• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2018

A series of experiments using transparent micromodels with an artificial pore network etched on glass plates was performed to investigate the effects of flow rate on the migration and distribution of resident wetting porewater (deionized water) and injecting non-wetting fluid (n-hexane). Multicolored images transformed from real RGB images were used to distinguish n-hexane from porewater and pore structure. Hexane flooding followed by immiscible displacement with porewater, migration through capillary fingering, preferential flow and bypassing were observed during injection experiments. The areal displacement efficiency increases as the injection of n-hexane continues until the equilibrium reaches. Experimental results showed that the areal displacement efficiency at equilibrium increases as the flow rate increases. Close observation reveals that preferential flowpaths through larger pore bodies and throats and clusters of entrapped porewater were frequently created at lower flow rate. At higher flow rate, randomly oriented forward and lateral flowpaths of n-hexane displaces more porewater at an efficiency close to stable displacement. It may resulted from that the pore pressure of n-hexane, at higher flow rate, increases fast enough to overcome capillary pressure acting on smaller pore throats as well larger ones. Experimental results in this study may provide fundamental information on migration and distribution of immiscible fluids in subsurface porous media.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.73-82
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• 2015

Despite significant effects on macroscopic migration and distribution of CO₂ injected during geological sequestration, only limited information is available on wettability in microscopic scCO₂-brine-mineral systems due to difficulties in pore-scale observation. In this study, a micromodel had been developed to improve our understanding of how scCO₂ flooding and residual characteristics of porewater are affected by the wettability in scCO₂-water-glass bead systems. The micromodel (a transparent pore structure made of glass beads and glass plates) in a pressurized chamber provided the opportunity to visualize scCO₂ spreading and porewater displacement. CO₂ flooding followed by fingering migration and dewatering followed by formation of residual water were observed through an imaging system. Measurement of contact angles of residual porewater in micromodels were conducted to estimate wettability in a scCO₂-water-glass bead system. The measurement revealed that the brine-3M NaCl solution-is a wetting fluid and the surface of glass beads is water-wet. It is also found that the contact angle at equilibrium decreases as the pressure decreases, whereas it increases as the salinity increases. Such changes in wettability may significantly affect the patterns of scCO₂ migration and porewater residence during the process of CO₂ injection into a saline aquifer at high pressures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.19-21
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• 2001

The Shiheung mine was closed in 1972 and has been abandoned since then. Although some restoration work has been done, there still remain mine failings in and around the mine, posing a potential environmental hazard. Mine tailings and the porewater extracted from the tailing were investigated to see any evidence of elemental release and migration to adjacent groundwater and soil in the field. The pHs of the tailing range from 6.24 to 7.23. Calcite in the studied area seems to influence on such neutral pH range. Depth profile of mine tailing demonstrate elements have been leached and removed as a consequence of weathering during disposal. This is also supported by the findings from porewater analysis, corresponding the trends in the mine tailings. The concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the tailing porewater exceed the standard value of EPA for drinking water and this implies groundwater can be contaminated through infiltration of the porewaters, which ultimately will be discharged as leachate from the mine tailing. Groundwater samples collected near the mine area do not show high metal concentrations, except for Fe, which were detected over drinking water standard.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4474-4480
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• 2022

Deep geological disposal using a multibarrier system is a promising solution for treating high-level radioactive (HLRW) waste. The HLRW canister represents the first barrier for the migration of radionuclides into the biosphere, therefore, the corrosion behavior of canister materials is of significance. In this study, the electrochemical behaviors of SS316L, Ti-Gr.2, Alloy 22, and Cu in naturally aerated KAERI underground research tunnel (KURT) groundwater solutions were examined. The corrosion potential, current, and impedance spectra of the test materials were recorded using electrochemical methods. According to polarization and impedance measurements, Cu exhibits relatively higher corrosion rates and a lower corrosion resistance ability than those exhibited by the other materials in the given groundwater condition. In the anodic dissolution tests, SS316L exposed to the groundwater solution exhibited the most uniform corrosion, as indicated by its surface roughness. This phenomenon could be attributed to the extremely low concentration of chloride ions in KURT groundwater.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.spc
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• pp.75-91
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• 2022

Differences in subsurface migration of LNAPL/DNAPL contaminants caused by a selection of 3-phase (aqueous, NAPL, and gas) relative permeability function (RPF) models in numerical modeling were investigated. Several types of RPF models developed from both experimental and theoretical backgrounds were introduced prior to conducting numerical modeling. Among the RPF models, two representative models (Stone I and Parker model) were employed to simulate subsurface LNAPLs/DNAPLs migration through numerical calculation. For each model, the spatiotemporal distribution of individual phases and the mole fractions of 6 NAPL components (4 LNAPL and 2 DNAPL components) were calculated through a multi-phase and multi-component numerical simulator. The simulation results indicated that both spilled LNAPLs and DNAPLs in the unsaturated zone migrated faster and reached the groundwater table sooner for Stone I model than Parker model while LNAPLs migrated faster on the groundwater table under Parker model. This results signified the crucial effect of 3-phase relative permeability on the prediction of NAPL contamination and suggested that RPF models should be carefully selected based on adequate verification processes for proper implementation of numerical models.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-410
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• 2022

The solubility and species distribution of radionuclides in groundwater are essential data for the safety assessment of deep underground spent nuclear fuel (SNF) disposal systems. Americium is a major radionuclide responsible for the long-term radiotoxicity of SNF. In this study, the solubility of americium compounds was evaluated in synthetic groundwater (SynDB3), simulating groundwater from the DB3 site of the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel. Geochemical modeling was performed using the ThermoChimie_11a thermochemical database. Concentration of dissolved Am(III) in Syn-DB3 in the pH range of 6.4-10.5 was experimentally measured under over-saturation conditions by liquid scintillation counting over 70 d. The absorption spectra recorded for the same period suggest that Am(III) colloidal particles formed initially followed by rapid precipitation within 2 d. In the pH range of 7.5-10.5, the concentration of dissolved Am(III) converged to approximately 2×10^-7 M over 70 d, which is comparable to that of the amorphous AmCO₃OH(am) according to the modeling results. As the samples were aged for 70 d, a slow equilibrium process occurred between the solid and solution phases. There was no indication of transformation of the amorphous phase into the crystalline phase during the observation period.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.129-132
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• 2000

In this research, we proposed the immobilization zone where the organic contaminant would be fixed, so that ground water could be prevented from the organic contaminants. The surfactant was adsorbed on the soil particles and the organic contaminants were partitioned into the hydrophobic tails of the surfactant in the immobilization zone. Surfactants with different molecular structures-SDDBS (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid), MADS (monoalkylated disulfonated diphenyl oxide), DADS (dialkylated disulfonated diphenyl oxide) - were used in this study. Up to the present, the research on the immolization simulated the saturated condition. But many site contaminated with organic contaminants and the zones where immobilization would be applied are unsaturated. In this research, in order to investigate the behaviors of surfactants and organic contaminants in unsaturated condition, the unsaturated columns were experimented, and their results were compared with the saturated case.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2004

Measurements of streaming potential can provide a means for the detection and quantification of contaminants in groundwater prior to remediation. However, laboratory determinations of specific electrolyte properties are required for an adequate analysis of the hydraulic gradient in complex situations. Data obtained for the King River in Tasmania confirm a linear relationship linking streaming potential data and hydraulic gradients. Laboratory samples at low concentration (0.001M KCl) indicate values in the range 20-80 mV/cm of water pressure, while for higher concentrations (0.01M KCl) values are less than 25 mV/cm. Similar ion concentrations are observed in the King River, consistent with field correlations indicating values for streaming potential close to 15 mV/cm. In-situ fluid samples are required for more detailed analysis of local anomalies that may be associated with variations in recharge and migration of contaminants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1996.12a
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• pp.87-95
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• 1996

The stabilization and reclamation of old disposal sites is becoming more important as significant numbers of disposal sites are closed and abandoned. This technical paper covers an overview of the key issues and methodologies for stabilizing and constructing facilities on old landfills. The slide portion of this presentation also include photographs showing actual construction activities. The key issues that are prevalent in remediating and closing old landfills are : correcting the stormwater flow, leachate breakout, constructing cover caps, controlling landfill gas migration and odors, cleanup groundwater and stabilizing side slopes. Some key techniques for constructing facilities on old landfills include： use of piling, installation of active landfill gas systems, providing LFG barriers under buildings, using utilidors and flexible utility interfaces and designing for site settlement. This Paper provides proven conceptual methods for solving these problems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1997.05a
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• pp.47-52
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• 1997

The experimental investigations considered in this paper are similar in many respects to those of Lee$^1$, with some key differences. First, there is no layering of the soils in a heterogeneous liner. The only soil investigated is the clay component of the cover liner. This ensures that the clay is exposed to freezing and that frost propagation in the clay can be investigated separate from other processes. Second, a closed system approach to the simulation was adopted. According to Jones$^2$, closed-system freezing occurs when there is no source of water available beyond that originally present in the soil voids. Freezing under such conditions results in very thin or non-existent ice lenses. One of tile objectives of the experiments described in this paper was the moisture migration and the changing of moisture contents of the compacted clay liner in landfill. The closed-system was used to limit tile variables in the experimental simulation to make these calculations more direct, although the final results could be applied to an open system also. As a result, the moisture content decreased about 45%-46% after two freeze/thaw cycles.