• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.9-24
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• 1997

Surfactant-aided in situ soil flushing has been proposed as an alternative for the expensive and time consuming 'pump and treat' technology in remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater Injected surfactants can effectively solubilize contaminants sorbed to the soil matrix or nonaqueous phase liquids(NAPLs) in residual saturation. The contaminants solubilized in groundwater are recovered and treated further. The theoretical background of the technology and the results of the field operations, mostly in the US. were summarized. In addition, the factors crucial to the successful application of the technology were discussed. Cost analyses and technical limitations in current applications were also discussed. In conclusion, it is likely that in situ surfactant flushing become a viable option for soil remediation in limited cases. Currently, further advances with respect to operation cost and to treatment efficiency are required for more extensive application of the technology. However, the current trends in soil remediation, specially the growing emphasis on risk based corrective action and natural attenuation, will increase the competitiveness of the technology. For example, removal of easily washable contaminants by short term soil flushing followed by long term monitoring and natural attenuation can greatly reduce the operation cost and time.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.77-86
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• 2002

Surfactant enhanced in-situ soil flushing was performed to remediate the soil and groundwater at an oil contaminated site, where had been used as a military vehicle repair area for 40 years. A section from the contaminated site (4.5 m $\times$ 4.5 m $\times$ 6.0 m) was selected for the research, which was composed of heterogeneous sandy and silt-sandy soils with average $K_d$ of 2.0$\times$$10^{-4}$cm/sec. Two percent of sorbitan monooleate (POE 20) and 0.07% of iso-prophyl alcohol were mixed for the surfactant solution and 3 pore volumes of surfactant solution were injected to remove oil from the contaminated section. Four injection wells and two extraction wells were built in the section to flush surfactant solution. Water samples taken from extraction wells and the storage tank were analyzed on a gas-chromatography (GC) for TPH concentration in the effluent with different time. Five pore volumes of solution were extracted while TPH concentration in soil and groundwater at the section were below the Waste Water Discharge Limit (WWDL). The effluent TPH concentration from wells with only water flushing was below 10 ppm. However, the effluent concentration using surfactant solution flushing increased to 1751 ppm, which was more than 170 times compared with the concentration with only water flushing. Total 18.5 kg of oil (TPH) was removed from the soil and groundwater at the section. The concentration of heavy metals in the effluent solution also increased with the increase of TPH concentration, suggesting that the surfactant enhanced in-situ flushing be available to remove not only oil but heavy metals from contaminated sites. The removal efficiency of surfactant enhanced in-situ flushing was investigated at the real contaminated site in Korea. Results suggest that in-situ soil flushing could be a successful process to remediate contaminated sites distributed in Korea.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.69-75
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• 2006

Improper disposal of petroleum and spills from underground storage tanks have created large areas with highly toxic contamination of the soil and groundwater. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is widely used as a fuel additive because of its advantageous properties of increasing the octane value and reducing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon exhausts. However, MTBE is categorized as a possible human carcinogen. This research investigated the Modified Photo-Fenton system which is based on the Modified Fenton reaction and UV light irradiation. The Modified Fenton reaction is effective for MTBE degradation near a neutral pH, using the ferric ion complex composed of a ferric ion and environmentally friendly organic chelating agents. This research was intended to treat high concentrations of MTBE; thus, 1,000 mg/L MTBE was chosen. The objectives of this research are to find the optimal reaction conditions and to elucidate the kinetic and mechanism of MTBE degradation by the Modified Photo-Fenton reaction. Based on the results of experiments, citrate was chosen among eight chelating agents as the candidate for the Modified Photo-Fenton reaction because it has a relatively higher final pH and MTBE removal efficiency than the others, and it has a relatively low toxicity and is rapidly biodegradable. MTBE degradation was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Under the optimum conditions, [$Fe^{3+}$] : [Citrate] = 1 mM: 4 mM, 3% $H_2O_2$, 17.4 kWh/L UV dose, and initial pH 6.0, the 1000 ppm MTBE was degraded by 86.75% within 6 hours and 99.99% within 16 hours. The final pH value was 6.02. The degradation mechanism of MTBE by the Modified Photo-Fenton Reaction included two diverse pathways and tert-butyl formate (TBF) was identified to be the major degradation intermediate. Attributed to the high solubility, stability, and reactivity of the ferric-citrate complexes in the near neutral condition, this Modified Photo-Fenton reaction is a promising treatment process for high concentrations of MTBE under or near a neutral pH.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2000

Seasonal variations of dominant algae species and the effects of these algae on coagulation and filteration of water treatment were investigated at Chilseo water treatment plant in downstream of Nakdong river from January in 1995 to Desember of 1998. The water quality of Nakdong river was found to be a hyper eutrophic state during the investigation periods. In the measurement, Chlorophyll-a contents ranged $20.7{\sim}180.9{\mu}g/l$ and total nitrogen contents(T-N) and total phosphorus contents(T-P) exceeded more than 3.4mg/l and 0.1mg/l, respectively. The changes in dominant algae species was in the order of Stepanodiscus sp., Asterionella sp., Melosira sp., Microcystis sp. and Synedra sp. from spring to winter. Microcystis sp. especially, was blooming during summer and Synedra sp. and Stepanodiscus sp. during winter. Although most diatomous algae appeared in the water treatment process caused filter clogging and reduced efficiency of coagulation and sedimentation, Synedra sp. and Stepanodiscus sp were revealed as the main trouble algae. Malfunction of water treatment process caused by Synedra sp. and Stepanodiscus sp. started at the algae concentrations of 800cells/ml and 1,820cells/ml, respectively. When chlorophyll-a content was $18.9{\mu}g/l$, the optimum amounts of coagulant were found to be 40mg/l of Alum and 16mg/l of PACS. Under condition of chlorophyll-a content of $154.1{\mu}g/l$, addition of Alum at the level of 75mg/l and PACS at the level of 35mg/l showed the lowest turibidity. The result indicates that increased amounts of the coagulants should be added for a better water treatment as chlorophyll-a contents increased. Addition of Alum at the amount of 60mg/l and 30mg/l of PACS removed Stepanodiscus sp. algae at the rate of 85% and 83%, respectively. In case of Synedra sp., 50mg/l of Alum and 25mg/l of PACS showed removal rates of 79% and 81%, respectively. Synedra sp. algae at the standing crops of 1,500cells/ml started filter clogging and a filtering process was completely inhibited after 8 hours. At this situation the filter clogging by Synedra sp. algae occurred at the depth of 5cm from the top anthracite layer. On the other, other algae did filter clogging at the depth of 10cm.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2005

Salt accumulation in the plastic film house soils under continuous cultivation condition causes problems such as salt damages to plants, nitrate accumulation in vegetables, groundwater contamination, etc. due to excess application of fertilizers. Objective of this research was to find an optimum adsorbent to reduce salt concentration in the soil solution of plastic film house soils, where crop injuries have been observed due to the salt accumulation. The soils were significantly high in available P $(1,431{\sim}6,516mg\;kg^{-1}),\;NO_3-N\;(117.60{\sim}395.73mg\;kg^{-1})$, exchangeable Ca $(4.06{\sim}11.07\;cmol_c\;kg^{-1})$ and Mg $(2.59{\sim}18.76\;cmol_c\;kg^{-1})$, as compared to those of the average upland soils in Korea. Soils were treated with each of adsorbent such as ion-exchange resin, zeolite, rice bran, etc. at 2% level and prepared into saturated-paste samples. After equilibrium, soil solution was vacuum-extracted from the soil and measured for changes of the pH, EC, and concentrations of $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;K^+,\;Na^+,\;{NH_4}^+,\;{PO_4}^{3-}\;and\;{NO_3}^-$. Rice bran effectively removed ${PO_4}^{3-}\;and\;{NO_3}^-$ in the soil solution up to 100%. Efficiency was decreased in the orders of rice bran > ion-exchange resin > zeolite. Removal efficiencies of zeolite and ion-exchange resin for $Ca^{2+}$ were ranged from 1 to 65% and from 7 to 61%, respectively. Ion-exchange resin was also effective for removing $Mg^{2+},\;K^+,\;Na^+,\;and\;{NH_4}^+$. Overall results demonstrated that rice bran and ion-exchange resin could be applicable for salt accumulated soil to remove the respective anion and cation.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 2003

Purpose : A new virtual simulation technique for craniospinal irradiation (CSI) that uses a CT-simulator was developed to improve the accuracy of field and shielding placement as well as patient positioning. Materials and Methods : A CT simulator (CT-SIM) and a 3-D conformal radiation treatment planning system (3D-CRT) were used to develop CSI. The head and neck were immobilized with a thermoplastic mask while the rest of the body was immobilized with a Vac-Loc. A volumetric image was then obtained with the CT simulator. In order to improve the reproducibility of the setup, datum lines and points were marked on the head and body. Virtual fluoroscopy was performed with the removal of visual obstacles, such as the treatment table or immobilization devices. After virtual simulation, the treatment isocenters of each field were marked on the body and on the immobilization devices at the conventional simulation room. Each treatment fields was confirmed by comparing the fluoroscopy images with the digitally reconstructed radiography (DRR) and digitally composited radiography (DCR) images from virtual simulation. Port verification films from the first treatment were also compared with the DRR/DCR images for geometric verification. Results : We successfully performed virtual simulations on 11 CSI patients by CT-SIM. It took less than 20 minutes to affix the immobilization devices and to obtain the volumetric images of the entire body. In the absence of the patient, virtual simulation of all fields took 20 min. The DRRs were in agreement with simulation films to within 5 mm. This not only reducee inconveniences to the patients, but also eliminated position-shift variables attendant during the long conventional simulation process. In addition, by obtaining CT volumetric image, critical organs, such as the eyes and the spinal cord, were better defined, and the accuracy of the port designs and shielding was improved. Differences between the DRRs and the portal films were less than 3 m in the vertebral contour. Conclusion : Our analysis showed that CT simulation of craniospinal fields was accurate. In addition, CT simulation reduced the duration of the patient's immobility. During the planning process. This technique can improve accuracy in field placement and shielding by using three-dimensional CT-aided localization of critical and target structures. Overall, it has improved staff efficiency and resource utilization by standard protocol for craniospinal irradiation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.765-773
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• 2000

The degradation of humic acid using $TiO_2$ coatings was studied, $TiO_2$ coatings were prepared by dip-coating method. Sol solutions for coating were prepared by mixing the gel, which can be produced by the reaction of $TiOCl_2$ and $NH_4OH$ solution, and hydrogen peroxide solution, and hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP). It was shown from XRD that coatings from sol aged at $100^{\circ}C$ for 18h with titanium peroxo solution were crystallized to anatase in the range of temperatures of $25^{\circ}C$ to $500^{\circ}C$. In contrast, those coated from TTIP were crystallized to anatase at temperature above $400^{\circ}C$. So the sols originated from $TiCl_4$ can be applied for not only on the heat-resistance substrates but on the plastic substrates. Thickness and the quality of the films were dependent on the withdrawing speed, the concentration of sol, and the number of coating. The films showed various interference colors depending on the thickness of them. In the case that the films coated 2 times at withdrawing speed of 2.5cm per minute by 0.2M sol, the films had a transparent light blue color with thickness of around 50nm. It was known from the result of photo-degradation by $TiO_2$ coatings using humic acid that the removal efficiency of $COD_{cr}$ was over 85% after illumination of $UV/H_2O_2$ for 40min. and that of UV/VIS absorbable materials was over 95%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.459-466
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• 2012

In order to improved treatment performance of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma, plasm + UV process and gas-liquid mixing method has been investigated. This study investigated the degradation of N, N-Dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (RNO, indicator of the generation of OH radical). The basic DBD plasma reactor of this study consisted of a plasma reactor (consist of quartz dielectric tube, titanium discharge (inner) and ground (outer) electrode), air and power supply system. Improvement of plasma reactor was done by the combined basic plasma reactor with the UV process, adapt of gas-liquid mixer. The effect of UV power of plasma + UV process (0~10 W), gas-liquid mixing existence and type of mixer, air flow rate (1~6 L/min), range of diffuser pore size (16~$160{\mu}m$), water circulation rate (2.8~9.4 L/min) and UV power of improved plasma + UV process (0~10 W) were evaluated. The experimental results showed that RNO degradation of optimum plasma + UV process was 7.36% higher than that of the basic plasma reactor. It was observed that the RNO decomposition of gas-liquid mixing method was higher than that of the plasma + UV process. Performance for RNO degradation with gas-liquid mixing method lie in: gas-liquid mixing type > pump type > basic reactor. RNO degradation of improved reactor which is adapted gas-liquid mixer of diffuser type showed increase of 17.42% removal efficiency. The optimum air flow rate, range of diffuser pore size and water circulation rate for the RNO degradation at improved reactor system were 4 L/min, 40~$100{\mu}m$ and 6.9 L/min, respectively. Synergistic effect of gas-liquid mixing plasma + UV process was found to be insignificant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Arsenic (As) has been considered as the most toxic one among various hazardous materials and As contamination can be caused naturally and anthropogenically. Major forms of arsenic in groundwater are arsenite [(As(III)] and/or arsenate [(As(V)], depending on redox condition: arsenite and arsenate are predominant in reduced and oxidized environments, respectively. Because arsenite is much more toxic and mobile than arsenate, there have been a number of studies on the reduction of its toxicity through oxidation of As(III) to As(V). This study was initiated to develop photocatalytic oxidation process for treatment of groundwater contaminated with arsenite. The performance of two types of light sources (UV lamp and UV LED) was compared and the feasibility of goethite as a photocatalyst was evaluated. The highest removal efficiency of the process was achieved at a goethite dose of 0.05 g/L. Based on the comparison of oxidation efficiencies of arsenite between two light sources, the apparent performance of UV LED was inferior to that of UV lamp. However, when the results were appraised on the basis of their emitting UV irradiation, the higher performance was achieved by UV LED than by UV lamp. This study demonstrates that environmentally friendly process of goethite-catalytic photo-oxidation without any addition of foreign catalyst is feasible for the reduction of arsenite in groundwater containing naturally-occurring goethite. In addition, this study confirms that UV LED can be used in the photo-oxidation of arsenite as an alternative light source of UV lamp to remedy the drawbacks of UV lamp, such as long stabilization time, high electrical power consumption, short lifespan, and high heat output requiring large cooling facilities.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 2012

In this study, the production of bio-diesel from animal oil by esterification and trans-esterification was investigated. There were three different extraction methods for oil extraction from raw animal fat. Heterogeneous catalysts such as Amberlyst-15 and Amberlyst BD-20 and a homogeneous catalyst such as sulfuric acid were used for esterification. Among three catalysts, the removal efficiency of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) was the highest in sulfuric acid. Response surface method was carried out to find the optimal esterification condition of sulfuric acid and methanol. After the esterification under the optimal condition, this animal fat was used for the trans-esterification. Animal oil used for trans-esterification was below 1% of FFA content and 0.09% of water content. The catalysts for trans-esterification were KOH, NaOH and $NaOCH_3$. To investigate the effects of catalyst type and amount on trans-esterification, The amount of catalyst were changed with 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt%. The molar ratio of methanol/oil was changed with 4, 6, 9 and 12. The amount of catalyst was fixed to 0.8 wt%. The KOH catalyst showed the highest FAME conversion for trans- esterification, and the optimal methanol/oil weight ratio was 6. In the experiments of various catalysts and methanol molar ratios, the highest content of FAME is 96%. However, this FAME content was below Korean bio-diesel standard which is 96.5% of FAME content. After distillation, FAME content increased to 98%.