• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.291-298
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• 2008

Methylmercury, an organic derivative, is the principal form of mercury that biomagnifies and causes neurodegenerative symptoms in animals. In recent years, living modified organism (LMO) resulting from biotechnology has played a highly visible and controversial role. Despite the potential benefits of this technology, public concerns have been raised about the environmental risk of LMO. The concern on the risk from LMO release has urged efforts to evaluate and manage the risks of the LMO. To build up the capacity building of risk assessment method for LMO used environmental remediation, we engineered Solanum nigrum L, expressing the modified bacterial gene, merB, encoding organomercurial lyase. Two independently isolated transgenic lines produced merB RNA. Transgenic Solanum nigrum leaf discs expressing merB gene showed organic mercury resistance, forming shoots well on growth medium containing $0.5{\mu}M$ methylmercury (II) chloride and $1{\mu}M$ phenylmercuric acetate while control plants breached. Transgenic merB seeds germinated and grew on growth medium containing $2{\mu}M$ methylmercury (II) chloride and phenylmercuric acetate. The merB transgenic plants will be used for risk assessment of natural environment.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2020

PAHs commonly found in industrial sites such as manufactured gas plants (MGP) are potentially toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic, and thus require immediate remediation. In-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is known as a highly efficient technology for soil and groundwater remediation. Among the several types of oxidants utilized in ISCO, persulfate has gained significant attention in recent years. Peroxydisulfate ion (S₂O₈^2-) is a strong oxidant with very high redox potential (E⁰ = 2.01 V). When mixed with Fe²⁺, it is capable of forming the sulfate radical (SO₄^-·) that has an even higher redox potential (E⁰ = 2.6 V). In this study, the influence of various iron activators on the persulfate oxidation of PAHs in contaminated soils was investigated. Several iron sources such as ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄), ferrous sulfide (FeS) and zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) were tested as a persulfate activator. Acenaphthene (ANE), dibenzofuran (DBF) and fluorene (FLE) were selected as model compounds because they were the dominant PAHs found in the field-contaminated soil collected from a MGP site. Oxidation kinetics of these PAHs in an artificially contaminated soil and the PAH-contaminated field soil were investigated. For all soils, Fe(0) was the most effective iron activator. The maximum PAHs removal rate in Fe(0)-mediated reactions was 92.7% for ANE, 83.0% for FLE, and 59.3% for DBF in the artificially contaminated soil, while the removal rate of total PAHs was 72.7% in the field-contaminated soil. To promote the iron activator effect, the effects of hydroxylamine as a reducing agent on reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, and EDTA and pyrophosphate as chelating agents on iron stabilization in persulfate oxidation were also investigated. As hydroxylamine and chelating agents (EDTA, pyrophosphate) dosage increased, the individual PAH removal rate in the artificially contaminated soil and the total PAHs removal rate in the field-contaminated soil increased.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1999

In the past several years phytoremediation, defined as the use of plants for removing contaminants from media such as soils or water, has attracted a great deal of interest as a potentially useful remediation technology We attempted to assess the effectiveness of phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils in a green house. Screening test for selecting an appropriate plant was performed by observing the harmful effects of diesel dosage on the growth of 4 plants. Alfalfa was selected as a potentially useful plant among corn and barnyard grasses due to its high tolerance to the toxicity of diesel in growth. Bioremediation of the artificial diesel-contaminated soil packed in the PVC columns(0.3m in diameter $\times$ 1m in length) with air supplied, alfalfa planted, and alfalfa and air supplied was investigated for 100 days. The results of the column test showed plant effects on enhancing the biodegradation of diesel in the contaminated soils compared to the control column which had no plant. Injecting air to the columns during phytoremediation also showed additional effects on the removal rate of diesel. Comparison of microbial activity in each test column showed a beneficial effect of plants in the soil remediation processes. This results can be explained microbial activity in rhizosphere is a crucial factor for removing diesel.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

A large amount of acidic waste solution is generated from the practical electrokinetic decontamination equipments for the remediation of soil contaminated with uranium. After filtration of uranium hydroxides formed by adding CaO into the waste solution, the filtrate was recycled in order to reduce the volume of waste solution. However, when the filtrate was used in an electrokinetic equipment, the low permeability of the filtrate from anode cell to cathode cell due to a high concentration of calcium made several problems such as the weakening of a fabric tamis, the corrosion of electric wire and the adhension of metallic oxides to the surface of cathode electrode. To solve these problems, sulfuric acid was added into the filtrate and calcium in the solution was removed as $CaSO_4$ precipitate. A decontamination test using a small electrokinetic equipment for 20 days indicated that Ca-removed waste solution decreased uranium concentration of the waste soil to 0.35 Bq/g, which is a similar to a decontamination result obtained by distilled water.

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

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.457-469
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• 2009

Applicability of bioleaching techniques using a sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, for remediation of shooting range soil contaminated with toxic heavy metals was investigated. The effects of sulfur concentration, the amount of bacterial inoculum and operation temperature on the efficiency of heavy metal solubilization were examined as well. As sulfur concentration and the amount of bacterial inoculum increased, the solubilization efficiency slightly increased; however, significant decrease of heavy metal extraction was observed with no addition of sulfur or bacterial inoculum. Bacteria solubilized the higher amount of heavy metals at $26^{\circ}C$ than $4^{\circ}C$. Lead showed the highest removal amount from the contaminated soil but the lowest removal efficiency when compared with Zn, Cu and Cr. It was likely due to formation of insoluble $PbSO_{4(s)}$ as precipitate or colloidal suspension. Sequential extraction of the microbially treated soil revealed that the proportion of readily extractable phases of Zn, Cu and Cr increased by bacterial leaching, and thus additional treatment or optimization of operation conditions such as leaching time were required for safe reuse of the soil. Bioleaching appeared to be a useful strategy for remediation of shooting range soil contaminated with heavy metals, and various operating conditions including concentration of sulfur input, inoculum volume of bacteria, and operation temperature exerted significant influence on bioleaching efficiency.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.10-17
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• 2009

Bioremediation has been applied as a proven technology in remediation of TPH contaminated soil. However, the efficiency of biodegradation is dependent on temperature as microbial activity is depressed at lower temperature ranges ($30^{\circ}C{\sim}80^{\circ}C$). The objective of this study was to develop microbes with enhanced activities at the stated temperature conditions and to evaluate the remediation effectiveness of these microbes in TPH contaminated soil. Experiments were conducted to isolate hydrocarbon degradable microbial consortia cultured under different temperature conditions. It was found that there were 5 strains of mesophilic ($30^{\circ}C$) and 3 strains of psychrophilic ($80^{\circ}C$) microbes. The TPH concentration was reduced from 4,044 mg/kg to 1,084 mg/kg, (73.2%) in 10 days by using mesophilic microbial consortia and from 5,427 mg/kg to 1,756 (67.6%) in 50 days with psychrophilic microbial consortia in laboratory cultures under controlled conditions. This rate determination excluded physical degradation such as venting and dilution. A field study was then performed to examine the feasibility of applying these microbes in the land-farming process. In this case, 87.1% of the 2,560 mg/kg TPH contaminated soil was degraded in 56 days. The biodegradation rate coefficient (k) was $0.0374\;day^{-1}$. Findings of this study provide viable options for applying microbes for bioremediation of TPH in lower temperature conditions.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.153-164
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• 2017

This research concurrently conducts literature review and quantitative research methodology in order to compare aesthetic experience of and . From the perspective of viewing attitudes, two types of perception equally coexist in both exhibitions: convergent perception is predominant over distracted perception in IL while distracted perception is higher than convergent perception in MIE. However, the influence of convergent perception on the degree of satisfaction and immersion is proved only in MIE. In terms of roles of viewer, there is a tendency to weigh on passive role in both exhibitions. In particular, it is worth noting that the role is relatively high in MIE. The role of viewer do not correlate with on the degree of satisfaction and immersion, as well as modes of perception. The elements of aesthetic experience are highly rated and the use of previous knowledge acts as a positive influence on the role of viewers in IL. Through this study, we witness the fact that visitors who are familiar with traditional artworks depend upon both modes of perception as well as passive role of viewer in the digital exhibition. In conclusion, remediation through digital technology has blurred the boundary of the dichotomy of a viewing attitude and a role of viewer depending on exhibit media, consequently MIE bears both natures of traditional artworks and digital media.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.141-156
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• 2010

In the framework of meshfree methods, a new methodology is developed based on radial point interpolation method (RPIM). This methodology is applied to a one-dimensional contaminant transport modelling in the saturated porous media. The one-dimensional form of advection-dispersion equation involving reactive contaminant is considered in the analysis. The Galerkin weak form of the governing equation is formulated using 1D meshfree shape functions constructed using thin plate spline radial basis functions. MATLAB code is developed to obtain the numerical solution. Numerical examples representing various phenomena, which occur during migration of contaminants, are presented to illustrate the applicability of the proposed method and the results are compared with those obtained from the analytical and finite element solutions. The proposed RPIM has generated results with no oscillations and they are insensitive to Peclet constraints. In order to test the practical applicability and performance of the RPIM, three case studies of contaminant transport through the landfill liners are presented. A good agreement is obtained between the results of the RPIM and the field investigation data.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.245-260
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• 2013

Biosorption represents a technological innovation as well as a cost effective excellent remediation technology for cleaning up radionuclides from aqueous environment. In the present study, a bacteria strain FB12 with high adsorption rate of uranium ion was isolated from the vicinity of the nuclear power plant. It was tentatively identified as Bacillus sp.FB12 according to the 16S rDNA sequencing. Efforts were made to further improve the adsorption rate and genetic stability by UV irradiation and UV-LiCl cooperative mutagenesis. The improved strain named Bacillus sp.UV32 obtains excellent genetic stability and a high adsorption rate of 95.9%. The adsorption of uranium U (VI) by Bacillus sp.UV32 from aqueous solution was examined as a function of metal ion concentration, cell concentration, adsorption time, pH, temperature, and the presence of some foreign ions. The adsorption process of U (VI) was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. The adsorption isotherm study indicated that it preferably followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters values calculated clearly indicated that the adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. These properties show that Bacillus sp.UV32 has potential application in the removal of uranium (VI) from the radioactive wastewater.