• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Supervised residue trials were conducted to establish pre-harvest residue limit(PHRL), a criterion to ensure the safety of the pesticide residue in the crop harvest, of amisulbrom for winter-grown cabbage in two fields. Following to application of amisulbrom on the crop, time-course study was carried out to obtain the amisulbrom dissipation of statistical significance which enabled to calculate the predicted values of PHRL. METHOD AND RESULTS: During cultivation under greenhouse condition, samples of winter-grown cabbage were collected at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after amisulbrom application, and subjected to residue analysis. Analytical method was validated by recoveries ranging 93.7~100.0% as well as limit of quantitation(LOQ) of 0.04 mg/kg. Amisulbrom residues in winter-grown cabbage gradually decreased as time elapsed. The dissipation rate of the residue would be affected by intrinsic degradation along with dilution by the cabbage growth. The decay pattern was well fitted by the simple first-order kinetics. CONCLUSION: Biological half-lives of amisulbrom in winter-grown cabbage ranged 3.7~4.1 days in two field conditions. Based on the regression of amisulbrom dissipation, PHRLs of amisulbrom in winter-grown cabbage were recommended as 8.86~9.47 and 4.21~4.35 mg/kg for 10 and 5 days before harvest, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.651-658
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• 2012

This paper concentrates on the evaluation of microcracks in thermal damaged concrete on the basis of the nonlinear ultrasonic modulation technique. Since concrete structure exposed to high temperature accompanies the development of microcracks due to the physical and chemical changes from temperature and exposed time, the adoption of nonlinear approach is required. Instead of using the conventional ultrasonic nondestructive methods which have the limitation in evaluating excessive microcracks, accordingly, a nonlinear ultrasonic modulation method which shows better sensitivity in quantifying microcracks is introduced. Upon the analysis for the modulation of ultrasonic wave and low frequency impact to measure the nonlinearity parameter, which can be used as an indicator of thermal damage, the verification processes for the introduced technique are followed: SEM investigation and permeable pore space test are performed to characterize thermally induced microcracks in concrete, and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests are performed to confirm the outstanding sensitivity of nonlinear ultrasonic modulation technique. In advance, compressive strength of thermal damaged concrete is measured to represent the effect of microcracks on performance degradation. Correlation studies between experimental data and measured data show that nonlinear ultrasonic modulation technique can effectively be used to quantify thermally induced microcracks, and to estimate the compressive strength of thermally damaged concrete.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2020

Objectives: The causes of dementia have been reported in various ways, but there has been little research on the interrelationship between heavy metals and dementia, and the results also show little consistency. Therefore, it is imperative to compare the levels of heavy metal exposure between the dementia-suffering group and a control group to confirm the correlation between the level of heavy metal exposure and the likelihood of dementia. Methods: In order to assess the dementia level of the elderly, the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were applied. To analyze the concentration of heavy metals in the blood, blood was collected from the veins of study subjects and measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between lead and manganese concentrations in the blood and the MMSE and GDS. It was found that there was a statistically significant correlation between cadmium concentration in the blood and the GDS, but the MMSE was less relevant. It was found that the blood mercury concentration and the MMSE and GDS were less relevant. The lead concentration in the blood was 0.95±0.74 ㎍/dL in the dementia patient group and 0.33±0.22 ㎍/dL in the normal group, while cadmium was 0.69±0.37 ㎍/L in the dementia group and 0.18±0.10 ㎍/L in the normal group. Mercury was 0.81±0.31 ㎍/L in the dementia group and 1.16±0.80 ㎍/L in the normal group. Manganese was 6.83±2.01 ㎍/L in the dementia group and 4.78±1.59 ㎍/L in the normal group. All of these show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: As the concentration of lead, cadmium and manganese in the blood increases, the MMSE scores and GDS scores were found to worsen, and it was confirmed that there is a correlation between heavy metal exposure and cognitive degradation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.981-987
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• 2000

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket(UASB) reactor was operated for treating swine wastewater containing high ammonia nitrogen to assess their performance and toxicity of free ammonia concentration. In the reactor, chemical oxygen demand(COD) removed about 70% at $2.6kgCOD/m^3.day$ of organic loading rate(OLR) and 3 days of hydraulic retention time (HRT), while it was decreased when OLR and HRT was maintained $7kg\;COD/m^3.day$ and 2 days, respectively. Also UASB reactor was evaluated the activity of methane producing bacteria(MPB) according to change of free ammonia concentrations, MPB activity of applied sludge in the 500 and $1000mg-N/{\ell}$ of free ammonia concentration was inhibited by 4% and 40%, respectively. This clearly showed that free ammonia concentration less than $500mg-N/{\ell}$ showed no inhibition to MPB in anaerobic treatment of organics, UASB reactor was stabilized easily less than $1000mgVSS/{\ell}$ due to degradation of organic solids by the high activities of anaerobes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 2000

For the artificial removal of air pollutants such as pesticides, environmental toxicants, and pathogenic microorganisms in the greenhouse or the living environment, the accelerated photodegradation and the biocidal effects of some photosensitizers (PS)/photocatalysts (PC) were tested under the sunlight and/or artificial light. The selected photosensitizers/photocatalysts included the semiconductors (PC-1 and PC-2), the oxidizers (PC-3, PC-4, PC-5 and PC-6), the aromatic ketone (PS-7) and the aromatic amine (PS-8). In the case of dichlorvos, all the photocatalysts selected showed more accelerated photodegradation than the control without photocatalysts under both the sunlight and artificial light. Whereas, only the photocatalyst PC-1 accelerated the degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether about 17 times more than the control under both the sunlight and artificial light. Procymidone was much more degraded by the photosensitizer PS-8 and the two photocatalysts (PC-1, PC-6) than by PS-7. In the preliminary experiments to diminish the population of the microorganisms in the air, the photocatalyst PC-1 added to the suspensions of Pseudomonas putida, Phytophthora capsici, and Salmonella typhimurium obviously inhibited the microbial growth under the artificial light. The photocatalyst PC-1 showed a bactericidal activity against Salmonella typhimurium spread on the nutrient broth agar medium. These results suggest that the photosensitizers/photocatalysis under the light can remove some air pollutants and hence they can be used to reduce the exposure of the workers in the horticultural facilities and/or the public in the environment to the harmful pollutants.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

MTBE (Methyl tertiary-butyl ether) has been commonly used as an octane enhancer to replace tetraethyl lead in gasoline, because MTBE increases the efficiency of combustion and decreases the emission of carbon monoxide. However, MTBE has been found in groundwater from the fuel spills and leaks in the UST (Underground Storage Tank). Fenton's oxidation, an advanced oxidation catalyzed with ferrous iron, is successful in removing MTBE in groundwater. However, Fenton's oxidation requires the continuous addition of dissolved $Fe^{2+}$. Zero-valent iron is available as a source of catalytic ferrous iron of MFO (Modified Fenton's Oxidation) and has been studied for use in PRBs (Permeable Reactive Barriers) as a reactive material. Therefore, this study investigated the condition of optimization in MFO-PRBs using waste zero-valent iron (ZVI) with the waste steel scrap to treat MTBE contaminated groundwater. Batch tests were examined to find optimal molar ratio of MTBE : $H_2O_2$ on extent to degradation of MTBE in groundwater at pH 7 with 10% waste ZVI. As the results, the ratio of optimization of MTBE to hydrogen peroxide for MFO was determined to be 1:300[mM]. The column experiment was conducted to know applicability of MFO-PRBs for MTBE remediation in groundwater. As the results of column test, MTBE was removed 87% of the initial concentration during 120days of operational period. Interestingly, MTBE was degraded not only within waste ZVI column but also within sand column. It means the aquifer may affect continuously the MTBE contaminated groundwater after throughout the waste ZVI barrier. The residual products showed acetone, TBF (Tert-butyl formate) and TBA (Tert-butyl acetate) during this test. The results of the present study showed that the recycled materials can be effectively used for not only a source of catalytic ferrous iron but also a reactive material of the MFO-PRBs to remove MTBE in groundwater.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2009

This research was performed to figure out the optimal mixing ratio of food- to livestock wastewater for the best degradation of organic matter in the anaerobic digestion. The presence of various microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, was also investigated in both wastewater in this process. Enteric bacteria were only found in livestock wastewater, whereas pathogenic bacteria like S. aureus were detected in both wastewater. The optimal mixing ratio of food- to livestock wastewater for the best mineralization was found to fifty to fifty, with reduction ratios of $BOD_5$, CODcr SS as 23.2%, 24.7%, 19.7%, respectively. Hygiene of the digested sludge was also analyzed by counting the number of total colonies and various pathogens. Enterobacteriaceae including E. coli were barely detected in 10 days after reaction. Meanwhile, S. aureus was gradually reduced during reaction, even showing 1,000~5,000 CFU/mL in final days.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the optimum conditions for efficient methane production through anaerobic digestion of pig waste slurry. The examined parameters were organic matter content of the pig slurry, the ratio of seed sludge to pig slurry, and stirring intensity of the digestion reactor. The effects of types of slurry produced from different purpose-based pigs fed with different feeds were also tested. The methane concentration in the produced biogas was 45% when the ratio of seed sludge to pig slurry was 50% and total solid (TS) concentration was 1%, and it increased in proportional to TS concentration increases from 3 to 7%. At 3 and 5% of TS concentration, increasing mixing velocity from 80 to 160 rpm resulted in higher biogas production amount. However, mixing amount of seed sludge did not cause any significant effect on biogas production. Overall, the most efficient biogas production was achieved at 3-5% TS concentration in combination with 50% seed sludge inoculation and mixing velocity at 120 rpm. Among pig slurry types, gestating sow waste slurry showed the highest biogas production probably due to higher the degradation rate than other types of pig waste slurry being affected by the feeds components.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2004

Temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD), anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR), and co-digestion technologies were combined together in order to overcome low efficiencies of conventional anaerobic sewage sludge digestion processes. In the performance, TPAD-ASBR process showed high VS removal efficiency over 60% up to the organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.7 g VS/L/d. The first-stage of TPAD-ASBR and control system played a most significant role in VS destruction and methane production. Methane production rate (0.79 l $CH_4/L/d$) of the system was higher than that (0.59 l $CH_4/L/d$) of the control system. The substrate characteristics of the sewage sludge, such as low VS concentration (1.5%, w/w) and biodegradability, were properly improved by the addition of food waste as a co-substrate, leading to more efficient VS removal and methane production. With several track studies, it was revealed that the independent solid retention time (SRT) of those systems prevented untreated particles from outflowing and also, extended the retention time of the active biomass for further degradation. Consequently, it was confirmed that the sequencing batch operation of the TPAD process using co-substrate was a promising alternative for the recycling of sewage sludge with low VS content.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.293-305
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• 2009

Methane, as a greenhouse gas, is some 21~25 times more detrimental to the environmental than carbon dioxide. Landfills generally constitute the most important anthropogenic source, and methane emission from landfill was estimated as 35~73 Tg per year. Biological approaches using biocover (open system) and biofilter (closed system) can be a promising solution for older and/or smaller landfills where the methane production is too low for energy recovery or flaring and installation of a gas extraction system is inefficient. Methanotrophic bacteria, utilizing methane as a sole carbon and energy source, are responsible for the aerobic degradation (oxidation) of methane in the biological systems. Many bench-scale studies have demonstrated a high oxidation capacity in diverse filter bed materials such as soil, compost, earthworm cast and etc. Compost had been most often employed in the biological systems, and the methane oxidation rates in compost biocovers/boifilters ranged from 50 to $700\;g-CH_4\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. Some preliminary field trials have showed the suitability of biocovers/biofilters for practical application and their satisfactory performance in mitigation methane emissions. Since the reduction of landfill methane emissions has been linked to carbon credits and trading schemes, the verified quantification of mitigated emissions through biocovers/biofilters is very important. Therefore, the assessment of in situ biocovers/biofilters performance should be standardized, and the reliable quantification methods of methane reduction is necessary.