• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.199-211
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• 1997

As a part of study on geological disposal of radioactive waste, hydrogeochemical characteristics of deep granitic groundwater in Korea were investigated through the construction of a large geochemical dataset of natural water, the examination on the behaviour of dissolved constituents, and the consideration of phase stability based on thermodynamic approach. In granitic region, the contents of total dissolved solids increase progressively from surface waters to deep groundwaters, which indicates the presence of more concentrated waters at depth due to water-rock interaction. The chemical composition of groundwater evolves from initial $Ca^{2＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) or $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type to final N $a^{＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ or N $a^{＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) type, via $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type. Three main mechanisms seem to control the chemical composition of groundwater in the granitic region; 1) congruent dissolution of calcite at shallower depth, 2) calcite precipitation and incongruent dissolution of plagioclase at deeper depth, and 3) kaolinite-smectite or/and kaolinite-illite reaction at equilibrium at deeper depth. The behaviour of dissolved major cations (C $a^{2＋}$, $K^{＋}$, $Mg^{2＋}$, M $a^{＋}$) and silica is likely to be controlled by these reactions.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-6
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• 2013

Purpose: The treatment of thyroid cancer patients was continuously increased. According to the increment of thyroid cancer patients, the establishment of iodine therapy site was also increased in each hospital. This treatment involves the administration of radioactive iodine, which will be given in the form of a capsule. Therefore, protections and managements for radioactive source pollution and radiation exposure should be necessary for radiation safety. Among the many problems, the problem of disposing the radioactive wastes was occurred. In this study, The date for self-disposal for radioactive wastes, which were contaminated in clothes, bedclothes and trash, were calculated. Materials and Methods: The number of iodine therapy ward was 15 in Korea Institute of Radiological Medical and Sciences. Recently, 8 therapy wards were operated for iodine therapy patients and others were on standby for emergency treatment ward of any radiation accidents. Radioactive wastes, which were occurred in therapy ward, were clothes, bedclothes, bath cover for patients washing water and food and drink which was leftover by patients. Each sample was hold into the marinelli beaker (clothes, bedclothes, bath covers) and 90 ml beaker (food, drink, and washing water). The activities of collected samples were measured by HpGe MCA device (Multi Channel Analysis, CANBERRA, USA) Results: The storage period for the each kind of radioactive wastes was calculated by equation of storage periods based on the measurement outcomes. The average storage period was 60 days for the case of clothes, and the maximum storage period was 93 days for patient bottoms. The average storage period and the maximum storage period for the trash were 69 days and 97 days, respectively. The leftover foods and drinks had short storage period (the average storage period was 25 days and maximum storage period was 39 days), compared with other wastes. Conclusion: The proper storage period for disposing the radioactive waste (clothes, bedclothes and bath cover) was 100 days by the regulation on self-disposal of radioactive waste. In addition, the storage period for disposing the liquid radioactive waste was 120 days. The current regulation for radioactive waste self-disposing was not suitable for the circumstances of each radioactive therapy facility. Therefore, it was necessary to reduce the leftover food and drinks by adequate table setting for patients, and improve the process and regulation for disposing the short-half life radioactive wastes.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.237-258
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• 1993

Objectives in this study are to stabilize the organic sludges which were produced from papermill wastewater, nightsoil treatment facilities and utilized as foods for earthworm, to find the method for using the cast which was orginated by earthworm as fertilizer, and ultimately to develop the practical technique to solve the environmental problems by optimization of wastes treatment. The results of this study were summarized as follows. In the investigation for fertilizer effect of cast, germination rates of cucumber, tomato, and cabbage were investigated. The germination status of 3 types of plants was excellent as over 90% in the combination case of 30-45% cast. In the investigation for fertilizer effect of cast derived from nightsoil sludge, the growing status of cucumber, tomato, and cabbage was excellent in the combination case of 30-45% cast. In the experiment for fertilizer effect investigation of cast derived from papermill sludge, the growing status of cucumber, tomato, and cabbage was excellent in the combination case of 30-45% cast. Also, in the combination case of 60% cast, plants growth was not disturbed.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2 s.48
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• pp.89-98
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• 2006

The thermal conductivities of bentonite blocks with various dry densities (1.6 and $1.8g/cm^3$), water contents (5, 9.4, 15, 20 wt%) and sand contents (0, 10, 20, 30 wt%) were measured in order to investigate the improvement in physical performance of buffer as an engineered barrier. The raw material was domestic bentonite from Oksan mine located in Gyeongju city. The increase in water content was most effective for improving the thermal conductivity. Especiallly, the bentonite blocks with more than 15 wt% of water content showed more than 1.0 W/mK values of thermal conductivity regardless of their dry densities and sand contents. Therefore, if the domestic Oksan bentonite is used as a buffer material, we can suggest that the manufacture of bentonite block having dry density of $1.6g/cm^3$, sand content of $10{\sim}30$ wt% and water content of 15 wt% will be most effective considering the easiness of a manufacturing of bentonite block and the efficiency of an increase in the thermal conductivity.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2009

The effects of bacterial lysis on the rate of quartz dissolution were investigated under pH 7 condition using Bacillus subtilis cells which were either irradiated or non-irradiated with gamma ray. The amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) which resulted from bacterial lysis increased in slurries of quartz and bacteria mixture over experimental period. Lysis of non-irradiated bacteria led to the elevated concentration of dissolved silicon when compared with abiotic control. Concomitant increase in the amounts of DOC and dissolved silicon over time indicated that lixiviation of silicon from quartz was due to bacterial lysis. Higher amounts of DOC and dissolved silicon were present in the irradiated bacterial slurries than those of non-irradiated bacteria. The enhancement of quartz dissolution in the irradiated bacterial slurries was likely attributed to disruption of organic molecules in the bacterial cells by gamma ray and formation of effective ligands for quartz dissolution. The results suggest that the effects of bacterial lysis on mineral weathering rate should be considered for prediction of time for released radionuclides to migrate to surface biosphere in high level radioactive waste disposal site.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.566-571
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• 2010

This paper describes the sorption behaviors of aqueous uranium ions on the K-birnessite. K-birnessite was synthesized by adding a concentrated HCl to an aqueous solution of $KMnO_4$. Physicochemical characteristics of the K-birnessite, such as structure, specific surface area and surface charge, were investigated. K-birnessite is a layered material and the $K^+$ ions exist in the interlayer of layered K-birnessite. BET specific surface area of the K-birnessite was 38.30 m2/g. The surface charge of K-birnessite was $-1.65\;C/m^2$ at pH 5.00 and ionic strength of 0.010 M $NaClO_4$, at which the sorption experiments of uranium ions were carried out. Uranium ions were incorporated into the interlayer of the K-birnessite by cation-exchange reaction with $K^+$ ions, and the distribution coefficient is quite similar to those of common ion-exchange materials. The results might be applicable in the retardation of migration of radioactive materials from the underground disposal site of high-level radioactive waste.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Dyers and Finishers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.60-60
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• 2011

염색폐수의 정화에는 필연적으로 다량의 슬러지 폐기물이 발생한다. 염색폐수 슬러지는 그간 인근 공해 해상에 투기하는 해양 배출로 저렴하게 처리하였으나, 해양오염을 우려하는 국제협약(1972년 런던협약, 1996년 교토의정서)에 의하여 2008년 8월부터 배출기준이 강화되고 2012년 2월부터는 해양배출이 금지 될 예정이다. 염색폐수 슬러지의 해양 배출이 금지되면 대체 처리방법으로는 지정매립장을 통한 매립처리 방법이나 고온 소각시설에서의 소각처리 방법이 거론되고 있다. 그러나 매립처리는 슬러지 내 함유 수분으로 인한 침출수의 문제와 더불어 장기간 안정적으로 저렴하게 사용할 수 있는 대규모 처분장을 확보하기 어려운 실정이며 소각처리는 슬러지의 높은 함수율로 인해 소각 시보조 연료의 투입이 필연적으로 최근 원유가 급등 등 에너지 비용이 지속적으로 상승함을 고려할 때 소각처리비용 또한 상당한 고가가 될 것으로 예측된다. 이와 같이 슬러지 해양배출이 금지되면 섬유 염색업체들은 많은 환경비용 부담을 안을 것이다. 본 연구에서는 대규모 염색산업단지 공동폐수처리장에서 발생하는 염색폐수 슬러지의 효율적인 건조를 위해 산업단지 내의 열병합발전소에서 발생하는 보일러 폐열을 이용하였으며, 조건 특성 및 효율을 파악하기 위해 보일러 폐열의 특성을 고려하여 슬러지 두께 및 체류시간 등 건조공정 운영조건에 따른 변수별 연구를 수행하였다. 열병합발전소 보일러에서 배출되는 폐열은 온도가 $150^{\circ}C$ 정도로 기존의 슬러지 건조에서는 사용되는 $700^{\circ}C$에 비해서는 매우 저온이다. 하지만 보일러 배가스의 경우, 온도에 비해 많은 풍량을 가지고 있으므로 열량으로 환산시 충분히 가치가 있는 것으로 조사되었다. 염색폐수 슬러지의 경우, 함수율 70% 이내의 탈수 Cake 형태이므로 두께가 두꺼울수록 건조효율이 감소하였으며, 체류시간이 길어질수록 건조효율은 증가하나 20mm 이상에서는 건조효율이 급격히감소하였다. 이를 바탕으로 5톤/일 규모 슬러지 건조 Pilot Plant를 제작하여 운영하였는데, 염색폐수슬러지의 투입공정에서 슬러지와 열풍의 접촉면적을 넓혀 건조효율을 높이기 위하여 슬러지를 압출노즐을 이용하여 슬라이스 칩 형태로 제조하여 건조공정에 투입하였으며, 건조실 내에서도 건조효율의 상승을 위하여 내부열풍순환팬을 설치하여 운영하였다. Pilot 운영결과, 체류시간 52분에서 슬러지의 함수율은 70%에서 10%이하로 감소하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 1990

In this study the migration experiment using packed column with crushed tuff was conducted as a basic research to develop migration model of radionuclides through geologic media. The main emphasis was put on evaluating the validity of migration models. For this, two models were introduced: one is the model which is based on the assumption of instantaneous equilibrium reaction and the other the model based on kinetic process such as intraparticle diffusion. The coefficient of hydrodynamic dispersion in packed column was determined using iodine as nonsorbing tracer. The hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient, D$_{L}$ was shown to be 0.11$\times$10$^{-2}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$/min under the condition of the column porosity of 0.483 and the average water velocity of 0.915$\times$10$^{-2}$ cm/min. The distribution coefficient, Kd of Cs-137 on crushed tuff was 11.3 cc/g at the concentration of 2$\times$10$^{-6}$ M and the temperature of 2$0^{\circ}C$. The breakthrough curve of Cs-137 through packed column was shown to have an asymmetric curve in which long trailing tail appears at the end part of the curve. The results obtained from the comparison of introduced models with experimental data indicated that the mass transfer model with intraparticle diffusion as rate-controlling step simulated the behaviors of Cs-137 migration more adequately, when compared with the bulk reaction model in which the assumption of instantaneous equilibrium reaction was maded. Consequently, the intraparticle diffusion was found to be an important factor in the migration of Cs-137 through packed column.n.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Earthquake can change underground stress condition around the hypocenter and affect the fracture systems of the rocks. In Korea, the M5.8 Gyeongju earthquake on September 12, 2016 and M5.4 Pohang earthquake on November 15, 2017 occurred inside the Yangsan fault zone and possibly affected the fracture systems in the Yangsan fault zone and nearby rock masses. In this study, the characteristics of the fracture system (fracture orientation, number of the fractures, fracture spacing and aperture, dip angle, fracture density along depth, and relative rock strength) of the rocks in the low/intermediate level radioactive waste repository site located in the coastal area of the East Sea are analyzed by the impact of the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes using acoustic televiewer data taken from the boreholes at the radioactive waste repository site in 2005 and 2018. As a result of acoustic televiewer logging analysis, the fracture numbers, fracture aperture, and fracture density along depth overall increased in 2018 comparing to those in 2005. This increase tendency may be due to changes in the fracture system due to the impact of the earthquakes, or due to weathering of the wall of the boreholes for a long period longer than 10 years after the installation of the boreholes in 2005. In the borehole KB-14, on the whole, the orientation of the fractures and the average fracture spacing are slightly different between 2005 and 2018, while dip angle and relative rock strength in 2005 and 2018 are similar each other.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.243-269
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• 2021

Since the early 2010s, the social importance of research and practical projects targeting deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste, underground CO₂ storage and characterization of deep subsurface by borehole investigation has been increasing. In this regard, there is also a significant increase in the need for in situ test technology to obtain quantitative and reliable information on the hydraulic characteristics of deep rock mass. Through years of research and development, we have independently set up Deep borehole Hydraulic Test System (DHTS) based on the key apparatuses designed and made with our own technology. Using this system, high precision constant pressure injection tests were successfully completed at the two 1 km boreholes located in Mesozoic granite and sedimentary rock regions, Gyeongju. During the field tests, it was possible to measure very low flow rate below 0.01 l/min with micro flow rate injection/control module. In this paper, the major characteristics of DHTS are introduced and also some results obtained from the high precision field tests under the deep and low permeable rock mass environment are briefly discussed.