• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.469-483
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• 1999

Two different types of deep groundwaters occur together in the Jungwon area: $CO_2$-rich water and alkali water. Each water shows distrinct hydrogeochemical and environmental isotopic characteristics. The $CO_2$-rich waters are characterized by lower pH(6.0~6.4), higher Eh (25~85mV) and higher TDS content (up to 3,300 mg/l), whereas the alkali type waters have higher pH (9.1~9.5), lower Eh (-136~-128mV) and lower TDS content (168~254 mg/l). The CO2-rich waters ($Pco_2$=up to 1atm) were probably evolved by the local supply of deep $CO_2$ during the deep circulation, resulting in enhanced dissolution of surrounding rocks to yield high concentrations of $Ca^{2+}, Na^+, Mg^{2+}, K^+\; and \;HCO_3\;^-$ under low pH conditions. On the other hand, the alkali type waters ($Pco_2$=about 10-4.6 atm) were evolved through lesser degrees of simple wate/rock (granite) interaction under the limited suppy of $CO_2$. The alkali waters are relatively enriched in F- (up to 14mg/l), whereas the F- concentration of$CO_2$-rich water is lower (2.2~4.8 mg/l) due to the buffering by precipitation of fluorite. The oxygen-hydrogen isotopes and tritium data indicate that compared to shaltion ($\delta$18O=-9.5~-7.8$\textperthousand$),two different types fo deep groudwaters (<1.0TU)were both derived from pre-thermonuclear (more than 40 years old) meteoric waters with lighter O-H isotopic composition ($\delta$18O=-9.5~-7.8$\textperthousand$) and have evolved through prolonged water/rock interaction. The $CO_2$-rich waters also show some degrees of isotopic re-equilibration with $CO_2$ gas. The $\delta^{34}S$ values of dissolved sulfates (+24.2~+27.6$\textperthousand$) in the $CO_2$-rich waters suggest the reduction of sulfate by organic activity at depths. The carbon isotope data show that dissolved carbon in the $CO_2$-rich waters were possibly derived either from dissolution of calcite or from deep $CO_2$ gas. However, strontium isotope data indicate Ca in the $CO_2$-rich waters were derived mainly from plagioclase in granite, not from hydrothermal calcites.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 1999

Dissolved inorganic carbonates in ground water were quantitatively recovered by using gas evolution method. Gas evolution method was found to be less time-consuming, less susceptible to the contamination fromatmospheric $CO_2$ and little affected by the sulfate ions in comparison to the direct precipitation method. Extraction efficiency of nearly 99% could be achieved by gas evolution method in two hours using recirculated gas at a sweeping rate of 4 liter per minute. Samples for carbon isotope fractionation study were collected in three fractions with collection times. The evolution time for the first fraction was one hours, and then second and third fractions were collected at intervals of 30 minutes, respectively. A small portion of each fraction was analyzed to evaluate ${\delta}^{13}C$ values, which were measured to be -7.9‰, -3.0‰ and +0,4‰ for the each fraction. The result clearly indicated that gas evolution method generates isotopically lighter carbon at the beginning of the purging process and heavier isotopes at the end. However, this isotope fractionation effect could be neglected by the almost complete recovery of carbonates.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2008

This study was carried out to identify the characteristics of hydrochemistry controlling groundwater chemical condition in a repository site of Gyeongju. For this study, 12 bore holes of all monitoring bore holes in the study area were selected and total 46 groundwater samples were collected with depth. In addition, 3 surfacewater samples and 1 seawater sample were collected. For water samples, cations and anions were analyzed. The environmental isotopes(${\delta}^{18}O-{\delta}D$, Tritium, ${\delta}^{13}C,\;{\cdot}{\delta}^{34}S$) were also analyzed to trace the origin of water and solutes. The result of ${\delta}^{18}O\;and\;{\delta}D$ analysis showed that surface water and groundwater were originated from precipitation. Tritium concentrations of groundwater decreased with depth but high concentrations of tritium indicated that groundwater was recharged recently. The results of ion and correlation analysis showed that groundwater types of the study area were represented by Ca-Na-$HCO_3$ and Na-Cl-$SO_4$, which was caused by sea spray and water-rock interaction. Especially, high ratio of Na content in groundwater resulted from ion exchange. For redox condition of groundwater, the values of DO and Eh decreased with depth, which indicated that reducing condition was formed in deeper groundwater. In addtion, high concentration of Fe and Mn showed that redox condition of groundwater was controlled by the reduction of Fe and Mn oxides.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.274-284
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to describe the spectrometric analysis of gaseous cloud formation over reactor mixed uranium-and-plutonium (UP) fuel $(U_{0.8}Pu_{0.2})O_2$ samples heated to a temperature $>2,000^{\circ}C$, and thus forecast and evaluate radiation hazards threatening humans who cope with the consequences of any accident at a fission reactor loaded by UP mixed oxide $(U_{0.8}Pu_{0.2})O_2$, such as a mixture of 80% U and 20% Pu in weight. Materials and methods: The UP nuclear fuel samples were heated up to a temperature of over $2,000^{\circ}C$ in a suitable assembly (apparatus) at out-of-pile experiments' implementation, the experimental in-depth study of metabolism of active materials in living organisms by means of artificial irradiation of pigs by plutonium. Spectrometric measurements were carried out on the different exposed organs and tissues of pigs for the further estimation of human internal exposure by nuclear materials released from the core of a fission reactor fueled with UP mixed oxide. Results: The main results of the research described are the following: (1) following the research on the influence of mixed fuel fission products (radioactive isotopes being formed during reactor operation as a result of nuclear decay of elements included into the fuel composition) on living organisms, the authors determined the quantities of plutonium dioxide ($PuO_2$) that penetrated into blood and lay in the pulmonary region, liver, skeleton and other tissues; and (2) experiments confirmed that the output speed of plutonium out of the basic precipitation locations is very small. On the strength of the experimental evidence, the authors suggest that the biological output of plutonium can be disregarded in the process of evaluation of the internal irradiation doses.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.167-179
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• 2016

Water quality of Oseepchun, Dogye area, was investigated quantitatively for its origin and hydrogeochemistry in relation to the influence of groundwater. Groundwater appears to be the principal source of Oseepchun from the water-quality monitoring data including redox potentials, composition of dissolved ions and their correlations, hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic ratios, and the distribution and occurrence of contaminants. Water-quality type of the surface water was grouped by the water-rock interactions as $Ca-HCO_3$ type originated from carbonated bed-rocks in the Joseon Supergroup, (Ca, Mg)-$SO_4$ type related with dissolution of surfide minerals in coal beds of Pyeongan Supergroup, and (Ca, Mg)-($HCO_3$, $SO_4$) type of the mixed one. Locally water pollution occurs by high $SO_4$ from mine drainage and $NO_3$ from waste-treatment facility. Intensive precipitation in summer has no effect on the water type of Oseepchun, but increases the inflow of nitrate and chloride originated from land surface. Results of this study direct that groundwater-surface water interaction is intimate, and thus surface-water resource management should begin with groundwater characterization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.699-707
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• 2021

Hwajinpo Lagoon, located on the eastern coast of Korea, is a unique environment where freshwater and saltwater are mixed. Systematic management of the lagoon is required because it is a biodiversity-rich and area of high conservation value. The existing environment of the lagoon was evaluated by identifying the distribution of the groundwater level and groundwater flow characteristics. In addition, hydrogeochemical fluctuations were analyzed to determine the effect of seawater intrusion into the aquifer. The results demonstrate that the freshwater-saltwater interface is distributed throughout the aquifer and rises when water of the lagoon evaporates due to prolonged periods of low rainfall and high temperature, thereby increasing the possibility of seawater inflow through groundwater. As for the ionic delta properties (difference between the measured and theoretical concentration of mixed waters), it was estimated that the cation-exchange and precipitation reactions occurred in the aquifer due to seawater intrusion. The ratio of seawater mixed at each point was calculated, using oxygen isotopes and chloride as tracers, resulting in an average of 0.3 and a maximum of 0.87. The overall seawater mixing ratio appears to be distributed according to the distance from the coast. However, some of the results were deviated from the theoretical expectations and reflected the characteristics of the nearby aquifers. Further research on seasonal changes and simulation of seawater intrusion mechanisms is required for specific analysis.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2016

Distribution and behavior of baseline soil CO₂ were investigated in a candidate geologic CO₂ storage site in Pohang, with measuring CO₂ concentrations and carbon isotopes in the vadose zone as well as CO₂ fluxes and concentrations through ground surface. This investigation aimed to assess the baseline CO₂ levels and to build the CO₂ monitoring system before injecting CO₂. The gas in the vadose zone was collected using a peristaltic pump from the depth of 60 cm below ground surface, and stored at gas bags. Then the gas components (CO₂, O₂, N₂, CH₄) and δ¹³C_CO2 were analyzed using GC and CRDS (cavity ringdown spectroscopy) respectively in laboratory. CO₂ fluxes and CO₂ concentrations through ground surface were measured using Li-COR in field. In result, the median of the CO₂ concentrations in the vadose zone was about 3,000 ppm, and the δ¹³C_CO2 were in the wide range between −36.9‰ and −10.6‰. The results imply that the fate of CO₂ in the vadose zone was affected by soil property and vegetations. CO₂ in sandy or loamy soils originated from the respiration of microorganisms and the decomposition of C₃ plants. In gravel areas, the CO₂ concentrations decreased while the δ¹³C_CO2 increased because of the mixing with the atmospheric gas. In addition, the relation between O₂ and CO₂, N₂, and the relation between N₂/O₂ and CO₂ implied that the gases in the vadose zone dissolved in the infiltrating precipitation or the soil moisture. The median CO₂ flux through ground surface was 2.9 g/m²/d which is lower than the reported soil CO₂ fluxes in areas with temperate climates. CO₂ fluxes measured in sandy and loamy soil areas were higher (median 5.2 g/m²/d) than those in gravel areas (2.6 g/m²/d). The relationships between CO₂ fluxes and concentrations suggested that the transport of CO₂ from the vadose zone to ground surface was dominated by diffusion in the study area. In gravel areas, the mixing with atmospheric gases was significant. Based on this study result, a soil monitoring procedure has been established for a candidate geologic CO₂ storage site. Also, this study result provides ideas for innovating soil monitoring technologies.