• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

In the field of neutron detections, $^3He$ gas, the so-called "the gold standard," is the most widely used material for neutron detections because of its high efficiency in neutron capturing. However, from variable causes since early 2009, $^3He$ is being depleted, which has maintained an upward pressure on its cost. For this reason, the demands for $^3He$ replacements are rising sharply. Research into neutron converting materials, which has not been used well due to a neutron detection efficiency lower than the efficiency of $^3He$, although it can be chosen for use in a neutron detector, has been highlighted again. $^{10}B$, which is one of the $^3He$ replacements, such as $BF_3$, $^6Li$, $^{10}B$, $Gd_2O_2S$, is being researched by various detector development groups owing to a number of advantages such as easy gamma-ray discrimination, non-toxicity, low cost, etc. One of the possible techniques for the detection is an indirect neutron detection method measuring secondary radiation generated by interactions between neutrons and $^{10}B$. Because of the mean free path of alpha particle from interactions that are very short in a solid material, the thickness of $^{10}B$ should be thin. Therefore, to increase the neutron detection efficiency, it is important to make a $^{10}B$ thin film. In this study, we fabricated a $^{10}B$ thin film that is about 60 um in thickness for neutron detection using well-known technology for the manufacturing of a thin electrode for use in lithium ion batteries. In addition, by performing simple physical tests on the conductivity, dispersion, adhesion, and flexibility, we confirmed that the physical characteristics of the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film are good. Using the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film, we made a proportional counter for neutron monitoring and measured the neutron pulse height spectrum at a neutron facility at KAERI. Furthermore, we calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation the change of neutron detection efficiency according to the number of thin film layers. In conclusion, we suggest a fabrication method of a $^{10}B$ thin film using the technology used in making a thin electrode of lithium ion batteries and made the $^{10}B$ thin film for neutron detection using suggested method.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2007

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) performance could be affected by various factors such as cell temperature, total pressure, partial pressure of reactants and relative humidity. Hydrogen ion is combined with water to form hydronium ion [$H_3O^+$] and pass through membrane resulting electricity generation. Cooling system is needed to remove heat and other uses on large scale fuel cell. In case that collant conductivity is increased, fuel cell performance could be decreased because produced electricity could be leaked through coolant. In this study, triple distilled water(TDW) and antifreeze solution containing ethylene glycol was used to observe resistance change. Resistance of TDW was taken 28 days to reach preset value, and effect on fuel cell operation was not observed. Resistance of antifreeze solution was not reached to preset value up to 48 days, but performance failure occurred presumably caused by bipolar plate junction resulting stoppage resistance experiment. Generally PEMFC humidification is performed near-saturated operating conditions at various temperatures and pressures, but non-humidifying condition could be applied in small scale fuel cell to improve efficiency and reduce system cost. However, it was difficult to operate large scale fuel cell without humidifying, especially higher than $50{\sim}60^{\circ}C$. In case of small flux such as 0.78 L/min, temperature difference between inlet and outlet was occurred larger than other cases resulting performance decrease. Non-humidifying performance experiments were done at various cell temperature. When both of anode and cathode humidification were removed, cell performance was strongly depended on cell operating temperature.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.247-252
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• 2011

Electrical conductivity, drainage, and irrigation amount of nutrient solution are important factors for determination of the mixing ratio of fresh and reused nutrient solutions in closed-loop soilless culture. Generally a fixed mixing ratio is applied in commercial scale greenhouses using solar radiation-based irrigation system. Although it ensures continuous supply of fresh nutrient solution in the mixing process, occasional discharge of the drainage is inevitably required. This study was conducted to compare the nutrient replenishing effect under different mixing processes and to investigate appropriate mixing process. For this experiment, a fixed mixing ratio (FR), modifiable mixing ratio (MR), and open-loop (OP) as control were applied. Mixing ratio was determined by a set value of EC for dilution of collected drainage in FR and the set values of 1.0 and $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ were used as treatments (FR 1.0 and FR 2.0), respectively. In MR, mixing ratio was determined based on EC and volume of drainage within irrigation volume per event. The volume of drainage stored in the drainage tank tended to increase in FR 1.0. Although such trend was not observed in FR 2.0 and MR, the volume of drainage stored in MR was lower than that in FR 2.0. The ion balance of $Mg^{2+}:K^+:Ca^{2+}$ or $SO^{2-}_4:NO^-_3:PO^{3-}_4$ in the drainage and reused nutrient solution changed within a narrow range regardless of treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.130-143
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• 1997

To investigate geochemical characteristics and the sources of the dissolved ion species in the river water in the Han river drainage basin, samples were collected at 60 sites from the Han river drainage basin. The data for. pH, conductivity, TDS (total dissolved solid), temperature, and concentrations of dissloved ions were obtained as follows : (1) The geochemical characteristics of the surface water in the South and North Han river drainage basins are mainly controlled by bed rock geology in the drainage basin and in the main stream of the Han river considerably affected by anthropogenic pollution. The South Han river water samples have high concentrations of $Ca^{2＋}$ (ave. 15.42 ppm), $Mg^{2＋}$ (ave. 2.74 ppm), HC $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ (ave. 51.9 ppm), which evidently indicates that the bed rock geology in a limestone area mainly controls the surface water chemistry. The concentration of S $O_4$$^{2-}$ is remarkably high (SHR10-2 : 129.9 ppm) because of acid mine drainage from the metal and coal mines in the upper reaches of the South Han river. (2) The South Han river and the North Han river join the Han river. in the Yangsuri, Kyounggido and flow through Seoul metropolitan city. The mixing ratio is about 60:40 at the meeting point (sample number HRl0). (3) The result of factor analysis suggests that the pollution factor accounts for about 79% and the bed rock type factor accounts for about 7% of the data variation. This means that the geochemical characteristics of the Han river water mainly controlled by anthropogenic pollution in the South Han river and main stream of the Han river drainage basin. (4) The chemical data for four tributaries such as the Wangsukcheon, the Tancheon, the Zunuangcheon, and the Anyangcheon show that the concentration of pollution elements such as N $O_2$, C $l^{－}$, P $O_4$$^{3-}$, S $O_4$$^{2-}$ and Mn are high due to municipal waste disposal.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 1995

Chemical assessment of soil pollution with heavy metals was made by analyzing the changes in pH, ionic strength, cationic concentration and chemical species in the soil solution. Saturated pastes of the unpolluted soils were made by adding solutions containing Cu or Cd and the final Cu or Cd concentrations were in the range of 0 to 400 mg/kg. After equilibrating for 24 hours at $25^{\circ}C$, the soil solution was extracted from the saturated pastes by the vacuum extraction method and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, Cu, Cd, cations and inorganic ligands. Chemical species in soil solution were calculated by the GEOCHEM-PC program employing the input variables of pH, ionic strength(${\mu}$), molar concentrations of cations and ligands. Increasing Cu or Cd additions lowered pH of the soil solution but increased concentrations of Ca, Mg and K resulting in increases of ${\mu}$ of the soil solution. Effects of Cu on lowering pH and increasing ${\mu}$ were greater than those of Cd. Concentrations of Cu or Cd in soil solution were relatively very low as compared to those of additions, but increased linearly with increasing additions representing that concentrations of Cu were higher than those of Cd. At 400 mg/kg additions, concentrations of Cu were in the range of 0.51 to 11.70 mg/L but those of Cd were 34.4 to 88.5 mg/L. Major species of Ca, Mg and K were free ions and these species were equivalent to greater than 95 molar % of the existing respective molar concentrations. These cationic species were not changed by Cu or Cd additions. Major species of Cu in lower pH soils such as SiCL and SL were free $Cu^{2+}$ (>95 molar %), but those in LS having a higher pH were free $Cu^{2-}$ and Cu-hydroxide complex. At 100 mg Cu/kg treatment, $Cu^{2+}$ and Cu-hydroxide complex were equivalent to 73 and 22.4 molar %, respectively. These respective percentages were decreased and increased correspondingly with increasing Cu treatments. Major species of Cd in soil solution were free $Cd^{2+}$ and Cd-chloride complex, representing 79 to 85 molar % for $Cd^{2+}$ and 13 to 20% for Cd-chloride complex at 10 mg Cd/kg treatment. With increasing Cd additions to 400 mg/kg, $Cd^{2+}$ species decreased to $40{\sim}47%$ but Cd-chloride complexes increased to $53{\sim}60$ molar %. These results demonstrated that soil contamination with heavy metals caused an adverse effect on the plant nutritional aspects of soil solution by lowering pH, increasing cations temporarily, and increasing free metal concentrations and species enough to be phytotoxic.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.753-770
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• 2006

In urban areas, groundwater pollution is heavily affected by urbanization with land use types. This study aims to characterize groundwater quality and contamination in Sasang industrial area of Busan Metropolitan City where metalworking, machinery and footwear factories are located. Busan Metropolitan City is the highest in the utilization of groundwater resources among the metropolitan cities in Korea. $K^+,\;Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-}\;and\;HCO_3^-$ concentrations, and electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity are high in the areas near the Nakdong River. The results are attributed to the influence of salt water which intruded into the coastal sediments during sedimentation. In addition, the dominant chemical type of Ca-Cl indicates the influence of salt water in the geological formations as well as anthropogenic pollution. $SiO_2$ ion is interpreted to originate from both water-silicate mineral reactions and the decomposition of cement concretes. Trichloroethylene (TCE) was detected at 12 sites of total 18 sites. However, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was detected at f sites and 1.1.1-trichloroethane (TCA) at 3 sites. According to the factor analysis, factor 1 was explained by 49.8%, factor 2 19.8%, and factor 3 11.0% with total 80.6% explanation. pH, TDS, salinity, $Ca^{2+},\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Na^+,\;Al^{3+},\;As^{3+},\;Cl^-\;and\;Fe^{2+}$ were positively highly loaded to factor 1. The chemical components loaded to factor 1 represent the chemical characteristics of both industrial pollution and influence by salt water. Based on the cluster analysis and distribution pattern of chemical components, the concentration of $Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-}\;K^+,\;and\;Mg^{2+}$ is high in the riverside area of the Nakdong River composed of coastal sediments that is influenced by salt water. The downstream area of the Hakjang Stream is judged to be affected by both salt water and artificial pollution. The other part of the study area is interpreted by anthropogenic pollution.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2006

This research has been performed to clarify the relationship between hydrogeochemistry and bacterial community structure in groundwater contaminated with landfill leachate. We collected and analyzed samples from 5 sites such as leachate (KSG1-12), treated leachate (KSG1-16), two contaminated groundwaters (KSG1-07 and KSG1-08) and non-contaminated groundwater (KSG1-13). pH was 8.83, 8.04, 6.87, 6.87 and 6.53 in order; redox potential (Eh) 108, 202, 47, 200 and 154 mV; electric conductivity (EC) 3710, 894, 1223, 559 and 169.9 $\mu$S/cm; suspended solids (SS) 86.45, 13.74, 4.18, 0.24 and 11.91 mg/L. In KSG01-12, the ion concentrations were higher especially in $Cl^-$ and $HCO_3^-$ than other sites. The concentrations of Fe, Mn and $SO_4^{2-}$ were higher In KSG1-07 than in KSG1-08, and vise versa in $NO_3^{2-}$. In the comparison of DGGE fingerprint patterns, the similarity was highest between KSG1-13 and KSG1-16 (57.2%), probably due to common properties like low or none contaminant concentrations. Otherwise KSG1-08 showed lowest similarities with KSG1-13 (25.8%) and KSG1-12 (27.6%), maybe because of the degree of contamination. The most dominant bacterial species in each site were involved in $\alpha$-Proteobacteria (55.6%) in KSG1-12, $\gamma$-Proteobacteria (50.0%) in KSG1-16, $\beta$-Proteobacteria (66.7%) in KSG1-07, $\gamma$-Proteobacteria (54.5%) in KSG1-08 and $\beta$-Proteobacteria (36.4%) in KSG1-13. These results indicate that the microbial community structure might be changed according to the flow of leachate in grounderwater, implying changes in concentrations of pollutants, available electron accepters and/or other environmental conditions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 1999

The rain water samples were collected at Chunchon and Seoul by using wet only automatic sampler from January 1996 through 1997. The daily base rain water samples collected over than 95% rainy events components, $SO_4^{-2}$, $NO_3^-$, $CI^-$, NH_4^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, and $K^+$, by ion chromatography. In 1996, about 77% of sampled rain water showed below pH 5.6 and the 60% of rain water was lower than pH 5.0. The volume weighted average pH was 4.7 at all sites. In 1997, the volume weighted average pH was 4.6 and 4.9 at Seoul and Chunchon, respectively. Among the rain water samples,, 87% and 55% fo samples showed below than pH 5.6 and 5.0, respectively. The pH value of Chunchon was significantly (p＜0.05) lower than Seoul at the rain samples for less than 20mm rainfall. However conductivity of the rain samples were 20.9$\mu$S/cm for 1996 and 27.7$\mu$S/cm for 1997 at Seoul, and 19.1$\mu$S/cm for 1996 and 14.1$\mu$S/cm for 1997 at Chunchon. $H_2SO_4$ and $HNO_3$ contributed 65.9% and 29.6% of free acidity at Seoul, respectively. The ratio of [$NO_3^-$]/[nss-$SO_4^{-2}$] were 0.43 at Seoul and 0.51 at Chunchon for rain samples for less than 20mm rainfall. The annual wet deposition of $CI^-$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{-2}$, $H^+$M, $Na^+$, NH_4^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $Ca^{2+}$, respectively, 568.8kg/$ extrm{km}^2$, 1489.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 3184.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 20.9kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 249.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1091.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 189.8kg/ $\textrm{km}^2$, 90.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ and 702.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at Seoul for 1996; 656.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 2029.7kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 3280.7kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 27.2kg /$\textrm{km}^2$, 229.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1063.9kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 106.9kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 78.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 645.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at Seoul for 1997; 116.9kg/ $\textrm{km}^2$, 983.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1797.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 21.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 83.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 648.1kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 78.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 22.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 368.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at chunchon for 1996; 100.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1077.6kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 1754.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 13.4kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 146.0kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 602.3kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 88.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$, 16.2kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ and 206.8kg/$\textrm{km}^2$ at chunchon for 1997.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 1979

In order to study the water pollution in Suyeong Bay, Busan, some chemical constituents were determined at 25 stations in the neap tides on 9 Aug. 1977 and spring tides on 30 Aug. 1977. Range and mean values of the constituents in the spring tides are as follows: $pH\;6.54\~8.06,\;7.54;$ electrical conductivity $0.413\~0.481\times10^5\;\mu\mho/cm,\;0.467\times10^5\;\mu\mho/cm;\;transparency\;0.2\~5.5m,\;2.2m;$ turbidity $1\~60ppm$, 14ppm, chlorosity $15.20\~18.11g/\ell,\;17.67g/\ell;$ fluoride ion $0.94\~1.03ppm$, 0.99ppm; dissolved oxygen $0.17\~7.60ppm$, 4.77ppm; sulfide $0\~0.46ppm$, 0.07ppm; chemical oxygen demand $1.20\~40.74ppm$, 6.11ppm; ammonia-nitrogen $0.060\~0.520ppm$, 0.180ppm; nitrite-nitrogen $0.001\~0.026ppm$, 0.009ppm; nitrate-nitrogen $0\~0.037ppm$, 0.014ppm; phosphate-phosphorus $0.002\~0.261ppm$, 0.050ppm; n-Hexane soluble $0.5\~5.4ppm$, 2.1ppm ; iron $1.0\~104.11\;ppb$, 24.15ppb ; copper $0\~27.45ppb$, 4.19ppb; lead $0\~2.50ppb$, 0.92ppb; zinc $0\~5.15ppb$, 1.47ppb ; cadmium $0\~0.26ppb$, 0.04ppb; and mercury $0.05\~0.37ppb$, 0.11ppb respectively. The variations of the contents of the chemical constituents in the spring tides were larger than in the neap tides. The contents of COD, sulfide, nutrient salts and heavy metals were the highest in the estuary of Suyeong River, and decreased in order of off Kwangan-Ri region, outer Bay and off Haeun-Dae region. The water quality in Suyeong Bay was particularly shown that the concentrations of COO, iron, copper and mercury were higher than those of other coastal aseas and deficiency in dissolved oxygen was observed in some parte of Suyeong Bay. In consideration of the relationship between the chlorosity and the concentrations of nutrient salts, COD and total heavy metals, water pollution of this area is considered due to the inflow of Suyeong River which was extremely polluted by sewage and industrial wastewaters.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 1999

Recently, transport parameters of conservative solutes such as KCl in a porous medium have been successfully determined using time domain reflectometry (TDR) . This study was initiated to Investigate the applicability of TDR technique to monitoring the fate of a heavy metal ion in a sandy soil and the distribution of its concentration along travel distance with time. A column test was conducted in a laboratory that consists of monitoring both resident and flux concentrations of $ZnCl_2$in a sandy soil under a breakthrough condition. A tracer of $ZnCl_2$(10 g/L) was injected onto the top surface of the sample as pulse type as soon as a steady-state condition was achieved. Time-series measurements of resistance and electrical conductivity were performed at 10 cm and 20 cm of distances from the inlet boundary by horizontal-positioning of parallel TDR metallic rods and using an EC-meter for the effluent exiting the bottom boundary respectively. In addition. Zn ions of the effluent were analyzed by ICP-AES. Since the mode and position of concentration detected by TDR and effluent were different, comparison between ICP analysis and TDR-detected concentration was made by predicting flux concentration using CDE model accommodating a decay constant with the transport parameters obtained from the resident concentrations. The experimental results showed that the resident concentration resulted in earlier and higher peak than the flux concentration obtained by EC-meter, implying the homogeneity of the packed sandy soil. A close agreement was found between the predicted from the transport parameters obtained by TDR and the measured $ZnCl_2$concentration. This indicates that TDR technique can also be applied to monitoring heavy metal concentrations in the soil once that a decay constant is obtained for a given soil.