• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-231
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• 2023

Biopolymer stabilization is a sustainable alternative to traditional techniques that cause a lesser negative impact on the environment during production and application. The study aims to minimize the biopolymer dosages by sizing the bio-additives to the nanoscale. This study combines the advantages of bio and nanomaterials in geotechnical engineering applications and attempts to investigate the behaviour of a low viscous biopolymer, nano sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (nCMC), to treat organic soil. Soil is treated with 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00% of nano-bio additive, and its effect on the plastic behaviour, compaction characteristics, strength, hydraulic conductivity (HC) and compressible nature are investigated. The strength increased by 1.68 times after 90 days of curing at a dosage of 0.5% nCMC through the formation of gel threads connecting the soil particles that stiffened the matrix. The viscosity of 1% nCMC increased exponentially, deterring fluid flow through the voids and reduced the HC by 0.85 times after curing for 90 days. Also, beyond the optimum dosage of 0.50%, the nCMC forms a film around the soil particles that inhibits the inter-particle cohesion causing a reduction in strength. Experimental results show that nCMC can effectively substitute conventional additives to stabilize the soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.87-90
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• 2003

This research examines the feasibility of using laboratory-synthesized nano scale zero-valent iron particles to remove arsenic from aqueous phase. Batch experiments were performed to determine arsenic sorption rates as a function of the nano scale zero-valent iron solution concentration. Rapid adsorption of arsenic was achieved with the nano scale zero-valent iron. Typically 1 mg $L^{-1}$ arsenic (III) was adsorbed by 5 g $L^{-1}$ nano scale zero-valent iron below the 0.01 g $L^{-1}$ concentration within 7min. The kinetics of the arsenic sorption followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. Observed reaction rate constants ( $K_{obs}$) varied between 11.4 to 129.0 $h^{-1}$ with respect to different concentrations of nano scale zero-valent iron. A variety of analytical techniques were used to study the reaction products including HGAAS (hydride generator atomic adsorption spectrophotometer), SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). Our experimental results suggest novel method for efficient removal of arsenic Iron groundwater.r.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.123-126
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• 2006

Reduction kinetics and intermediates behaviour of three high explosives (HMX, RDX, and TNT) were studies in batch reactors using either nano or micro size zero valent iron(ZVI) as reducing agent. The kinetics constants normalize to the mass of iron($k_M$) or to the surface area ($k_{SA}$) were measured and compared along with the changes of intermediate concentrations of each explosive. Results showed that $k_M$ and $k_{SA}$ values neither correlated each other nor explained the behaviour of intermediates of each high explosive in the batch reactor, in which initial intermediates decreased rapidly with nano ZVI treatment whereas the intermediates accumulated and stayed longer in the micro ZVI treated reactor.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.81-89
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• 2013

Concerns have been raised over the impact of nano materials on soil and groundwater environment with the increasing attention to the potential applications of carbon nano materials in various fields. Particularly, carbon nano materials introduced into water environment readily make complexes with humic acid (HA) due to their hydrophobic nature, so there have been increasing numbers of studies on the interaction between HA and carbon nano materials. In this study, we investigated the solubility of HA and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in three different surfactant solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Brij 30 and Triton X-100, and evaluated whether the HA can be effectively desorbed from the surface of MWCNT by surfactant. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal adsorption condition for HA to MWCNT. Futhermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Brij 30, Triton X-100 were used to elucidate the effect of desorption and separation on adsorbed HA on MWCNT. As a result, HA solution with 12.7 mg of total organic carbon (TOC) and 5 mg of MWCNT showed the highest adsorption capacity at pH 3 reacted for 72 hrs. Weight solubilizing ratio (WSR) of surfactants on HA and MWCNT was calculated. HA had approximately 2 times lower adsorption capacity for the applied three surfactants compared to those of MWCNT, implying that the desorption of HA may occur from the HA/MWCNT complex. According to the results of adsorption isotherm and weight solubilizing ratio (WSR), the most effective surfactants was the SDS 1% soluiton, showing 53.63% desorption of HA at pH 3.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.139-146
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• 2015

This paper describes a effect of nano-bubble on removal of complex heavy metals, in order to remove pollutants of soil with copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) based on column test. It was conducted column test considering inflow and fine soil contents condition, and then it was analyzed removal effect of nano-bubble on Cu and Cu/Pb. The test result showed that the removal effect of the nano-bubble was higher than that of distilled water regardless of fine soil contents in case of Cu pollutant, and the removal effect of nano-bubble on heavy metals was found to have a significant impact on Pb than Cu in case of Cu/Pb pollutants. It was also analyzed that engineering properties (like a flow path and permeability) of soil due to void ratio has influenced a significant impact the pollutants removal of nano-bubble. The test results determined that nano-bubble can be applied as a flushing agent for priority target pollutant in complex heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 2010

We examined the distribution of exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing bacteria population in rhizosphere soils of domestic medicinal herbs; Angelica sinensis, Atractytodes japonica, Achyranthes japonica, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, and Astragalus membranaceus. Fifty-six percent of the total isolates from rhizosphere soil of Angelica sinensis were EPS producing bacteria, suggesting the dominance of EPS producing bacteria in rhizosphere soil of Angelica sinensis. EPS producing bacteria were enumerated in root system (rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane, inside of root) of Angelica sinensis. Bacterial density of rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane, and inside of root were distributed $9.0{\times}10^6CFU/g{\cdot}soil$, $7.0{\times}10^6CFU/g{\cdot}soil$, and $1.4{\times}10^3CFU/g{\cdot}soil$, respectively. EPS producing bacteria from rhizosphere soil were categorized into five major phylogenetic groups: Alphaproteobacteria (4 strains), Betaproteobacteria (6 strains), Firmicutes (2 strains), Actinobacteria (3 strains), and Bacteroidetes (1 strain) subdivisions. Also, the EPS producing isolates from rhizoplane were distributed as 7 strains in Alphaproteobacteria, 3 strains in Betaproteobacteria, 2 strains in Actinobacteria, 3 strains in Bacteroidetes, and 1 strain in Acidobacteria subdivisions. All of the EPS producing bacteria inside of root belong to genus Chitinophaga. Burkholderia caribiensis DR14, Terriglobus sp. DRP35, and Rhizobium hainanense SAP110 were selected in 112 EPS producing bacteria. These appeared to have produced high levels of exopolysaccharide 6,555 mpa.s, 3,275 mpa.s, and 1,873 mpa.s, respectively. The purified EPS was analyzed Bio-LC. As neutral sugars, glucose, galactose, mannose were detected and as amino sugars, galactosamine and glucosamine were detected. Especilally, analysis of Bio-LC showed that Rhizobium hainanense SAP110 produced glucose (60~89%) and glucosamine (8.5%) as major neutral sugar and amino sugar, respectively.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2018

Soil washing is one of the most frequently used remediation technologies for heavy metal-contaminated soils. Inorganic and organic acids and chelating agents that can enhance the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils have been employed as soil washing agents. However, the toxicity, low removal efficiency and high cost of these chemicals limit their use. Given that humic substance (HS) can effectively chelate heavy metals, the development of an eco-friendly, performance-efficient and cost-effective soil washing agent using a nano-scale chelator composed of HS was examined in this study. Copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) were selected as target heavy metals. In soil washing experiments, HS concentration, pH, soil:washing solution ratio and extraction time were evaluated with regard to washing efficiency and the chelation effect. The highest removal rates by soil washing (69% for Cu and 56% for Pb) were achieved at an HS concentration of 1,000 mg/L and soil:washing solution ratio of 1:25. Washing with HS was found to be effective when the pH value was higher than 8, which can be attributed to the increased chelation effect between HS and heavy metals at the high pH range. In contrast, the washing efficiency decreased markedly in the low pH range due to HS precipitation. The chelation capacities for Cu and Pb in the aqueous phase were determined to be 0.547mmol-Cu/g-HS and 0.192mmol-Pb/g-HS, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.350-362
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• 2020

In this study, nano Fe°-impregnated biochar (INPBC) was prepared using pruning residues and one-pot synthetic method and evaluated its performance as an amendment agent for the stabilization of arsenic-contaminated soil. For the preparation of INPBC, the mixture of pruning residue and Fe (III) solution was heated to 220℃ for 3hr in a teflon-sealed autoclave followed by calcination at 600℃ under N₂ atmosphere for 1hr. As-prepared INPBC was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, BET, SEM. For the stabilization test of as-prepared INPBC, As-contaminated soils (Soil-E and Soil-S) sampled from agricultural sites located respectively near E-abandoned mine and S-abandoned mine in South Korea were mixed with different of dosage of INPBC and cultivated for 4 weeks. After treatment, TCLP and SPLP tests were conducted to determine the stabilization efficiency of As in soil and showed that the stabilization efficiency was increased with increasing the INPBC dosage and the concentration of As in SPLP extractant of Soil-E was lower than the drinking water standard level of Ministry of Environment of South Korea. The sequential fractionation of As in the stabilized soils indicated that the fractions of As in the 1st and 2nd stages that correspond liable and known as bioavailable fraction were decreased and the fractions of As in 3rd and 4th stages that correspond relatively non-liable fraction were increased. Such a stabilization of As shows that the abundant nano Fe° on the surface of INPBC mixed with As-contaminated soils played the co-precipitation of As leaching from soil by surface complexation with iron. The results of this study may imply that INPBC as a promising amendments for the stabilization of As-contaminated soil play an important role.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1069-1074
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• 2009

This study investigated soil microbial community and growth of Zea mays to compare the toxicity of nano and micro-sized Cu and Zn oxide particles in microcosm system. In the presence of nanoparticles, biomass of Zea mays reduced by 30% compared with micro-sized particles and inhibited growth. Dehydrogenase activity was inhibited by CuO nano although it was increased by ZnO nano particles. According to the Biolog test, the microbial diversity was decreased after exposed to CuO nanoparticles and ZnO microparticles. Therefore, though it is widely recognized that nanoparticles are more harmful than microparticles, we can conclude that the diversity of microbial community does not always influenced by the size of particles of nano and micro.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2023

Once a site is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), serious environmental and human health risks are inevitable. Therefore, innovative but economical in situ remediation technologies must be immediately applied to the contaminated site. Recently, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nano-ZVI) particles have successfully been applied for the dechlorination of various chlorinated organic compounds like TCE, PCE and DDT, and they are considered to be environmentally safe due to the high abundance of iron in the earth's crust. Nano-ZVIs are much more reactive than granular ones, but tend to agglomerate due to their high surface energy and magnetic properties. In order to prevent them from being agglomerated toward larger particles, TiO₂ was used as a support to immobilize the nano-ZVI particles as much as possible. 10wt% ZVI/TiO₂ was prepared by adding NaBH₄ slowly into an FeSO₄/TiO₂ aqueous slurry. In spite of their non-uniformity in size, the nano-ZVI particles were quite successfully dispersed onto the exterior surface of a non-porous TiO₂ powder. The ZVI/TiO₂ was then employed to degrade Aroclor 1242, a kind of PCBs standard, in spiked soil, and its reactivity towards the degradation of Aroclor 1242 was investigated. The fabricated ZVI/TiO₂ degraded Aroclor 1242 in soil quite effectively, but the creation of remaining dechlorinated compounds, possibly high molecular weight hydrocarbons, in the soil was unavoidable.