• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.1471-1480
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• 2020

This research presents a case study on the remediation of a radioactive waste (uranium: U) utilizing a multi-objective fuzzy optimization in an electrocoagulation process for the iron-stainless steel and aluminum-stainless steel anode/cathode systems. The incorporation of the cumulative uncertainty of result, operational cost and energy consumption are essential key elements in determining the feasibility of the developed model equations in satisfying specific maximum contaminant level (MCL) required by stringent environmental regulations worldwide. Pareto-optimal solutions showed that the iron system (0 ㎍/L U: 492 USD/g-U) outperformed the aluminum system (96 ㎍/L U: 747 USD/g-U) in terms of the retained uranium concentration and energy consumption. Thus, the iron system was further carried out in a multi-objective analysis due to its feasibility in satisfying various uranium standard regulatory limits. Based on the 30 ㎍/L MCL, the decision-making process via fuzzy logic showed an overall satisfaction of 6.1% at a treatment time and current density of 101.6 min and 59.9 mA/㎠, respectively. The fuzzy optimal solution reveals the following: uranium concentration - 5 ㎍/L, cumulative uncertainty - 25 ㎍/L, energy consumption - 461.7 kWh/g-U and operational cost based on electricity cost in the United States - 60.0 USD/g-U, South Korea - 55.4 USD/g-U and Finland - 78.5 USD/g-U.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.484-492
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• 2016

This study is the numerical analysis for the ground stability assessment in ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$mine. The subsidence factors applied to the numerical analysis were as follows. First, the deterioration of the rock mass properties by excavation of the disturbed zone. Second, using the average lateral pressure coefficient of Korea. Third, a study of the mine history. Fourth, the excavating collapsed rock mass in numerical analysis based on the assumption that the rock mass around the goaf was collapsed due to the mining. The developed methods were applied to the cross section (5+10) of the actual subsidence in ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$mine. The feasibility of the numerical analysis methods was confirmed by providing the same results as those of the actual subsidence. Next, the developed methods were applied to the cross section (3+10) that had a high probability of subsidence and the ground stability was evaluated. The analysis results show that the vertical displacement for the 5+10 cross section occurs at a maximum of 46 mm, whereas the analysis results show that the vertical displacement for the 3+10 cross section occurs at a maximum of 7 mm. Hence, it is concluded that the probability for subsidence is low.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.124-129
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• 2018

Methane is the cleanest fuel and supplies by many distributed type: liquefaction natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), and pipeline natural gas (PNG). Natural gas is mainly composed by methane and has been discovered in the oil and gas fields. Coal bed methane (CBM) is also one of them which reserved in coalbed. This significant new energy sources has emerge to convert an energy source, hydrogen and hydrogen-driven chemicals. For this CBM, this paper was written to analyze the geological analysis and reserves in Mongolian Tavan Tolgoi CBM coal mine and to examine the application field. This paper is mainly a preliminary feasibility report analyzing the business of Tavan Tolgoi CBM and its exploitable gas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.553-563
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• 2018

In this study, the location conditions and optimal technologies required for creating urban municipalities that can utilize the space in an abandoned mine area, where there is no infrastructure related to recycling wastes and valuable metals, are investigated. The urban mining industry deals with mineral resources through the processing of high value-added industrial by-products and wastes, and it is a useful linkage industry for the development of mineral resources and prevention of mining hazards. Urban mining technologies targeted at the abandoned mine area constitute screening, extraction, and smelting for recycling waste products. By analyzing the technologies available, an industrial network can be developed for recycling waste batteries and catalysts, which are promising raw materials. It is also important to establish an appropriate location for related industries that can generate value-added resources, rather than the resource supply and demand conditions seen in general urban mines. In order to overcome the accessibility and infrastructure limitations, the economic foundation of the abandoned mine area should consider the linkage of raw material supply, key technologies for recycling useful mineral resources that are derived from urban mines, spatial and site conditions, and industrial characteristics.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2017

In a previous study, we assessed the feasibility of ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$) as a washing agent in bench-scale in-situ soil washing to remove Pb from agricultural paddy soil. Herein is a subsequent study to evaluate variations in soil properties after $FeCl_3$ soil washing in terms of fractionation and bioavailability of Pb and chemical properties of the soil. After soil washing, the soil pH decreased from 4.8 to 2.6 and the exchangeable fractions of Pb in the soil increased from 12 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg. Variations in the Pb fractionation of the soil increased Pb bioavailability by almost three-fold; however,the base saturation decreased by 75%. The concentrations of total nitrogen and available phosphate were similar before and after soil washing. The available silicate concentration significantly increased after soil washing but was two times lower than that of soil washed with HCl, which is widely used as a washing agent. This indicates that $FeCl_3$ can be an acceptable washing agent that protects the soil clay structure. The results suggest that soil amendment, such as liming, is needed to recover soil pH, reduce mobility of Pb, and provide exchangeable bases of Ca, Mg, and K as essential elements for the healthy growth of rice plants in reused soil that has been washed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.491-495
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• 2014

Phytoremediation is a technology using plants and associated soil microbes to reduce the concentrations or toxic effects of contaminants in the environments. It is regarded as a cost-effective, efficient, eco-friendly, and solar-driven technology with good public acceptance. This study was conducted to find the plants accumulating heavy metals in soils contaminated with Cd and Pb. Experimental plots (plot size: $0.81m^2$) was artificially contaminated using a contaminated soil collected from a field in vicinity of Wondong mine (WD). Sunflower, corn and castor were tested for their potential to remove heavy metals from the contaminated soils. The results indicated that sunflower was most effective in accumulating heavy metals and thus remedying the soils among the three crops. Dry weight and heavy metal uptake of sunflower shoot differed with growth period. For example, the Cd content of shoots including leaf and stem were 0.31mg, 2.23 mg, and 0.96 mg per plot at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after planting in Cd4-WD treatment; in addition, the dry weight of the shoots in Cd8-WD treatment was reduced due to heavy metal toxicity. This experiment showed that sunflower absorbed Cd, Pb and Zn in their shoots up to 8 weeks of planting; thereafter heavy metals uptake was diminished. This implies that the efficiency of these plants in cleaning the contaminated soils may be high at the early stage of plant growth.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2010

Gold and silver deposits within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are located in Yeongam district, Cheollanamdo-province. They are composed of vein ore bodies infilling the fractures of Cretaceous rhyolitic tuff. The Eunjeok mine have three gold and silver bearing hydrothermal veins which is infilling the fracture of rhyolitic tuff. Major ore minerals within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena and minor ores are electrum, native silver and argentite. Sericitization is dominant in alteration zone and chloritization and dickitization is minor. Quartz veins in the Eunjeok and Sangeun mine have the similar paragenesis and vein textures such like breccia, crustiform, comb and vuggy morphology indicating the formation of typical epithermal environment. In order to carry out the preliminary feasibility study of mine according to the commodity and elucidate the occurrence features of mineral resources from Eunjeok and Sangeun mine, common commodity (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, W, Au and U), and industrial commodity (In, Re, Ga, Ge, Se, Te, Y, Eu and Sm) for 17 ore specimen were analyzed. It is tentatively thought that there is no exploitable mine for iron, lead, zinc, copper, tungsten and uranium based on the preliminary result. If the reserves are secured through the detailed prospecting in case of molybdenum and silver, it is tentatively thought that there will be exploitable deposits depending on international metal price. If we assume the vein width from 0.25 m to 2 m including alteration zone with the gold grade of 80g/t, it is inferred that the resources amount of the Eunjeok-Sangeun mines range from 6.5 to 65ton. However, as the vein structure of the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines is developed together with alteration zone, it should be estimated to include potential alteration zone in order to yield the average grade. It is needed to carry out more exploration in the near future because the reserves can be flexibly estimated according to the change of average grade considering the alteration zone.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.564-570
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• 2013

Domestic treatment facilities for acid mine drainage (AMD) mostly used a passive treatment process. But some passive treatment facility discharged high manganese concentrations because it is required high pH (>9) for abiotic oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(IV). This study was focused on the feasibility of biological manganese treatment using the manganese-oxidizing bacteria (Pseudomonas sp. MN5) from AMD and economical application method of it. To investigate the various conditions of water quality the most part of the experiments were based on batch test. And result of it showed that maximum manganese oxidation rate were $10.4mg/L{\cdot}h$ at the pH7. We also performed small column tests in which MOB were attached to the functional polyurethane (FPU) media containing alkaline chemicals. Manganese concentration decreased 42 mg/L to below 6 mg/L. But anaerobic condition formed by excessive bacterial respiration in column resulted in increasing effluent manganese concentration.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 2009

Arsenic at abandoned mine sites has adversely affected human health in Korea. In this study, the feasibility of using cationic surfactant-modified activated carbon (MAC) to remove As(V) was evaluated in terms of adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, and column experiments. The adsorption of As(V) onto MAC was satisfactorily simulated by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm model. In column experiments, the breakthrough point of AC was 28 bed volumes (BV), while that of MAC increased to 300 BV. The modification of AC using cationic surfactant increased the sorption rate and sorption capacity with regard to As(V). As a result, MAC is a promising adsorbent for treating As(V) in aqueous streams.