• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.52-61
• /
• 2004

In order to remediate soils contaminated with oxyanionic As and cationic Zn and Ni through the pilot-scale acid washing, the effectiveness of acid washing and the properties of contaminated soils, fine soil particle and dissolved contaminants were evaluated. $H_{2}SO_4\;and\;H_{3}PO_4$ washing at pH $2{\sim}3$ enhanced the removal of As by the presence of competitive oxyanions and HCl washing effectively removed simultaneously As, Zn and Ni. The effectiveness of soil washing was little enhanced above the critical reaction time, and the carbonate, Fe/Mn oxide and organic/sulfides associated fraction were dominantly removed. The washing of coarse soil particles was highly efficient, but that of fine soil particles($<74{\mu}m$) was recalcitrant due to the enrichment with contaminants. Moreover, the physical separation of fine particles($<149{\mu}m$) enhanced the overall efficiency of soil washing. Therefore, both chemical extraction and separation of fine soil particles showed the high effectiveness of soil washing in the intersection point to minimize the amount of fine soil particles and to maximize the chemical extraction of contaminants.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.26 no.9
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2010

Sorption characteristics of arsenic on furnace slag were investigated to remove arsenic from groundwater using furnace slag, which is industrial waste generated from steel company. Adsorption isotherm experiments and kinetic sorption experiments were performed and the chemical characteristics of supernatants from these experiments were analyzed. Results showed that all supernatants were alkaline (above pH 9) and the highest ion concentration in the solution was found with calcium (30~50 mg/L). Results of adsorption isotherms were more adequately described by the Freundlich model than Langmuir model. From adsorption isotherms experiments, it was noted that the adsorption amount of As(V) was 87% higher than that of As(III). Results of kinetic sorption experiments were more properly fitted by pseudo second order (PSO) model than pseudo first order model. Equilibrium adsorption amount ($q_e$) and relaxation time ($t_r$) calculated from PSO model increased with initial concentration of arsenic. Equilibrium adsorption amount of As(V) was higher than that of As(III) and relaxation time of As(V) was shorter than that of As(III). Adsorption isotherm results could be predicted by kinetic adsorption results, since equilibrium adsorption amount calculated through PSO model generally agreed with equilibrium adsorption amount measured from adsorption isotherm.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.39-54
• /
• 2020

This study analyzed the groundwater quality according to the depth and geological features in Gyeongsangnam-do area using groundwater quality monitoring network data to grasp the groundwater quality characteristics and to provide basic data for policy making on efficient groundwater management. Five hundred and three data sets were acquired from background water quality exclusive monitoring network in soil groundwater information system for five years (2013 ~ 2017). Except for the total coliforms and tracer items such as mercury, phenol, and others, the parameters of water quality were significant or very significant, depending on depth and geological features. As the depth got deeper, the average value of pH and electrical conductivity increased; water temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxide reduction potential, arsenic, total coliforms, and turbidity decreased; and total unfit rate for drinking water standards was lower. It was found that the sum of the positive and negative ions was the highest in the clastic sedimentary rock and the lowest in metamorphic rock. The total unfit rate for drinking water standards was the highest for metamorphic rocks, followed by clastic sedimentary rock and unconsolidated sediments and, finally, intrusive igneous rock with the lowest penetration. The Na-Cl water type, which indicated the possibility of contamination by external pollutants, appeared only at some points in shallow depths and in clastic sedimentary rocks.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.38 no.5 s.174
• /
• pp.535-545
• /
• 2005

Environmental survey from some abandoned metal mine areas was undertaken on to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic influenced by past Au-Ag mining activities. Elevated levels of As were found in tailings from the studied mine areas. This high concentration may have a impact on soils and waters around the tailing piles. In order to perform the human risk assessment, chemical analysis data of soils, rice grains and waters fur As have been used. The HQ values fer As via the rice grain and groundwater consumption were significantly higher compared with other exposure pathways in all metal mine areas. However, there were minimal soil and water dermal contact risks. The resulting Hl values of As from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas were higher than 5.0, and their toxic risk due to drinking water and rice grain was strong in these mine areas. The cancer risk of being exposed to As by the rice grain route from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas was $5.2\times10^{-4},\;6.0\times10^{-4}\;and\;8.1\times10^{-4}$, respectively. The As cancer risk via the exposure pathway of drinking water from these mine areas exceeded the acceptable risk of 1 in 10,000 fer regulatory purposes. Thus, the daily intakes of groundwater and rice grain by the local residents from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas can pose a potential health threat if exposed by long-term arsenic exposure.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.38 no.5 s.174
• /
• pp.571-577
• /
• 2005

Permeable reactive barrier using iron oxide coated sand is one of effective technologies for As(V) contaminated groundwater. However, this method is restricted to As(III), because As(III) species tends to be more weakly bound to adsorbent. In order to overcome the limitation of iron oxide coated sand application to As(III) contaminated groundwater, manganese oxide materials as promoter of As(III) removal were combined to the conventional technology in this study. For combined use of iron oxide coated sand and manganese oxide coated sand, two kinds of removal methods, sequential removal method and simultaneous removal method, were introduced. Both methods showed similar removal efficiency over $85\%$ for 6 hrs. However, the sequential method converted the As contaminated water to acid state (pH 4.5), on the contrary, the simultaneous method maintained neutral state (pH 6.0). Therefore, simultaneous As removal method was ascertained as a suitable treatment technology of As contaminated water. Moreover, for more effective As(III) remediation technique, polypropylene textile which has the characteristics of high surface area, low specific gravity and flexibility was applied as alternative material of sand. The combined use of coated polypropylenes by simultaneous method showed much more prominent and rapid remediation efficiency over $99\%$ after 6 hrs; besides, it has practical advantages in replacement or disposal of adsorbent for simple conventional removal device.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.481-490
• /
• 2003

The objectives of this study are (1) to determine the extent and degree of As contamination of the water and sediments influenced by mining activity of the abandoned Au-Ag mines, (2) to examine As speciation In contaminated water, (3) to monitor variation of As contamination in water system throughout the dry and wet seasons, and (4) to investigate the As chemical form in the sediments through the sequential extraction analyses. Natural water(mine water, surface water and groundwater) and sediments were collected in six abandoned Au-Ag mine(Au-bearing quartz veins) areas. The contamination level of As in mine water of the Dongil(524${\mu}m$/L) is more higher than the tolerance level(500 ${\mu}m$/L) for waste water of mine area in Korea. Elevated levels of As in stream water were also found in the Dongil(range of 63.7∼117.6 ${\mu}m$/L.) and Gubong(range of 56.1∼62.9 ${\mu}m$/L) mine areas. Arsenic contamination levels in groundwater used by drinking water were more significant in the Dongil(11.3∼63.5 ${\mu}m$/L), Okdong(0.2∼68.9 ${\mu}m$/L) and Gubong(2.0∼101.0${\mu}m$/L) mine areas. Arsenate[As(V), $H_2AsO_4^-$] is more dominant than arsenite[As(III), $H_3AsO_3$] in water system of the most mine areas. The concentration ratios of As(III) to As(total), however, extend to the 95% in stream water of the Okdong mine area and 70∼82% in groundwater of the Okdong and Dongjung mine areas. As a study of seasonal variation in the water system, relatively high levels of As from the dongil mine area were found in April rather than in September. Sequential extraction analysis showed that As was predominantly present as coprecipitated with Fe hydroxides from sediment samples of the Dongjung and Gubong mine(35.9∼40.5%), which indicates its possibility of re-extraction and inducing elevated contamination of As in the reductive condition. In sediments from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwachon mine area, high percentage(55.2∼83.4%) of As sulfide form was found.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to develope the remediation method of contaminated soils with metals and petroleum. The diesel degrading strain was isolated and identified from the soil contaminated by petroleum at industrial sites. Diesel biodegradation experiment was performed by diesel degrading bacteria in both solution and soil slurry. Contaminated soils by Zn or As and diesel were treated consecutively by steam-vapor extraction, biodegradation, and acid washing. The strain was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and named as Pseudomonas aeruginosa TPH1. The optimal culture conditions of TPH1 were $20^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, 3% of diesel concentration. Biodegradation of diesel was performed using the separated strain in liquid medium, and 63% of diesel was degraded in 72 hours. And 52% of diesel was removed in the tested soils. In the treatment of contaminated soils with diesel and Zn or As, 29% ~ 44% of diesel was reduced by steamvapor extraction, 60% ~ 71% of diesel was removed after biodegradation. 47% of Zn and 96% of As were removed after acid(mixture of sulfuric and oxalic acids) washing. It is recommended that consecutive treatment method of steam-vapor extraction, biodegradation and acid washing is effective for remediation of complex contaminated soils with metals and petroleum.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.63-73
• /
• 2018

Rice is a staple food source in Asian countries. In paddy field, rice plant can take up toxic elements through its roots from contaminated soils, and its leaves and grain can absorb the toxic elements deposited on the soil surface. A totla of 40 soil and polished rice samples were collected around four abandoned metal mines in Korea and analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in rice grain grown on the contaminated soils were 0.247, 0.174, 4.694, 0.804 and 16.78 mg/kg, respectively. These levels are higher than worldwide average concentrations. Assuming the rice consumption of 169 g/day by overall households in Korea, the estimated daily intakes from the rices were found to be 33, 48, and 63% for As, Cd, and Pb, respectively, of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) suggested by the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.95-105
• /
• 2011

Total extraction method and environmental standards for heavy metals in soils were revised in regulation recently. In case of Area 3, as the law amended, the soil pollution level has gone up to 4 to 13 times higher depending on the type of heavy metal. In this study, it compares the properties of heavy metals of soil by sequential extraction and total extraction methods depending on the analysis method, using the soil around mine. In case of arsenic, the soil pollution level has gone up to 4 times higher, but 6 to 10 times in the sample soil. Also, according to the results of portability evaluation depending on the type of existence form of heavy metal it exists as residual form in mine waste rock, which is less likely to move, while it exists as migrated form in tailing. Therefore, it should be considered to evaluate the soil pollution and decide the contaminated bounds depending on the existence form of heavy metals on soil to restore the polluted soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2015

The rapid industrial development is facing problem due to energy depletion in Korea. So that, it can be necessary to develop alternative energy sources. Alternative energy like biofuels can be produced by using waste fuel, which is ecofriendly. As we know, the organic waste was banned to dump in landfill and ocean dumping. The most practicable method usually used to reduce organic waste is getting feedstuff or composting, considering the discharge characteristics of agricultural by-products waste treatment were selected. In this study, bio-coal was made using agriculture by product. Biocoal was prepared by adding 50 g of uniformly mixture into reactor and was carbonized at low temperatures 210, 220, and 230℃. The time of reaction was 1, 2 and 3 hours. Bio-coal approximately was similar to the standard of solid fuels. Other characteristics of fuel were also studied. The experiments which were analyzed were moisture content and calorific value, ash, chlorine, sulfur and heavy metals analysis as mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and chromium. As a result, bio-coal 220℃, 2 hours was the optimal conditions while heating.