• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.105-106
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• 2010

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.421-433
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• 2023

The final disposal of spent nuclear fuel(SNF) from nuclear power plants takes place in a deep geological repository. The metal canister encasing the SNF is made of cast iron and copper, and is engineered to effectively isolate radioactive isotopes for a long period of time. The SNF is further shielded by a multi-barrier disposal system comprising both engineering and natural barriers. The deep disposal environment gradually changes to an anaerobic reducing environment. In this environment, sulfide is one of the most probable substances to induce corrosion of copper canister. Stress-corrosion cracking(SCC) triggered by sulfide can carry substantial implications for the integrity of the copper canister, potentially posing a significant threat to the long-term safety of the deep disposal repository. Sulfate can exist in various forms within the deep disposal environment or be introduced from the geosphere. Sulfate has the potential to be transformed into sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB), and this converted sulfide can contribute to the corrosion of the copper canister. Bentonite, which is considered as a potential material for buffering and backfilling, contains oxidized sulfate minerals such as gypsum(CaSO4). If there is sufficient space for microorganisms to thrive in the deep disposal environment and if electron donors such as organic carbon are adequately supplied, sulfate can be converted to sulfide through microbial activity. However, the majority of the sulfides generated in the deep disposal system or introduced from the geosphere will be intercepted by the buffer, with only a small amount reaching the metal canister. Pyrite, one of the potential sulfide minerals present in the deep disposal environment, can generate sulfates during the dissolution process, thereby contributing to the corrosion of the copper canister. However, the quantity of oxidation byproducts from pyrite is anticipated to be minimal due to its extremely low solubility. Moreover, the migration of these oxidized byproducts to the metal canister will be restricted by the low hydraulic conductivity of saturated bentonite. We have comprehensively analyzed and summarized key research cases related to the presence of sulfates, reduction processes, and the formation and behavior characteristics of sulfides and pyrite in the deep disposal environment. Our objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of sulfates and sulfides on the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal repository.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2011

Removal of dissolved selenium by D. michiganensis, a iron-reducing bacterium, and effects of dissolved metal elements such as iron, sulfate, and copper were investigated. Selenide that was reduced from selenite (2 mM) by D. michiganensis was gradually removed from the aqueous medium. As the reduced selenide was combined with aqueous iron, it was precipitated as a nanoparticulate iron-selenide. Sulfate and copper negatively affected the microbial selenite reduction, and the copper was especially toxic to the bacterium, inhibiting a microbial removal of dissolved selenite. These results show that it should be carefully biotreated for a selenium-contaminated site considering in situ sulfate or copper distribution and concentration. Consequently, the formation of iron-selenide by bacteria will be an important measure for preventing a long-distance migration of selenium in the subsurface environments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2008

The application of constructed subsurface-flow wetlands for treatment of wastewater from abandoned mines is being increased. Crushed limestone, oak chips, and mushroom composites are often employed in a bulk form, as the substrates in the bed media. Efficiency of the subsurface-flow treatment system drops with time as the hydraulic conductivity of the wetland soil decreases significantly, presumably due to chemical reactions with the wastewater. The purpose of this study is to investigate the applicability of immobilized beads carrying sulfate reducing bacteria for acid mine drainage treatment system. The ingredients of immobilized beads are organic materials such as mushroom composite and oak chips, limestone powder for a pH buffer, mixed with a modified Coleville Synthetic Brine. It was found that immobilized beads are more efficient than the bulk form for pH recovery, sulfate and heavy metal removal.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.284-284
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• 2015

본 연구는 퍼클로레이트의 생물학적 환원 과정에 있어서 고농도의 염이 미생물에게 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 다양한 방법을 통해서 알아보고 적절한 모델링 접근을 통하여 최적 환원속도를 위한 반응조 조건 및 설계에 필요한 요소들을 도출하기 위해 수행되었다. 100mL 합성폐수를 포함하는 플라스크를 이용한 실험이 수행되었고, 일정 농도의 퍼클로레이트와 유일 탄소원으로 아세트산나트륨이 사용되었다. 염화나트륨 농도가 $7490{\mu}s/cm$에서 $23700{\mu}s/cm$까지 증가하는 동안 퍼클로레이트의 생물학적 환원 속도는 현저하게 감소하였으며, $32100{\mu}s/cm$ 이상의 염화나트륨 농도에서는 퍼클로레이트가 환원되지 않았다. 동일한 농도의 염화나트륨, 염화암모늄, 염산 및 황산이 포함된 하수에서는 퍼클로레이트의 환원속도가 모두 비슷하였다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.373-376
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• 2006

본 연구의 목적은 동해 울릉분지의 제4기 후기 퇴적물 내의 유기물, 공극수와 메탄의 특징 및 상호작용을 규명하는데 있다. 연구지역에서 채취한 코어퇴적물을 원소 분석한 결과 C/N 및 C/S 비(wt. %)는 퇴적물 내 유기물이 주로 해양조류 기원을 가지고, 일반적인 해양 또는 정체 환경에서 퇴적되어Tdam을 지시한다. 그러나 Rock-Eval 열분석 결과는 유기물 기원이 육상식물(Type III)이고, 열적 성숙단계가 미성숙단계임을 보여준다. 이러한 원소분석과 열분석간의 상반된 결과는 유기물이 침강하는 동안 또는 퇴적 후 이루어진 강한 산화작용에 기인한 것으로 추정된다. 퇴적물 내 공극수의 황산염 농도가 퇴적물의 심도가 증가할수록 감소하며, 감소하는 경향은 크게 두 가지 (적선성, concave down)로 나누어진다. 이는 모든 코어에서 황산엽 환원작용이 일어나고 있음을 지시한다. 또한 직선선의 황산엽농도 구배는 무산소 메탄 산화작용(AMO)의 전형적인 특징이다. 황산염 농도의 수직적 구배를 이용하여 SMI(sulfate-methane interface) 심도를 계산하면, 남부울릉분지의 코어 (03GHP-01, 03GHP-02; <3.5mbsf)가 북부울릉분지 코어(01GHP-05, 01GHP-07, 03GHP-03, 03GHP-04, 03GHP-05; > 6mbsf)보다 낮은 값을 갖는다. 위와 같은 SMI 심도차는 메탄의 상부 분산량과 밀접한 관련있는 것으로 추정된다. 메탄가스의 탄소 안정동위원소 $({\delta}^{13}C)$ 분석값들은 -83.5%o에서 -69.5%o의 범위를 가지고 있고, 이산화탄소 환원작용($CO)_2$ reduction)에 의한 생물 (biogenic) 기원임을 지시한다.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1996

For treating tannery wastewater containing high sulfate and heavy metals, test was performed to assess their performance, competition between SRB (sulfate reducing bacteria) and MPB (methane producing bacteria), and the activity of MPB according to change of chromium concentrations. COD removal efficiency was above 70% at VLR (volumetric loading rate) of 2.0 gCOD/I.day and HRT (hydraulic retention time) of 18hrs at $35^{\circ}C$. In the competition between SRB and MPB, about 15% of the removed COD was utilized by SRB in the begining, but it became 43% at the end. It indicated that MPB was strongly suppressed by the occurrence of significant sulfate reduction since a large electron flow was uptaken by SRB. For the entire experiment, removal efficiencies of chromium concentration were more than 90%. Despite high removal efficiencies of chromium concentration, performance of reactor did not change significantly during the experimental periods. Expecially, chromium (III) is tannery wastewater is less toxic than chromium (VI).

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.122.2-122
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• 1994

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2013

To understand characteristics of biogeochemical corrosion for the metal canisters that usually contain the radioactive wastes for a long-term period below the ground, some metal materials consisting of cast iron and copper were reacted for 3 months with D. desulfuricans, a sulfate-reducing bacterium, under a reducing condition. During the experiment, concentrations of dissolved metal ions were periodically measured, and then metal specimen and surface secondary products were examined using the electron microscopy to know the chemical and mineralogical changes of the original metal samples. The metal corrosion was not noticeable at the absence of D. desulfuricans, but it was relatively greater at the presence of the bacterium. In our experiment, darkish metal sulfides such as mackinawite and copper sulfide were the final products of biogeochemical metal corrosion, and they were easily scaled off the original specimen and suspended as colloids. For the copper specimen, in particular, there appeared an accelerated corrosion of copper in the presence of dissolved iron and bacteria in solution, probably due to a weakening of copper-copper binding caused by a growth of other phase, iron sulfide, on the copper surface.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.622-625
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• 2005

본 연구의 목적은 동해 울릉분지 천부퇴적층의 공극수와 메탄의 특징 및 상호작용을 규명하는데 있다. 울릉분지에서 채취한 코어에서 공극수를 추출하여 분석한 결과, 공극수의 황산염 농도가 퇴적물의 심도가 증가할수록 감소하며, 감소하는 경향은 크게 세 가지 (직선성, concave down, upward kink)로 나뉨을 알 수 있었다. 이는 모든 코어에서 황산염 환원작용이 일어나고 있음을 지시한다 황산염 농도의 수직적 구배를 이용하여 SMI (sulfate-methane interface) 심도를 계산하면, 남부울릉분지가 북부울릉분지보다 낮은 값을 갖는다. 반면에 메탄 농도는 퇴적물의 심도가 증가할수록 전반적으로 증가하며, 공간적으로는 남부 울릉분지가 북부울릉보지보다 높다. 또한 남부울릉분지에서 메탄가스 농도는 SMI 심도 아래에서 급격히 증가한다 메탄가스의 탄소 안정동위원소$(\delta^{13}C)$ 분석 값들은 대부분 $-60\%_{\circ}$이하로서 이는 메탄가스가 열기원 보다는 박테리아기원임을 지시해준다 또한 남부 울릉분지에서 메탄의 탄소 안정동위원소 분석 값들은 메탄농도가 증가할수록 낮은 값을 보여 주는 데 이러한 결과들은 남부 울릉분지에서 무산소 메탄 산화작용이 일어나고 있음을 지시하고, 메탄의 상향 분산 (diffusion)량이 북부 울릉분지보다 많이 일어난다는 것을 의미한다. 공극수내 황산염 이온 농도 구배와 메탄가스 농도를 종합적으로 고려할 때, 울릉분지에서 가스하이드레이트의 부존가능성은 북부 울룽분지보다 남부 울릉분지가 높은 것으로 추정된다.