• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2003

Effects of magnesium sulfate ($MgSO_4$) and magnesium hydroxide $[Mg(OH)_2]$, which have different chemical characteristics, on soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and exchangeable cation distributions were investigated. Using plastic columns packed with a loam soil, the two Mg-fertilizers were treated at the rate of $300kg\;MgO\;ha^{-1}$ and water was applied on the soil surface four times at every 7 days. Soil samples were taken at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm depth after 7 days of each water application. Magnesium hydroxide could increase soil pH, but due to the low solubility of $Mg(OH)_2$, the effect on pH was limited on the surface soil. Soil pH was lowered in the $MgSO_4$ treatment and the effect was found through the 20 cm depth. Since the pH decrease in $MgSO_4$ treated soil was due to the salts from $MgSO_4$, after leaching of most salts from the investigated soil depth pH was not significantly different from that of non-treated soil. Soil EC was increased in $MgSO_4$ treatment through the soil depth, but in $Mg(OH)_2$ treatment EC was slightly increased only at the surface layer. Exchangeable Mg was increased in both of the treatments at surface layer after the first water application. In $Mg(OH)_2$ treatment, the increase of exchangeable Mg was found only at 5 cm depth through the experiment, but leaching down of Mg in the $MgSO_4$ treatment was very apparent. High concentration of Mg in the $MgSO_4$ treated soil could effectively replace exchangeable Ca through the investigated soil depth, but the effect of $Mg(OH)_2$ on exchangeable Ca was not significant.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.289-302
• /
• 2023

The study area was Gangnim-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do, composed of the Chiaksan gneiss complex, and it was revealed that the concentrations of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) within the groundwater of the study area exceeded their water quality standards. Hence, artificial weathering experiments were conducted to elucidate mineralogically the mechanisms of their leaching using drilling cores obtained from the corresponding groundwater aquifers. First of all, the mineralogical compositions of core samples were observed, and the results indicated that the content of clinochlore, a member of the chlorite group of minerals that can form through low- and intermediate-temperature metamorphisms, was relatively higher. In addition, the Th concentration was measured ten times higher than that of U. The results of artificial weathering experiments suggested that the Th concentrations gradually increased through the dissolution of radioactive-element-bearing minerals up to the first day, and then they tended to decrease. It could be attributed to the fact that Th was leached with the dissolution of thorite, which might be a secondary mineral, and then dissolved Th was re-precipitated as the various forms of salt, such as sulfate. Even though the U content was lower than that of Th in the core samples, the U concentration was one hundred times higher than that of Th after the weathering experiments. It is likely caused by the gradual dissolution and desorption of U included in intensively weathered thorite or adsorbed as a form of UO₂²⁺ on the mineral surface. In addition, the leaching tendency of U and Th was positively correlated with the bicarbonate concentration. However, the concentrations between U and Th in groundwater exhibited a relatively lower correlation, which might result from the fact that they occurred from different sources, as aforementioned. Among various kinetic models, the parabolic diffusion and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were confirmed to best fit the dissolution kinetics of both elements. The period that would be taken for the U concentration to exceed its drinking-water standard was inferred using the regressed parameters of the best-fitted models, and the duration of 29.4 years was predicted in the neutral-pH aquifers with relatively higher concentrations of HCO₃, indicating that U could be relatively quickly leached out into groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.201-213
• /
• 1990

Mineralogy, chemistry, physical property, and fossil abundance have been studied for the samples collected from three weathering profiles, two from the Duho Formation and one from the Hagjeon Formation in the Tertiary sediments in the Pohang area. The mineralogy of the samples from the Duho Formation shows somewhat different from that of the Hagjeon Formation. Kaolinite is more abundant and shows higher crystallinity in samples from the Duho Formation than those in the Hagjeon Formation, but clay mineral assemblage in each weathering profile remain fairly constant with depth. This difference in mineral distribution seems to be inherited from original source materials. It indicates that little or not severe leaching has been taking place in these three weathering profiles. Weathering indicies indicate different degrees of susceptibility to chemical weathering in these two formations. The Duho Formation has a higher degree of susceptibility to weathering than that of the Hagjeon Formation which is mainly due to differences in clay mineral assemblages in both formations. A noticeble colour difference between oxidized and unoxidized zones in each profile can be easily recognized which is definetely due to different decomposition rate organic carbon by various oxidation state from surface to bottom of the profile. Weathering process have also intensively influenced microfossil preservation about up to 7-10 m in depth in the Duho Formation. Consequently, characteristics observed at weathering surface should be used as a subsidiary tool in setting geologic boundary or establishing formation. Great care must be taken to choose sampling site for microfossil study.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.789-794
• /
• 2012

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been most widely used due to its advantages such as good biodegradability, controllable rate of degradation and metabolizable degradation products. We manufactured composite scaffolds of PLGA scaffold penetrated DBP gel (PLGA/DBP gel) by a simple method, solvent casting/salt leaching prep of PLGA scaffolds and subsequent soaking in DBP gel. Chondrocytes were seeded on the PLGA/DBP gel. The mechanical strength of scaffold, histology (H&E, Safranin-O, Alcian-blue) and immunohistochemistry (collagen type I, collagen type II) were performed to elucidate in vitro and in vivo cartilage-specific extracellular matrices. It was better to keep the characteristic of chondrocytes in the PLGA/DBP gel scaffolds than that PLGA scaffolds. This study suggests that PLGA/DBP gel scaffold may serve as a potential cell delivery vehicle and a structural basis for in vivo tissue engineered cartilage.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.259-265
• /
• 2011

This research was performed to stabilize heavy metals in mine tailing using fly ash and clay. Fly ash-clay-mine tailing system were investigated using XRD (X-ray diffractometer), XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometer), TG-DTA, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), Dilatometer and UTM with various mine tailing contents (~15 wt%). The fly ash used in this research was mainly composed of $SiO_2$ (33.01 wt%), $Al_2O_3$ (28.54 wt%), $K_2O$ (3.32 wt%), $Fe_2O_3$ (1.47 wt%), CaO(9.97 wt%). $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ composition of the clay was over 61 wt%. And the mine tailing have high composition of $SiO_2$ (26.91 wt%), CaO (24.25 wt%), $Fe_2O_3$ (22.97 wt%). Therefore, it was estimated that fly ash-clay-mine tailing have enough sintering characteristics. The shrinkage of specimens started at around $850^{\circ}C$ and changed little up to $1100^{\circ}C$, but increased markedly at above $1100^{\circ}C$. The shrinkage rate is strongly related to the decarbonization amount of coal fly ash. As the result of SEM, structure of the specimens with mine tailing addition showed more close than the one without mine tailing. Compressive strength of the specimens with mine tailing was highly increased to approximately 200~420 kgf/$cm^2$, it satisfied the first grade criterion for clay brick by KS L 4201. The specification of leaching characteristics of the sintered specimens were within the Korean regulation standard.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 1997

We investigated the content of heavy metals contained in the soil at an Il-Kwang disused mine in Kyung Nam. Three sampling points were selected, each point was digged to 210 or 240cm, sampled each 30cm depth. After air drying, each sample was digested in aqua regia and then analyzed with an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer. We determined the content of Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Fe, maximum content of Pb, Cd, and Zn was observed to $(4.6{\pm}0.1){\times}10^3$, 9.4(${\pm}3.6$), and $(2.7{\pm}0.1){\times}10^2{\mu}g/g$ respectively. Mean pH values of soil sampled at No.1, 2, and 3 regions were 3.2, 2.6, and 2.8, respectively. These values are remarkably lower than pH of the conventional standard soil which usually shows pH level around 4.9. At each sampling point, maximum content of heavy metals was observed from 30cm to 60cm depth. The depth profiles of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr showed very similar tendencies to each other, but those of Fe, Cu. and Mn showed different tendencies to former ones.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.955-960
• /
• 2012

In most agricultural soils, ammonium ($NH_4{^+}$) from fertilizer is quickly converted to nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) by the process of nitrification which is crucial to the efficiency of N fertilizers and their impact on the environment. The salinity significantly affects efficiency of N fertilizer in reclaimed tidal soil, and the soil pH may influence the conversion rate of ammonium to nitrate and ultimately affect nitrogen losses from the soil profile. Several results suggest that pH has important effects on recovery of fall-applied N in the spring if field conditions are favorable for leaching and denitrification except that effects of soil pH are not serious under unfavorable conditions for N loss by these mechanisms. Soil pH, therefore, deserves attention as an important factor in the newly reclaimed tidal soils with applying N. However, fate of N studies in a newly reclaimed tidal soils have been rarely studied, especially under the conditions of saline-sodic and high pH. Therefore, understanding the fate of nitrogen species transformed from urea treated into the reclaimed tidal soil is important for nutrient management and environmental quality. In this article, we reviewed yields of rice and fate of nitrogen with respect to the properties of reclaimed tidal soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2014

Generally, nitrogen (N) fertilization higher than the recommended dose is applied during vegetable cultivation for increasing in productivity. However, excessive N application rate beyond plant requirement could cause adverse environmental impact such as nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emission. In this experiment, the impacts of N fertilization was studied on nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emission to standardize the optimum fertilization level for minimizing of $N_2O$ emission as well as most of the crop productivity. Herein, we assessed the $N_2O$ emission in the flat upland soil which was cultivated with different N application rates on red pepper for 3 years (2010~2012). $N_2O$ emission was measured in chemical N fertilizer amounts 0 (N 0), 95 (N 0.5), 190 (N 1.0), $380(N_2.0)kgha^{-1}$ by using the abnormal shape chamber closed repeating three times. In average for 3 years, the total $N_2O$ emissions of each treatment in field of soybean were 2.110 (N 0), 3.165 (N 0.5), 5.039 (N 1.0), and $7.228(N_2.0)kgN_2Oha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. And then the primary regression between nitrogen fertilizer amount and the total $N_2O$ emission was showed as y = 0.0138x + 2.0942 ($r^2=0.9885$), and an average of the emission factor was $EF_1$ 0.0148(0.0118~0.0191) $N_2O-NkgN^{-1}kg^{-1}$ from 2010 to 2012. The result was a little higher than the emission default of the IPCC 1996 Guideline ($EF_1$ 0.0125) when the results are converted into $N_2O$ emission factor.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2000

It has been more than ten years since Dukun mine was abandoned. Tailings of waste deposits and slime dumps in the abandoned Dukum mine have been left to be deserted for fifty years. The results of fifty years of neglecting are nothing short of major environmental problems. Slime dumps have been exposed to air and water in the mine over ten years and then soil profile has been formed well. Soil in the upper layer (A horizon) is the light gray color due to the leaching of cations. Soil in the lower layer (A2 horizon, 0.2∼0.3m)is tinted with reddish brown and yellowish brown color due to the development of iron oxides and iron hydroxides. Soil in the lower part of B horizon of (1.0∼3.0m) with the growth of copper and zinc oxides exposes to the bluish green, light blue, and dark gray. Ranging from 3m to 8m in depth, 85 samples were taken from 22 sampling sites with 50m intervals located on the slime dump area with hand auger and trench (open cut). As tailings was distributed, heavy metal elements extracted by the process of surface water and ground water move and disperse in to the hydrosphere. Waste dumps were distributed in and around the mine and water draining from those dumps be a potential source of contamination. Soils, thus, can be dispersed into downslope and downstream through wind and water by clastic movement. These materials may be deposited in another horizon if the water is withdrawn, or if the materials are precipitated as a result of differences in pH, or other conditions in deeper horizons. These were primarily associated with acid mine drainage. The characteristics and rate of release of acid mine drainage are influenced by various chemical and biological reactions at the source of acid generations. Prolonged extration of heavy metal elements has a detrimental effect on the agricultural land and residental area. Twenty soil samples were collected from the agricultural land in the area (0∼30 cm). Seventeen samples were also taken from the sediment in the stream running alongside the dumps. The dispersion patterns of heavy metal elements are as follows: The content of As ranged 2∼6 ppm in a horizon, 20∼125 ppm in B horizon with large amount of clay mineral is concentrated and the content of Cd ranged 1∼2 ppm in A horizon, 4∼22 ppm in B horizon. Like Cd, the content of As, Cu, Zn, Pb in B horizon is higher than that in A horizon (approximately 5∼100 times). When soil formation proceeds in stages, it is necessary to investicate the B horizon with the concentration of heavy metal and preventive measures will have to established.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.340-349
• /
• 2013

The present paper investigates the availability of seawater as the absorbents to capture carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emitted from the coal fired power plant (CFPP). For the purpose of the study, readily obtainable alkali materials in CFPP such as coal fly ash (FA), NaOH and $Ca(OH)_2$ are added to seawater to prepare the absorbents and their $CO_2$ capture performances are discussed. FA can be effectively used the additives to increase $CO_2$ capture capacity of seawater to a some extent. This is ascribed that some alkali components in FA are leached into seawater and they contribute to $CO_2$ capture in the solution. However, their leaching amount and rate are restricted by the various ions in seawater. The performance of NaOH added seawater is even lower than that of NaOH added water because $OH^-$ is substantially consumed on $Ma(OH)_2$ production prior to carbonation. $CO_2$ absorption capacity of $Ca(OH)_2$ added seawater is slightly larger than that of $Ca(OH)_2$ added water. This is because that $Ca^{2+}$ which originally present in raw seawater can participate in carbonation reaction.