• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 2005

In this study, instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to measure the concentrations of about 30 trace elements in airborne particulate (PM2.5) samples at urban area of Daejeon city located in the southwestern region of Korea. An inspection of the measurement data indicates that the distribution patterns of trace elements could clearly distinguish the elements with their concentrations ranging over five orders of magnitude. The mean values for Lu and Dy were found to be the lowest at values of 0.01 and $0.04ng/m^3$, while those for K and Fe showed the highest value of 671 and $653ng/m^3$, respectively. The results of correlation analysis showed that PM2.5 concentrations can exhibit much more enhanced correlations with the elements of earth crustal components. The results of factor analysis further indicated that there are no more than six factors with statistical significance, which may exert dominant roles in regulating the elemental concentration levels in the study area. Enrichment factor analysis supports explicit interpretation of results found by this factor analysis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.2042-2049
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• 2019

Ten gizzard and three flesh samples of the broiler were collected from different locations in Tehsil Gujar Khan District Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The samples were dried, crushed and ground. Pellets were prepared by pressing the powder of the samples and that of the Bovine liver 1577c reference material obtained from NIST, USA. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) installed at National Center for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan has been used as a reliable and improved technique to determine concentration of various major/trace and toxic elements e.g. S, Cl, K, Ca, Cl, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Zn, Ti, Cd, Ga, Cr, V and Ni, in the Gizzard and Flesh samples of the broiler. The concentrations of all the detected elements in the samples are statistically significant. The certified and measured values of the elements in the reference material were in agreement with each other within a deviation of 7%. S, Cl, K and Ca are within tolerable limits and are good for human consumption. Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn were more than the acceptable limits of World Health Organization, WHO whereas Ga, As, Sn, Sb and Pb are not detected in most of the samples.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1994

Three USGS rock standards (G-2, W-2, and BHVO-1) are decomposed by three different methods, such as open beaker, microwave oven, and alkali fusion method, to compare the effect of decomposition methods for trace elememt analysis in the rock samples. Solubilized trace elements are measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Generally the analytical results of trace elements between open beaker and microwave digestion method are not different. In case of alkali fusion method, some volatile elements such as Pb, Cu, and Rb are considerably lost. Using acid digestion method, Zr and Hf concentrations are lowered in case that these elements are concentrated in refractory minerals. The concentrations of rare earth elements are generally consistent with the recommended values, but due to large dilution factor, there are some analytical problems in alkali fusion method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.674-680
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• 2023

The brine and seawater are important and largely untapped sources of critical trace metals and elements. The coupling of selective recovery of trace metals from seawater/brine with desalination plants gives an added advantage of energy credits to desalination plants and as well as reduce the cost of desalinated water. In this paper, status review on recovery of important trace metals and other alkali metals from seawater is presented. The potential of Indian desalination plants for recovery of trace metals, based on recovery ratio of 0.35 is also highlighted. Studies carried out by the process based on adsorption using Radiation Induced Grafted (RIG) polymeric adsorbents and then fractional elutions are presented. The fouling factors due to bio fouling and dirt fouling have been estimated for various locations of interest through field trails. The pay loader in the form of compact Contactor Assembly with minimum pressure drop, for loading specially designed radiation grafted sorbent in leaflet form has been briefed, as required for plant scale facility. The typical conceptual process design details of farm assembly of project CRUDE are described.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2014

In present study, we geochemically investigated the fresh coal ashes and the saline ash pond of an electric power plant in Korea, which burns imported bituminous coals. The goals are to see the chemical changes of the ash pond by reaction with coal ashes and to investigate the relative leachability of elements from the ashes by reaction with saline waters. For this study, one fresh fly ash, one fresh bottom ash, and 7 water samples were collected. All the ash samples and 2 water samples were analyzed for 55 elements. The results indicated that the fly ashes are enriched with chalcophilic elements such as Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, Cd, Sb, Au, Pb, and B relative to other elements. On the other hand, concentrations of As, Ba, Co, Ga, Li, Mn, Mo, Sb, U, V, W, and Zr are much higher in the ash pond than those dissolved in the seawater. Ag, Bi, Li, Mo, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, and W show high ratios of elemental concentrations in pond water to those in the fly ash. Our results imply that the leaching of trace elements is regulated by geochemical controls such as solubility and adsorption even though the trace elements are relatively enriched on the ash surfaces after the coal combustion due to their volatilities.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 1993

Trace elements are important components in the biological system, as a structural material and metabolic controller. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) with high neutron flux and high energy resolution Ge (Li) detector coupled to multichannel analyzer (MCA) has been one of the most accurate method for the determination of ultra-trace level components, and is applicable to biological material. In human body, the NAA can be used for quantitation of trace elements in various organs and tissue with endocrinological and metabolic disease and industrial metal poisoning. In this study, Triga Mark III nuclear reactor in Korea Atomic Research Institute was used for quantitation of trace eleement in human lung cancer tissues by neutron activation analysis. In the squamous cell carcinoma tissues, Br, Hg, La, Sb, Sc, Cl, Fe and I content were lower than normal lung tissues, and K, Rb and Se content were higher. In the adenocarcinoma tissues, Fe, Au, La, Sc and Zn content were lower than normal lung tissues, and Rb, Co and Se content were higher. Rb content was higher in the adenocarcinoma tissues than in the squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Fe and Na content were higher in the squamous cell carcinoma tissues than in the adenocarcinoma tissues.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.245-262
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• 2013

We analyzed 29 surface sediment samples in five submarine volcanoes (TA12, TA19, TA22, TA25, and TA26) located in the southern part of the Tonga arc for trace elements and rare earth elements to investigate characteristics of the hydrothermal alteration of surface sediments. Based on analytical results of trace element and rare earth element (REE), surface sediments of TA12, TA19, and TA22 submarine volcanoes, which are located in the northern part of the study area, were very little or not influenced by hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, some stations of TA25 and TA26 submarine volcanoes were strongly affected by hydrothermal fluids. However, these two submarine volcanoes showed different features in element concentration in the sediments. Some stations of TA25 submarine volcano showed enrichment of Ni, Cu, Sn, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Sb, W, Ba, Ta, Rb, Sr, and As, however, those of TA26 submarine volcano showed enrichment of Sn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Sb, Ba, Rb, and Sr. Stations which enriched trace elements were observed, enriched REEs were also observed. Average upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized REE patterns of the surface sediments generally showed low light REE (LREE) abundances and increased heavy REE (HREE) abundances. Eu enrichment was identified at several stations of TA25 and TA26 submarine volcanoes. In addition, enrichment of Ce was found at some stations of TA26 submarine volcano and these enrichment patterns were similar with hydrothermal fluid of near stations. Furthermore, TA25 and TA26 submarine volcanoes showed different enrichment characteristics of trace elements and REE. Trace elements were concentrated at TA25 submarine volcano. TA26 submarine volcano, on the other hand, observed highly enrichment of REE especially, Eu and Ce. As a result of the investigation, the characteristics and concentrations of REEs and trace elements in the surface sediments of each submarine volcano can be applied to identify hydrothermal alteration of sediments during exploration for hydrothermal deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.217-235
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• 2012

We evaluated the geochemical characteristics and their potential pollution of Asian Dusts in Daejeon, Korea during spring 2007. Compared with the chemical compositions of soils in source area of Asian Dust, those of aerosols in Daejeon were enriched with trace elements (ten to hundred fold), inferring that pollutants from China have affected on local environment in adjoining country such as Korea. Chemical analysis of aerosols during Asian dust showed that fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) contained high contents of trace elements such as Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, V, S, As, Cd, Co, Ni, Mo, Sb, Cs, Rb, Th, Sc and Y. In the case of TSP (Total Suspended Particle), Zr, Sr, Ba, Li, Th and U were contained much more than other trace elements. The contents of some elements (i.e. Li, Cs, Co, U, Cr, Ni, Rb, V, Th, Y, Sr and Sc) in aerosols collected in Asian Dust period, which are not likely enriched by air pollutants, were higher (2 - 4.2 fold) than those in Non Asian Dust period, indicating that these elements could be used as indicator elements for determining the occurrence of Asian Dust phenomena (especially, Sr, V, Cr & Li). In the case of Asian Dust coming through the big cities and/or industrial areas of China, the domestic aerosols had higher contents of trace elements (such as S, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mo and As) than those from Northeastern China via North Korea, indicating that the transportation courses of air mass are very important to determine the pollution degrees. Using the enrichment factors of trace elements in aerosols during Asian Dust and Non Asian Dust, we identified that some elements (i.e. S, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Mo and Cd) were most problematic in terms of environmental hazard aspects, and these elements could affect adverse effects on human health as well as ecosystem and surface environment (soil and water) through long-lived precipitation.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2017

Quantifying the trace elements in infinitesimal ambient liquid samples (e.g., single raindrop, cloud/fog water, and the soluble fraction extracted from the particles collected for a short time) is an important task for understanding formation processes, heating/cooling rates, and their health hazards. The purpose of this study is to employ an in-air micro PIXE system for quantitative analysis of the trace elements in a thimbleful of reference liquid sample. The bag type liquid sample holder originally designed with $10{\mu}m$ thick $Mylar^{(R)}$ film retained the original shape without any film perforation and apparent peaks of film blank by the end of the analysis. As one of tasks to be solved, the homogeneity of the elemental distribution in liquid reference species was verified by the X-ray line profiles for several references. It was possible to resolve the significant peaks for whole target elements corresponding to the channel number of micro-PIXE spectrum. The calibration curves for the six target elements (Si, S, Cl, Fe, Ni, and Zn) in standard solutions were successfully plotted by concentration (ppm) and ROI of interest net counts/dose (nC).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.553-566
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• 1997

Origin, behavior and enrichment of environmental toxic elements from the Deokpyeong area were investigated on the basis of major, trace and rare earth element geochemistry. Coaly metapelites of the Deokpyeong area are subdivided into grey phyllite, dark grey phyllite, coaly slate and black slate, which are interbedded along the Ogcheon Supergroup. The coaly slate had been mined for coal, but mining is closed. The coaly and black slates are lower contents of $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$, and higher contents of LOI, CaO, $Na_2O$ and BaO as compared with the phyllitic rocks. Rare earth elements are highly enriched in the coaly and black slate. Average compositions (ppm) of minor and/or environmental toxic elements in the coaly and black slate are revealed as As=127, Ba=30,163, Cd=18, Cr=740, Cu=84, Mo=378, Pb=43, Sb=12, Se=44, U=144, V=8,147 and Zn=292, which are extremely high concentrations than those in the NASC compositions. Major elements (average enrichment index; 5.34) in the coaly metapelites are mostly depleted, excepting $P_2O_5$ and BaO, normalized by NASC. Rare earth elements (average enrichment index; 1.48) are enriched in the coaly slate. On the basis of NASC, minor and/or environmental toxic elements in the coaly metapelites were strongly enriched of all the elements with the exception of Co, Cs, Ni and Sr. Average enrichment index of trace elements in coaly metapelite is 31.51 (coaly slate; 51.94 and black slate; 15.46). Especially, enrichment index of potentially toxic elements (As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, U, V and Zn) of the rock is 46.10 (grey phyllite; 7.15, dark grey phyllite; 4.77, coaly slate; 88.96 and black slate; 22.11). These coal formations were deposited in basin of boundary between terrestrial and marine environments deduced to carbon, sulfur (C/S=2.2 to 275.7), trace and rare earth elements characteristics. Irregular behavior and dispersion between major, minor and rare earth elements of those metapelites indicates a variable source materials, incomplete mixing of differential source and/or reequilibrium of diagenesis and metamorphism.