• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Wetlands constitute a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and have unique characteristics such as frequent inundation, inflow of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems, presence of plants adapted to grow in water, and soil that is occasionally oxygen deficient due to saturation. These characteristics and the presence of vegetation determine physical and chemical properties that affect decomposition rates of organic matter (OM). Decomposition of OM is associated with activities of various extracellular enzymes (EE) produced by bacteria and fungi. Extracellular enzymes convert macromolecules to simple compounds such as labile organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) that can be easily taken up by microbes and plants. Therefore, the enzymatic approach is helpful to understand the decomposition rates of OM and nutrient cycling in wetland soils. This paper reviews the physical and biogeochemical factors that regulate extracellular enzyme activities (EEa) in wetland soils, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and phenol oxidase that decompose organic matter and release C, N, P, and S nutrients for microbial and plant growths. Effects of pH, water table, and particle size of OM on EEa were not significantly different among sites, whereas the influence of temperature on EEa varied depending on microbial acclimation to extreme temperatures. Addition of C, N, or P affected EEa differently depending on the nutrient state, C:N ratio, limiting factors, and types of enzymes of wetland soils. Substrate quality influenced EEa more significantly than did other factors. Also, drainage of wetland and increased temperature due to global climate change can stimulate phenol oxidase activity, and anthropogenic N deposition can enhance the hydrolytic EEa; these effects increase OM decomposition rates and emissions of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ from wetland systems. The researches on the relationship between microbial structures and EE functions, and environmental factors controlling EEa can be helpful to manipulate wetland ecosystems for treating pollutants and to monitor wetland ecosystem services.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2013

This study was performed at 2 sites of Nak-Dong River to investigate the changes of nitrifiers depending on the presence and absence of organic pollutants (due to the effluents of domestic wastewater treatment plant, WWTP). Conventional chemical parameters such as T-N, $NH_4$-N, $NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N were measured and the quantitative nitrifiers at the 2 sites were analyzed comparatively by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with NSO190 and NIT3, after checking the presence of gene amoA of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and 16S rDNA signature sequence for Nitrobacter sp. that belongs to nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Also ${\alpha}{\cdot}{\beta}{\cdot}{\gamma}$-Proteobacteria were detected using FISH to get a glimpse of the general bacterial community structure of the sites. Based on the distribution structure of the ${\alpha}{\cdot}{\beta}{\cdot}{\gamma}$-Proteobacteria and the measurement of nitrogen in different phases, it could be said that the site 2 was more polluted with organics than site 1. Corresponding to the above conclusion, the average numbers of AOB and NOB detected by NSO160 and NIT3, respectively, at site 2 [AOB, $9.3{\times}10^5$; NOB, $1.6{\times}10^6$ (cells/ml)] was more than those at site 1 [AOB, $7.8{\times}10^5$; NOB, $0.8{\times}10^6$ (cells/ml)] and also their ratios to total counts were higher at site 2 (AOB, 27%; NOB, 34%) than those at site 1 (AOB, 18%; NOB, 23%). Thus, it could be concluded that the nitrification at site 2 was more active due to continuous loading of organics from the effluents of domestic WWTP, compared to site 1 located closed to raw drinking water supply and subsequently less polluted with organics.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.330-335
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• 1998

The objectives of this study are summarized with two. The one is to remove of $COD_{Cr}$, color and turbidity with coagulation and ozonation in nonbiodegradable landfill leachate, the other is to compare of water qualities with pre-ozonation and post-ozonation. The results are summarized as follows ; 1) 90 minutes ozonation with $75mgO_3/min$($4.5gO_3/hr$) was conducted at pH 4,7, 10 to remove $COD_{Cr}$. Removal efficiencies were investigated with 48.2%, 52.6%, and 62.3% respectively. As increasing pH, $COD_{Cr}$ removal efficiencies were increased, it was considered that hydroxyl radical($OH{\cdot}$) which strongly oxdize and nonselectively react with organic compounds, was rapidly produced by ozone self-decomposition at high pH. 2) Alum, ferric chloride and ferrous sulfate were used for coagulation as inorganic coagulant. Ferric chloride was investigated with optimal coagulant, and it removed $COD_{Cr}$ about 12.0% at pH5 and dosage of $2,000m{\ell}/{\ell}$. Cation(C-101P), anion(A-601P) and nonion(SC-050) were tested to remove organic pollutants in landfill leachate. Cation(C-101P) was investigated with the most effective organic coagulant, and removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$ was 19.8% at pH5 and dosage of $100m{\ell}/{\ell}$. 3) Color and turbidity were removed up to 88.6%, 97.0% at pH10, when contacted 90 minutes with ozone, respectively. These removal efficiencies were much higher than those of $COD_{Cr}$ and $COD_{Mn}$. It was considered that ozone could oxdize the triggering materials of color and turbidity selectively and preferentially. 4) $COD_{Cr}$, color and turbidity were more effectively removed with pre-ozonation than post-ozonation about 8%, 3.5% and 1% respectively. These results were well corresponed with other's studies that pre-ozonation will increase the effect of coagulation.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2001

Composting of livestock feces is economic and safe process to decrease the possibility of direct leakage of organic pollutants to ecosystem from commercial and environmental point of view. This study was conducted with three different experiments related to composting of livestock feces. The purpose of experiment 1 was to investigate changes of characteristic of compost pile during composting period by low temperature in cold season. To compare composting effect of experimental compost pile and control pile exposed in cold air, experimental compost piles were warmed up by hot air until their temperatures were reached at $35^{\circ}C$. Sawdust, Ricehull and Ricestraw were mixed with livestock feces as bulking agent. The highest temperatures of compost pile during composting period were in sawdust, rice hull, rice straw, and control were $75^{\circ}C$, $76^{\circ}C$, $68^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$ respectively. Moisture content, pH, C/N and volume of compost were decreased during composting period. Experiment 2 was carried out to study utilization effect of compost by plant. A corn was cultivated for 3 years on fertilized land with compost and chemical fertilizer. The amount of harvest and nutrition value of corn were analyzed. In first year of trial, the amount of harvest of corn on land treated with compost was lower by 20% than that of land treated with chemical fertilizer. In second year, there was no difference in yield of com between compost and chemical fertilizer. In third year, the yield of com on land fertilized with compost was much more than that of land fertilized with chemical fertilizer. The purpose of experiment 3 was to estimate the decrease of malodorous gas originating from livestock feces by bio-filter. Four types of bio-filters filled with saw dust, night soil, fermented compost and leaf mold were manufactured and tested. Each bio-filter achieved 87-95% $NH_3$ removal efficiency. This performance was maintained for 10 days. The highest $NH_3$ removal efficiency was achieved by leaf mold on the first day of operation period. It reduced the concentration of $NH_3$ by about 95%. Night soil and fermented compost showed nearly equal performance of 93 to 94% for 10 days from the beginning of operation. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan originating for compost were equal to or less than $3mg/{\ell}$ and $2mg/{\ell}$, respectively. After passing throughout the bio-filter, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan were not detected.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.32-37
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• 2005

The soil properties of the royal tombs (managed by cultural properties administration) located in Seoul and suburban Gyonggi area were investigated to see the influence of the change in soil environment on the royal tomb s이I. To compare the soil chemical properties of four royal tombs soil of Changdeokgung, Jongmyo, Seooneung, and Dongguneung, pH, organic content, available phosphate, extractable calcium, extractable potassium, extractable magnesium, cation exchange capacity, degree of base saturation, and total nitrogen content were measured. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cu measured as the degree of heavy metal contamination can be an indication of atmospheric pollution in the soil environment. To estimate the degree of soil compaction, soil hardness, pore space, porosity, bulk density, and soil atmosphere were analyzed. Through these studies, following conclusions were made: 1. The soil hardness and pore space which can be used as indexes of soil compaction, were worse in the soil of Seooneung than in those of Changdeokgung and Dongguneury. These phenomena seem to be the result of increase in visitors in Seooneung and Dongguneung better and soil management in Changdeokgung and Dongguneung. When three different regions of forest area, prohibited area, and soil compaction area in Seooneung soil were compared, the degree of compaction in the forest area was less than compaction area, indicating the need for the employment of soil resting period in the compaction area. 2. The pH measurements of all four royal tombs soil were higher in top soil than sub soil. The higher soil pH values in Jongmyo and Seooneung seem to result from the application of soil conditioner. In the case of Seooneung, the values for soil pH and organic content were higher in the forest area than those in compaction area. It is thought that active soil management was employed in the forest area through application of organic matters and soil conditioners. 3. The heavy metal contents from soil of Changdeokgung and Jongmyo were higher than that from soil of Dongguneung. Since Changdeokgung and Jongmyo are located inside Seoul, it is thought that the high level of heavy metal concentrations in these royal tomb soil is the result of accumulation of pollutants from the city.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1360-1365
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to present the basic data for nonpoint pollutant loads from bridge road drainage sediments using the results to analyze organic matter and heavy metals from the four bridge drainage sampling sites with sediments of different particle size ranges. The sediment sample was collected from the bridge road drainage and the masses of nine sediments fractions were obtained after drying the separated sediment in an over at $85^{\circ}C:>2,000{\mu}m$, $1,000\sim2,000{\mu}m$, $850\sim1,000{\mu}m$, $425\sim850{\mu}m$, $212\sim425{\mu}m$, $125\sim212{\mu}m$, $90\sim125{\mu}m$, $75\sim90{\mu}m$, $<75{\mu}m$. The sediment extract was analyzed water quality constituents, including chemical oxygen demand(COD), total nitrogen(T-N), total phosphorus(T-P), heavy metals and particle size distribution. The results indicate that most of particle size ranges of the bridge road sediments was $125\sim425{\mu}m$, and portion of $<75{\mu}m$ was low. But most of the pollutants are associated with the finer fractions of the load sediments. As the results of analysis, the range and average values of COD, T-N, T-P, Fe, Cu, Cr, and Pb were $177\sim198.8$ mg/kg(77.6 mg/kg), $23\sim200$ mg/kg(83 mg/kg), T-P $18\sim215$ mg/kg(129 mg/kg), and $1,508\sim5,612$ mg/kg(3,835 mg/kg), $9.2\sim69.3$ mg/kg(49 mg/kg), $19.1\sim662.2$ mg/kg(214 mg/kg), and $28.4\sim251.4$ mg/kg(114 mg/kg), respectively. The relationship between sediment size and pollutants concentration have an inverse proportion. The removal of road sediments with frequently could be reduced the significant nonpoint pollutant load, because of the bridge road sediment contains considerable micro-particles and heavy metals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.720-728
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• 2012

In general, nonpoint pollutant of a watershed is drained out in the form of storm water runoff during rainfall events. As the bulk of the nonpoint pollutant is in adsorbed form on particulate matters, in order to understand the behavior of nonpoint pollutant it is essential to grasp the characteristics of particulate matters in rainfall runoff. Though, previous studies for the relationship between the runoff characteristics of pollutants and the size distribution of particulate matters are very rare. In this study, a small non-urbanized area (basin area of 52.8 ha) with various landuse types including paddy, dry fields and forest was selected and investigated in detail for the runoff properties of each pollutant during several rainfall events. The correlation and effects between particulate matters and nonpoint pollutant were analyzed quantitatively. As a result, the significant first flush was observed on each event and it became clear that fine particulate matters ($80{\mu}m$ or less) has contributed in the runoff process of nutrients and heavy metals. Organic matters ($BOD_5$, TOC), nutrients (TN, TP) and several heavy metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg and Zn) represented high correlations with SS (total), VSS, SS (d < $20{\mu}m$) and SS ($20{\mu}m$ $$\leq_-$$ d < $80{\mu}m$). On the other hand, $COD_{cr}$, Cd, Mn and Pb did not show clear correlations with the behavior of particulate matters. Therefore, we have to examine the introduction of nonpoint pollution mitigation facilities considering the facts that nonpoint pollutant runoff process has high correlation with the behavior of particulate matters and is changeable based on the target pollutants.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2015

In Korea, most rainfall events occur during summer which then leads to an increasing concern regarding high influx of non-point source pollutants since the pollutant loadings from these non-point sources are very significant. In particular, the first flush of roof-harvested rainfall is said to contain the most highest concentration of nutrients and heavy metals. Accordingly, it is important to develope the possible water quality management options in treating the contaminants and considering reclaimed water reuse. The rain garden could be one of suitable alternatives in addressing this issue. In this study, the development of an effective adsorption media and its application to a lab-scale rain garden was tested to evaluate the removal rate of various nutrient and organic matter (TN, TP, CODcr), and heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb). Results showed that carbonized peatmoss produced at higher temperature have better adsorption capacity as compared to the one produced at a lower temperature. When the carbonized peatmoss was applied as rain garden media, the highest removal of TN, TP, and CODcr was observed compared to no carbonized peatmoss applied rain garden. Therefore, this study showed that the carbonized peatmoss would be effectively applied to the rain garden for removing nutrients and heavy metals from roof-harvested rainwater.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.369-381
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to simulate surface air pollutants and to examine reliability of mobile emission for CMAQ system using an observation-based approach in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Accurate assessment of emissions from mobile source is one of the most debatable parts in the entire emissions inventory process. For this study, we evaluated the official emission inventories of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) using an observation-based approach. In this paper, we achieved VOCs/CO and $NO_x$/CO ratios derived from ambient measurements taken from June to August of 2005 in early morning (07:00~08:00). And we compared them with those derived from the emission inventory. Based on these ratios and on the assumption that official inventory of CO emissions is reasonably accurate, mobile emissions of $NO_x$ seem to be slightly overestimated and VOCs emissions significantly underestimated. The results of simulations using modified emission of mobile source were in closer agreement with the observation results except NO. Predicted NO values based on revised $NO_x$ emissions were considerably lower than the observed values. Using modified emission inventories brings the modeled values into closer agreement with observed ozone levels in Seoul. Especially in case of CO, $NO_x$ and VOCs emission, the modified values were suitable for simulating ozone levels in Seoul and Gyeonggi. However, ozone values predicted using the modified emissions were higher than the observed and predicted values based on original emissions. According to the 95 percentile ozone concentrations, emission revised by CO, $NO_x$ and VOCs from mobile source was the best for predicting high concentration.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.54-62
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• 1999

2,4-Dichlorophenol was known pollutants caused by the endocrine disruptor into the refractory substances of environment and this is difficult to be degradable by conventional methods. Therefore, a considerable interest has been devoted to developing new process where 2,4-Dichlorophenol can easily decomposed. In this study, the series of ultrasonic irradiation for removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenol has been selected as a model reaction in the batch reactor system in order to obtain the basic data investigate the influence of various experimental parameters such as concentration, pH, reaction temperature, acoustic intensity. The products obtained form the ultrasonic irradiation were analysed by GC/MS and HPLC. The formation of $H_2O_2$, a well-known the strong oxidant was found proportionally to increase with irradiation time. The intermediates of ultrasonic irradiation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol were identified as HCl, catechol, hydroquinone, o,p-benzoquinone, muconic acid, and maleic acid. The final products of this was $CO_2$ and $H_2O$. As the decomposition of 2,4-Dichlorophenol proceeds by the ultrasonic irradiation, the pH of 2,4-Dichlorophenol containing aqueous solution increases slowly, The decomposition of 2,4-Dichlorophenol was found to be occured fast in the basic medium. In general, the rate of reaction is proportional to the reaction temperature obeying the Arrhenius' law. However, in the ultrasonic irradiation, this suggests as the reaction temperature increase the decomposition rate of the reactant decreases. This result meant that the increase of reaction temperature due to the increase of vapor pressure of water accelerated the decrease of acoustic intensity which was can be proportional to the decomposition rae of these compounds. It was found that more than 80% of phenol solution was removed within hours in all reaction conditions. The reaction order in the degradation of the 2,4-Dichlorophenol compounds was verified as the Pseude-first order. From the fore-mentioned results, it can be concluded that the refractory organic compounds caused by endocrine disruptor as 2,4-dichlorophenol could be removed by the ultrasonic irradiation with radicals, such as $H{\;}{\cdot}{\;}and{\;}OH{\;}{\cdot}$ radical causing the high increase of pressure and temperature. Finally, it apeared that the technology using ultrasonic irradiation can be applied to the treatment of refractory substances caused by endocrine disruptor which are difficult to be decomposed by the conventional methods.