• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2003

Seasonal fluctuations of physico-chemical and biological aspects of the environment were studied in Vladivostok harbour (Golden Horn Bay, the East Sea/Sea of Japan). The benthic community structure was described with a focus on size-spectra (bacteria, meio- and macrofauna) related with the chemical environment and chemical fluxes in sediment and to reveal their possible ecological role in the process of bioremediation of the environment. Samples from two sites with different concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn, Cr, Ni Cd, Co) and petroleum hydrocarbon were assessed by a number of methods. These included plate counts of culturable bacteria, observation through a scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). These approaches were complemented with microscopic assessments of the diversity of the benthic community. The specific communities had a limited number of species, tolerant to abnormally high levels of toxic compounds. The dominant species were presented by several sho.1-lived small polychaetes (Capitella capitata) and nematodes (Oncholaimium ramosum). The highest population density was recorded in microbenthos, in various diatoms, various physiological groups of bacteria which participate in biomineralization: marine heterotrophic bacteria, which oxidized oil, black oil in addition to groups resistant to heavy metals. They have the entire set of mechanisms for neutralizing the negative effect of those compounds, forming the detrital food web and biogeochemical circulation of material in sediments, which results in the biological self-recycling of sea basins. Macro- and meiobenthic organisms were more sensitive to a greater extent of $H_2S$ and petroleum hydrocarbons than to metal content, but the within-site rankings were the same as those achieved for microbiological analyses.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2006

This research presents results from laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to remove high-nitrate in pickling wastewater using the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) as a biological method. During the experimental periods, the influent concentrations of NOx-N and $Ca^{+2}$ were analyzed to be 350-1,600 and 700-800 mg/L, respectively. In order to provide carbon source for denitrification, methanol has been added in proportion to the influent nitrate loading. The mean concentrations of MLSS and MLVSS, the fraction of volatile solids in sludge and the sludge volume index were measured to be 27 g/L, 5 g/L, 18.5% and 7.5, respectively. The solid retention time was kept in the range of 18 to 22 days, specific denitrification rate ($U_{dn}$) was $0.301g{NO_3}^--N/gVSS/day$. The oxidized nitrogen concentration of effluent ranged 2-34 mg/L with an average of 5.2 mg/L, the overall reduction in total nitrogen was more than 99.2%. In order to treat the pickling wastewater including the high concentration of nitrate and $Ca^{+2}$, the continuous flow process is not suitable because the specific gravity of the sludge is considerably increased by $Ca^{+2}$, thus the SBR process is shown to be very effective to treat the pickling wastewater.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2005.11b
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• pp.165-175
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• 2005

Measurement of spent resin activity was initiated in 2004 in order to develop the C-14 removal technology for safe disposal. As part of this program, spent resins were sampled and measured in the in-station resin storage tank 2 at Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. At the time of sampling, the resins had been in storage tank from 3 to 23 years. Total 72 resin samples were sampled, which were collected from both man-hole (68 samples) and test-hole (4 samples) in the in-station resin storage tank 2. They were separated into liquid, activated carbon, zeolite, and spent resin. The spent resins were oxidized with sample oxidizer and analyzed for C-14. Ten of collected mixed resin samples were separated by density into cation and anion resins using a sugar solution. The C-14 concentration in anion exchange resin was approximately 2 times higher than in the mixed resin. The average concentration of C-14 in the cation/anion mixed exchange resin was $460\;GBq/m^3$ from test-hole and $53.1\;GBq/m^3$ from man-hole. We have found that concentration of C-14 in the spent resin is about from 0.4 to $1,321\;GBq/m^3$. So it could be a problem, when dispose of at a repository, since there is a disposal limit of $222\;GBq/m^3$. This means we should develop the C-14 removal technology.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2003

Bans on TBT based antifouling paints have been drafted since 1998 by meetings 42, 43, 45 and 46 for the MEPC(Marine Environmental Protection Committee) of the international Maritime Organization, and decided finally at a Diplomatic Conference of the IMO in October 2001. It was a key issue that there should be a global prohibition on the presence of organo-tin compounds in ships by 1 Jan. 2008. TBT Paint Wastes from ship have been produced by vast quantity since 2003. This paper suggests a method to design Treatment System for TBT Paint Waste from Ship. The organotion compound was dissolved by heating, and the organic matters was oxidized and turned into inorganotins, then they were stabilized in the end. At 500^{\circ}C$, the organotin compound which heated for one hour was removed by 58%, and in 1000^{\circ}C$ the organotin compound was treated by 99.9% after and hour of heating treatment.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Recently, groundwater contamination by mixed occurrence of arsenic (As) and nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) has been a serious environmental issue all around world. In this study, we investigated the microbial As(III) oxidation characteristic under denitrification process to examine the feasibility of the microbial consortia in wetland sediment to simultaneously treat these two contaminants. The detail objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of $NO_3{^-}$ on the oxidation of As(III) in anaerobic environments and observe the microbial community change during the As oxidation under denitrification process. Results showed that the As(III) was completely and simultaneously oxidized to As(V) under denitrification process, however, it occurred to a much less extent in the absence of sediment or $NO_3{^-}$. In addition, the significant increase of As(III) oxidation rate in the presence of $NO_3{^-}$ suggested the potential of As oxidation under denitrification by indigenous microorganisms in wetland sediment. Genera Pseudogulbenkiania, and Flavisolibacter were identified as predominant microbial species driving the redox process. Conclusively, this study can provide useful information on As(III) oxidation under denitrifying environment and contribute to develop an effective technology for simultaneous removal of As(III) and $NO_3{^-}$ in groundwater.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2014

In this study we have examined the health risk factors and analyzing data of laborers working at the welding operation at large-sized casting process. In order to improve the working environment of workplace, an effective ventilation method was proposed after performing CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modeling and measurement of pollutants. As a result of examining the health risk factors of workers, oxidized steel dust is the main pollution source in the company A, welding fume in the companies B and C, and welding fume and oxidized steel dust in the company D. The fume concentration in the workers' breathing zone was $0.05{\sim}4.37mg/m^3$, and the fume concentration in the indoor air at the welding process was $0.13{\sim}7.54mg/m^3$. From a result of CFD, a local exhaust with an exhaust duct adjacent to welding point was found to be most effective in case of the exhaust process. In case of air supply, we found that a desired location of air supply fan would be at the end of the opening. If a standardizing the ventilation system for tunnel-type semi-enclosed space at a large-sized casting process is introduced in welding work places in the future, it would be more effective to protect the health of welding workers working at the casting industry and shipbuilding industry and improve the work environment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.421-433
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• 2023

The final disposal of spent nuclear fuel(SNF) from nuclear power plants takes place in a deep geological repository. The metal canister encasing the SNF is made of cast iron and copper, and is engineered to effectively isolate radioactive isotopes for a long period of time. The SNF is further shielded by a multi-barrier disposal system comprising both engineering and natural barriers. The deep disposal environment gradually changes to an anaerobic reducing environment. In this environment, sulfide is one of the most probable substances to induce corrosion of copper canister. Stress-corrosion cracking(SCC) triggered by sulfide can carry substantial implications for the integrity of the copper canister, potentially posing a significant threat to the long-term safety of the deep disposal repository. Sulfate can exist in various forms within the deep disposal environment or be introduced from the geosphere. Sulfate has the potential to be transformed into sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB), and this converted sulfide can contribute to the corrosion of the copper canister. Bentonite, which is considered as a potential material for buffering and backfilling, contains oxidized sulfate minerals such as gypsum(CaSO4). If there is sufficient space for microorganisms to thrive in the deep disposal environment and if electron donors such as organic carbon are adequately supplied, sulfate can be converted to sulfide through microbial activity. However, the majority of the sulfides generated in the deep disposal system or introduced from the geosphere will be intercepted by the buffer, with only a small amount reaching the metal canister. Pyrite, one of the potential sulfide minerals present in the deep disposal environment, can generate sulfates during the dissolution process, thereby contributing to the corrosion of the copper canister. However, the quantity of oxidation byproducts from pyrite is anticipated to be minimal due to its extremely low solubility. Moreover, the migration of these oxidized byproducts to the metal canister will be restricted by the low hydraulic conductivity of saturated bentonite. We have comprehensively analyzed and summarized key research cases related to the presence of sulfates, reduction processes, and the formation and behavior characteristics of sulfides and pyrite in the deep disposal environment. Our objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of sulfates and sulfides on the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal repository.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.420-425
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• 2010

In the process of warm forging, billet is heated up to $800^{\circ}C$ and located in the upper part of die block impression. The scattered oxidized scale may cause workers burn and shortening of die life sticking to the die block impression. The separating materials sprayed in die block cause harmful dust, harmful mist, fume, and bad odor which contaminate workshop environment. The process is classified as one of the avoided jobs and make the planned output achievement difficult. Development of an elimination device to clear out the contaminating materials in the workshop and improvement of the unsatisfactory maintenance method to fix the abrasion of die block impression which delays the dead line, cost increases needs to be developed. In this research, I tried to solve the problems caused in warm forging of bronze pipe joint such as the billet heating process, die maintenance, and manufacturing cost through improvement of warming forging manufacturing method and die maintenance method and eliminating harmful gas which will make the workshop more environment friendly.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.812-821
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• 2007

The ecosystems of certain abandoned mines contain arsenic-resistant bacteria capable of performing detoxification when an ars gene is present in the bacterial genome. The ars gene has already been isolated from Pseudomonas putida and identified as a member of the membrane transport regulatory deoxyribonucleic acid family. The arsenite-oxidizing bacterial strains isolated in the present study were found to grow in the presence of 66.7 mM sodium arsenate($V;\;Na_2HAsO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$), yet experienced inhibited growth when the sodium arsenite($III;\;NaAsO_2$) concentration was higher than 26 mM. Batch experiment results showed that Pseudomonas putida strain OS-5 completely oxidized 1 mM of As(III) to As(V) within 35 h. An arsB gene encoding a membrane transport regulatory protein was observed in arsenite-oxidizing Pseudomonas putida strain OS-5, whereas arsB, arsH, and arrA were detected in strain OS-19, arsD and arsB were isolated from strain RW-18, and arsR, arsD, and arsB were found in E. coli strain OS-80. The leader gene of arsR, -arsD, was observed in a weak acid position. Thus, for bacteria exposed to weak acidity, the ars system may cause changes to the ecosystems of As-contaminated mines. Accordingly, the present results suggest that arsR, arsD, arsAB, arsA, arsB, arsC, arsH, arrA, arrB, aoxA, aoxB, aoxC, aoxD, aroA, and aroB may be useful for arsenite-oxidizing bacteria in abandoned arsenic-contaminated mines.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.264-280
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• 2018

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured using a proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) at the Seoul Metropolitan Area Intensive Monitoring Station (SIMS) in Korea during the summer season of 2018. The results revealed that oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) contributed a large fraction (83.6%) of the total VOCs, with methanol being the most abundant constituent (38.6%). The VOCs measured at SIMS were strongly influenced by local conditions. Non-volatile organic compounds (NVOCs), such as pinene, increased due to northeasterly wind direction in the morning, and OVOCs and anthropogenic VOCS (AVOCs) increased with northwesterly wind direction during the daytime. This was the result of the eastward location of Bukhansan National Park and the westward location of urban area from the SIMS location. The VOCs included abundant oxidized forms of VOCs, which can affect the generation of fine dust through various response pathways in the atmosphere. The real-time measurement technique using PTR-ToF-MS suggested in this study is expected to contribute to an improved scientific understanding of high-concentration fine dust events because the high temporal resolution makes it possible to analyze the variations of VOCs reflected in dynamic events.