• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.542-554
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• 2015

Grain size, the content of ignition loss (IL), and the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, As, and Hg) in surface sediments from the Taehwa River estuary, Ulsan, were measured to evaluate pollution levels and potential ecological risks of organic matter and trace metals in estuarine sediment. The mean grain size (Mz) of sediments in the study region ranged from $-0.8-7.7{\varphi}$ (mean $2.8{\pm}2.4{\varphi}$). Surface sediments in the upstream region of the Taehwa River were mainly composed of coarse sediments compared to the downstream region. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS and trace metals in the sediment were much higher at downstream sites of Myeongchon Bridge in the vicinity of industrial complexes than at upstream sites of those in the vicinity of the residential areas due to the anthropogenic input of organic matter and trace metals by industrial activities. On the basis of several geochemical assessment techniques [sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$), pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI)], the surfaces sediments in the study region are not highly polluted for trace metals, except for As. However, the higher concentrations in downstream study regions of the Taehwa River could impact benthic organisms including shellfish (i.e. Manila clam) in sediments.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.48-57
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• 2018

In this study, we developed a method for manufacturing high strength gray cast irons by adding a rare earth element (R.E.) included in a spent permanent magnet scrap to gray cast irons. The improvement of the mechanical properties of gray cast irons is attributed to A-type graphite formation promoted by complex sulfide, which was formed by R.E. in the spent magnets during a solidification process. The cast specimen inoculated by R.E. in the spent magnet scrap showed excellent tensile strength up to 306 MPa, and is similar to that of the specimen inoculated by expensive misch-metal. In this regards, we concluded that the cheap spent magnets scrap is a very efficient inoculation agent in fabrication of high performance gray cast irons.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1014-1025
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• 2014

We measured the concentrations of various geochemical parameters [grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, As, Zn, and Hg)] in the surface sediments of two intertidal oyster Crassostrea gigas farming areas (Iwon and Mongsan tidal flats) on the Taean Peninsula, Korea, to evaluate the pollution level of organic matter and trace metals in sediment. The intertidal sediments in the study region comprise mostly sand with a mean grain size of 2.5-3.5 Ø. The concentrations of IL, COD, AVS, and trace metals in the sediment of two study regions were either similar or lower in oyster farming areas relative to non-farming areas, apparently due to biological uptake or physical and biological sediment reworking. Based on the results for the pollution evaluation of organic matter and trace metals derived from sediment quality guidelines, enrichment factor, and geoaccumulation index, our results suggest that the sediment in these two intertidal oyster farming regions is not polluted by organic matter and trace metals.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2012

Occupational neurotoxic diseases have become increasingly common in Taiwan due to industrialization. Over the past 40 years, Taiwan has transformed from an agricultural society to an industrial society. The most common neurotoxic diseases also changed from organophosphate poisoning to heavy metal intoxication, and then to organic solvent and semiconductor agent poisoning. The nervous system is particularly vulnerable to toxic agents because of its high metabolic rate. Neurological manifestations may be transient or permanent, and may range from cognitive dysfunction, cerebellar ataxia, Parkinsonism, sensorimotor neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction to neuromuscular junction disorders. This study attempts to provide a review of the major outbreaks of occupational neurotoxins from 1968 to 2012. A total of 16 occupational neurotoxins, including organophosphates, toxic gases, heavy metals, organic solvents, and other toxic chemicals, were reviewed. Peer-reviewed articles related to the electrophysiology, neuroimaging, treatment and long-term follow up of these neurotoxic diseases were also obtained. The heavy metals involved consisted of lead, manganese, organic tin, mercury, arsenic, and thallium. The organic solvents included n-hexane, toluene, mixed solvents and carbon disulfide. Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide were also included, along with toxic chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, organophosphates, and dimethylamine borane. In addition we attempted to correlate these events to the timeline of industrial development in Taiwan. By researching this topic, the hope is that it may help other developing countries to improve industrial hygiene and promote occupational safety and health care during the process of industrialization.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.482-487
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• 2022

In this study, the activity test and characterization were performed to evaluate the hydrogen sulfide removal characteristics using a V/TiO₂ catalyst at room temperature. The optimal vanadium loading was 10 wt%, and the durability was greater than 60 minutes at 60~80% relative humidity. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and raman spectroscopy results confirmed that the structure of the vanadium site exposed to the surface was a dominant factor in catalyst activity. From Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray crystallography (XRD) analyses, it was found that sulfur can be accumulated on the catalyst surface, which results in a decrease in durability under catalytic activity tests. Therefore, it is judged that a combined process of catalytic oxidation and regeneration is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2012

Goseong bay, located in southeast sea of Korea with an area of 2,100 ha, is a semi-enclosed bay well-known for oyster farming cultured in an extended range of 148 ha. The objective of this study is to provide the fundamental data in order to manage the effective sea area. A total 26 of surface sediment were collected from Goseong bay to evaluate their sedimentary environment and heavy metals. The loss on Ignition (LOI), C/N ratio, acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and heavy metals were analyzed. loss on ignition (LOI) of surface sediment range from 1.00% to 3.03% (average 2.00%). The carbonate content ranges from 0.52% to 4.29% (average 2.37%). C/N ratio of organic matter showed that most part of organic matter comes from neighboring continent. Acid volatile sulfide (AVS) value of surface sediment from 0.02 mg/g to 1.43 mg/g (average 0.24 mg/g). A ten element of surface sediments (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) were calculated by enrichment factor (Ef) and the results show that some areas are highly polluted with respect Cu and Hg. The correlation matrix displays the existence of remarkable levels of correlation with both positive and negative values among different variable pairs. LOI and AVS showed both positive values. LOI and AVS values falls under 2% and 1%. Therefore, Goseong bay showed good in quality of sediment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2004

This study was conducted to how the effect of lime and humic acid on cadmium availability and ie uptake by plant grown in contaminated paddy soils with heavy metal. The treatment levels of lime were 2.5 and 5.0 ton/ha and that of humic acid were 1 and 2%. The contents of 0.1N HCl extractable Cd were reduced with lime and humic acid and were negatively correlated with CEC as well as soil pH. The sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate the heavy metals in soils into the designated from exchangeable (0.5 M $KNO_3$) water soluble ($H_2O$), organically bound (0.5 M NaOH), carbonate (0.05 M $Na_{2-}$ EDTA) and sulfide/residual (4 M $HNO_3$). In soil amended with 2.5 ton/ha lime and 1% humic acia che- mical forms of Cd at tillering stage were predominant exchangeable + water soluble extractable Cd, whereas that at harvesting stage were predominant carbonate + sulfide/residual extractable Cd. The exchangeable forms of Cd in soil with lime and humic acid were negatively correlated with soil pH during the harvesting period. Total absorbed Cd of paddy rice tended to occur in the order of root > stem > leaf > brown rice. Cd contents of brown rice with lime and humic acid treatment were 0.09 and 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. That were lower than control, 0.20 mg/kg. It could be that treatment of lime and humic acid in polluted soil by heavy metals would reduce the uptake of heavy metals by piano and be a temporary method of reclamation at the highly heavy Metal contaminated soils.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.3-15
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• 2008

Different toxic wastes are disposed of in our surroundings and these will ultimately threaten the existence of living organisms. Biohydrometallurgy, which includes the processes of bioleaching and bioremediation through the activities of microorganisms such as bacterial or fungal species, is a technology that has the potential to overcome many environmental problems at a reasonable economic cost. Bioleaching were carried out for dissolution of metals from different materials using most important metal mobilizing bacteria such as Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Laptospirillum ferrooxidans. According to the reaction, bioleaching is parted as direct and indirect mechanism. In direct mechanism the bacteria oxidize the sulphides minerals by accepting electron and producing sulphuric acid in leaching media for their growth and metabolism. In other hand the indirect bioleaching is demonstrated as the oxidation of sulphides mineral by the oxidant like $Fe^{3+}$ produced by the iron oxidizing bacteria. Through this process, substantial amount of metal can be recovered from low-grade ores, concentrates, industrial wastes like sludge, tailings, fly ash, slag, electronic scrap, spent batteries and spent catalysts. This may be alternative technology to solve the high deposition of waste, which moves toward a healthy environment and green world.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 2020

We investigated the concentrations of acid volatile sulfide (AVS), ignition loss (IL), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and metallic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn), in August 2015, to determine the spatial distribution and pollution status of organic matter and metals in the surface sediment of Jinju Bay, a spraying shellfish farming area, Korea. The concentrations of organic matter and metallic elements were significantly higher in the southern part of the bay than in the mouth and center of the bay. The C/N ratio (5.7~8.0) in the sediment represents the dominance of organic matter of oceanic origin in the surface sediment of the study area. The concentrations of AVS, TOC, and metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) were much lower than the values of the sediment quality guidelines applied in Korea. Based on the results of the pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (ERI), the metal concentrations in the surface sediment of Jinju Bay have a weakly negative ecological effect on benthic organisms although the sediments with high metal pollution status are distributed in the southern parts of the bay, with high dense shellfish farming areas. Thus, the surface sediments in Jinju Bay are not polluted with organic matter and are slightly polluted with metallic elements.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the relationship of between the contents of inorganic elements in shellfish and surface sediments, we measured the concentration of inorganic elements (As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Zn) in various shellfish and surface sediments of research area. The enrichment factor (EF) and the index of accumulation rate (Igeo) of the metals showed that the research areas can be classified as moderately polluted, or unpolluted. And also we measured the geochemical characteristics of surface sediments(grain size, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ignition loss (IL) and acid volatile sulfide (AVS). The grain sizes for research areas of surface sediment were similar the ratio of silt and clay in comparison with other sites. The COD and IL in surface sediment ranged from 5.41 to 14.06 mg/g. d.w. (mean $8.78{\pm}3.16$ mg/g d.w.) and from 0.92 to 3.17% (mean $2.08{\pm}0.86%$), respectively. Siginificant differences in metal concentrations also were determinated in the shellfish tissue among the different sites. However, except for metals(Mn, Zn), which showed some elevation of concentrations, the variations in the shellfish tissue were not related to variations in the sediment.