• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.340-348
• /
• 2015

Removal efficiency of PCBs in contaminated marine sediments treated by Fenton-like oxidation combined with surfactant was investigated in this research in order to achieve remediation of PCBs. A washing treatment using various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (1% and 15%) and surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween 60 and Tween 80) was evaluated at various conditions in laboratory scale experiments. The mean removal efficiencies of tPCBs varied from 24.1 to 46.7% in the sediments for 1 hour duration of the treatments. The concentration of tPCBs in contaminated marine sediments after the simultaneous treatment with hydrogen peroxide and surfactant satisfied the domestic environmental standards for the beneficial use of sediments. When suitable surfactant was used for Fenton-like oxidation, the removal efficiency of tPCBs at low concentration of hydrogen peroxide was similar to that at high hydrogen peroxide concentration. Thus the efficient removal of PCBs in contaminated marine sediments could be achieved through treatment with Fenton-like oxidation combined with surfactant washing.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2015

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of limestone, zeolite, and crushed concrete as capping material to block the release of heavy metals (As, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb) and reduce the sediment oxygen demand. The efficiency of limestone, zeolite, and crushed concrete was evaluated in a reactor in which a 1-cm thick layer of capping materials was placed on the sediments collected from Inchon north harbor. Dissolved oxygen concentration and heavy metal concentration in seawater above the uncapped sediments and capping material were monitored for 17 days. The sediment oxygen demand was in the following increasing order: crushed concrete ($288.37mg/m^2{\cdot}d$) < zeolite ($428.96mg/m^2{\cdot}d$) < limestone ($904.53mg/m^2{\cdot}d$) < uncapped ($981.34mg/m^2{\cdot}d$). The capping materials could reduce the sediment oxygen demand by blocking the release of biochemical matters consuming dissolved oxygen in seawater. It was also shown that zeolite and crushed concrete could effectively block the release of Cu, Ni, and Pb but those were not effective for the interruption of As and Cr release from marine contaminated sediments.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.244-253
• /
• 2010

The quality of marine sediments from the industrialized coastal areas of Korea (Ulsan Bay, Masan Bay, and artificial Lake Shihwa) was investigated using a bacterial bioluminescence toxicity test. Sediment toxicity results were compared with the levels of chemical contamination (trace metals, organic wastewater markers, acid volatile sulfides, total organic carbon). Effective concentration 50% (EC50) of sediments ranged from 0.014 to 1.126 mg/mL, which is comparable to or lower than values in contaminated lakes, rivers, and marine sediments of other countries. Sediment reference index (SRI) ranged from 13 to 1044, based on the EC50 of the negative control sample. Mean average SRI values in Masan Bay and Lake Shihwa were approximately 8 and 9 times as high as that in Ulsan Bay, indicating higher sediment toxicity and greater contamination in the two former regions. Sediment toxicity were strongly associated with the concentrations of some chemicals, suggesting that this test may be useful for determining potential chemical contamination in sediments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2016

We investigated the effectiveness of natural zeolite (NZ) and sand (SD) as a capping material to block the release of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) from heavily contaminated marine sediments and stabilize these heavy metals in the sediments. The efficiency of NZ and SD for blocking trace metals was evaluated in a flat flow tank attached with an impeller to generate wave. 0, 10, 30, and 50 mm depth of NZ or SD were capped on the contaminated marine sediments and the metal concentration in seawater was monitored. After completion of flow tank experiments, sequential extractions of the metals in the sediment below the capping material were performed. The difference of pH, EC, and DO concentration between uncapped and capped condition was not significant. The release of cations including Cd, Cu, and Zn were effectively blocked by NZ and SD capping but the interruption of Cr release was observed only in 50 mm depth of SD capped condition. However, the stabilization of Cr in 50 mm depth of SD capped condition was not achieved when compared to uncapped condition. NZ and SD capping were effective for stabilizing Cd, Cu, and Zn in marine sediments. It is concluded that the use of NZ with SD as a capping material is recommended for blocking Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn release and stabilizing them in contaminated marine sediments.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2005.05a
• /
• pp.191.3-191
• /
• 2005

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.60-70
• /
• 2011

The sediment removal index derived from the chemical contaminants, $CI_{HC}$, is currently in use to identify and define the spatial extent of the contaminated sediments in the sea. In order to analyze the sensitivity of the ecological and human risk associated with contaminated sediment, we evaluated five hypothetical contaminated sediments, whose $CI_{HC}$ values are identical but consisted of different contaminant contents, using $TrophicTrace^{(R)}$ model dedicated to evaluate sediment risk, against the resident greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) and humans by calculating No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level based Toxicity Quotient (NOAEL TQ) and Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level based Toxicity Quotient (LOAEL TQ), and cancer risks and hazard indices (HI), respectively, based on the site conceptual model and exposure assumptions of fish ingestion to human receptor populations. NOAEL and LOAEL TQ values varied as much as a factor of 2 among 5 hypothetical sediments. Chemical element specific contribution to the carcinogenic risk and HI varied also greatly in these sediments. The reason for this significant dissimilarity in ecological and human risk stems from the different risk of each contaminant to the resident fish and human receptor. When the conceptual food web model is constructed for the target biological species for a given site, the ecological and human risk analysis considering trophic transfer of contaminants will add a ecosystem based tool for the management of contaminated sediments.

• Magazine of RCR
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.53-58
• /
• 2016

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.555-563
• /
• 2015

Organic matter and trace metals were investigated in surface sediments of Gomso Bay, where there is dense Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum farming activity, to evaluate contamination of sediments in intertidal shellfish farming area. We measured mean grain size (Mz), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ignition loss (IL), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), total organic carbon (TOC), and total nitrogen (TN), and trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in intertidal and sublittoral sediments. The intertidal sediments were mainly composed of coarser sediments (sand, silty sand, and sandy silt), with Mz values ranging from 2.61 to 4.79 Ø. Mz and the content of organic matter in sediments were lower in the intertidal zone than in the sublittoral zone. The mean metal concentrations in surface sediments decreased in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > As > Cd > Hg. The metal concentrations in surface sediments showed a significant positive correlation with Mz and organic matter content, indicating that metal concentrations in the surface sediments of Gomso Bay are controlled by Mz and organic matter. The concentrations of organic matter and trace metals in the study region were lower than or similar to those in other intertidal zones in western coast and much lower than those reported in other shellfish farming areas in Korea. Our results suggest that intertidal Manila clam farming sediments from Gomso Bay are not contaminated by organic matter and trace metals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.8
• /
• pp.470-477
• /
• 2017

In this study, the applicability of calcite, sand, and zeolite for the remediation of sediments contaminated with organics and nutrients were investigated. Sediments and seawater for water tank experiments were sampled from Pyeongtaek harbor, and 1 cm or 3 cm of calcite, sand, and zeolite were capped on the sampled sediments. pH, electric conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were monitored for 63 days. The sampled sediments were highly contaminated with organic matter and total nitrogen. DO in uncapped condition was exhausted within 10 days but DO in capping condition except 3 cm of zeolite capping was prolonged above 2 mg/L. Capping efficiency for interrupting COD release from sediments was in the following order: zeolite 1 cm > calcite 1 cm > calcite 3 cm > sand 3 cm ${\cong}$ zeolite 3 cm ${\cong}$ sand 1 cm. Zeolite was found to be effective for interrupting nitrogen release. T-P was not observed in both uncapped and capped sediment, i.e., all experimental conditions. It can be concluded that zeolite can be effectively used for the remediation of sediments highly contaminated with organic matter and nitrogen.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.354-361
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to develop an effective biocarrier-mediated bioaugmentation technology which will be useful for remediation of the crude oil-contaminated marine sediments. Enrichment of several microbial communities was made from several oil-polluted seashore sites and the two distinctively functional consortia have been successfully selected. These two consortia were grown together and used to manufacture the microbial agents for bioaugmentation of marine sediments polluted with crude oil. The most dominant species in the mixed culture was identified as Alcanivorax borkumensis based on pure culture and DGGE analysis. Bioaugmentation of oil-polluted marine sediments with the microbial agent MA-2 formulated using the mixed culture and biocarriers (activated carbon and minerals) was more effective, especially in combination with an oxygen producing (releasing) compound (ORC). Ninty percent of TPH was removed in the presence of ORC in 35 days while 74% in the absence of ORC. This indicated that the indigenous consortial degraders could be immobilized on the active carbon as a biocarrier to manufacture microbial agents and then effectively bioaugmented for remediation of the oil-polluted sediments.