• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2016

N-nitrosamines are a class of carcinogenic chemicals that can pose significant hazards to the human life. Ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation is considered as one of the effective methods to reduce N-nitrosamines in the aqueous phase. This study aimed to investigate the pH influence on UV photodegradation of N-nitrosamines (i.e., N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR)) closely related to water treatment. Photodegradation rate constants of NDBA and NPYR remained between 3.26×10^-2 L/W-min to 5.08×10^-3 L/W-min and 1.14×10^-2 L/W-min to 2.80×10^-3 L/W-min at pH2-10, respectively. This study also focused on the formation of oxidized products (i.e., primarily NO^2- and NO^3-). Under slightly acidic and neutral conditions, NO^2- formation was more prevalent than NO^3- formation, while under strong acidic conditions, NO^3- was more prevalent. There was no significant change in total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), suggesting negligible loss of N-nitrosamines and degradation products from the system. NDBA was easily photodegraded than NPYR. This study also demonstrated that a lower pH is a favorable condition for photolytic degradation of N-nitrosamines in water.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.769-777
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• 2021

This study investigated the change of the achievement rate of the target water quality conditioned on the occurrence of severe drought, to assess the effects of meteorological drought on the water quality management in the Nakdong River basin. Using three drought indices with difference time scales such as 30-, 60-, 90-day, i.e., SPI30, SPI60, SPI90, and three water quality indicators such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total organic carbon (TOC), and total phosphorus (T-P), we first analyzed the relationship between severe drought occurrence water quality change in mid-sized watersheds, and identified the watersheds in which water quality was highly affected by severe drought. The Bayesian network models were constructed for the watersheds to probabilistically assess the relationship between severe drought and water quality management. Among 22 mid-sized watersheds in the Nakdong River basin, four watersheds, such as #2005, #2018, #2021, and #2022, had high environmental vulnerability to severe drought. In addition, severe drought affected spring and fall water quality in the watershed #2021, summer water quality in the #2005, and winter water quality in the #2022. The causal relationship between drought and water quality management is usufaul in proactive drought management.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1629-1637
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• 2015

To develop various usable water from coal seam gas (CSG) water that needs to be pumped out from coal seams for methane gas production, a feasibility study was carried out, evaluating and analysing a recent report (Coal Seam Gas Water Management Policy 2012) from Queensland State Government in Australia to suggest potential CSG water treatment options for fit-for-purpose usable water production. As CSG water contains intrinsically high salinity-driven total dissolved solid (TDS), bicarbonate, aliphatic carbon, $Ca^{+2}$, $Mg^{+2}$ and so on, it was found that appropriate treatment technologies are required to reduce the hardness below 60 mg/L as $CaCO_3$ by setting the reduction rates of $Ca^{+2}$, $Mg^{+2}$ and Na+ concentrations, as well as TDS reduction. Also, Along with fiber filtration and membrane separation, an oxidation degradation process was found to be required. Along with salinity reduction, as CSG water contains organic compounds (TOC: 248 mg/L, $C_6-C_9$: <20 mg/L and $C_{10}-C_{36}$: <60 mg/L), compounds with relatively high molecular weights ($C_{10}-C_{36}$) need to be treated first. Therefore, this study suggests a combined system design with filtration (Reverse osmosis) and oxidation reduction (electrolysis) technologies, offering proper operating conditions to produce fit-for-purpose usable water from CSG water.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2015

Remediation of wastewater contaminated with metal(II)-complexed species (Cu(II)-NTA (NTA: nitrilotriacetic acid), Cu(II)-EDTA (EDTA: ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) and Cd(II)-EDTA is attempted using the potential applicability of ferrate(VI). Kinetics of pollutant degradation is obtained with the removal of ferrate(VI) studied at wide range of pH (8.0-10.0) and the concentration of metal(II)-complexed species (0.3 to 15.0 mmol/L) employing a constant dose of ferrate(VI) i.e., 1.0 mmol/L. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order rate constants were obtained in the reduction of ferrate(VI) which was then employed to obtain the overall rate constants of the pollutant degradation. The mineralization of NTA and EDTA was obtained with the change in TOC (total organic carbon) values collected by the ferrate(VI) treated pollutant samples. Decrease in pH and molar pollutant concentrations was greatly favored the percent mineralization of NTA or EDTA by the ferrate(VI) treatment. The treated pollutant samples were filtered and subjected for AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometric) analysis to assess the simultaneous removal of copper and cadmium from aqueous solutions at the studied pH as well at the elevated pH 12.0. Results show that an enhanced removal of cadmium or copper was achieved at pH 12.0. Overall, ferrate(VI) possesses multifunctional application in wastewater treatment as it oxidizes the degradable impurities and removes metallic impurities by coagulation process.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.110-114
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• 2011

In this paper, in order to eliminate Limnoperna fortunei inhabiting the water conduction pipeline, prechlorination at the intake station was employed to improve the degradation of water quality due to the high pH of raw water taken at the downstream of Paldang Dam, algal growth, etc.. With the prechlorination concentration of 1.0mg/L at the intake station, the pH in the water well at the treatment plant decreased by 0.4, and with 1.5mg/L, by 0.6. Also, it eliminated Chlorophyll-a by about 95%, and the population of algae by about 49%. Such disinfection by-products (DBPs) as Trihalomathanes (THMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAAs), and Chloral Hydrate (CH) were under the quality standard for potable water, showing no change by the prechlorination, while raising the prechlorination rate from 1.0 up to 1.5mg/L, the DBPs in the water well increased by 1.5 to 3.1 times. As a consequence of testing Kyungan Stream, a branch stream flowing into Lake Paldang, the prechlorination (0.57mg/L, 1.14mg/L, 1.71mg/L) had no effect of eliminating the taste and odor compounds and total organic carbon (TOC) which is the DBPs precursor. As for the efficiency of Geosmin elimination by the rates of prechlorination and powder activated carbonation (PAC), it was found that the higher the concentration of PAC was (30ppm>20ppm>10ppm), the higher the efficiency was; the higher the rate of prechlorination was, the lower the efficiency by PAC was. Therefore, when taste and odor occur from raw water, suspending prechlorination at the intake or lowering the rate was proved to be more effective in eliminating the taste and odor compounds by PAC.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.211-221
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• 2011

Contents of biogenic components [opal, $CaCO_3$, TOC (total organic carbon)] were measured in Core LHB-3PC sediments collected off Lutzow-Holm Bay, in order to understand glacial-interglacial cyclic variation of the high-latitude surface-water paleoproductivity, in the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean. An age model was established from the correlation of ARM/IRM ratios of Core LHB-3PC with LR04 stack benthic ${\delta}^{18}O$ records, in complement with radiocarbon isotope ages and biostratigraphic Last Appearance Datum (LAD). The core-bottom age was estimated to be about 700 ka. Although the $CaCO_3$ content is very low less than 1.0% throughout the core, the opal and TOC contents show clear glacial-interglacial cyclic variation such that they are high during the interglacial periods (7.2-50.3% and 0.05-1.00%, respectively) and low during the glacial periods (5.2-25.2% and 0.01-0.68%, respectively). According to the spectral analysis, the variation of opal content is controlled mainly by eccentricity forcing and subsequently by obliquity forcing during the last 700 kyrs. The opal contents of Core LHB-3PC also represent the apparent Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT)-related climatic variation in the glacial-interglacial cycles. In particular, the orbital variation of the opal contents shows increasing amplitudes since marine isotope stage (MIS) 11, which defines one of the important paleoclimatic events during the late Quaternary, called the "Mid-Brunhes Event". Based on the variation of the opal contents in Core LHB-3PC, we suggest that the surface-water paleoproductivity in the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean followed the orbital (glacial-interglacial) cycles, and was controlled mainly by the extent of sea ice distribution during the last 700 kyrs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.721-734
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• 2022

This study analyzed the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of major environmental factors such as primary productivity (PP), chlorophyll a, nutrients, sinking particle matters, and organic contamination and biochemical composition of surface sediment on a monthly basis for approximately 2 years around shellfish mariculture in Jaran Bay, Korea. In addition, PP in Jaran Bay was compared with that in other coastal areas and related policy plans were proposed. The average PP of the study area was high in summer and autumn with 6.43~115.43 mgC m^-2 hr^-1 range. This was lower than that in Gamak Bay and Masan Bay, whereas higher than that in Garorim Bay and the West Sea. The PP in coastal waters, where many aquaculture farms were distributed, significantly fluctuated. The different size compositions of phytoplanktons constituting chlorophyll a slightly varied by month, and little restriction existed on the productivity of phytoplanktons owing to the depletion of nutrients. Typically, the Redfield ratio was less than 16, indicating that nitrogen was the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplanktons. The biochemical composition of particulate organic matters in the water column showed the highest carbohydrates, but lipids and protein contents were high in surface sediments. The concentration of TOC and AVS of the surface sediments was high at inside of bay, and sometimes, exceeded the environmental criteria of fishing grounds. The organic C:N ratio of sediments ranged from 8.1 to 10.4 on average. PP had the highest correlation with chlorophyll a, nitrogen and protein of particle organic materials. Recently, chlorophyll a, DIN, and DIP of water column trends tended to decrease, however, the contamination of sediments increased. Considering the annual PP of 125.9 gC m^-2 yr^-1 and mariculture area (oyster) of 4.97 km², the annual carbon production from phytoplanktons was estimated to be about 625 tons, and the annual total wet weight of shellfish (oyster) was estimated to be about 6,250 tons.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.156-166
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• 2022

Understanding the characteristics of reservoir water quality is fundamental in reservoir ecosystem management. The water quality of reservoirs is affected by various factors including hydro-morphology of reservoirs, land use/cover, and human activities in their catchments. In this study, we classified 83 major reservoirs in South Korea based on nine physicochemical factors (pH, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solid, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, electric conductivity, and chlorophyll-a) measured for five years (2015~2019). Study reservoirs were classified into five main clusters through hierarchical cluster analysis. Each cluster reflected differences in the water quality of reservoirs as well as hydromorphological variables such as elevation, catchment area, full water level, and full storage. In particular, water quality condition was low at a low elevation with large reservoirs representing cluster I. In the comparison of eutrophication status in major reservoirs in South Korea using the Korean trophic state index, in some reservoirs including cluster IV composed of lagoons, the eutrophication was improved compared to 2004~2008. However, eutrophication status has been more impaired in most agricultural reservoirs in clusters I, III, and V than past. Therefore, more attention is needed to improve the water quality of these reservoirs.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.479-499
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the responses of soil properties and microbial communities to different agricultural management and soil types, including organic management in Andisols (Org-A), organic management in Non-andisols (Org-NA), conventional management in Andisols (Con-A) and conventional management in Non-andisols (Con-NA) by using a pyrosequencing approach of 16S rRNA gene amplicon in Radish farms of volcanic ash soil in Jeju island. The results showed that agricultural management systems had a little influence on the soil chemical properties but had significant influence on microbial communities. In addition, soil types had significant influences on both the soil chemical properties and microbial communities. Organic farming increased the microbial density of bacteria and biomass C compared to conventional farming, regardless of soil types. Additionally, Org-NA had the highest dehydrogenase activity among treatments, whereas no difference was found between Org-A, Con-A and Con-NA and had the highest species richness (Chao 1) and diversity (Phyrogenetic diversity). Particularly, Chao 1 and Phyrogenetic diversity were increased in organic plots by 12% and 20%, compared with conventional plots, respectively. Also, regardless of agricultural management and soil types, Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial phylum, accounting for 21.9-25.9% of the bacterial 16S rRNAs. The relative abundance of putative copiotroph such as Firmicutes was highest in Org-NA plot by 21.0%, as follows Con-NA (13.1%), Con-A (6.7%) and Org-A (5.1%.), respectively and those of putative oligotrophs such as Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes were higher in Con-A than those in the other plots. Furthermore, LEfSe indicated that organic system enhanced the abundance of Fumicutes, while conventional system increased the abundance of Acidobacteria, especially in Non-andisols. Correlation analysis showed that total organic carbon (TOC) and nutrient levels (e.g. available P and exchangeable K) were significantly correlated to the structure of the microbial community and microbial activity. Overall, our results showed that the continuous organic farming systems without chemical materials, as well as the soil types made by long-term environmental factors might influence on soil properties and increase microbial abundances and diversity.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-30
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• 2011

Three sediment cores from two different locations (UJ-03 and UJ-12 cores of valley sediment in Paju area, and CL-4 core of wetland sediment in Cheollipo area) along the western Korean Peninsula yield crucial information on the timing and spatial pattern of century-scale climate changes and subsequent surficial responses during the Holocene. In Paju area, the sediments included abundant coarse-grained sediment (coarse sands and pebbles) from 7100 to 5000 cal. yrBP, total organic carbon (TOC) values showed a marked increase from 5000 to 2200 cal. yrBP, several intermittent depositional layers were observed from 2200 cal. yrBP. In Cheollipo area, lake environment developed from 7360 to 5000 cal. yrBP, the deposition of organic materials increased from 5000 to 2600 cal. yrBP, peatland formed from 2600 cal. yrBP. The two patterns of surficial responses to the climate changes through the Holocene are different to each other. This might be due to the dissimilarity in geomorphic conditions. However, the approximate simultaneity of environmental changes in two areas shows that they both can be correlated to the major climate changes. Two areas which have undergone significant changes indicated that the hydrological factors including precipitation and strength of water flow were most responsible for the landscape and geomorphic evolutions. Although the upwards trend in relative sea-level also played a primary role for environmental changes in coastal area (Cheollipo area), detailed studies have still to be undertaken.