• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.114-125
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• 2016

In this study, 165 wastewater discharge facilities in 10 business types were investigated with regard to 24 specific hazardous substances that included heavy metals, VOCs, CN, and phenol in the Gwangju city. Cu in the range from from 0.008 to 35.420 mg/L was detected in all business types and the detection rate was 46.8 %. Other heavy metals, such as Cd, As, Hg, Pb, and Cr⁺⁶ were detected as well. However, their detection rates ranged between 0.6 and 1.8 %. CN and phenol were detected in one and five facilities, respectively. 12 species of VOCs were detected: chloroform 80.6 % (0.42 to 81.60 μg/L), benzene 16.4 % (1.49 to 3.31 μg/L), trichloroethylene 11.5 % (1.78 to 6.02 μg/L), 1,1-dichloroethylene 10.3 % (1.23 to 5.89 μg/L), and dichloromethane 8.5 % (0.28 to 968.86 μg/L) in the detection rate order. The concentration of VOCs was detected in trace amounts, except for dichloromethane that exceeded the effluent quality standard in three business types, namely, metal manufacturing, food industry, and car washing facility. Chloroform was detected in all business types, where 24.88 μg/L were detected in the laundry business and 53.41 μg/L in the water supply business; the mean concentration of chloroform in these two business types was higher than elsewhere. Therefore, for the disposal of non-degradable specific hazardous substances in industrial wastewater, it is necessary to introduce physical and chemical processes, such as activated carbon adsorption, fenton oxidation, ozone treatment, as well as photocatalyst and the UV radiation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.432-440
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• 2015

Biochar, a by-product from pyrolysis of biomass, is a promising option to mitigate climate change by increasing soil carbon sequestration. This material is also considered to have potential to remediate a soil with heavy metal pollution by increasing the soil's adsorptive capacity. This study conducted the assessment of two biochars considering the climate change mitigation potential and heavy metal removal capacity at the same time. Two kinds of biochars (BC_Ch, TW_Ch) were prepared by pyrolyzing the biomass of burcucumber (BC_Bm) and tea waste (TW_Bm). The soils polluted with Pb were mixed with biochars or biomass and incubated for 60 d. During the incubation, $CO_2$, $CH_4$, and $N_2O$ were regularly measured and the soil before and after incubation was analyzed for chemical and biological parameters including the acetate extractable Pb. The results showed that only the BC_Ch treatment significantly reduced the amount of Pb after 60 d incubation. During the incubation, the $CO_2$ and $N_2O$ emissions from the BC_Ch and TW_Ch were decreased by 24% and 34% compared to the BC_Bm and TW_Bm, respectively. The $CH_4$ emissions were not significantly affected by biochar treatments. We calculated the GWP considering the production of amendment materials, application to the soils, removal of Pb, and soil carbon storage. The BC_Ch treatment had the most negative value because it had the higher Pb adsorption and soil carbon sequestration. Our results imply that if we apply biochar made from burcucumber, we could expect the pollution reduction and climate change mitigation at the same time.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.304-313
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• 2016

One of the issues currently facing nuclear power plants is how to store spent nuclear waste materials which are contaminated with radionuclides such as $^{134}Cs$, $^{135}Cs$, and $^{137}Cs$. Bioremediation processes may offer a potent method of cleaning up radioactive cesium. However, there have only been limited reports on $Cs^+$ tolerant bacteria. In this study, we report the isolation and identification of $Cs^+$ tolerant bacteria in environmental soil and sediment. The resistant $Cs^+$ isolates were screened from enrichment cultures in R2A medium supplemented with 100 mM CsCl for 72 h, followed by microbial community analysis based on sequencing analysis from 16S rRNA gene clone libraries(NCBI's BlastN). The dominant Bacillus anthracis Roh-1 and B. cereus Roh-2 were successfully isolated from the cesium enrichment culture. Importantly, B. cereus Roh-2 is resistant to 30% more $Cs^+$ than is B. anthracis Roh-1 when treated with 50 mM CsCl. Growth experiments clearly demonstrated that the isolate had a higher tolerance to $Cs^+$. In addition, we investigated the adsorption of $0.2mg\;L^{-1}$ $Cs^+$ using B. anthracis Roh-1. The maximum $Cs^+$ biosorption capacity of B. anthracis Roh-1 was $2.01mg\;g^{-1}$ at pH 10. Thus, we show that $Cs^+$ tolerant bacterial isolates could be used for bioremediation of contaminated environments.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2003

This study was carried out to obtain basic data for selecting the applicable crops in reclaimed land and to provide guidelines for the rotation between paddy and upland cropping. Field experiment was conducted with six summer crops(garland chrysanthemum, young radish, small radish, kale, lettuce, red lettuce) at Dae-Ho reclaimed experiment plots in Dangjin province. Dry weights and plant heights of harvested crops were measured and soil chemical properties were analyzed. Plant height and dry weight decreased significantly with increasing soil saturation paste extract electrical conductivity(ECe) and sodium adsorption ratio(SAR). The threshold ECe of salt inhibition for six crops was less than $1dS\;m^{-1}$ for young radish and kale, greater than $4dS\;m^{-1}$ for garland chrysanthemum, and greater than $6dS\;m^{-1}$ for small radish, lettuce, and red lettuce. At higher ECe that inhibits crop growth, with every increase in $1dS\;m^{-1}$, dry weight index decreased by 3.35 for kale, 3.92 for small radish, 3.98 for young radish, 4.66 for lettuce, 7.57 for garland chrysanthemum, and 8.45% for red lettuce, respectively. The ECe causing 50% reduction of dry weight index was $18.9dS\;m^{-1}$ for small radish, $17.3dS\;m^{-1}$ for lettuce, $15.4dS\;m^{-1}$ for kale, $12.0dS\;m^{-1}$ for red lettuce, $11.3dS\;m^{-1}$ for young radish, and $11.0dS\;m^{-1}$ for garland chrysanthemum. Among the tested 6 summer crops through field experiment and in-situ survey, kale was proved to be a favorable vegetable crop at reclaimed tidal land.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2010

The Myoungbong mine located in Boseong-gun, Jellanamdo consists of Au-Ag bearing quartz veins which filled the fissures of Bulguksa granitic rocks of Cretaceous. The tailings obtained from the Myungbong mine were used to investigate the effects of various processes, such as oxidation of primary sulfides and formation(alteration) of secondary and/or tertiary minerals, on arsenic immobilization in tailings. This study was conducted via both mineralogical and chemical methods. Mineralogical methods used included gravity and magnetic separation, ultrasonic cleaning, and instrumental analyses(X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalyzer) and aqua regia extraction technique for soils was applied to determine the elemental concentrations in the tailings. Iron (oxy)hydroxides formed as a result of oxidation of tailings were identified as three specific forms. The first form filled in rims and fissures of primary pyrites. The second one precipitated and coated the surfaces of gangue minerals and the final form was altered into yukonites. Initially, large amounts of acid-generating minerals, such as pyrite and arsenopyrite, might make the rapid progress of oxidation reactions, and lots of secondary minerals including iron (oxy)hydroxides and scorodite were formed. The rate of pH decrease in tailings diminished, in addition, as the exposure time of tailings to oxidation environments was prolonged and the acid-generating minerals were depleted. Rather, it is speculated that the pH of tailings increased, as the contribution of pH neutralization reactions by calcite contained in surrounding parental rocks became larger. The stability of secondary minerals, such as scorodite, were deteriorated due to the increase in pH, and finally arsenic might be leached out. Subsequently, calcimn and arsenic ions dissociated from calcites and scorodites were locally concentrated, and yukonite could be grown tertiarily. It is confirmed that this tertiary yukonite which is one of arsenate minerals and contains arsenic in high level plays a crucial role in immobilizing arsenic in tailings. In addition to immobilization of arsenic in yukonites, the results indicate that a huge amount of iron (oxy)hydroxides formed by weathering of pyrite which is one of typical primary minerals in tailings can strongly control arsenic behavior as well. Consequently, this study elucidates that through a sequence of various processes, arsenic which was leached out as a result of weathering of primary minerals, such as arsenopyrite, and/or redissolved from secondary minerals, such as scorodite, might be immobilized by various sorption reactions including adsorption, coprecipiation, and absorption.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: Wicheon watershed has the largest irrigation area among the mid-watershed of Nakdong river. However, no investigation of irrigation water quality has been conducted on the Wicheon watershed, which evaluates the effects on the soil quality and crop cultivation. Therefore, this study aims to provide various assessments of water quality of Wicheon watershed as the scientific basic data for efficient agricultural activities. METHODS AND RESULTS: Water sampling was performed in five locations of the first tributaries of Wicheon. Wicheon watershed showed clean water quality with very low organic matters and safe water quality from metals at all points of investigation. It was estimated that the natural chemical components of Wicheon watershed were originated from water-rock interaction in Gibbs diagram. All samples were concentrated in the type of Ca-HCO₃-Cl in the Piper diagram. The quality of irrigation water was evaluated with sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), and percent sodium (%Na). The values of these water quality indices were in the range of 0.37-0.67, -2.11--0.24, 41.13-84.52% and 11.28-21.84%, respectively, and were classified as good grades at all sites. CONCLUSION: The water quality of Wicheon watershed was very low in salt, indicating good irrigation water suitable for growing agricultural products. We hope that the results of this study will be used as the basic data for the cultivation of agricultural products and promotion of their excellence.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.61-87
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• 1995

On the basis of lithology, the Precambrian Hongjesa Granitic Gneiss can be locally zoned into granoblastic granitic gneiss, porphyroblastic granitic gneiss, migmatitic gneiss from its center to the marginal part. There are no distinct differences in mineral assemblages by lithologic zoning, but it partly shows the change of mineral assemblage in the adjacent with migmatitic gneiss, thus mineral assemblage can be subdivided into Zone I and Zone II. In terms of mineral compositions, the characteristics of Zone I are coexisting K-feldspar+muscovite+sillimanite. The characteristics of Zone II are (1) breakdown of muscovite, (2) coexisting garnetScordierite, (3) coexisting garnet+cordierite + orthoamphibole. The Buncheon Granitic Gneiss is mainly composed of augen gneiss. In the adjacent area with Honjesa Granitic Gneisses, Buncheon Granitic Gneiss has the mineral assemblage of sillimanite+biotite+K-feldspar+(kyanite). Kyanite occurs as relict grains in the Buncheon and Hongjesa Granitic Gneissess. Kyanite shows anhedral to subhedral form and coexists with sillimanite in only one of these samples. Garnet from a migmatitic gneiss (Zone 11) has relatively high $X_{Fe}$ value in core and rim. Garnet from a porphyroblastic granitic gneiss(Zone I) has relatively homogemeous core but compositionally-zoned rim. Biotites show various colour from greenish-brown, brown to reddish brown at maximum adsorption. Also, the Ti, and Mg content in biotites increases from Zone I to Zone II. The plagioclases shows the chemical composition of $Ab_{84}An_{16}$ -$Ab_{70}An_{30}$ (oligoclase) in Zone I and $Ab_{70}An_{30}$ -$Ab_{50}An_{50}$(andesine) in Zone 11. These variations indicate that the gneisses in the study area experienced a upperamphibolite facies. The presence of kyanite as relict grains indicates that the metamorphic rocks in this area exprienced a high-temperature/medium-pressure type metamorphism, followed by high-temperaturellow-pressure metamorphism. Metamorphic P-T conditions for each gneiss estimated from various geothermobarometers and phase equilibria are 698-$729^{\circ}C$/6.3-11.3 kbar in augen gneiss, 621-$667^{\circ}C$/1.0-5.4 kbar in migmatitic gneiss, and 602-$624^{\circ}C$/1.9-3.4 kbar in porphyroblastic granitic gneiss. These data suggest that the study area was subjected to a clockwise P-T path with isothermal decompression (dP/dT=about 60 bar/$^{\circ}C$).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2004

A bacterial strain YC4963 with antifungal activity against Colletotrichum orbiculare, a causal organism of cucumber anthracnose was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino in Korea. Based on physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bac­terial strain was identified as Pseudomonas aurantiaca. The bacteria also inhibited mycelial growth of several plant fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani on PDA and 0.1 TSA media. The antifungal activity was found from the culture filtrate of this isolate and the active compound was quantitatively bound to XAD adsorption resin. The antibiotic compound was purified and identified as phenazine-l-carboxylic acid on the basis of combined spectral and chemical analyses data. This is the first report on the production of phenazine-l-carboxylic acid by Pseudomonas aurantiaca.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2013

In this study, physico-chemical properties and environmental fate were investigated and ecotoxicity tests using fish, daphnia and algae were conducted for an initial ecological risk assessment of 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3-one. Due to low volatility of the test substance under environmental conditions, it is likely to distributed in soil and water environment. The compound has low adsorption in the soil, with low bioconcentration potential. Acute toxicity results showed that 96 h-$LC_{50}$ for Oryzias laties was 4.7 mg/L (measured) and 48h-$EC_{50}$ for Daphnia magna was 3.3 mg/L (measured). In a growth inhibition test with Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, 72 h-$EC_{50}$ was 0.456 mg/L (growth rate, nominal) and 0.262 mg/L (yield, nominal). Using the acute toxicity value of algae, predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) in the aquatic environment was determined to be 2.62 ${\mu}g/L$ using an factor of 100. According to globally harmonized system (GHS), the compound was categorized as aquatic acute 1 for algae, while it was categorized as aquatic acute 2 for fish and daphnia. This screening assessment suggests that the test substance may pose ecological risks in the aquatic environment.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2022

CuCl₂-loaded V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ catalyst showed excellent activity in the catalytic oxidation of elemental mercury to oxidized mercury even under SCR condition in the presence of NH₃, which is well known to significantly inhibit the oxidation activity of elemental mercury by HCl. Moreover, it was confirmed that, when SO₂ was present in the reaction gas together with HCl, excellent elemental mercury oxidation activity was maintained even though CuCl₂ supported on the catalyst surface was converted to CuSO₄. This is thought to be because not only HCl but also the SO₄ component generated on the catalyst surface promotes the oxidation of elemental mercury. However, in the presence of SO₂, the total mercury balance before and after the catalytic reaction was not matched, especially as the concentration of SO₂ increased. In order to understand the cause of this, further studies are needed to investigate the effect of SO₂ in the SnCl₂ aqueous solution employed for mercury species analysis and the effect of sulfate ions generated on elemental mercury oxidation. It was confirmed that SO₂ also promotes NO_x removal activity, which is thought to be because the increase in acid sites by SO₄ generated on the catalyst surface by SO₂ facilitates NH₃ adsorption. The composition change and structure of the components present on the catalyst surface under various reaction conditions were measured by XRD and XRF. These measurement results were presented as a rational explanation for the results that SO₂ enhances the oxidation activity of elemental mercury and the NO_x removal activity in this catalyst system.