• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a key component in the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystem. However, it has been rarely explored, particularly complex river watershed dominated by natural and anthropogenic sources, such as various effluent facility and livestock. The current research developed a new analytical method for TOC/TN (Total Organic Carbon/Total Nitrogen) stable isotope ratio, and distinguish DOM source using stable isotope value (δ¹³C-DOC) and spectroscopic indices (fluorescence index [FI] and biological index [BIX]). The TOC/TN-IR/MS analytical system was optimized and precision and accuracy were secured using two international standards (IAEA-600 Caffein, IAEA-CH-6 Sucrose). As a result of controlling the instrumental conditions to enable TOC stable isotope analysis even in low-concentration environmental samples (<1 mgC L^-1), the minimum detection limit was improved. The 12 potential DOM source were collected from watershed, which includes top-soils, groundwater, plant group (fallen leaves, riparian plants, suspended algae) and effluent group (pig and cow livestock, agricultural land, urban, industry facility, swine facility and wastewater treatment facilities). As a result of comparing characteristics between 12 sources using spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC values, it were divided into four groups according to their characteristics as a respective DOM sources. The current study established the TOC/TN stable isotope analyses system for the first time in Korea, and found that spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC are very useful tool to trace the origin of organic matter in the aquatic environments through library database.

• Carbon letters
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• v.1 no.3_4
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• pp.154-157
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• 2001

Composite adsorbents were prepared by mixing water plant sludge with phenolic resin having the ratio of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 3 respectively, curing from $100^{\circ}C$ to $170^{\circ}C$ under $N_2$ atmosphere, and then activating with $N_2$ at $700^{\circ}C$. Thermal property, specific surface area and morphology of the composite adsorbents as well as their precursors were measured by TGA, BET and SEM respectively. Removal efficiency of the composite adsorbents to ${NH_4}^+$ and TOC was compared with those of commercial zeolite and activated carbon. The adsorbents presented very promising TOC removal efficiency of 98%, which was identical level to that of commercial activated carbon while they displayed removal efficiency, only 32%, of ${NH_4}^+$. Therefore, this composite adsorbent considered as the alternative material of commercial activated carbon, used as an expensive removal agent of organic substances and THM in water treatment plant and it also suggested a possibility of practical application in other processes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2003

This paper reports on a pilot scale comparison of PACS coagulation with and without pH preadjustment. The pH of the water was adjusted with carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. Process performance was assessed on the basis of total organic carbon(TOC), UV absorbance, turbidity and disinfection by-product(DBP) precursors. Coagulation pH appeared to be a determining factor for maximum NOM removal. The optimum coagulation pH in order to decrease TOC and turbidity were pH 7. Preadjustment of pH 7 increased TOC removal to as much as 43, 47 percent with sulfuric acid and carbon dioxide. Moreover, coagulation at pH 7 caused a reduction in UV$_{254}$, THMFP and HAAFP compared to the baseline coagulation. For preadjustment of pH 7 with carbon dioxide, the percentage of TOC, UV$_{254}$, THMFP and HAAFP shows the reduction rate of 3.8, 0.5, 4.8, 9.4％ comparing to the coagulation rendition using sulfuric acid. Acid addition to depress pH during coagulation decrease Langelier Saturation Index(LSI), potentially causing increase corrosion in water distribution systems. LSI for carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid at pH 6 was -2.3, -3.3. Therefore, carbon dioxide was more effective at controlling corrosion than sulfuric acid.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2000

The chlorination of municipal drinking water supplies leads to the formation of so-called disinfection by-products(DBPs), many of which have been reported to cause harmful health effects based on animal studies. This study was conducted: 1) to observe seasonal changes in the major DBPs at four sampling sites on a drinking water distribution system located in Chunchon, Kangwon Do; and 2) to examine the effects of major water quality parameters on the formation of DBPs. During the field sampling, the water temperature, pH, and total and free chlorine residuals were all measured. The water samples were then analyzed for total organic carbon(TOC) and eight disinfection by-products in the laboratory. Chloroform, dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid were the major constituents of the measured DBPs. The concentrations of the total DBPs were highest in fall, particularly in October, and lowest in summer. The concentrations of the total DBPs increased with increasing TOC concentrations. Multiple regression analyses showed that the concentrations of chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and chloral hydrate were linearly correlated with the pH. Other water parameters were not included in the regression equations. Accordingly, these results suggest that TOC and pH are both important factors in the formation of DBPs.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2000

The efficiency of Photocatalytic Oxidation Process were investigated for the treatment of Aquatic Humic Substances (AHS). In UV-only system, pH 7-9 was the optimum pH range for TOC removal, and alkali range was the optimum pH for absorbance decrease. In UV/$TiO_2$ system, the optimum $TiO_2$ dosage was 50ppm and over 50ppm of $TiO_2$ dosage was not effective for removal of AHS. In UV/$H_2O_2$ system, optimum $H_2O_2$ dosage was 20mM, when over 20mM dosage, removal of TOC (Total Organic Carbon) and absorbance was decreased. Radical scavenger affected on the photo-oxidation of AHS. Removal rate of TOC and absorbance was decreased by addition of carbonate ions and TOC removal was more effected than that of absorbance.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the distribution and decomposition characteristics of organic matter in stream water and sewage effluent located in Gwangju. Average of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to total organic carbon (TOC) ratio was approximately 73.9% in the Youngsan river system. The concentration of refractory dossolved carbon (RDOC) was 3.7 mg/L corresponding to 80.9% of the DOC. The ratio of recalcitrant organic carbon was relatively higher than that of biodegradable organic carbon in stream. Oxidation efficiencies in the stream were 45.0% for BOD, 63.0% for $COD_{Mn}$ and 106.5% for CODcr. In case of sewage effluent was 33.6%, 65.7% and 136.1% respectively. Mean decomposition rate ($K_d$) of Youngsan river mainstream, its tributary sites and sewage effluent were about $0.042\;day^{-1}$, $0.043\;day^{-1}$ and $0.028\;day^{-1}$, respectively and the difference was not significant between the mainstream and its tributary sites (t-test, p>0.05). $K_d$ of the sewage effluent was lower than that of stream water.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 1999

The relationship between primary productivity and changes in water quality was investigated at Mulgum station, a site downstream of the Nakdong River, Korea. Phytoplankton production was characterized by blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa during the summer and Stephanodiscus hantzschii during the winter. Primary production and secondary production by bacterioplankton ranged from 1.5~53.5 mg-C/ι day and 0.1~0.3 mg-C/ι day, respectively. Distribution of total organic carbon appeared to be highly correlated with phytoplankton biomass, especially during blooms of M. aeruginosa, when particulate organic carbon was 81% of total organic carbon and the main source of organic materials supplied into the water. The correlation coefficient between chlorophyll-a and BOD was 0.86. Thus it was concluded that autochthonous phytoplankton mostly affected the BOD level. Total bacterial numbers were also highly correlated with chlorophyll-a ($r^2$= 0.84) and the bacterial community appears to be regulated by phytoplankton biomass in this area.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.162-174
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• 2023

In order to prevent water pollution caused by organic matter, Total Organic Carbon(TOC) has been adopted indicator and monitored. TOC can be divided into Dissolved Organic Carbon(DOC) and Particulate Organic Carbon(POC). POC is largely precipitated and removed during stream flow, which making DOC environmentally significant. However, there are lack of studies to define spatio-temporal distributions of DOC in stream affected by various land use. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the past DOC concentration using other water quality indicators to evaluate status of watershed management. In this study, DOC was estimated by correlation and regression analysis using three different organic matter indicators monitored in mixed land-use watersheds. The results of correlation analysis showed that DOC has the highest correlation with TOC. Based on the results of the correlation analysis, the single- and multiple-regression models were developed using Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD), and TOC. The results of the prediction accuracy for three different regression models showed that the single-regression model with TOC was better than those of the other multiple-regression models. The trend analysis using extended average concentration DOC data shows that DOC tends to decrease reflecting watershed management. This study could contribute to assessment and management of organic water pollution in mixed land-use watershed by suggesting methods for assessment of unmeasured DOC concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.207-216
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• 2014

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an important indicator used as an direct biological index in the research field of the marine carbon cycle. It is possible to produce the sufficient TOC estimation data by using the Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD) data because the available TOC data is relatively poor than the COD data. The outlier detection and treatment (removal) should be carried out reasonably and objectively because the equation for a COD-TOC conversion is directly affected the TOC estimation. In this study, it aims to suggest the optimal regression model using the available salinity, COD, and TOC data observed in the Korean coastal zone. The optimal regression model is selected by the comparison and analysis on the changes of data numbers before and after removal, variation coefficients and root mean square (RMS) error of the diverse detection methods of the outlier and influential observations. According to research result, it is shown that a diagnostic case combining SIQR (Semi - Inter-Quartile Range) boxplot and Cook's distance method is most suitable for the outlier detection. The optimal regression function is estimated as the TOC(mg/L) = $0.44{\cdot}COD(mg/L)+1.53$, then determination coefficient is showed a value of 0.47 and RMS error is 0.85 mg/L. The RMS error and the variation coefficients of the leverage values are greatly reduced to the 31% and 80% of the value before the outlier removal condition. The method suggested in this study can provide more appropriate regression curve because the excessive impacts of the outlier frequently included in the COD and TOC monitoring data is removed.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.153-160
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• 2014

TOC environmental standard was established to understand the pollution level accurately and to improve the water quality. It was found that the relationship between COD and TOC showed a significant coefficient($R^2$=0.639) in four lakes for drinking water located in Nakdong River basin. The relationship between COD and TOC($R^2$=0.774) was higher with respect to the elevated concentration level when the data was added. Resulting in the oxidation(C) was $62{\pm}8%$ regardless of COD concentrations. It was difficult to find a significant difference by lakes. The result showed the similar organic property in study lakes. It was necessary to evaluate the level of organic matters in consideration of characteristics and utilization of lakes to use COD data wisely until TOC data be accumulated sufficiently.