• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.260-265
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• 2004

Acid mine drainage(AMD) is one of the most serious environmental concerns associated with the mining industry around the world. The objective of this study is to assess the potential of sewage sludge as a carbon source for sulfate reducing bacteria and waste lime and steel slag as a neutralize agent for acid mine drainage bioremediation for use in permeable reactive materials. The study was performed using synthetic AMD in six column experiments. The effluent solution was systematically analysed throughout the experiments. The results of the study indicated that sewage sludge, waste lime and steel slag were the most effective for the AMD treatment as a permeable reactive materials.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.178-184
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• 1998

To elucidate contamination levels and distribution of methyl mercury (Me-Hg) in Korean coastal areas, 126 sediment samples were collected from Kyeonggi Bay, Namyang Bay, Chinhae Bay, and Lake Shihwa during 1995-1996, and the Me-Hg concentrations were determined by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). Contamination levels of Me-Hg in sediments from Kyeonggi Bay, Namyang Bay, Chinhae Bay, and Lake Shihwa were 274 ${\pm}$ 990, 108 ${\pm}$ 24, 294 ${\pm}$ 342, and 1080 ${\pm}$ 760 pg/g, respectively. Concentrations of Me-Hg in sediments were significantly correlated with total organic carbon and sulfur contents, but were independent of mud contents and mean grain size. The highest concentration of Me-Hg (7100 pg/g) was observed at Incheon North Harbor (Site Kl9) in Kyeonggi Bay. This Me-Hg concentration was one or two orders of magnitude higher than those in other Kyeonggi Bay sediments were. The average concentration of Me-Hg in sediments from Lake Shihwa was higher than in those from other study areas. The three peaks of Me-Hg concentrations were observed on three sites (55, 56,and 510) in Lake Shihwa and gradually decreased in distance-dependent manner around these sites. High concentrations of Me-Hg at surface and 10-cm sediment depth in Chinhae Bay maybe due to higher rates of methylation process by active sulfate-reducing bacteria or higher concentrations of total mercury available to sulfate-reducing bacteria.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.285-293
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• 2017

The effects of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) on the corrosion and scaling of the Q235 carbon steel has been investigated in the simulated sewage water and oil field gathering pipelines production water, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS), and three-dimensional stereoscopic microscope. Results indicated that the concentration of SRB reached the maximum value on the ninth day in simulated sewage water with a large amount of scaling on the surface of specimen. In oil field gathering pipelines, a large amount of scaling and mineralization of mineral salts and thick deposition of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) layers were also observed on the surface of specimen. The thickness of biofilm was about $245{\mu}m$ within 30 days. After adding microbicides, the thickness of corrosion products film was only up to $48-106{\mu}m$ within 30 days, suggesting that SRB could induce biomineralization. Under-deposit corrosion morphology was uniform in the absence of microbicides while local corrosion was observed in the presence of microbicides.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2013

A dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) inoculated with Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and supplemented with lactate as an organic fuel was employed in this study. Biofilm formed on the anodic electrode was examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing that the amount of biofilm was increased with repeated cycles of MFC operation. The maximum current production was notably increased from the first cycle ($1,310.0{\pm}22.3mA/m^2$) to the final cycle ($1,539.4{\pm}25.8mA/m^2$) of MFC run. Coulombic efficiency was also increased from $89.4%{\pm}0.2%$ to $98.9%{\pm}0.5%$. We suggest that the current production efficiency was related to the biomass of biofilm formed on the electrode, which was also increased as the MFC run was repeated. It was also found that D. desulfuricans, which colonized on the electrode, produced filaments or nano-pili. Nano-pili were effective for the attachment of cells on the electrode. In addition, the nano-pili provided a cell-to-cell link and stimulated the development of thicker electroactive biofilm, and therefore, they facilitated electron transfer to the anode. Conclusively, the biofilm of D. desulfuricans enhanced the current production in the MFC as a result of effective attachment of cells and electron transfer from the cell network to the electrode.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2010

Metals and sulfate can be considerably dissolved at low pH condition in the acid mine drainage(AMD) and it would make an environmental problems. There are only few of acid mine drainage treatment systems in Korea which are operating, but these still have an effect on the surrounding stream. In this study, quantification of indicator microorganisms was conducted to judge the environmental impact of AMD on microflora by quantitative real-time PCR in the drainage samples of four mines and the water samples of each surrounding stream. Two species of iron reducing bacteria(Rhodoferax ferrireducens T118 and Acidiphilium cryptum JF-5) were selected for indicator bacteria based on 16S rRNA cloning analysis, and sulfate reducing bacteria(Desulfosporosinus orientus), iron and sulfur oxidizing bacteria(Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans) and iron oxidizing bacteria(Leptosprillum ferrooxidans) were included into indicator since these were found in the previous studies on the mining area. Thereafter, the comparative analysis of four mines were established by the microbiological variation index and it was determined that the biological environment effect of AMD is highest in Samtan mine which doesn t contain treatment system by the value.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 1998

This study was carried out to find deodorization effect of swine-slurry by addition of phototrophic bacteria(PTB). The pilot-scale reactors operation conditions was designed by the inoculum amounts of PTB and light-conditions. Treatment conditions was divided into 3 types; 106 MPN/ml$.$Dark(T-1), 108 MPN/ml$.$Dark(T-2), 108 MPN/ml$.$Natural light(T-3). The changes of the concentration of volatile fatty acids(VFAs), hydrogen sulfide(H2S), ammonia (NH3) and odor intensity were analyzed during the treatment period(35 days). From results of this study, the maximum intensity of odor in the headspace of the reactor T-1 was 4.82 and T-2, T-3 was 2.63, respectively. In swine-slurry of reactors used, it almost took 10 days until to be stabilized with solid and liquid phase. Intensity of odor in headspace was mainly derived from the liquid phase. The PTB inoculum method to swine-slurry was very effective in reduction of VFAs, H2S and Sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB) concentration. Expecially, It was interested in reverse growth behaviour of SRB and PTB in these conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 1986.12a
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• pp.510.2-511
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• 1986

The biotechnology including genetic engineering is expected to be applied to various fields of wastewater treatments in order to promote biological reaction rate, to grade up the effluent quality and to advance the stability of microorganisms against temperature, pH and toxic substances. The current topics in Japan on application of biotechnology to wastewater treatment will be reviewed at the beginning of the presentation. Next, the research of Biochemical Engineering Laboratory is to be presented, especially focused on the following subjects ; (1) Application of genetic engineering to the investiation of heavy metal uptake by the resistant bacteria of Hg Cd or Zn. (2) Relationship between sulfate reducing bacteria and wastewater treatment, offensive odor and corrosion of sewer tranks.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.937-941
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• 2003

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is an electrochemical process where the participation of microorganisms initiates, facilitates, or accelerates the corrosion reaction. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) reduce sulfate to sulfide and are known to be the most destructive microorganisms in anaerobic MIC. Accordingly, the current study attempted to elucidate the mechanisms involved and the relative importance of the corrosive products in SRB-induced corrosion. The measured rate of anaerobic corrosion of iron coupons by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was $89.9{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}\textrm{m}^{-2}{\;}d^{-1}$. Direct contact between the cells and the iron coupon did not seem to be necessary for corrosion to occur, since the corrosion rate was similar ($100.8{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}\textrm{m}^{-2}{\;}d^{-1}$) when the coupon was enclosed in a dialysis bag. The participation of sulfide in the corrosion process was only marginal, as the specific corrosion rate was 2.5 times higher in a sulfate-free pyruvate medium than in an $H_2S-producing$ lactate medium. Acetate (18.8-22.1 mM), the end-product of pyruvate and lactate metabolism, was identified in the culture medium and thus presumed to play a major role in the corrosion process involving Desulfovibrio desulfuricans.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.851-861
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• 2019

In this study, we performed a sediment elution experiment to evaluate water quality in terms of phosphorus, as influenced by the dissolved oxygen consumed by sediments. Three separate model column treatments, namely, raw, calcined, and sonicated oyster shell powders, were used in this experiment. Essential phosphorus fractions were examined to verify their roles in nutrient release from sediment based on correlation analyses. When treated with calcined or sonicated oyster shell powder, the sediment-water interface became "less anaerobic," thereby producing conditions conducive to partial oxidation and activities of aerobic bacteria. Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) was found to be closely correlated with the growth of algae, which confirmed an intermittent input of organic biomass at the sediment surface. SOD was positively correlated with exchangeable and loosely adsorbed phosphorus and organic phosphorus, owing to the accumulation of unbound algal biomass-derived phosphates in sediment, whereas it was negatively correlated with ferric iron-bound phosphorus or calcium fluorapatite-bound phosphorus, which were present in the form of "insoluble" complexes, thereby facilitating the free migration of sulfate-reducing bacteria or limiting the release from complexes, depending on applied local conditions. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that iron-reducing bacteria were the dominant species in control and non-calcined oyster shell columns, whereas certain sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were identified in the column treated with calcined oyster powder.

• 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.