• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.249-265
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• 2019

A passive sampler is one of the promising methods to easily and more accurately predict the free dissolved and bioavailable concentration ($C_{free}$) in seawater or pore water in sediments. In Europe and the United States, the use of passive samplers has been highly encouraged for more accurate marine environmental risk assessment. However, long deployment time in the field causes problems such as biofouling of the samplers, so there are few studies using passive samplers in Korea. Therefore, we review the principle and basic characteristics of the passive sampler for persistent organic pollutants, and introduce various improvement cases for the field applications of the passive sampler.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2019

This study was conducted to analyse the application of pollutant build-up model on various urban landuses and to characterize pollutant build-up on urban areas as a source of stormwater runoff pollution. The monitored data from impervious surfaces in urban areas such as commercial (8 sites), industrial (10 sites), road (8 sites), residential (10 sites), recreational (5 sites) from 2008 to 2016 were used for the analysis of pollutant build-up model. Based on the results, the average runoff coefficients vary from 0.35 to 0.61. In all landuses except recreational landuse, the runoff coefficient is 0.5 or more, which is the highest in the commercial area. Commercial landuse where pollutants occur at the highest EMC in all landuse, and it is considered that NPS management is necessary compared with other landuses. The maximum build-up load for organic matter (BOD) was highest in the commercial area ($4.59g/m^2$), and for particular matter (TSS) in the road area ($5.90g/m^2$) while for nutrient (TN and TP) in the residential area ($0.40g/m^2$, $0.14g/m^2$). The rate constants ranged from 0.1 to 1.3 1/day depending on landuse and pollutant parameters, which means that pollutant accumulation occurs between 1 and 10 days during dry day. It is clear that these build-up curves can generally be classified based on landuse. Antecedent dry day (ADD) is a suitable and reasonable variable for developing pollutant build-up functions. The pollutant build-up curves for different landuse shows that these build-up curves can be generally categorized based on landuse.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2011

This perspective describes recent advances made in the development of various electrochemical technologies to treat waste water containing organic pollutants, reducible/oxidizable and non-reducible/non-oxidizable anions and cations using redox reactions on the solid surface as well as at the interface between solid electrode and liquid electrolyte. Some of representative multiplexing and hybrid electrochemical treatment technologies are discussed, which have great advantages of high efficiency, stability and cost-effective instrumentation without the need of considering non-specific conditions such as high-temperature and high-pressure; however, choices and usages of electrode materials are absolutely critical issues.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.501-509
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• 2021

In 2018, total 263 micro and emerging contaminants were selected as target substances by the Ministry of Environment, and 80 of them were first-class substance including endocrine disruptors, residual Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), residual organic pollutants, pesticides and heavy metals. In this study, in order to evaluate the Hazard Quotient (HQ) of the 80 types in the domestic water environment the concentration of discharged effluent and nearby water environment reported by Korean institutes since 2010 was investigated. There were 45 substances reported to be detected, and Measurement Environment Concentration (MEC) were obtained by collectively converting them into water environment concentration. For biotoxicity, half maximal Effective Dose (EC50) to Daphnia magna, a water fleas species widely adopted in Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) was applied. As for the biotoxicity level, the Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC) was obtained by applying the Assessment Factor (AF) and the HQ was derived by dividing it from the MEC. As a result of calculating the HQ, more than 1 substances were Cabamazepine, Mefenamic acid, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Nonylphenol, Nickel, Erythromycin, Acetylslic acid, etc. Meanwhile, perfluorinated compounds were identified as hazardous substances in the water env ironment, with 5 out of 14 species included in the 20 ranks of first-class substance.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.191-195
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• 2021

Pure ZnFe₂O₄ and Fe₂O₃-ZnFe₂O₄ hetero-composite spheres were prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of a solution containing Zn- and Fe-nitrates. Additionally, the sensing characteristics of these spheres in the presence of 5 ppm ethanol, benzene, p-xylene, toluene, and CO (within the temperature range of 275-350 ℃) were investigated. The Fe₂O₃-ZnFe₂O₄ hetero-composite sensor with a cation ratio of [Zn]:[Fe]=1:3 exhibited a high response (resistance ratio = 140.2) and selectivity (response to p-xylene/response to ethanol = 3.4) to 5 ppm p-xylene at 300 ℃, whereas the pure ZnFe₂O₄ sensor showed a comparatively lower gas response and selectivity. The reasons for the superior response and selectivity to p-xylene in Fe₂O₃-ZnFe₂O₄ hetero-composite sensor were discussed in relation to the electronic sensitization due to charge transfer at Fe₂O₃-ZnFe₂O₄ interface and Fe₂O₃-induced catalytic promotion of gas sensing reaction. The sensor can be used to monitor harmful volatile organic compounds and indoor air pollutants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.875-885
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• 2023

Volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and isomers of xylenes (BTEX) constitute a group of monoaromatic compounds that are found in petroleum and have been classified as priority pollutants. In this study, based on its newly sequenced genome, we reclassified the previously identified BTEX-degrading thermotolerant strain Ralstonia sp. PHS1 as Cupriavidus cauae PHS1. Also presented are the complete genome sequence of C. cauae PHS1, its annotation, species delineation, and a comparative analysis of the BTEX-degrading gene cluster. Moreover, we cloned and characterized the BTEX-degrading pathway genes in C. cauae PHS1, the BTEX-degrading gene cluster of which consists of two monooxygenases and meta-cleavage genes. A genome-wide investigation of the PHS1 coding sequence and the experimentally confirmed regioselectivity of the toluene monooxygenases and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase allowed us to reconstruct the BTEX degradation pathway. The degradation of BTEX begins with aromatic ring hydroxylation, followed by ring cleavage, and eventually enters the core carbon metabolism. The information provided here on the genome and BTEX-degrading pathway of the thermotolerant strain C. cauae PHS1 could be useful in constructing an efficient production host.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2022

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), critical pollutants to human health and groundwater ecosystems, are managed by groundwater quality standards (GQS) in South Korea. However, there are no GQSs for their by-products, such as cis-dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) produced through the dechlorination process of PCE and TCE. Therefore, in this study, we monitored PCE, TCE, cis-DCE, and VC in 111 national groundwater wells for three years (2016 to 2018) to evaluate their distributions, a biological dechlorination possibility, and human risk assessment. The detection frequency of them was 30.2% for PCE, 45.1% for TCE, 43.9% for cis-DCE and 13.4% for VC. The four chlorinated compounds were commonly detected in 21 out of 111 wells. In the results of statistical analysis with 21 wells data, DO and ORP also had a negative correlation with four organic chlorinated compounds, while EC and sulfate has a positive correlation with the compounds. This indicates that the 21 wells were relatively met with suitable environments for a biological dechlorination reaction compared to the other wells. Finally, cis-DCE had a non-carcinogenic risk of 10^-1 and the carcinogenic risk of VC was 10^-6 or higher. Through this study, the distribution status of the four chlorinated compounds in groundwater in South Korea and the necessity of preparing plans to manage cis-DCE and VC were confirmed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.422-422
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• 2021

현대사회에서 플라스틱의 요구량은 꾸준히 증가하고 있으며 이에따라 생산량 역시 맞춰 증가하고 있다. 이에 따라 전세계적으로 플라스틱으로 인해 발생하는 폐기물의 양 역시 증가하고 있으며 이로 인해 플라스틱 재질의 폐기물이 많아지고 있다. 이 중 가장 문제가 되는 폐기물이 바로 미세플라스틱이다. 미세플라스틱은 1㎛ ~ 5mm 미만의 플라스틱으로 그 물리 화학적인 특성으로 인해 회수가 어려우며 외부 환경에 잔류시 독성을 유발할 수 있다. 플라스틱의 약한강도와 열악한 내열성 그리고 유기용매에 취약하다는 단점을 보완하기 위해 첨가하는 화학물질로 인해 내분비계교란물질을 발생시켜 생명체의 내분비계를 교란시켜 최종적으로 성기능장애를 유발한다. 또한 미세플라스틱의 표면은 유기염류성 살충제와 같은 잔류성오염물질(POPs persistent organic pollutants)사이의 흡착성이 크기 때문에 미세플라스틱은 POPs 농도를 주변보다 최대 백만배 높게 만들 수 있다. 미세플라스틱의 분석은 표준화된 방식이 없어서 제각각이지만 대체로 미세플라스틱 표면에 응집된 유기물을 처리하는 전처리, 미세플라스틱의 농도를 분석하는 정량분석, 그리고 미세플라스틱의 성분을 분석하는 정성분석의 과정을 거쳐서 진행된다. 이러한 미세플라스틱의 분석법을 기반으로 하수처리장에 유입되는 하수의 미세플라스틱 분석방법을 제안하면 다음과 같다. 우선 유입수로부터 미세플라스틱을 따로 분리하기 위해 체거름을 진행했다. 이후 유입하수의 성상에 맞는 적정 전처리 방법을 알아내기 위해 유기물을 제거하기 위한 산화방식으롷서 과산화수소수, 80℃의 과산화수소수, 그리고 펜톤산화의 서로 다른 3가지 방식을 사용했다. 이후 이어지는 정량분석과 정성분석결과를 비교하여 유입하수에 가장 최적인 미세플라스틱 측정방법을 알아보고자 한다.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2009

A material database has been developed for VOCs and formaldehyde emitted from building materials in this study. New classification system has been made by correlating the classification methods used in Korean Air Cleaning and Environmental Protection Agency. The developed databases include emission rates of TVOC, 5VOC and formaldehyde emitted from each building material. In addition, the databases can be used as an input variable to estimate indoor air quality (IAQ) using computer simulation since they also contain chemical component and general imformation. Box plot was used to do statistical analysis for emission rates of formaldehyde and TVOCs from different types of building materials. Also we confirmed the building materials worsening IAQ by categorizing the emission characteristic of different types of pollutants.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.163-173
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• 2023

The presence of high amounts of organic and inorganic contaminants in textile wastewater is a major environmental concern. Therefore, the treatment of textile wastewater is an urgent issue to save the aquatic environment. The disposal of large quantities of untreated textile wastewater into inland water bodies can cause serious water pollution. In this study, synthetic dye wastewater samples were prepared using orange dye in the laboratory. The synthetic samples were then treated by a batch adsorption process using the prepared activated carbon (AC) from date pits. The wastewater parameters studied were the pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity (EC) and salinity. The activated adsorption process showed that the maximum removal efficiencies of electric conductivity (EC), salinity, TDS and TSS were 65%, 92%, 89% and 90%, respectively. The removal efficiencies were proportional to the increase in contact time (30-120 min) and AC adsorbent dose (1, 3 and 5 g/L). The adsorption profile indicates that 5 g/L of adsorbent delivers better results for TDS, EC, TSS and salinity at contact time of 120 min. The adsorption characteristics are better suited to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model than to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were well suited for describing the adsorption or contact behavior of EC and TSS within the studied system.