• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.34-41
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• 2001

It is well known that bioassay on the low organic matters in water have developed from the two methods. One is assimilable organic carbon(AOC) that makes use of the maximum growth biomass of the pure strains for the standard substrates, the other is biodegradable dissolved organic carbon(BDOC) that determines the fraction of dissolved organic carbon(DOC) available for microbial utilization. The purpose of this study was to upgrade the measurement method of BDOC in natural water or drinking water. BBOC was determined by means of the bacterial growth and the DOC decrease at the same time. The origin inoculums were used to the suspended bacteria from Han River water, The initial optimum biomass and incubation time for initial DOC were induced by variation of nutrient repression and inoculums. The time reached to minimum DOC was selected as incubation time. The initial optimum biomass for Han river water was about 1000~5000 CFU/mL, respectively. In a sufficient biomass, suitable incubation time was about 3~5 day. It was indirectly calculated BDOC on maximum growth rate by measuring growth yield of indigenous bacteria. But it was difficult to adapt growth yield coefficient because of irregular bacterial growth. The measured 3 day BDOC was close to BDOC calculated with our proposed experimental equation between DOC and BDOC. It shows that the quantification of BDOC with this experimental equation can be used indirectly.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.259-273
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• 2021

We conducted a study to investigate the characteristics of the carbon cycle of two streams (located in Shig a Prefecture, Japan), having similar size, namely, the Adokawa stream (length: 52 km, area: 305 km², watershed population: 8,000) and the Yasukawa stream (length: 62 km, area: 380 km², watershed population: 120,000), but with different degree of human activity. Samples were collected from these two streams at 14 (Adokawa stream) and 23 (Yasukawa stream) stations in the flowing direction. The dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration and the stable carbon isotope ratio of DIC (δ¹³C-DIC) were measured in addition to the watershed features and the chemical variables of the stream water. The δ¹³C-DIC (-9.50 ± 2.54‰), DIC concentration (249 ± 76 µM), and electric conductivity (52 ± 13 µS/cm) in Adokawa stream showed small variations from upstream to downstream. However, the δ¹³C-DIC (-8.68 ± 2.3‰) upstream of Yasukawa stream was similar to that of Adokawa stream and decreased downstream (-12.13 ± 0.43‰). DIC concentration (upstream: 272 ± 89 µM, downstream: 690 ± 37 µM) and electric conductivity (upstream: 69 ± 17 µS/cm, downstream: 193 ± 37 µS/cm) were higher downstream than upstream of Yasukawa stream. The DIC concentration of Yasukawa stream was significantly correlated with watershed environmental variables, such as, watershed population density (r = 0.8581, p<0.0001, n = 23), and forest area percentage of the watershed (r = -0.9188, p<0.0001, n = 23). δ¹³C-DIC showed significant negative correlation with the DIC concentration (r = -0.7734, p<0.0001, n = 23), electric conductivity (r = -0.5396, p = 0.0079, n = 23), and watershed population density (r = -0.6836, p = 0.0003, n = 23). Our approach using a stable carbon isotope ratio suggests that DIC concentration and δ¹³C-DIC could be used as indicators for monitoring the health of stream ecosystems with different watershed characteristics.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.99-111
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• 2022

Together with the development of measurement techniques, radiocarbon (¹⁴C) has been increasingly used as a key tool to investigate carbon cycling and associated biogeochemistry in the ocean. In this paper, the current status of radiocarbon studies in the East Sea (Japan Sea) is reviewed. Previously, spatiotemporal distribution and change of the water masses in the East Sea from 1979 to 1999 were investigated by using the ¹⁴C in the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Researches on sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) revealed that POC in the deep ocean has more complex and heterogeneous origins than we expected. In particular, since 2011, Korean researchers have been collecting sinking particle samples for more than 10 years, so it is expected that ¹⁴C of POC will provide important information to understand carbon cycling in relation to climate change. Although the quantity of ¹⁴C data published in the East Sea is still limited, the importance and the future direction of using ¹⁴C to understand the biogeochemical mechanisms of carbon cycling and its role as a carbon reservoir in the East Sea are detailed herein.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.679-686
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• 2010

To investigate the contribution of macroalgae to biogeochemical nutrients and carbon cycles, we measured the uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$ by Undaria pinnatifida using an incubation method in an acrylic chamber. From January to March 2010, U. pinnatifida was sampled at Ilkwang, a well-known area of macroalgae culture in Korea. The initial and final concentrations of nutrients, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, and pH of the chamber water were measured, and production/uptake rates were calculated using concentration changes, chamber volume, and incubation time. The production rate of dissolved oxygen by U. pinnatifida (n = 32) was about $5.4{\pm}4.0\;{\mu}mol\;g_{fw}^{-1\;}h^{-1}$. The uptake rate of total dissolved inorganic carbon (TDIC), calculated by total alkalinity and pH, was $7.9{\pm}6.5\;{\mu}mol\;g_{fw}^{-1}\;h^{-1}$. Nutrients uptake averaged $141.7{\pm}119.2$ nmol N $g_{fw}^{-1}\;h^{-1}$ and $15.0{\pm}9.1$ nmol P $g_{fw}^{-1}\;h^{-1}$. A positive linear correlation ($r^2$ = 9.6) existed between the production rate of dissolved oxygen and the uptake rate of total dissolved inorganic carbon, suggesting that these two factors serve as good indicators of U. pinnatifida photosynthesis. The relationships between fresh weight and uptake rates of nutrients and $CO_2$ suggested that younger specimens (<~50 g fresh weight) are much more efficient at nutrients and $CO_2$ uptake than are specimens >50 g. The amount of carbon uptake by the total biomass of U. pinnatifida in Korea during the year of 2008 was about 0.001-0.002% of global ocean carbon uptake. Thus, more research should be focused on macroalgae-based biogeochemical cycles to evaluate the roles and contributions of macroalgae to the global carbon cycle.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.460-468
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• 2013

This study reviewed optimum dosage rate of coagulant and ability to remove dissolved organic carbon without sedimentation in conventional water purification plant. It was confirmed that floc formated by pre-treatment process was broken by impeller of booster pump. Optimum dosage rate of coagulant was 4 mg/L (as PACl 17%) for floc formation through blend, coagulation and after passing through the pump when turbidity of raw water was less than 10 NTU. And average removal rate of dissolved organic carbon was 43% at that time. Maximum removal rate of dissolved organic carbon was 48%, even though coagulation rate was increased gradually until 8 mg/L (as PACl 17%). So removal rate of dissolved organic carbon is not much improved even if dosage rage of coagulant increase. TMP of PVDF (polyvinylidene flouride) pressurized MF process without pre-treatment operated at 0.54 bar and TMP of PVDF pressurized MF process with pre-treatment operated at 0.41 bar.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2005

Natural organic matter(NOM) is defined as the complex matrix of organic material and abundant in natural waters. It affects the performance of unit operations for water purification. Several kinds of analytical indicators such as DOC, specific ultraviolet absorbance(SUVA), apparent molecular weight (AMW), fractionation and high performance size exclusive chromatography(HPSEC) have been used to understand characteristics and variations of NOM. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of NOM in the Geum River system comprising with stream flows and reservoirs. It was identified that SUVA denoting the portion of humic substance in water ranged within 1.60~3.36. Using resin adsorbents, dissolved organic carbon(DOC) was fractionated into three classes: hydrophobic bases(HOB), hydrophobic acids(HOA) and hydrophilic substances(HI). HI dominates in all samples, collectively accounting for more than 62% of the DOC. HOA was the second dominated fraction and it varied considerably but accounted for about 30% of the DOC. The distribution of high molecular weight(HMW) measured by HPSEC being used to determine the molecular weight distribution of aquatic humic substances was 40.1% and 38.7% in reservoir and stream flow, respectively. The distribution of low molecular weight(LMW) in stream flow was 13.2% higher than that in reservoir. And apparent molecular weight less than 1KDa, which include the molecular weight of hydrophilic organic matter, occupied with 69.2% and 68.2% in stream flow and reservoir, respectively. While the molecular weight of 1 to 100 KDa including humic substances ranged with 18.6% and 21.6% in stream flow and reservoir, respectively. Seasonal variation of refractory dissolved organic carbon was similar to that of SUVA.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.344-354
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• 2021

Optical methods such as UV and fluorescence spectrophotometers can be applied not only in the qualitative analysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM), but also in real-time quantitative DOM monitoring for wastewater and natural water. In this study, we measure the UV₂₅₄ and fluorescence excitation emission spectra for a sewage treatment plant influent and effluent, and river water before and after sewage effluent flows into the river to examine the composition and origin of DOM. In addition, a correlation analysis between quantified DOM characteristics and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was conducted. Based on the fluorescence excitation emission spectra analysis, it was confirmed that the protein-type tryptophan-like DOM was the dominant substance in the influent, and that the organic matter exhibited relatively more humic properties after biological treatment. However, DOM in river water showed the fluorescence characteristics of terrestrial humic-like and algal tyrosine-like (protein-like) organic matter. In addition, a correlation analysis was conducted between the DOC and optical indices such as UV₂₅₄, the fluorescence intensity of protein-like and humic-like organic matter, then DOC prediction models were suggested for wastewater and river monitoring during non-rainfall and rainfall events. This study provides basic information that can improve the understanding of the contribution of DOC concentration by DOM components, and can be used for organic carbon concentration management in wastewater and natural water.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.629-635
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the removal behaviors of DOM(dissolved organic matter) and phosphorus in eutrophic lake water by coagulation process with PAC(powdered activated carbon). It was observed that the removal characteristic of soluble matter was different from that of dissolved one, and the removal of DOM was effected by both pH and coagulant dosage. It was founded that PAC could increase the removal efficiency by an adsorption of DOM in coagulation process. A formation of soluble and colloidal matters resulted in the degradation of phosphorus removal efficiency in a chemical precipitation process. The phosphorus removal efficiency could be enhanced by an absorption of colloidal matter and dissolved complex with PAC addition. In addition, the PAC addition caused the increase of floc density in coagulation process, that led to the rise of sedimentation rate, and resulted in a significant improvement of solid-liquid separation efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.610-617
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• 2013

Investigating the budgets of alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in lake water systems is significant for the examination of the behavior of a lake as a sink or a source with respect to the circulation of inorganic carbon chemistry. Budgets of total alkalinity ($Alk_T$) and DIC in Onondaga Lake, which was polluted by chronic calcium (Ca) loading in spite of the closure of soda ash ($Na_2CO_3$) facility, were determined by the analyses of inorganic carbon chemistry in tributary stream channels linked to the lake. AlkT and DIC fluxes of Onondaga Creek and Ninemile Creek occupied 65% and 54%, respectively, as larger tributary streams in comparison with other tributaries as well as different input sources. Budget calculations indicate that 18% of AlkT and 11% of DIC inputs to Onondaga Lake, respectively, remained immobilized in the Lake. This suggests that Ca chronically leached had been precipitated with inorganic carbon or remineralized by secondary mineral formation during the experimental period. In this study, the assumed mass balance calculation in Onondaga Lake with tributary streams resulted in exhibiting that the lake played a role of the sink for the inorganic carbon cycle.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2013

Changes of organic carbon after the entrance into dam reservoirs were investigated using water samples collected in May, September, and October in 2010 from the inflow sites and the outlets of four selected dam reservoirs-Soyang, Chungju, Chungju regulation, and Uiam. Increase of refractory dissolved organic carbon (R-DOC) was observed only for large dam reservoirs with long residence times whereas the trend was not found for relatively small reservoirs. The effects of residence times on organic carbon changes were further confirmed by significant positive correlations between monthly residence times and the relative increase of either dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or R-DOC concentrations. Comparison of spectroscopic characteristics of DOC revealed that the changes in the large reservoirs in May might result from in-lake processes. The inflow of terrestrial sources of DOM during storms appears to largely affect the DOC quality of the large reservoirs for the rest of the sampling periods. The mechanism, however, did not fully explain the behaviors of DOC for the small sized reservoirs. Our combined results suggested that both residence time and the input of allochthonous carbon sources might substantially influence the quantity of DOC as well as its quality in dam reservoirs.