and a NaOH concentration above 15%. For refinement of the leaching solution, pH control of the solution using HCl is more effective than the addition of $Na_2S{\cdot}9H_2O$. The tungsten is precipitated as high-purity $H_2WO_4{\cdot}H_2O$ by pH control using HCl. With decreasing pH of the solution, the tungsten recovery rate increases and then decrease. About 93% of tungsten in the WC/Co hardmetal sludge is recovered by the alkaline leaching hydrometallurgy process.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Vitrified aggregates obtained by using mine tailings were evaluated using various leaching methods to assess their environmental safety. The leaching tests in this study include continuous batch leaching, Dutch availability leaching, pH-stat and tank diffusion test as well as TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure), which is commonly adopted. Vitrification technique has successfully been applied treating some solid wastes containing high level of heavy metals, such as EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) dust and mine tailings. The potentially most leachable element among trace metals was As and theoretically about 7% of total concentrations in the aggregate can be released under extreme condition. Zinc was leached about 4% and the other trace metals including Cd, Cr and Pb were hardly released from the vitrified mine tailing aggregate.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.281-299
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• 2017

Single (0.005 M DTPA), sequential (six-step) and kinetic (0.05 M EDTA) extractions were performed to assess Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn mobilization and their potential ecological risks in Abuja (Nigeria) water (WTS) and wastewater (WWTS) treatment sludges. Total metal levels (mg/kg) in WTS and WWTS, respectively were: Cd(3.67 and 5.03), Cr(5.70 and 9.03), Cu(183.59 and 231.53), Ni(1.33 and 3.23), Pb(13.43 and 17.87), Zn(243.45 and 421.29). DTPA furnished metal extraction yields (%) in WTS and WWTS, respectively as: Cd(11 and 6), Cr (15 and 7), Cu(17 and 13), Ni(23 and 3), Pb(11 and 12), and Zn(37 and 33). The metals were associated with the soluble/exchangeable, carbonate, Mn/Fe-oxide, organic matter and residual forms to varying degrees. Kinetic extractions cumulatively leached metal concentrations akin to the mobilizable fractions extracted sequentially and the leaching data fitted well into the Elovich model. Metal mobilities were concordant for the three leaching procedures and varied in the order:WTS>WWTS. Calculated ecological risk indices suggested moderate and considerable metal toxicity in WTS and WWTS, respectively with Cd as the worst culprit. The findings may be useful in predicting heavy metals bioavailability and risks in the sludges to guide their disposal and use in land applications.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 1968

The uptake of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) and of paraaminohippuric acid (PAH) by cortical slices of the rabbit kidney was investigated while varying the composition of medium. The overall uptake of these substances displayed typical active transport characteristics and was significantly enhanced in presence of acetate. When the phosphate buffer was used the optimal pH was 7.4 for both substances. However, when the tris-buffer was used the optimal pH was 7.4 for PSP and 8.3 for PAH. Removal of $Na^+$ from the medium resulted in a significant reduction in the uptake. Similar results, though lesser in magnitude, were obtained when either $K^+\;or\;Ca^{++}$ was removed from the medium. However, there was no additive effect when $K^+\;and/or\;Ca^{++}$ were additionally removed from the $Na^+-free$ medium. The presence of ${NH_4}^+$ greatly reduced while $Li^+\;and\;Mg^{++}$ moderately reduced the uptake of both substances. However, choline had no effect. In substrate-leached slices, acetate greatly enhance the uptake of organic acids; but this action was not demonstrable in absence of $Na^+,\;K^+\;or\;Ca^{++}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.19-21
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• 2001

The Shiheung mine was closed in 1972 and has been abandoned since then. Although some restoration work has been done, there still remain mine failings in and around the mine, posing a potential environmental hazard. Mine tailings and the porewater extracted from the tailing were investigated to see any evidence of elemental release and migration to adjacent groundwater and soil in the field. The pHs of the tailing range from 6.24 to 7.23. Calcite in the studied area seems to influence on such neutral pH range. Depth profile of mine tailing demonstrate elements have been leached and removed as a consequence of weathering during disposal. This is also supported by the findings from porewater analysis, corresponding the trends in the mine tailings. The concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the tailing porewater exceed the standard value of EPA for drinking water and this implies groundwater can be contaminated through infiltration of the porewaters, which ultimately will be discharged as leachate from the mine tailing. Groundwater samples collected near the mine area do not show high metal concentrations, except for Fe, which were detected over drinking water standard.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.46-57
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• 2007

The leachability of boron in zinc borate (ZB)-modified oriented strandboard (OSB) from southern wood species was investigated in this study. The leaching experiments were conducted by exposing edge-sealed OSB samples under running water at $31^{\circ}C$ for 8, 24, 72, and 216 h. The results from leached samples were compared with those from the unleached controls. Boron leaching of the modified OSB occurred upon the initial water exposure, and the leaching rate decreased as the leaching time increased. Initial boric acid equivalent (BAE) level, wood species, and sample thickness swelling significantly influenced the leachability. There was no consistent effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on zinc borate leaching. The glue-line washing within OSB due to thickness swelling of the test samples under water and decomposition of the borate to form water-soluble boric acid were thought to be two possible causes for the observed leaching. The relationship between assayed BAE and leaching time followed a decaying exponential function for zinc borate treated OSB. From the boron/zinc ratio after each leaching period, boron element in ZB was more or less leachable. The material constant of the regression models allowed comparing the leachability of the modified OSB for various wood species. An unified leaching method for treated wood composite materials is needed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.690-697
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• 2012

Approximately 67% of the total land area of the Korea is covered by forest. Eutrophication, defined as the enrichment of waters beyond natural levels, principally by the nutrient phosphorus (P), is a serious cause of concern at the present time. The contribution of forestry to P loading in catchment waters has not been intensively studied in Korea, but is potentially important because forests are often located in near-pristine environments. Phosphorus is retained by most mineral soils and, as a consequence, losses are usually negligible. However, it is much more mobile in organic soils where it can be relatively easily leached or lost through surface runoff, as these soils have a low capacity to retain free phosphate. This report has been prepared to study the influence of arable land used for paddy, upland, and forestry on water quality in the basin of Daechung reservoir.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2015

We produced magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) and a Mg-rich solution as a nano-adsorbent and a coagulant for water treatment, respectively, using a low-grade iron ore. The ore was leached with aqueous hydrochloric acid and its impurities were removed by solvent extraction of the leachate using tri-n-butyl phosphate as an extractant. The content of Si and Mg, which inhibit the formation of MNPs, was reduced from 10.3 wt% and 15.5 wt% to 28.1 mg/L and < 1.4 mg/L, respectively. Consequently, the Fe content increased from 68.6 wt% to 99.8 wt%. The high-purity $Fe^{3+}$ solution recovered was used to prepare 5-15-nm MNPs by coprecipitation. The wastewater produced contained a large amount of $Mg^{2+}$ and can be used to precipitate struvite in sewage treatment. This process helps reduce the cost of both sewage and iron-orewastewater treatments, as well as in the economic production of the nano-adsorbent.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.618-622
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• 2010

Cost-effective purification methods of silicon were carried out in order to replace the conventional Siemens method for solar grade silicon. Firstly, acid leaching which is a hydrometallurgical process was preceded with grinded silicon powders of metallurgical grade (~99% purity) to remove metallic impurities. Then, plasma treatments were performed with the leached silicon powders of 99.94% purity by argon plasma at 30 kW power under atmospheric pressure. Plasma treatment was specifically efficient for removing Zr, Y, and P but not for Al and B. Another purification step by EB treatment was also studied for the 99.92% silicon lump which resulted in the fast removal of boron and aluminum. That means the two methods are effective alternative tools for removing the doping elements like boron and phosphor.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.283-294
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• 2015

In the present study, a porous concrete with alkali activated slag (AAS) and coal bottom ash was developed and the effect of carbonation on the physical property, microstructural characteristic, and heavy metal leaching behavior of the porous concrete were investigated. Independent variables, such as the type of the alkali activator and binder, the amount of paste, and $CO_2$ concentration, were considered. The experimental test results showed that the measured void ratio and compressive strength of the carbonated porous concrete exceeded minimum level stated in ACI 522 for general porous concrete. A new quantitative TG analysis for evaluating $CO_2$ uptake in AAS was proposed, and the result showed that the $CO_2$ uptake in AAS paste was approximately twice as high as that in OPC paste. The leached concentrations of heavy metals from carbonated porous concrete were below the relevant environmental criteria.