• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2016

Because the high latitude region in the North Pacific is characterized by high primary production in the surface water enriched with nutrients, it is important to understand the variation of surface water productivity and associated nutrient variability in terms of global carbon cycle. Surface water productivity change or its related nutrient utilization rate during the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (NHG; ca. 2.73 Ma) has been reported, but little is known about such circumstances under gradual climate cooling since the NHG. Bulk nitrogen isotope (${\delta}^{15}N_{bulk}$) of sedimentary organic matter has been used for the reconstruction of nutrient utilization rate in the surface water. However, sedimentary organic matter experiences diagenesis incessantly during sinking through the water column and after burial within the sediments. Thus, in this study we examine the degree of nitrate utilization rate during the early Pleistocene (2.4-1.25 Ma) since the NHG, using the diatom-bound nitrogen isotope (${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$), which is known to be little influenced by diagenesis, from Site U1343 in the Bering slope area. ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$ values range from ~0.5 to 5.5‰, which is lower than ${\delta}^{15}N_{bulk}$ values, but they vary with larger amplitude. Variation patterns between ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$ values and biogenic opal concentration are generally consistent, which indicates that the nitrate utilization rate is closely related to opal productivity change in the surface water. A positive correlation between opal productivity and nitrate utilization rate was observed, which is different from the other high latitude regions in the North Pacific. The main reason for this contrasting relationship is that the primary production in the surface water at Site U1343 is influenced mostly by the degree of sea ice formation. Still, although concerns about diagenetic alteration have been avoided by using ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$, the effects of the preservation state of biogenic opal and the species-dependent isotopic fractionation on ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$ should be assessed in the future studies.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.325-335
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• 2008

In this study, we used multi-channels ceramic membrane having larger permeate volume per unit time rather than tubular membrane. The hybrid process for advanced drinking water treatment was composed of granular activated carbons (GAC) packing between module inside and outside of multi-channels microfiltration membrane. Instead of natural organic matters (NOM) and fine inorganic particles in natural water source, modified solution was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. Kaolin concentration was fixed at 30mg/L and humic acid was changed as $2{\sim}10\;mg/L$ to inspect effect of organic matters. As a result, both resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) and permeate flux (J) were highly influenced by concentration of humic acid. Also, in result of water-back-flushing period (FT) effect, the shorter FT was the more effective to reduce membrane fouling and to enhance permeate flux because of frequent water-back-flushing. However, the optimal FT condition was 8 min when operating costs were considered. Then, the hybrid process using multi-channels ceramic membrane and GAC was applied to lake water treatment. As a result, average treatment efficiencies in our experiment using the hybrid process were 98.02% for turbidity, 75.64% for $UV_{254}$ absorbance, 7.18% for TDS and 84.73% for $COD_{Mn}$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2007

The reforming catalyst and the electrodes in fuel cells can be poisoned by the organic sulfur compound which is added as an odorant for checking out the leakage of natural gas, and that makes a big problem of system degradation. In this study, various adsorbents, such as silica, ${\gamma}$-alumina, activated carbon, HZSM-5, Ultra-stable Y zeolite (USY), and beta zeolite (BEA), were utilized to remove tetra-hydrothiophene (THT) and tert-butylmercaptan (TBM), and to confirm the performance in the adsorption of those odorants by using a continuous adsorptive bed. The effects of Si/Al ratio of zeolites, adsorption temperature and the type of balance gas (methane or He) on the adsorption performance in the packed bed have been investigated. In addition, the competitive adsorption between TBM and THT on the adsorbents was also estimated. The result shows that H-type BEA zeolite exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for TBM and THT odorant, and the higher amount of THT was removed adsorptively on the same adsorbent than TBM. The physical and chemical adsorption of those compounds on acid sites of zeolite were confirmed by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared spectrum (IR) analyses.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2008

In this study, we used hybrid module that was composed of packing granular activated carbon (GAC) between module inside and outside of ceramic microfiltration membrane for advanced drinking water treatment. Instead of natural organic matters (NOM) and fine inorganic particles in natural water source, synthetic water was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. Packing fraction of GAC was changed from 0 to 24.05% to see effect of packing fraction. As a result, changing curves of resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) and permeate flux (J) during 3 h operation were almost overlapped independent of packing fraction of GAC. Treatment efficiencies of turbidity were very high above 99.46% at all packing fractions of GAC. And treatment efficiency of NOM, which was measured by $UV_{254}$ absorbance, was the highest value of 99.43% at packing fraction of 24.05%. Then, we operated the hybrid process during 13 h at packing fraction of 24.05%. As a result, J was rapidly dropped according to increase of membrane fouling within initial 1 h of operation, and almost constant after 3 h. And treatment efficiencies of turbidity and NOM were stable and high values of 99.52% and 96.63%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2018

For the estimation of greenhouse gas dynamics in forests, it is useful to use a model which simulates both carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycle simultaneously. A forest C model, called FBDC, was developed and validated in Korea. However, studies on development of forest N model are insufficient. This study aimed to suggest a development process of a forest C and N model. We analyzed the general features, structures, ecological processes, input data, output data, and methods of integrating C and N cycles of the VISIT, Biome-BGC, Forest-DNDC, and O-CN. The structure and features of the FBDC were also analyzed. The VISIT was developed by integrating forest C model with a N cycle module, and the new model also could be designed by combining the FBDC with a N cycle module. The VISIT and Forest-DNDC could estimate soil $N_2O$ emissions, and the integrated model should include the processes shared by these models. Especially, the overseas models linked C and N cycles based on N absorption, C absorption, and decomposition of dead organic matter. Therefore, the integration of the FBDC with N cycle module should apply this linkage of structures between C and N cycles. Climate, soil texture, and species distribution data, which are essential for the model development, were available in Korea. However, parameter data associated with N cycle and validation data for soil $N_2O$ emissions need to be obtained by field studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

A field survey on the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and origins of organic matter in surface sediments was carried out monthly at six stations in Gamak Bay, South Korea from April 2000 to March 2002. The range of ignition loss(IL) was $4.6{\sim}11.6%(7.1{\pm}1.6%)$, while chemical oxygen demand(CODs) ranged from $12.25{\sim}99.26mgO_2/g-dry(30.98{\pm}19.09mgO_2/g-dry)$, acid volatile sulfide(AVS) went from no detection(ND)${\sim}10.29mgS/g-dry(1.02{\pm}0.58mgS/g-dry)$, and phaeopigment was $6.84{\sim}116.18{\mu}g/g-dry(23.72{\pm}21.16{\mu}g/g-dry)$. The ranges of particulate organic carbon(POC) and particulate organic nitrogen(PON) were $5.45{\sim}23.24 mgC/g-dty(10.34{\pm}4.40C\;mgC/g-dry)$ and $0.71{\sim}2.99mgN/g-dry(1.37{\pm}0.58mgN/g-dry)$, respectively. Water content was in the range of $43.1{\sim}77.6%(55.8{\pm}5.6%)$, and mud content(silt+clay) was higher than 95% at all stations. The spatial distribution of organic matter in surface sediments was greatly divided between the northwestern, central and eastern areas, southern entrance area from the distribution characteristic of their organic matters. The concentrations of almost all items were greater at the northwestern and southern entrance area than at the other areas in Gamak Bay. In particular, sedimentary pollution was very serious at the northwestern area, because the area had an excessive supply of organic matter due to aquaculture activity and the inflow of sewage from the land. These materials stayed longer because of the topographical characteristics of such as basin and the anoxic conditions in the bottom seawater environment caused by thermocline in the summer. The tendency of temporal change was most prominently in the period of high-water temperatures than low-water ones at the northwestern and southern entrance areas. On the other hand, the central and eastern areas did not show a regular trend for changing the concentrations of each item but mainly showed a higher tendency during the low-water temperatures. This was observed for all but AVS concentrations which were higher during the period of high-water temperature at all stations. Especially, the central and eastern areas showed a large temporal increase of AVS concentration during those periods of high-water temperature where the concentration of CODs was in excess of $20mgO_2/g-dry$. The results show that the organic matters in surface sediments in Gamak Bay actually originated from autochthonous organic matters with eight or less in average C/N ratio including the organic matters generated by the use of ocean, rather than terrigenous organic matters. However, the formation of autochthonous organic matter was mainly derived from detritus than living phytoplankton, indicated the results of the POC/phaeopigment ratio. In addition, the CODs/IL ratio results demonstrate that the detritus was the product of artificial activities such as dregs feeding and fecal pellets of farm organisms caused by aquaculture activities rather than the dynamic of natural ocean activities.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.435-447
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• 2016

Anthropogenic emissions of $PM_{2.5}$ in Chuncheon are considered to be low according to the national emissions inventory; however, the atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations have been reported to be higher than or at least similar to those measured in metropolitan (e.g. Seoul) and/or in industrial cities (e.g. Incheon, Ulsan). In this study, the concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$ and its ionic and carbonaceous compounds were measured from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2014 in Chuncheon, Korea to identify the characteristics of high $PM_{2.5}$ concentration event. Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration was $34.6{\mu}g/m^3$, exceeding the annual air quality standard ($25{\mu}g/m^3$). The most abundant compound was organic carbon (OC), comprising 26% of $PM_{2.5}$ mass, followed by $SO_4{^{2-}}$. Among 14 high concentration events, three events showed clearly enhanced contributions of OC, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ to $PM_{2.5}$ under the fog events. One event observed in summer showed high concentration of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ while the high wind speeds and the low $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratios were observed for the two high concentration events. These results indicate that the secondary aerosol formation under the fog events and high atmospheric temperature as well as the regional and/or the long-range transport were important on enhancing $PM_{2.5}$ concentration in Chuncheon. Cluster analysis based on back trajectories also suggested the significant impacts of regional transport from China and metropolitan areas of Korea on $PM_{2.5}$ in Chuncheon.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.413-419
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• 2011

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles were tested as remediation media for groundwater contaminated by organic pollutants (e.g., TCE, trichloroethylene). The contaminated groundwater contained anions ($NO_3^-$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, and $HCO_3^-$) and natural organic matter (NOM). Treatability of commercial NZVI particles (NANOFER 25, Nanoiron, Czech) was tested by using a synthetic groundwater and the field groundwater samples. More than 95% of 1.8 mM TCE was removed within 20 hours with a NZVI dosage of 25 g/L ($k=0.15hr^{-1}$). Repetitive degradation experiments revealed that the removal capacity of NANOFER 25 was 0.19 mmole TCE/g NZVI. TCE degradation reactions were not substantially affected by the presence of each anion with concentrations as high as 100 times the average field concentrations. However, when the four anions ($NO_3^-$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $HCO_3^-$) were present simultaneously. the degradation reactivity and removal capacity were decreased by 60% ($k=0.069hr^{-1}$) and 10%, respectively. The k value of TCE degradation in the presence of NZVI (25 g/L) with dissovled organic carbon of 2.5 mg/L was also decreased by 84% ($k=0.025hr^{-1}$). In the experiments with the field groundwater, more than 90% of $1.8{\mu}M$ TCE, which is the concentration of TCE at the source zone, was removed within 10 hours with a NANOFER 25 dosage of 25 g/L. The results imply that the contaminated groundwater can effectively be treated by NANOFER 25 with more information on the hydrogeology of the site.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2014

To simplify the different biological investigation of the methanolic extract and solvent-solvent partitioning of Lablab purpures (L. purpures) bark. In-vitro anti-oxidant study was determined using total DPPH radical scavenging assay. In vitro antimicrobial study was measured by observing zone of inhibition. The cytotoxic activity was studied using brine shrimp lethality bioassay and thrombolytic activity by clot disruption method. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Folin-Ciocalteau reagents using butylated hydroxytolune (BHT) and ascorbic acid as standards. The Aqueous soluble fraction revealed the highest free radical scavenging activity ($IC_{50}=48.76{\mu}g/mL$). The antimicrobial screening of the bark of L. purpures exhibited mild to moderate activity in test microorganisms. The CSF showed the maximum relative percentage inhibition against Salmonella parathyphi (34.2%) for bacteria and C. albicans (28.8%) for fungi whereas, lowest relative percentage inhibition against Sarcina lutea (22.0%) for bacteria and Aspergillus niger (24.4%) for fungi. In the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, The $LC_{50}$ values of Carbon tetrachloride and N-Hexane soluble fraction were found $92.18{\mu}g/mL$, and $68.95{\mu}g/mL$ respectively while the $LC_{50}$ values of standard Vincristine sulphate was $1.37{\mu}g/mL$. The methanolic extract and its organic soluble fractions of Lablab purpureus at concentration 2.0 mg/mL, significantly protected the lysis of erythrocyte membrane induced by hypotonic solution and heat as compared to the standard, acetyl salicylic acid (0.10 mg/mL). The MSF and AQSF produced 61.48 % and 53.75% inhibition of hemolysis of RBC caused by hypotonic solution respectively, whereas acetyl salicylic acid (0.10 mg/mL) showed 76.42%. Ethanol extract of L. purpures and all of its different partitions exhibited moderate thrombolytic activity of 37.25%-2.40%. Very good preliminary screening and simplified experiments were able to show the different biological activity of methanolic extract and its soluble fractions of L. purpures at a time.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2012

To investigate the effect of aircraft traffic emissions on soil pollution, metal levels were analyzed for 8 metals (Fe, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn and Cd) from the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in Delhi, India. The texture of the airport soil was observed to be sandy. Among the metals, Cd showed minimum concentration ($2.07{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$), while Fe showed maximum concentration ($4379{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$). The highest metal accumulation was observed at the landing site. Significant correlations were observed between metals and different textures (sand, silt, and clay) as well as with organic carbon (OC). The results indicate that grain size play a major role in OC retention in soil and subsequently helps in adsorption of metals in soil. M$\ddot{u}$ller's geoaccumulation index (I-geo) showed that airport soil was contaminated due to Cd and Pb with the pollution class 2 and 1, respectively. Pollution load index of the airport site was 1.34-3 times higher than the background site. The results of factor analysis suggested that source of the soil metal is mainly from natural weathering of soil, aircraft exhaust, and automobile exhaust from near by area. With respect to Dutch target values, the airport soils showed ~3 times higher Cd concentration. The study highlighted the future risk of enhanced metal pollution with respect to Cd and Pb due to aircraft trafficking.