• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is universally distributed in the sediment, especially in marine environment. SRB reduce sulfate as electron acceptor to hydrogen sulfide in anaerobic condition. Hydrogen sulfide is reducing agent enhancing the reduction of the organic and inorganic compounds. With SRB, therefore, the degradability of organic contaminants is expected to be enhanced. Ferrous iron reduced from the ferric iron which is mainly present in sediment also renders chlorinated organic compounds to be reduced state. The objectives of this study are: 1) to investigate the reduction of TCE by hydrogen sulfide generated by tht growth of SRB, 2) to estimate the reduction of TCE by ferrous iron generated due to oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, and 3) to illuminate the interaction between SRB and ferrous iron. Mixed bacteria was cultivated from the sludge of the sewage treatment plant. Increasing hydrogen sulfide and decreasing sulfate confirmed the existence of SRB in mixed culture. Although hydrogen sulfide lonely could reduce TCE, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide produced by SRB was not sufficient to reduce TCE directly. With hematite as ferric iron, hydrogen sulfide produced by SRB was consumed to reduce ferric ion to ferrous ion and ferrous iron produced by hydrogen sulfide oxidation decreased the concentration of TCE. Tests with seawater confirmed that the activity of SRB was dependent on the carbon source concentration.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2007

Zevo-valent iron (ZVI) has been widely used in permeable reactive barriers for reducing organic contaminants, such as trichloroethylene (TCE). The rapid reaction time, however, leads to decrease in reactivity and availability of ZVI. Shewanella algae BrY, a strain of dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria, can reduce the oxidized Fe (III) to Fe (II) and reduced Fe (II) can be reused to reduce the contaminant. The effect of Shewanella algae BrY on the reduction of the oxidized ZVI column and further TCE removal in the contaminated groundwater were studied at different flow rates and TCE input concentrations in this study. High input concentration of TCE and flow rate increase the amount of input contaminant and make to lower the effect of reduction by Shewanella algae BrY. Specially, the fast flow rate inhibits the direct contact and implantation on the surface of iron. The reduction of oxidized iron reactive barrier by Shewanella algae BrY can decrease the decreation of duration of PRBs by the precipitation of oxidized iron produced by dechlorination of TCE.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.454-463
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• 2006

refractory organic compounds in aqueous solution are not readily removed by the existing conventional wastewater treatment process. In recent years, the sonolysis and electrochemical oxidation process had been shown to be promising for wastewater treatment due to the effectiveness and easiness in operation. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of sonolytic and electrolytic decomposition as the basic data for development of the wastewater treatment process. Trichloroethylene(TCE) and 2,4- dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP) were used as the samples, and their destruction efficiency were measured with various operating parameters, such as initial solution concentration, initial solution pH, reaction temperature, sonic power and current density. Also, the decomposition mechanism conformed indirectly with the effect of NaHCO3 as a radical scavenger on the decomposition reaction. Thermal decompositon reaction is predominant for TCE but thermal and radical decompositon reactions were dominant for 2,4-DCP. Results showed that the destruction efficiencies of all samples were above 65% within 120 minutes by sonolysis and electrolysis at the same time, and were increased with increasing initial concentration, sonic power and current density. Destruction efficiency of TCE was high in the acidic solution, but 2,4-DCP showed high destruction efficiency in basic solution.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.425-444
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• 2013

This study was carried out in order to determine the remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) compounds for non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) using in-situ air sparging (IAS) / vapor extraction (VE) with the marine sediments of Mandol, Hajeon, Sangam and Busan, South Korea. Surface sediment of Mandol area had sand characteristics (average particle size, 1.789 ${\Phi}$), and sandy silt characteristics (average particle size, 5.503 ${\Phi}$), respectively. Sangam surface sediment had silt characteristics (average particle size, 5.835 ${\Phi}$). Sediment characteristics before experiment in the Busan area showed clay characteristics (average particle size, 8.528 ${\Phi}$). TPHs level in the B1 column of Mandol, Hajeon, Sangam, and Busan sediments were 2,459, 6,712, 4,348, and 14,279 ppm. B2 (3 L/min) to B5 (5 L/min) columns reduced 99.5% to 100.0% of TCE and 93.2% to 100.0% of PCE. Removal rates of TCE, PCE, and BTEX are closely correlated (0.90-0.99) with particle sizes and organic carbon concentrations. However, TPHs (0.76) and benzene (0.71) showed the poorer but moderate correlations with the same parameters.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the biodegradation of gaseous trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in an activated carbon biofilter inoculated with phenol-oxidizing microorganisms and to study the effect of surfactant concentration below its critical micelle concentration (CMC) on the re-moval efficiency of TCE or PCE. The investigation was conducted using two specially built stainless steel biofilters, one for TCE and the other for PCE, at residence times of 1.5~7 min. The removal efficiency of gaseous TCE was 100％ at a residence time of 7 min and its average inlet concentration of 85 ppm. For gaseous PCE, 100％ removal efficiency was obtained at residence times of 4~7 min and its average concentrations of 47~84 ppm. It was found that adsorption by GAC was a minor mechanism for TCE and PCE removal in the activated carbon biofilters. Transformation yields of gaseous TCE and PCE were about 8~48 g of TCE/g of phenol and 6~25g of PCE/g of phenol, according to residence times. This values showed one or two orders of magnitude less than aqueous TCE degradation. The TCE and PCE activated carbon biofilter performances were observed to be a little enhanced but not significantly, when the surfactant was introduced at concentrations of 5~50 mg/L.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.110-126
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• 1993

Worker exposures to total chromium, hexavalent chromium (VI), sulfuric acid and alkaline dust at electroplating operations and worker exposures to trichloroethylene (TCE) and methyl chloroform (MCM) at degreasing operations in eleven small industrial plants were evaluated. Appropriate local exhaust ventilation systems for both operations were designed and recommended. Results of the study are summarized as follows ; 1. Out of 134 measurements for airborne hexavalent chromium concentrations, seven were exceeding the Korean occupational health standard of $50{\mu}g/m^3$ and 45 were exceeding the NIOSH standard of $1{\mu}g/m^3$. With an exception of one measurement, concentrations of total chromium were below the Korean standard of $500{\mu}g/m^3$. 2. Worker exposures to chromium were closely related to the existing control methods at the electroplating operations. Local exhaust systems, partial coverage of the tank surface, and antifoaming agents on liquid surface were adopted as control methods. 3. With an exception of one sample, airborne concentrations of sulfuric acid and alkaline dusts were below the applicable occupational heatlth standards. 4. Three plants indicated that airborne concentrations of TCE and MCM were exceeding the Korean standards. Other plants showed lower concentrations than the standards. It should be noted that generally, the activities and workloads on the day of surveys were less than normal. 5. Since the most existing ventilation systems did not satisfy the ACGIH criteria, the ventilation systems should be improved. Some examples for designing appropriate ventilation systems are presented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1025-1032
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• 2009

This study investigated a possibility to develop an adsorption process for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the solvent emitted during dry cleaning. Pitch activated carbon fiber (ACF) was chosen as an adsorbent of VOCs, and an electric swing adsorption process was utilized for the reproduction of the adsorbent after the completion of VOCs adsorption. Effects of ACF types and several solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene were examined on breakthrough curves and amounts of adsorbed VOCs. ACF was pretreated under various conditions in order to enhance the amounts of the adsorbed VOCs. Temperatures and voltages were measured for the reproduction of the ACF after full adsorption. ACF having micropores exhibited high adsorption of TCE, and high surface area of ACF could increase the adsorption property of toluene. In general, ACF could adsorb 41~54% TCE of the adsorbent weight. The increase of inlet VOCs concentration significantly decreased the breakthrough time and slightly lowered the amounts of adsorbed VOCs. Thus, ACF could effectively adsorb VOCs in low concentration in the feed stream. ACF pretreated by heat under vacuum showed excellent toluene adsorption with controlling oxygen functional groups on the ACF surface, which revealed that vacant carbon site could be the adsorption point of toluene. Most adsorbed toluene was desorbed at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 2005

In order to determine the removal rate of non-biodegradable substances and the change of their structural properties, this study was carried out by an ozone-treatment experiment on leachate collected from the landfill area of D City in Chung chung nam-do and examined the change of the chemical properties of non-biodegradable substances. The main elements of non-biodegradable substances in landfill leachate were benzene, toluene, trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, xylene, etc. and the concentration of toluene was 15.7 mg/L on the average, benzene 7.2 mg/L, trichloroethane 1.1 mg/L, trichloroethylene 0.75 mg/L and xylene 0.5 mg/L. When leachate was treated with ozone for 10 min, 30 min and 60 min, UV absorbance was reduced with the increase of reaction time, and the reduction rate was 38.6% at 60 min. TOC was removed by 13.2% at 60 min. The low reduction rate of TOC may be because TOC reacts indirectly with OH radical produced from reaction with ozone while UV absorbance usually relies on direct reaction between organic matters and ozone molecules. Color was removed by up to 97%, which suggests that ozonation is highly effective in removing coloring elements in leachate. Sixteen kinds of non-biodegradable compounds were found in the leachate and most of them had the characteristic of aromatic hydrocarbon. Among them dibutyl phthalate was identical with a substance included in the list of US EPA, which is classified as a mutagen that may cause the mutation of genes and disorders in chromosomes. In addition, 2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid and butyl octyl ester were found to be similar to substances listed by USEPA. According to the result of analyzing structural changes before and after ozonation using GC-MS, cyclic compounds and aromatic compounds were observed in the original water and aliphatic compounds were newly observed after ozonation. In addition, through ozonation, humic substances of high molecular weight were oxidized and decomposed and produced low-molecular compounds such as aldehyde, ketone and carboxyl acid and highly biodegradable aliphatic carbon, which suggests the bio-degradability of non-biodegradable substances.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.221-230
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• 2005

Catalytic wet oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in water has been conducted using $TiO_2-supported$ cobalt oxides at $36^{\circ}C$ with a weight hourly space velocity of $7,500\;h^{-1}.\;5\%\;CoO_x/TiO_2$, prepared by using an incipient wetness technique, might be the most promising catalyst for the wet oxidation although it exhibited a transient behavior in time on-stream activity. Not only could the bare support be inactive for the wet decomposition reaction, but no TCE removal also occurred by the process of adsorption on $TiO_2$ surface. The catalytic activity was independent of all particle sizes used, thereby representing no mass transfer limitation in intraparticle diffusion. XPS spectra of both fresh and used Co surfaces gave different surface spectral features for each $CoO_x,\;Co\;2P_{3/2}$ binding energy for Co species in the fresh catalyst appeared at 781.3 eV, which is very similar to the chemical states of $CoTiO_x$ such as $CO_2TiO_4\;and\;CoTiO_3$. The used catalyst exhibited a 780.3-eV main peak with a satellite structure at 795.8 eV. Based on XPS spectra of reference Co compound, the TCE-exposed Co surfaces could be assigned to be in the form of mainly $Co_3O_4$. XRD patterns for $5\%\;CoO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst indicated that the phase structure of Co species in the catalyst even before reaction is quite comparable to the diffraction lines of external $Co_3O_4$ standard. A model structure of $CoO_x$ present predominantly on titania surfaces would be $Co_3O_4$, encapsulated in thin-film $CoTiO_x$ species consisting of $Co_2TiO_4$ and $CoTiO_3$, which may be active for the decomposition of TCE in a flow of water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2020

One-dimensional analytical solutions were used for forward and back diffusion of trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in a single system with high- and low-permeability layers. Concentration profiles in a low-permeability layer, diffusive fluxes at the interface between the high- and low-permeability layers, and contaminant persistence in the high-permeability layer due to back diffusion were simulated with a comparison of semi-infinite and finite analytical solutions. In order to validate the analytical solutions used in this study, the results of one-dimensional analytical solutions developed by Yang et al. (2015) were compared with Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE). When compared with Yang et al. (2015), the analytical solutions used in this study showed good agreements (NSE = 0.99). When compared with semi-infinite analytical solutions, TCE and PCE concentration profiles in the low-permeability layer, the diffusive fluxes, and the contaminant tailings of the high-permeability layer were underestimated. In order to determine the appropriate analytical solutions based on the effective diffusion coefficient, the thickness of the low-permeability layer, and the diffusion time in the TCE and PCE contaminated site, a term of dimensionless diffusion length (Z_d) was used. If the Z_d is less than 0.7, the semi-infinite solutions can be used to simulate accurate concentration profiles in low-permeability layers. If the Z_d is greater than 0.7, the reliability of simulations may be improved by using the finite solutions.