• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.691-702
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• 2013

This review paper summarizes the theory, application, and potential drawbacks of diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) probe which is a widely used in-situ passive sampling technique for monitoring inorganic contaminants in aquatic environments. The DGT probe employs a series of layers including a filter membrane, a diffusive hydrogel, and an ionic exchange resin gel in a plastic unit. The filter side is exposed to an aquatic environment after which dissolved inorganic contaminants, such as heavy metals and nuclides, diffuse through the hydrogel and are accumulated in the resin gel. After retrieval, the contaminants in the resin gel are extracted by strong acid or base and the concentrations are determined by analytical instruments. Then aqueous concentrations of the inorganic contaminants can be estimated from a mathematical equation. The DGT has also been used to monitor nutrients, such as ${PO_4}^{3-}$, in lakes, streams, and estuaries, which might be helpful in assessing eutrophic potential in aquatic environments. DGT is a robust in-situ passive sampling techniques for investigating bioavailability, toxicity, and speciation of inorganic contaminants in aquatic environments, and can be an effective monitoring tool for risk assessment.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.11-23
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• 2020

The effectiveness of in situ sediment capping as a technique for heavy metal risk mitigation in Hyeongsan River estuary, South Korea was studied. Sites in the estuary were found previously to show moderate to high levels of contamination of mercury, methylmercury and other heavy metals. A 400 m × 50 m section of the river was selected for a thin layer capping demonstration, where the total area was divided into 4 sections capped with different combinations of capping materials (zeolite, AC/zeolite, AC/sand, zeolite/sand). Pore water concentrations in the different sites were studied using diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) probes. All capping amendments showed reduction in the pore water concentration of the different heavy metals with top 5 cm showing %reduction greater than 90% for some heavy metals. The relative maxima for the different metals were found to be translated to lower depths with addition of the caps. For two-layered cap with AC, order of placement should be considered since AC can easily be displaced due to its relatively low density. Investigation of methylmercury (MeHg) in the site showed that MeHg and %MeHg in pore water corresponds well with maxima for sulfide, Fe and Mn suggesting mercury methylation as probably coupled with sulfate, Fe and Mn reduction in sediments. Our results showed that thin-layer capping of active sorbents AC and zeolite, in combination with passive sand caps, are potential remediation strategy for sediments contaminated with heavy metals.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.16-25
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• 2019

Anthropogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels and industrial waste. PAHs can be widely exposed to the environment (water, soil and groundwater). PAHs are potentially toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic. Fundamental studies such as biota uptake (e.g., earthworm and plant) of PAHs are highly needed. It is necessary to develop alternative ways to evaluate bioavailability of PAHs instead of using living organisms because it is time-consuming, difficult to apply in the field, and also exaction method is tedious and time-consuming. In this study, sorption behaviors of phenanthrene were evaluated to predict the fate of PAHs in soils. Moreover, bioaccumulation of PAHs in an artificially contaminated soil was evaluated using pea plant (Pisum sativum) as a bioindicator. A novel passive sampler, organic-diffusive gradient in thin-film (o-DGT) for PAHs was newly synthesized, tested as a biomimic surrogate and compared with plant accumulation. Sorption partitioning coefficient (K_P) and sorption capacity (K_F) were in the order of natural soil > loess corresponding to the increase in organic carbon content (f_oc). Biota-to-soil accumulation factor (BSAF) and DGT-to-soil accumulation factor (DSAF) were evaluated. o-DGT uptake was linearly correlated with pea plant uptake of phenanthrene in contaminated soil (R²=0.863). The Tenax TA based o-DGT as a biomimic surrogate can be used for the prediction of pea plant uptake of phenanthrene in contaminated soil.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.167-172
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• 2020

The effectiveness of in situ sediment capping as a technique for heavy metal risk mitigation in Hyeongsan River estuary, South Korea was studied. Sites in the estuary were found previously to show moderate to high levels of contamination of mercury, methylmercury and other heavy metals. A 400 m x 50 m section of the river was selected for a thin layer capping demonstration, where the total area was divided into 4 sections capped with different combinations of capping materials (zeolite, AC/zeolite, AC/sand, zeolite/sand). Pore water concentrations in the different sites were studied using diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) probes. All capping amendments showed reduction in the pore water concentration of the different heavy metals with top 5 cm showing %reduction greater than 90% for some heavy metals. The relative maxima for the different metals were found to be translated to lower depths with addition of the caps. For two-layered cap with AC, order of placement should be considered since AC can easily be displaced due to its relatively low density. Investigation of methylmercury (MeHg) in the site showed that MeHg and %MeHg in pore water corresponds well with maxima for sulfide, Fe and Mn suggesting mercury methylation as probably coupled with sulfate, Fe and Mn reduction in sediments. Our results showed that thin-layer capping of active sorbents AC and zeolite, in combination with passive sand caps, are potential remediation strategy for sediments contaminated with heavy metals.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.311-325
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• 2007

오늘날 중금속으로 오염된 토양의 위해도 평가 및 오염토양 복원을 위한 기술의 적용에 있어서 점차 중금속의 생물유효도(bioavailability)가 총함량보다 중요하게 생각되고 있다. 그 결과 많은 연구자들은 토양과 토양수 내의 생물에 유효한 중금속의 함량을 조사함과 더불어 이 유효도에 영향을 미치는 주요 토양환경인자를 연구하고 있다. 따라서 본 총설은 일반적으로 유효도 평가에 이용되는 기존의 여러 방법들을 비교평가하고 중금속 유효도의 중요성을 이에 영향을 미치는 토양 인자와 함께기술하였다. 현재까지 다양한 유효도 측정 방법이 개발되어 많은 연구에 적용되고 있는데, 이에는 화학적 침출 방법 (chemical based extraction)과 이온 선택성 전극 (ion selective electrode, ISE) 및 확산구배막(diffusive gradient in the thin film, DGT)을 이용한 중금속 화학종 분리방법 등을 들 수 있다. 그러나 이와 같이 개발된 다양한 기술이 유효도 측정에 있어서 괄목할 만한 성과를 내고 있음에도 아직 국제적으로 인증되고 있는 기술이 있는 것은 아니다. 게다가 토양 중 중금속의 유효도는 토양의 종류 및 특성 그리고 측정 대상인 중금속의 종류에 따라 매우 다양한 양상을 보여준다. 토양 중 중금속의 유효도 변화는 주로 토양과 토양수 사이에서 일어나는 이온교환 반응을 통한 중금속 흡착(adsorption)과 탈착(desorption)에 의하여 일어나며 이 반응은 토양 pH, 유기물, 토양수 중 유기탄소(dissolved organic carbon, DOC), 유기산(low-molecular weight organic acids, LMWOAs) 및 주요 양이온과 같은 토양환경인자의 변화에 영향을 받는다. 예를들어 토양 pH의 증가는 탈수소화(deprotonation) 작용을 통해서 토양표면의 중금속 흡착능력을 높여 결과적으로 유효도를 감소시킨다. 토양중 유기물은 중금속 유효도를 감소시킴과 동시에 유기탄소 및 유기산의 원천으로서 유효도를 증가시키기도 한다. 즉, 유기물은 주로 음으로 하전된 표면을 가지고 있어 중금속을 고상으로 흡착시켜 유효도를 감소시킨다. 반면에 유기물에서 녹아 나온 토양수중 유기탄소 및 유기산은 강한 킬레이트(chelate)로서 토양표면으로부터 중금속을 떨어져 나오게 하여 유효한 중금속 함량을 높여준다. 이와 같은 중금속 이온과 토양인자 사이의 상호반응은 토양의 종류 및 중금속의 종류에 따라 매우 다양하다.