• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2012

We investigated the effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned coal mines on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the upper reaches of the Nakdong River from May to October in 2009. Qualitative and quantitative sampling (Surber sampler: $50{\times}50$ cm; mesh size, 0.2 mm) was conducted at 7 study sites and 3 control sites in the study area. We thus sampled 117 species belonging to 53 families, 15 orders, 6 classes, and 5 phyla; the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera group (EPT-group) represented the majority of the benthic macroinvertebrate community (71 species; 64.5%). In the quantitative sampling, a total of 11,575 individuals belonging to 58 species of benthic maroinvertebrates were sampled from the study sites (Sites 1-7), whereas 2,844 individuals belonging to 79 species were sampled from the control sites (Sites A-C). Tolerant species such as oligochaetes, $Epeorus$ $pellucidus$, $Baetis$ $fuscatus$, Hydropsychidae species, and Chironomidae species were predominant in the study sites. The community indices for the study sites, such as MacNaughton's dominance index (DI) (mean${\pm}$SD, $0.52{\pm}0.21$; range, 0.33-0.85) and the Shannon diversity index ($H^{\prime}$) ($2.06{\pm}0.60$; 1.06-2.57), were different from those for the control sites (DI: $0.29{\pm}0.07$, 0.22-0.35; $H^{\prime}$: $3.13{\pm}0.14$; 3.03-3.30). In the study sites, shredders and scrapers were scarce, whereas gathering-collectors (mainly Chironomidae species) were relatively abundant, as were clingers and burrowers. The detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and similarity analyses showed that benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the study sites were clearly separated from those of the control sites, with the greatest dissimilarity being noted at the uppermost study site (Site 1), which is located close to an abandoned coal mine. The Korean saprobic index (KSI) and the ecological score using benthic macroinvertebrates (ESB) showed that the uppermost study site (Site 1) was ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic or heavily polluted, whereas other study sites were in a fair or relatively good condition.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2017

This study presents measures to enhance the efficiency of Successive Alkalinity Producing Systems(SAPS), a natural biological purification method that prevents environmental pollution arising from the release of Acid Mine Drainage(AMD) from abandoned mines into rivers and groundwater. The treatment of AMD using SAPS is based on biological processing technology that mostly involves sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB). It has been proven effective in real-world applications, and has been employed in various projects on the purification of AMD. However, seasonal decrease in temperature leads to a deterioration in the efficiency of the process because sulfate-reducing activity is almost non-existent during cold winters and early spring even if SRB is able to survive. Against this backdrop, this study presents measures to enhance the activity of the SRB of the organic layer by integrating light emitting diode(LED)s in SAPS and to maintain the active temperature using LEDs in cold winters. Given that mine drainage facilities are located in areas where power cannot be easily supplied, solar cell modules are proposed as the main power source for LEDs. By conducting further research based on the present study, it will be possible to enhance the efficiency of AMD treatment under extreme cold weather using solar energy and LEDs, which will serve as an environmentally-friendly solution in line with the era of green growth.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 2003

Sampling of waters from each stage of treatment system (Successive Alkalinity Producing System; SAPS), tailings seepage, and spring near the Hanchang coal mine of Kangwon Province were carried out seasonally and analyzed to evaluate the source and possible path of groundwater contamination by acid mine drainage (AM). Sulfur isotope compositions were measured to identify the origin of groundwater contaminations and the sulfate reduction processes in the SAPS. Low pH and high metal concentration of spring water indicates possibility of the groundwater contamination by AMD. Removal efficiency of acidity of the SAPS was 18.17 g/$\textrm{m}^2$/day on an average and the metal removal efficiency was almost 100%, which was higher than those of other treatment systems. However, no appreciable decrease of sulfur content and almost similar sulfur isotope compositions of water from each stage of the treatment system may suggest incomplete or very poor sulfate reduction by sulfate reducing bacteria. Chemical and sulfur isotope compositions showed that spring water was contaminated by seepage from mine tailings. And seepage of stonewall, a part of treatment system was affected by both tailings seepage and mine adit drainage. In this study site, the treatment system was constructed for the only AMD from mine adit not for tailings seepages, which resulted in the groundwater contamination from tailing seepages. Similar situation is expected in other abandoned coal mine areas.

• Proceedings of the Petrological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.95-97
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• 2009

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.25-36
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• 2017

This research was conducted to investigate the removal characteristics of heavy metals and sulfate ion from acid mine drainage (AMD) by multi-functional zeolite-slag ceramics (ZS ceramics), in which natural zeolite and converter slag were mixed and calcined at high temperature. The batch test showed that the removal efficiency of heavy metals by pellet-type ZS ceramics increased as the mixing weight ratio of converter slag to natural zeolite increased. The optimal mixing ratio of natural zeolite to converter slag for the removal of heavy metals and sulfate ion from AMD was observed to be 1:2~1:3. The adequate calcination temperature and time of ZS ceramics for the treatment of AMD were found to be $600{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ and 2 hours, respectively. The removal test of heavy metals and sulfate ion from AMD by the ZS ceramics prepared in optimal condition exhibited very high removal efficiencies close to 100% for all heavy metals (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) and 77.1% for sulfate ion. The experimental results in this study revealed that the ZS ceramics could function as an effective agent for the treatment of AMD.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.391-396
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• 2005

This study was conducted to neutralize acid mine drainage (AMD) of Soo and Hambaek mines, located in Kangwon-Do Korea, using $Ca(OH)_2$. When 0.295 g $Ca(OH)_2/L$(AMD) was added to the drainage in a neutralization reactor, pH of liquid in the reactor and the effluent were maintained at 9.5 and 8.4, respectively. The pH met the required effluent standard. With 10~50% of feedback of effulent sludge to the reactor, the pH of neutralized fluid in the reactor remained nearly constant, but $SO{_4}^{-2}$ concentration in the effluent increased adversely compared to the non-return sludge case. With 30% of sludge feedback, it was possible to decrease suspended solids (SS) concentration in the effluent without a problem in Fe concentration. When 100 mL of 0.1 M $BaCl_2$ was added to 1 L of AMD treated with $Ca(OH)_2$, removal efficiency of $SO{_4}^{-2}$ increased to over 90%. Aanalyses of pH, Fe, and $SO{_4}^{-2}$ showed that the optimal results were obtained when pH of neutralizatio reactor and sludge return ratio were maintained at 9.5 and 30%. This can result in possible cost reduction of 31.4% for maintenance and 29.8% for facility construction by alternating $Ca(OH)_2$ to NaOH.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.254-256
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.146-147
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• 2005

• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.35-43
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• 2012

This study was carried out for the purpose of obtaining basic data to utilize the AMD sludge as sorbent for heavy metal ions. The sludge from the treatment process of Acid Mine Drainage mainly consists of fine iron hydroxide or iron oxide hydrate and calcite, and the fine iron hydroxide or iron oxide hydrate has a property of adsorbing heavy metal ions. In this study, we investigated the physical property of the AMD sludge like as mineral composition, particle size and shape and chemical composition and also investigated the influence of dosage of sludge, adsorbing time, pH, initial concentration and sintering temperature on the adsorption of heavy metal ions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.71-74
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• 2001

AMB(Acid Mine Drainage), characterized as high concentration of metal & sulfate ions and low pH(2.0~4.0), is the world-wide problem wherever there is or has been mining activities. Though limestone has been generally used to neutralize AMD, There are metal hydroxide precipitation on the surface of limestone and excessive alkalinity formation which exceeds the regulation. In this research, concrete-recycled fine aggregate is selected for alternative neutralizing agent. Because fine recycled aggregate had more ANP than others in the preliminary research, the purpose of this research is to apply fine aggregate for AMD neutralization. Three columns packed with fine aggregates(2.5mm$O_3$) of it is calculated as 0.09(C-1), approximated 10% purity of limestone. Comparing with values of other columns(C-2: 0.01 and C-3: 0.01), there is variation of porosity and residence time induced from the precipitation of metal hydroxide. Consequently, 8 hours of HRT is enough to create adequate alkalinity and the function which could expect the variation of porosity(n) and residence time( $t_{R}$) should be applied to develop design function.lied to develop design function.