• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.39-47
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• 2024

In this study, the environmental implications of electric arc furnace steel slag, commonly used in road construction and soil reinforcement, were examined. Experiments were conducted to assess the leaching of heavy metals based on particle size and to investigate ion leaching from specimens with varying mixtures of steel slag and clay. The official waste test revealed no detectable heavy metals in the sample items. However, when subjected to leaching experiments and analyzed using ICP-OES, certain heavy metals were found. The reaction of steel slag with water, facilitated by free CaO within the slag, was identified as the cause of leaching. Results showed that aluminum, exhibiting the highest leaching rate, displayed an inverse relationship with particle size. In mixed soil containing steel slag and clay, higher steel slag content resulted in increased aluminum leaching. Nonetheless, the quantity of leached aluminum was notably lower in mixed soil compared to pure steel slag. Furthermore, leaching of other heavy metals remained within acceptable limits. These findings suggest that recycling mixed soil of steel slag and clay for road construction or soil stabilization presents reduced environmental risks compared to using steel slag alone. Utilizing such mixtures could offer an environmentally sustainable and safe alternative.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.14-23
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• 2021

To investigate the potential for leaching of heavy metals by bacteria from ores stacked on actual mining sites, leaching tests of a complex metallic ore (Pb-Zn-As ore) were conducted over 60 days using acidophile bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans under initial acidic conditions. Initially, a small amount of heavy metals was leached due to the initial acidic conditions. After 20 days, when A. thiooxidans in the reactor was adapted to the ore, the amount of leached heavy metals rapidly increased; the concentrations of leached arsenic, iron, and zinc reached a maximum of 2800, 3700, and 2500 mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, in the presence of A. ferrooxidans or in the control test without bacteria, heavy metals, except zinc, were barely detected in leaching. Through this study, it was confirmed that (i) bacteria could leach heavy metals at mining sites under acidic conditions and (ii) leaching of heavy metals from a high arsenic-containing ore by A. thiooxidans was more significant than that by A. ferrooxidans.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

This study was on leaching test(KSLT, TCLP) of the aggregate for the products(RA-1) and for the site(RA-2) to evaluate the characteristics of contaminants and the possibility of contamination arising from the aggregate. On the basis pH, conductivity and heavy metal contents in the aggregate, RA-1 indicated higher than RA-2. As a result of the leaching test, the pollutants were eluted from the aggregate increased as the particle size of the aggregate was smaller. The pH in the aggregate had a strong alkali by a pH value of 9.0~12.3, the conductivity was higher in less than 10mm RA-1 due to the leaching of dissolved inorganic ions. The heavy metals satisfied the leaching standards of KSLT and less 10% was eluted from the aggregate. As a result of evaluating water pollution possibility of the aggregate, the pH displayed in items with a very high possibility of contamination, conductivity and turbidity did in item with a low possibility of contamination and on the other hand the heavy metals did in item with a very low possibility of contamination.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.394-399
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• 1998

This study was carried out to characterize the chemical composition and leaching properties of heavy metals in coal fly ash, which was generated from Korean electrical power utilities in several million tons per year. Comparion with respect to the leachability of heavy metals between the Korea standard leaching test (KSLT) and the American Environment Protection Agency (EPA) method 1311 (TCLP: Toxicity Chracteristic Leaching Procedure) was performed. The concentration of Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Se, Hg in the leacheate was determined by ICP-MS. The analytical result showed a significant difference of the leachability according to the characteristics of the leaching solution except Se, suggesting the necessity of improvement in the leaching test method that is currently implemented in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.122-129
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• 2012

In this study, environmental problems(i.e., pH elevation and $Cr^{6+}$ detection) occurred by using the cement grout made from CA(calcium aluminate) were evaluated using viscosity agents(MC, chelate polymer). Ordinary portland cement and blaste-furnace slag cement were used by main materials and ACC(blended mixture of calcium aluminate) were used by accelerator for hardening of grout. In addition, viscosity agents were used for preventing pH elevation and heavy metal detection from grouting materials. From the results, it was noted that when chelate polymer was used, pH elevation and $Cr^{6+}$ detection were minimized. However, other cases showed higher pH elevation and $Cr^{6+}$ detection. At test 1 day, $Cr^{6+}$ detection with age presented over 97% of total value and, after that, additional increase was not distinct. As a result of this study, it was acknowledged that, to control pH elevation and heavy-metal (like $Cr^{6+}$) detection, the usage of BSC and chelate polymer is a very useful fact.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.329-336
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• 2006

Iron manufacturing process involves production of various by-product including slag, sludge, sintering and EAF(Electric Arc furnace dust). Some of the by-products such as EAF and sintering dust are disposed of as waste due to their high heavy metal contents. It has been notice for many years that the EAF dust also contain about 65% of Fe(0) and Fe(II) and then the possible utilization of the iron. One possibility is to apply the EAF as a lining material in conjunction with clay or HDPE liners, in waste landfill. The probable reaction between the leachate containing toxic elements such as TCE, PCE dioxine and $Cr^{6+}$ is reduction of the toxic materials in corresponding to the oxidation of the reduced iron and therefore diminishing the toxicity of the leachate. It is, however, prerequisite to evaluate the leaching characteristics of the EAF dust before application. Amelioration of the leachate would be archived only when the level of toxic elements in the treated leachate is less than that of in the untreated leachate. Several leaching techniques were selected to cover different conditions and variable environments including time, pH and contact method. The testing methods include availability test, pH-stat test and continuous column test. Cr and Zn are potentially leachable elements among the trace metals. The pH of the EAF dust is highly alkaline, recording around 12 and Zn is unlikely to be leached under the condition. On the contrary Cr is more leachable under alkaline environment. However, the released Cr should be reduced to $Cr^{3+}$ and then removed as $Cr(OH)_3$. Removal of the Cr is observed in the column test and further study on the specific reaction of Cr and EAF dust is underway.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2001

최근 국내에서는 건설재료의 부족으로 건설부산물인 폐콘크리트를 새로운 토목재료로써 재활용 또는 자원화에 노력하고 있다. 이러한 차원에서 폐콘크리트의 재활용 및 자원화는 사용용도에 적합한 공학적 특성뿐만 아니라 환경적 특성을 분석하여 대상재료의 환경 안정성을 파악해야 한다. 따라서, 본 논문은 폐콘크리트에 대하여 pH시험, 용출시험, 중금속 흡착특성 등 일련의 환경특성 실험을 실시하여 폐콘크리트 사용에 따른 주변 환경에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 실험결과, 폐콘크리트의 pH는 11~12정도이고, 폐기물공정시험법과 TCLP법에 의한 용출시험은 법적기준에 모두 만족하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 중금속 흡착시험은 폐콘크리트나 구리, 납, 카드늄의 제거능이 큰 것으로 나타났으나 반면, 크롬에 대해서는 제거율이 50%정도로 나타났다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.62-65
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• 2001

담수와 해수가 혼합되는 환경에서 퇴적 저니로부터의 오염 물질 용출률을 조사하였다. 축산폐수와 산업폐수의 영향을 받은 두 지점의 퇴적저니 시료에 대해 해수와 담수로 장기(약4주) 용출 시험을 행한 결과, 해수보다는 담수에서의 오염물질(영양염류 및 중금속) 용출률이 높은 것으로 조사되었는데, 이는 담수에서의 이온강도(ionic strength)가 상대적으로 낮아 오염성분의 포화농도가 높기 때문인 것으로 판단된다. 또한, 용존산소의 농도를 달리하여 시험한 결과 무산소 상태에서의 용출률이 호기성 상태에서 보다 높은 것으로 나타났으며, 그 원인이 생물학적인 것인지 화학적인 것인지는 밝혀지지 않았다. 시험결과를 종합해 볼 때 무산소 상태의 담수에서 오염물질의 용출이 극대화되며, 따라서 강어귀 등과 같이 유속이 작아져 오염물질의 침강은 잘되는 반면 오염물질의 해수에 의한 희석 효과는 적은 경우가 저니로 인한 수질 환경영향이 가장 클 것으로 예측된다.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.159-170
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• 2003

Heavy metals are extracted from Chonju stream sediment, roadside soils and sediments along Honam expressway, soils and tailings from mining area using three different methods (partial extraction in Standard Method, partial extraction method with maintaining 0.1 N of extraction solution and Sequential Extraction Method). In samples having buffer capacity against acid, pH 1 (0.1 N HCl) of extraction solution can not be maintained and pH of extraction solution increases up to 8.0 when partial extraction in Standard Method is used. The averages and ranges of HPE(heavy metals extracted using partial extraction in Standard Method)/HPEM(heavy metals extracted using partial extraction method with maintaining 0.1 N of extraction solution) values are 0.479 and 0.145~0.929 for Cd, 0.534 and 0.078~0.928 for Zn, 0.432 and 0.041~0.992 for Mn, 0.359 and 0.011~0.874 for Cu, 0.150 and 0.018~0.530 for Cr, 0.219 and 0.003~0.853 for Pb, and 0.088 and 1.73${\times}$10$^{-5}$~0.303 for Fe. These data indicate that the difference between HPE and HPEM is large in the order of Fe, Cr, Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd and Zn. The amounts of heavy metals extracted decreases in the follow order; Sum III(sum of fraction I, II, III in sequential extraction)>HPEM>Sum III (sum of fraction I and II)>HPE for Zn, Cd and Mn and Sum III>HPEM>HPE for Cr and Fe. In the case Cr, Sum II is lower than HPEM and higher than HPE. In case of Cu, extracted heavy metals is large in the order Sum IV>HPEM>Sum III HPE. HPE/HPEM value decreases with increasing the amount of HCl used for maintaining 0.1 N of extraction solution. For samples with high buffer capacity, HPE/HPEM value in all elements is lower than 0.2. On the other hand, for samples with low buffer capacity, HPE/HPEM value are over 0.2 and many samples have values higher than 0.6 for Zn, Cd Mn and Cu due to the small difference between Sum II and Sum III, and relatively higher mobility. However, for Fe and Cr, HPE/HPEM value is below 0.2 even for samples with low buffer capacity due to their low mobility and big difference between Sum II and Sum III. This study indicates that the partial extraction method in Korean Standard Method of soil is not suitable for an assessment of soil contamination in area where buffer capacity of soil can be decreased or lost because of a long term exposure to environmental damage such as acidic rain.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.63-83
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• 2001

Heavy metals are extracted from stream sediments, roadside soils and sediments and soils and tailings from mining area using partial extraction, acid digestion and HF-digestion. Compared to amounts of heavy metals extracted using partial extraction, those extracted using acid digestion are higher by 2.0∼221 times in Cu, 2.4∼2806 times in Pb, 1.3∼121 times in Cd, 14. 1∼1300885 times in Fe, 1.2∼272 times in Mn, 1.3∼373 times in Zn, 2.2∼1735 times in Cr. There is no special relationship between the extracted amounts of heavy metals using partial extraction and those using acid digestion. However, it is possible that there is a certain relationship between those using acid digestion and those using HF-digestion. Although partial extraction, which extracts less amounts of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb) from soil compared to acid digestion, is used in domestic standard method for examination of soil, domestic soil standard for heavy metals in non-agricultural and industrial areas is higher than soil standard in foreign countries which use acid digestion. For improvement of the domestic standard method for assessment of soil, it is suggested to lower the domestic soil standard for heavy metals or to change pretreatment method for extracting heavy metals from partial extraction to acid digestion with modifying the soil standard.