• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: The ferronickel and rapid cooling slags used in present study are industrial wastes derived from a steel factory in Korea. These slags are used as almost road construction materials after magnetic separation. However, the use of slag to remove phosphorus from wastewater is still a relatively less explored. The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of ferronickel slag (FNS) and rapid cooling slag (RCS) as sorbents for phosphorus removal in wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption characteristics of the FNS and RCS for the phosphorus. Adsorption behaviour of the phosphorus by the FNS and RCS was evaluated using both the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm equations. FNS and RCS were divided into two sizes as effective sizes. Effective sizes of FNS and RCS were 0.5 and 2.5 mm, respectively. The adsorption capacities (K) of the phosphorus by the FNS and RCS were in the order of RCS 0.5 (0.5105) > RCS 2.5 (0.3572) ${\gg}$ FNS 2.5 (0.0545) ${\fallingdotseq}$ FNS 0.5 (0.0400) based on Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities (a; mg/kg) of the phosphorus determined by the Langmuir isotherms were in the order of RCS 0.5 (3,582 mg/kg) > RCS 2.5 (2,983 mg/kg) > FNS 0.5 (320 mg/kg) ${\fallingdotseq}$ FNS 2.5 (187 mg/kg). RCS 0.5 represented the best sorbent for the adsorption of phosphorus. In the experiment, the Langmuir model showed better fit with our data than the Freundlich model. CONCLUSION: This study indicate that the use of RCS in constructed wetlands or filter beds is a promising solution for phosphorus removal via adsorption and precipitation mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.332-342
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• 2013

We collected zooplankton from May to October, 2011, with the aim of understanding the zooplankton community distribution and food web interaction between the open water and littoral (aquatic plants) zones in two small reservoirs with different land covers (Sobudang, Myeongdong). Small-sized reservoirs are more abundant in South Korea, and a total of 51 and 65 species of zooplankton were identified at the two small reservoir (Sobudang and Myeongdong), where zooplankton densities were more abundant in the littoral zone than in the open water zone. Cladocerans and copepods densities were also higher in the littoral zone, in contrast, rotifers showed higher densities in the open water zone (t-test, P/0.05). Epiphytic zooplankton dominated at the littoral zone (Lecane, Monostyla, Alona and Chydorus) because aquatic plants provided refuge spaces for attachment. Some rotifers (e.g. Brachionus, Keratella and Polyarthra) were more abundant in the open water zone because of their small size, which might help them to go unnoticed by predators. In two-way ANOVA, rotifers related to two reservoirs or habitat space (littoral zone and open water zone), but cladocerans and copepods showed a statistically significant relationship on only two reservoirs. The results of stable isotope analysis showed that zooplankton in the littoral zone tended to depend on organic matter attached to aquatic plants as a food source, which indicates the avoidance of competition of zooplankton with other macro-invertebrates (e.g. Damselfly larva, Cybister brevis and Neocardina denticulate). As a result, zooplankton community distribution is determined by not only habitat space (aquatic plant zone and open water zone) but also by food source (phytoplankton).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.236-244
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• 1999

A feasibility study was performed to examine the agronomic application of treated sewage on paddy rice culture by field experiment. The domestic sewage was treated by the constructed wetland system which was in subsurface flow type and consisted of sand and macrophyte. The effluent of the wetland system was adjusted to maintain the total nitrogen concentration below $25mgL^{-1}$ and used for irrigation water. Four treatments include (1) irrigation of treated sewage after concentration adjusted with conventional fertilization (TWCF), (2) irrigation of treated sewage after concentration adjusted with half of the conventional fertilization (TWHF), (3) irrigation of treated sewage after concentration adjusted without fertilization (TWNF), and (4) irrigation of treated sewage as it was without fertilization (SWNF). These cases were compared to the control case of tap water irrigation with conventional fertilization (Control). Generally, addition of the treated sewage to the irrigation water showed no adverse affect on paddy rice culture, and even improvement was noticed in both growth and yields. TWCF showed the best result and the yields exceed the Control in about 10%. Overall performance of the treatments was TWCF, Control, TWHF, TWNF, and SWNF in decreasing order. From this study, it appears that reuse of treated sewage as a supplemental irrigation water could be feasible and practical alternative for ultimate sewage disposal which often causes water quality problem to the receiving water body. For full scale application, further study is recommended on the specific guidelines of major water quality components and public health.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the High Rate Spiral Clarifier(HRSC) availability for the improvement of polluted retention pond water quality. A lab scale and a pilot scale test was performed for this. The fluid flow patterns in a HRSC were studied using Fluent which is one of the computational fluid dynamic(CFD) programs, with inlet velocity and inlet diameter, length of body($L_B$) and length of lower cone(Lc), angle and gap between the inverted sloping cone, the lower exit hole installed or not installed. A pilot scale experimental apparatus was made on the basis of the results from the fluid flow analysis and lab scale test, then a field test was executed for the retention pond. In the study of inside fluid flow for the experimental apparatus, we found out that the inlet velocity had a greater effect on forming spiral flow than inlet flow rate and inlet diameter. There was no observable effect on forming spiral flow LB in the range of 1.2 to $1.6D_B$(body diameter) and Lc in the range of 0.35 to $0.5L_B$, but decreased the spiral flow with a high ratio of $L_B/D_B$ 2.0, $Lc/L_B$ 0.75. As increased the angle of the inverted sloping cone, velocity gradually dropped and evenly distributed in the inverted sloping cone. The better condition was a 10cm distance of the inverted sloping cone compared to 20cm to prevent turbulent flow. The condition that excludes the lower exit hole was better to prevent channeling and to distribute effluent flow rate evenly. From the pilot scale field test it was confirmed that particulate matters were effectively removed, therefore, this apparatus could be used for one of the plans to improve water quality for a large water body such as retention ponds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

This study was conducted to survey the population of water birds wintering at the seven coastal wetlands of Jeollanam province including Suncheon Bay and Yeongsan Lake, from 2000 through 2003. The 90 species and 857,570 individuals in total were sighted at the seven survey sites. We classified the wintering water birds into seventeen groups of taxa based on the similar ecological attributes, among which, eight groups were found to inhabit the water surface or riparian areas. Classified groups that showed higher rate of using bay areas than that of lake areas were in the order of waders, gulls and swans. On the other hand, the groups that showed higher rate of using lake areas than that of using bay areas were revealed in the order of dabbling ducks, grebes and geese. In conclusion, there was a difference in the pattern between the two classified groups. As a result of the UPGMA cluster analysis using CCs ($S{\varnothing}rensen'a$ index of similarity and Ro (Horn's index of community overlap), the results showed that Suncheon Bay had the most unique species formation out of the seven areas. Bay and lake areas were different from each other in the formation of species and Individuals. As a result of combining the index rank according to the maximum aggregate count, the Suncheon Bay is ranked the highest in importance of the habitats for water birds, followed by the order of Boseong-Deukryang Bay, Gangjin Bay, Gocehongam Lake, Geumho Lake, Yeomam Lake, and Yeongsan Lake. Considered overall, the importance of the bay areas was relatively higher than that of reclaimed lake areas.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.53-64
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• 2006

A study on the restoration process of a stream ecosystem and the water quality renovation technique by removing algae, vegetation and fish monitoring as evaluating the removal of the algae by dietetic characteristics of fishes were performed on Sangdong stream in the B city after stream restoration it to the artificial stream as the cases, restoring urban stream into close-to-nature stream are being increased domestically with the aim of ecological city. As a result, restoration and rehabilitation of the fundamental stream ecosystem was well maintained 4 years later the reclamation at the moment and total 93 diagnosis which were all vascular plant phylum including 44 families, 73 genuses, 79 species and 14 varieties in flora and vegetation community were observed. 3 families, 8 species and 354 populations in total among Fishes were found and Pseudorasbora Parva, Cyprinus Carpic and Carassius Auratus strongly resistant to water pollution were dominantly appeared in order of 50.5% of Pseudorasbora Parva 21.2% of Cyprinus Carpic, 20.9% of Carassius Auratus, 7.1% of Macropodus chinensis and 0.3% of Misqurnus anguillicaudatus according to relative richness index. It turned out to be that Cyprinus Carpic ingests algae over 90% and Carassius Auratus takes it over 30% according to the analysis about the alimentary object of the fishes as a consequences of algae's excrescent from characteristics of the tested experimental stream. It is reported that a Cyprinus Carpic, about 34 cm in length, ingested wet-weight 43.2g algae on the rough analysis toward the sample which makes us recognize how effective a macro community Cyprinus Carpic is for removing algae.As a consequence of this research, the effect of stream ecosystem characteristics and water quality purification could not be expected by aquatic plants and trees which were eliminated at experimental stream. From now on, a close-to-nature stream should be formed of ecological hydraulic and hydrologic engineered modeling from the beginning so that it can perform the water quality purifying function. It is determined that the structure of food chain will be abundantly influenced by the induction of oversized macro community like Cyprinus Carpic because a biomass of a consumer of higher order is increased. It is estimated that the removal algae by fishes is not effective despite in some cases of dietetic characteristics so much more studies should be executed in the future.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2019

The USLE P factor is a factor that varies depending on how croplands are managed and cultivated. Previous studies tend to overestimate the amount of soil loss because the factor was estimated from the slope of the watershed rather than the estimate of each cultivated land. In addition, the accuracy of estimating the soil loss is decreasing due to the fact that the factor is calculated without considering various conditions of cultivated land defined by Wishmeier and Smith. In order to overcome these problems, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) has proposed to establish the topsoil notification and calculate the P factor according to the cultivation methods (e.g., tillage system, support practice). However, it is required to apply the conditions proposed in the United States to domestic circumstances as it is causing uncertainties. Thus, this study selected the watersheds where soil loss was serious (Haean, Jaun, Banbyeoncheon), measured the actual slopes and slope lengths, and examined the crop, tillage systems, and support practice for each cultivated land. The P factors were recalculated considering the actual conditions of cultivated land and compared to the factors proposed by the previous studies (MOE). As the result of the study, the P factors calculated based on the previous studies were 0.8 ~ 1.0 in three watersheds. On the other hand, it is confirmed that there is a significant difference between the factors notified by MOE and estimated by reflecting the topography and cultivation methods in this study. Therefore, it is considered that the research for developing the cultivation conditions to calculate the P factor suitable for the domestic environment should be continuously carried out.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.204-212
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• 2022

The LID technique began to be applied in Korea after 2009, and LID facilities are installed and operated for rainwater management in business districts such as the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and LH Corporation, public institutions, commercial land, housing, parks, and schools. However, looking at domestic cases, the application cases and operation periods are insufficient compared to those outside the country, so appropriate design standards and measures for operation and maintenance are insufficient. In particular, LID facilities constructed using LID techniques need to maintain the environment inside LID facilities because hydrological and environmental effects are expressed by material circulation and energy flow. The LID facility is designed with the treatment capacity planned for the water circulation target, and the proper maintenance, vegetation, and soil conditions are periodically identified, and the efficiency is maintained as much as possible. In other words, the soil created in LID is a very important design element because LID facilities are expected to have effects such as water pollution reduction, flood reduction, water resource acquisition, and temperature reduction while increasing water storage and penetration capacity through water circulation construction. In order to maintain and manage the functions of LID facilities accurately, the current state of the facilities and the cycle of replacement and maintenance should be accurately known through various quantitative data such as soil contamination, snow removal effects, and vegetation criteria. This study was conducted to investigate the current status of LID facilities installed in Korea from 2009 to 2020, and analyze soil changes through the continuity and current status of LID facilities applied over the past 10 years after collecting soil samples from the soil layer. Through analysis of Saturn, organic matter, hardness, water contents, pH, electrical conductivity, and salt, some vegetation-type LID facilities more than 5 to 7 years after construction showed results corresponding to the lower grade of landscape design. Facilities below the lower level can be recognized as a point of time when maintenance is necessary in a state that may cause problems in soil permeability and vegetation growth. Accordingly, it was found that LID facilities should be managed through soil replacement and replacement.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

The amount of the plastic waste has been increasing according to global demand for plastic. Microplastics are the most hazardous among all plastic pollutants due to their toxicity and unknown physicochemical properties. This study investigates the optimal methodology that can be applied to sewage samples for detecting microplastics before discussing reducing microplastics in MWTPs. In this study, the effect of different pretreatment methods while detecting microplastic analysis of MWTP influent samples was investigated; the samples were collected from the J sewage treatment plant. There are many pretreatment methods but two of them are widely used: Fenton digestion and hydrogen peroxide oxidation. Although there are many pretreatment methods that can be applied to investigate microplastics, the most widely used methods for sewage treatment plant samples are Fenton digestion and H₂O₂ oxidation. For each pretreatment method, there were factors that could cause an error in the measurement. To overcome this, in the case of the Fenton digestion pretreatment, it is recommended to proceed with the analysis by filtration instead of the density separation method. In the case of the H₂O₂ oxidation method, the process of washing with distilled water after the reaction is recommended. As a result of the analysis, the concentration of microplastics was measured to be 2.75ea/L for the sample using the H₂O₂ oxidation method and 3.2ea/L for the sample using the Fenton oxidation method, and most of them were present in the form of fibers. In addition, it is difficult to guarantee the reliability of measurement results from quantitative analysis performed via microscope with eyes. A calibration curve was created for prove the reliability. A total of three calibration curves were drawn, and as a result of analysis of the calibration curves, all R² values were more than 0.9. This ensures high reliability for quantitative analysis. The qualitative analysis could determine the series of microplastics flowing into the MWTP, but could not confirm the chemical composition of each microplastic. This study can be used to confirm the chemical composition of microplastics introduced into MWTP in the future research.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.147-159
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• 2024

Lack of streamflow observations makes model calibration difficult and limits model performance improvement. Satellite-based remote sensing products offer a new alternative as they can be actively utilized to obtain hydrological data. Recently, several studies have shown that artificial intelligence-based solutions are more appropriate than traditional conceptual and physical models. In this study, a data-driven approach combining various recurrent neural networks and decision tree-based algorithms is proposed, and the utilization of satellite remote sensing information for AI training is investigated. The satellite imagery used in this study is from MODIS and SMAP. The proposed approach is validated using publicly available data from 25 watersheds. Inspired by the traditional regionalization approach, a strategy is adopted to learn one data-driven model by integrating data from all basins, and the potential of the proposed approach is evaluated by using a leave-one-out cross-validation regionalization setting to predict streamflow from different basins with one model. The GRU + Light GBM model was found to be a suitable model combination for target basins and showed good streamflow prediction performance in ungauged basins (The average model efficiency coefficient for predicting daily streamflow in 25 ungauged basins is 0.7187) except for the period when streamflow is very small. The influence of satellite remote sensing information was found to be up to 10%, with the additional application of satellite information having a greater impact on streamflow prediction during low or dry seasons than during wet or normal seasons.