• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.704-715
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• 2006

Oil spill was found in 1999 from a diesel storage facility located near the top of Baekun Mountain in Uiwang City. Application of bioremediation techniques was very relevant in removing oil spills in this site, because the geological condition was not amenable for other onsite remediation techniques. For efficient bioremediation, bacterial communities of the contaminated site and the uncontaminated control site were compared using both molecular and cultivation techniques. Soil bacterial populations were observed to be stimulated to grow in the soils contaminated with diesel hydrocarbon, whereas fungal and actinomycetes populations were decreased by diesel contamination. Most of the dieseldegrading bacteria isolated from contaminated forest soils were strains of Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and Rhodococcus species. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed that the profiles were different among the three contaminated sites, whereas those of the control sites were identical to each other. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences of dominant isolates and clones showed that the bacterial community was less diverse in the oil-contaminated site than at the control site. Sequence analysis of the alkane hydroxylase genes cloned from soil microbial DNAs indicated that their diversity and distribution were different between the contaminated site and the control site. The results indicated that diesel contamination exerted a strong selection on the indigenous microbial community in the contaminated site, leading to predominance of well-adapted microorganisms in concurrence with decrease of microbial diversity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1005-1012
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• 2020

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been a serious environmental issue that threatens soil and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, an acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain S4, was isolated from the mud of an AMD storage pond in Vietnam via enrichment in anoxic mineral medium at pH 5. Comparative analyses of sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and dsrB gene involved in sulfate reduction revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Desulfovibrio, and is most closely related to Desulfovibrio oxamicus (with 99% homology in 16S rDNA sequence and 98% homology in dsrB gene sequence). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of dsrB gene showed that strain S4 represented one of the two most abundant groups developed in the enrichment culture. Notably, strain S4 was capable of reducing sulfate in low pH environments (from 2 and above), and resistance to extremely high concentration of heavy metals (Fe 3,000 mg/l, Zn 100 mg/l, Cu 100 mg/l). In a batch incubation experiment in synthetic AMD with pH 3.5, strain S4 showed strong effects in facilitating growth of a neutrophilic, metal sensitive Desulfovibrio sp. strain SR4H, which was not capable of growing alone in such an environment. Thus, it is postulated that under extreme conditions such as an AMD environment, acid- and metal-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-like strain S4 would facilitate the growth of other widely distributed SRB by starting to reduce sulfate at low pH, thus increasing pH and lowering the metal concentration in the environment. Owing to such unique physiological characteristics, strain S4 shows great potential for application in sustainable remediation of AMD.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 2002

Soil washing by surfactants is a technology to enhance mobilization and subsequent degradation of oil pollutants by reducing the surface tension of pollutants which is combined with soil. In this study, biosurfactant, rhamnolipid was produced from Pseudomonas aemginosa ATCC 9027 which had an excellent biodegradable activity in soil without causing secondary pollution. Effects of chemical surfactants on the removal of diesel from diesel-contaminated soil were compared to those of biosurfactants including rhamnolipid. Diesel removal efficiency by rhamnolipid extracted from P. aeruginosa culture broth was over 95% in both batch and column washing test in 5,000ppm diesel-contaminated soil with 1% surfactants after washing for 24 hours. On the contrary, the results of chemical surfactants were below 50∼80%, The chemical surfactants with HLB value(8∼15) showed more then 75% efficiency of diesel removal. But, when the HLB values were below 8 or over 15. their efficiency were observed as less then 60% of diesel removal. Rhamnolipid, biologically produced surfactants, may also be promising agent for enhancing diesel removal from contaminated soil.

• Water for future
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1993

Remediation technology becomes an issue in environmental engineering. The vibro-recovery technique is one of popular means to remove pollutants from contaminated soils and groundwater. Using Ultrasonic excitation in soil-fluid medium, it was found that removal efficiency in a mechanical effects was significant. In this paper, therefore, laboratory experiments were conducted on clayey sand soil columns using a probe-type ultrasonic processor. Ultrasonic treatment with simultaneous pumping enhances dislodgement of clay particles, and ultrasonic excitation reduced the proportions of finer particles and thus result in increased hydraulic conductivity significantly. Also, the results provided the changes in grain size distribution curve of the soil due to ultrasonic excitation. The results indicated that the maximum size of particles mobilized by Ultrasonic is about 0.004mm and particles in the size range from 0.04mm to 1.0mm were subjected to fracturing. The economic feasibility of Ultrasonic implementation is considered in power requirement of the generator and maintenance of the horn. At a specified amplitude of vibrations, the power requirement of the generator depends on overburden pressure of the horn, temperature and viscosity of fluid in the soil medium. For comparisons, the requirement of a one inch and two inch diameter horn sonicators are compared with the power required for pumping water from different depths.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2005

Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene, PCE), a dry cleaning and degreasing solvent, can enter ground-water through accidental leak or spills. PCE can be degraded to trichloroethylene (TCE), 1, 1-dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) as potential bio-product. These compounds have been reported that they can cause clinical diseases and cytotoxicity. However, only a little genotoxic information of these compounds has been known. In this study, we investigated DNA single strand breaks of PCE, TCE, DCE and VC by single cell gel electrophoresis assay, (comet assay) which is a sensitive, reliable and rapid method for DNA single strand breaks with mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells. From these results, $37.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PCE, $189\;{\mu}g/ml$ of TCE and $56.4\;{\mu}g/ml$ of DCE were revealed significant DNA damages in the absence of S-9 metabolic activation system meaning direct-acting mutagen. And in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system, $41.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PCE, $328.7\;{\mu}g/ml$ of TCE and $949\;{\mu}g/ml$ of DCE were induced significant DNA damage. In the case of VC, it was revealed a significant DNA damage in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. Therefore, we suggest that chloroethylene compounds (PCE, TCE, DCE and VC) may be induced the DNA damage in a mammalian cell.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

This study was performed to evaluate the remediation efficiency by Helianthus annuus, Brassica juncea and Brassica campestris on the soil contaminated with nickel, zinc and lead, respectively. The growth rates fell down under 60% in the condition of over 700 mg/kg of zinc for Brassica campestris, 300 mg/kg of lead for Helianthus annuus, and 150 mg/kg of nickel for Brassica juncea on the basis of heavy metal concentration in the soil, because of its toxicity. Also, the hyperaccumulators showed the maximum heavy metal contents in their biomass after 90 days of cultivation. The accumulated heavy metal content per kilogram of hyperaccumulator was 0.65 mg of nickel in Brassica juncea, 0.14 mg of zinc in Brassica campestris, and 0.06 mg of lead in Helianthus annuus, respectively. Additionally, 73.2% of nickel accumulated in Brassica juncea and 95.1% of zinc accumulated in Brassica campestris were concentrated in the upper site of crop like stem and leaves. However, in the case of Helianthus annuus, 83.7% of lead was accumulated in the root.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.51-62
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• 2004

Lime based stabilization/solidification (S/S) can be an effective remediation alternative for the immobilization of arsenic (As) in contaminated soils and sludges. However, the exact immobilization mechanism has not been well established, Based on previous research, As immobilization could be attributed to sorption and/or inclusion in pozzolanic reaction products and/or the formation of calcium-arsenic (Ca-As) precipitates. In this study, suspensions of lime-As were studied in an attempt to elucidate the controlling mechanism of As immobilization in lime treated soils. Aqueous lime-As suspensions (slurries) with varying Ca/As molar ratios (1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1 and 4:1) were prepared and soluble As concentrations were determined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used to establish the resulting mineralogy of crystalline precipitate formation. Depending on the redox state of the As source, different As precipitates were identified. When As (III) was used, the main precipitate formation was Ca-As-O. With As(V) as the source, Ca4(OH)2(AsO4)2${\cdot}$4H2O formed at Ca/As molar ratios greater than 1:1. A significant increase in As (III) immobilization was observed at Ca/As molar ratios greater than 1:1. Similarly, a substantial increase in As (V) immobilization was noted at Ca/As molar ratios greater than or equal to 2.5: 1. This observation was also confirmed by XRD. The effectiveness of both As (III) and As(V) immobilization in these slurries appeared to increase with increasing Ca/As molar ratios.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2005

Under sulfur deprived conditions, PS II and photosynthetic $O_2$ evolution by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii UTEX 90 are inactivated, resulting in shift from aerobic to anaerobic condition. This is followed by hydrogen production catalyzed by hydrogenase. We hypothesized that the photosynthetic capacity and the accumulation of endogenous substrates such as starch for hydrogen production might be different according to cell age. Accordingly, we investigated (a) the relationships between hydrogen production, induction time of sulfur deprivation, increase of chlorophyll after sulfur deprivation, and residual PS II activity, and (b) the effect of initial cell density upon sulfur deprivation. The maximum production volume of hydrogen was 151 ml $H_2$/l with 0.91 g/l of cell density in the late-exponential phase. We suggest that the effects of induction time and initial cell density at sulfur deprivation on hydrogen production, up to an optimal concentration, are due to an increase of chlorophyll under sulfur deprivation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.539-546
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• 2007

Increasing emission of $CO_2$ significantly effects the global warming. Chemical absorption is one of separation methods of $CO_2$ from the industrial flue gases. In this study, the $CO_2$ removal efficiency as well as the $CO_2$ absorption amount of aqueous AMP (2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol) solutions were measured using the continuous absorption and regeneration apparatus. We investigated the effect of aqueous AMP+AEPD(2-amino-2-ethyl-1, 3-propanediol) and AMP+TIPA (triisopropanolamine) solutions to enhance absorption characteristics of AMP. As a result of this study, the absorption amount and $CO_2$ removal efficiency were increased with adding TIPA into 30 wt.% AMP. The absorption amount and $CO_2$ removal efficiency of aqueous 30 wt.% AMP+5 wt.% TIPA solution were $1.70\;kg-CO_2/kg-absorbent$ and 91.1%, while those of aqueous 30 wt.% AMP solution were $1.58\;kg-CO_2/kg-absorbent$ and 89.3%. In addition, aqueous 30 wt.% AMP+5 wt.% TIPA solution used in the study revealed the high stripping efficiency, which was almost 98%, at the temperature of $110^{\circ}C$. Thus, the temperature of regenerator should be operated at $110^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.114-121
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• 2010

Oxygen sensitivity and substrate requirement have been known as possible reasons for the intricate growth of Dehalococcoides spp. and limiting factors of for routinely applying bioaugmentation using anaerobic Dehalococcoides-containing microbes for remediating chlorinated organic compounds. To explore the effect of the short-term exposure of the short-term exposure of oxygen on Dehalococcoides capability, dechlorination performance, and hydrogen production fermentation from formate, an anaerobic reductive dechlorination mixed-culture (Evanite culture) including dehalococcoides spp. was in this study. In the results, once the mixed-culture were exposed to oxygen, trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation rate decreased and it was not fully recovered even addition of excess formate for 40 days. In contrast, hydrogen was continuously produced by hydrogen-fermentation process even under oxygen presence. The results indicate that although the oxygen-exposed cells cannot completely dechlorinate TCE to ethylene (ETH), hydrogen fermentation process was not affected by oxygen presence. These results suggest that dechlorinating microbes may more sensitive to oxygen than fermenting microbes, and monitoring dechlorinators activity may be critical to achieve an successful remediation of a TCE contaminated-aquifer through bioaugmentation using Dehalococcoides spp..