• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.221-230
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• 2016

Multi-functional floating wetland island (mFWI) was developed in order to prevent algal bloom and to improve water quality through several unit purification processes. A test bed was applied in the stagnant watershed in an urban area, from the summer to the winter season. For the advanced treatment, an artificial phosphorus adsorption/filtration medium was applied with micro-bubble generation, as well as water plants for nutrient removal. It appeared that the efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphorus (T-P) removal was higher in the warmer season (40.9%, 45.7%) than in the winter (15.9%, 20.0%), and the removal performance (suspended solid, chlorophyll a) in each process differs according to seasonal variation; micro-bubble performed better (33.1%, 39.2%) in the summer, and the P adsorption/filtration and water plants performed better (76.5%, 59.5%) in the winter season. From the results, it was understood that the mFWI performance was dependent upon the pollutant loads in different seasons and unit processes, and thus it requires continuous monitoring under various conditions to evaluate the functions. In addition, micro-bubbles helped prevent the formation of anaerobic zones in the lower part of the floating wetland. This resulted in the water circulation to form a new healthy aquatic ecosystem in the surrounding environment, which confirmed the positive influence of mFWI.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2016

Perchlorate (ClO₄⁻) is an emerging pollutant detected in surface water, soil, and groundwater. Previous studies provided experimental evidence of autotrophic ClO₄⁻ removal with elemental sulfur (S⁰) particles and activated sludge, which are inexpensive and easily available, respectively. In addition, ClO₄⁻ removal efficiency was shown to increase when an enrichment culture was used as an inoculum instead of activated sludge. PCR-DGGE was employed in the present study to investigate the microbial community in the enrichment culture that removed ClO₄⁻ autotrophically. Microorganisms in the enrichment culture showed 99.71% or more ClO₄⁻ removal efficiency after a 7-day incubation when the initial concentration was approximately 120 mg ClO₄⁻/l. Genomic DNA was isolated from the enriched culture and its inoculum (activated sludge), and used for PCR-DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes. Microbial compositions of the enrichment culture and the activated sludge were different, as determined by their different DGGE profiles. The difference in DGGE banding patterns suggests that environmental conditions of the enrichment culture caused a change in the microbial community composition of the inoculated activated sludge. Dominant DGGE bands in the enrichment culture sample were affiliated with the classes β-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes. Further investigation is warranted to reveal the metabolic roles of the dominant populations in the ClO₄⁻ degradation process, along with their isolation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.500-508
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• 2024

Recently, there has been increasing interest in enhancing the indoor air quality, particularly in response to the growing utilization of public facilities. The focus of this study was on assessing the efficacy and safety of an air sterilizer equipped with electrolytic salt catalysts. To that end, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the vapor spraying from the air sterilizer and its cytotoxicity in condensed form on human cell lines (HaCaT, BEAS-2B, and THP-1). Against the test organisms, which comprised five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans), the air sterilizer exhibited relatively high antimicrobial activities ranging from 10.89 to 73.98% following 1 and 3 hr of vapor spraying, which were notably time-dependent. Importantly, cytotoxicity assessments on human cells indicated no significant harmful effect even at a 1.0% concentration. Comprehensive safety evaluations included morphological observations, gene expression (Bcl-2, Bax) tests, and FACS analysis of intracellular ROS levels. Consistent with previous cytotoxicity findings, these estimates demonstrated no significant changes, highlighting the air sterilizer's safety and antimicrobial activities. In a simulated 20-hr operation within an indoor environment, the air sterilizer not only showed an 89.4% removal of total bacteria but also a 100.0% removal of Escherichia sp. and fungi. This research outlines the potential of the developed electrolytic salt catalyst air sterilizer to effectively remove indoor microbial pollutants without compromising human safety, underscoring the solution that it offers for improving indoor air quality.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.228-236
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• 2015

Urbanization causes many environmental, hydrological and ecological problems such as distortion of the natural water circulation system, increase in nonpoint source pollutants in stormwater runoff, degradation of surface water quality, and damage to the ecosystem. Due to the increase in impervious surface by urbanization, developed countries apply low impact development (LID) techniques as important alternatives to reduce the impacts of urbanization. In Korea, LID techniques were employed since 2012 in order to manage nonpoint source pollutants. LID technology is a technique for removing pollutants using a variety of physical, chemical and biological mechanisms in plants, microorganisms and filter media with the reduced effluence of stormwater runoff by mimicking natural water circulation system. These LID facilities are used in a variety of filter media, but an assessment has not been carried out for the comprehensive comparison evaluation of adsorption and desorption characteristics for the pollutant removal capacity. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the adsorption and desorption characteristics of various filter media used in the LID facilities such as sand, gravel, bioceramic, wood chips and bottom ash etc. in reducing heavy metals(Pb, Cu). In this study, the adsorption affinity for Pb in all filter media was higher than Cu. Pseudo second order equation and Langmuir-3 isotherm are more applicable in the adsorption kinetic model and adsorption isotherm model, respectively. As a result of the desorption experiment, the filter media does not exceed KSLT which is the hazardous substance leaching limit, showing the capability of the filter media in LID. The bioceramic and woodchip as filter medias were evaluated and exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for Pb.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4 s.105
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• pp.447-454
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• 2003

Aluminum coagulant was applied to two eutrophic lakes (Lake Sukchon, in Seoul, and a pond on the campus of Kangwon National University), to precipitate suspended particles and phosphate from the water column. Aluminum sulfate (alum) was used for seven treatments and polyaluminum chloride (PAC) was used for one treatment. The effect of treatment varied depending on the dose of alumium coagulant. Particles and phosphate were completely precipitated from the water column with a dose of 10.0 mgAl/l. Partial removal was observed at doses of 3.3 and 1.8 mgAl/l, but not at 0.45 mgAl/l. Therefore, coagulant should be applied at a dose over the threshold in order to remove particles effectively, which seems to be between 1.8 and 10.0 mgAl/l. The length of treatment effect was determined by new inputs of nutrients and particles from external sources. Renewal of pond water by stream water caused recovery of algal growth in Lake Sukchon, and rainfall runoff and ground water pumping caused a return of turbid water in the campus pond. During treatment there was no sign of decreasing pH, or harmful effects on fish or mussels. Aluminum coagulant may be an economically feasible alternative for water quality improvement when the external control of pollutant sources is difficult. However, repeated application is required when there is a renewal of lake water or new input of nutrients.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 2020

When CO₂ foam is injected into the saline aquifer, the relative permeability of CO₂ decreases and its viscosity increases, thereby reducing mobility in porous media and ultimately improving CO₂ storge with enhanced sweep efficiency. In general, surfactants were used to fabricate CO₂ foam. Recently, nanoparticles have been used to form stable foam than surfactant. This paper introduces CO₂ storage technology using nanoparticle stabilized CO₂ foam. If the surface of the hydrophilic nanoparticles is partially modified into a CO₂-philic portion, the particles have an affinity for CO₂ and water, thus forming a stable CO₂ foam even in deep saline aquifers under high temperature and high salinity conditions, thereby it can be stored in the pores of the rock. In terms of economics, injection method using nanopaticle-stabilized CO₂ foam is more expensive than the conventional CO₂ injection, but it is estimated that it will have price competitiveness because the injection efficiency is improved. From an environmental point of view, it is possible to inject chemical substances such as surfactants and nanomaterials into aquifers or reservoirs for specific purposes such as pollutant removal and oil production. However, some studies have shown that nanoparticles and surfactants are toxic to aquatic animals, so environmentally proven substances should be used. Therefore, further research and development will be needed to study the production and injection of nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foam that are environmentally safe and economically reasonable.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.2149-2161
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• 2000

Nonliving Absidia coerulea and Thraustochitrium sp. were used as biosorbents to remove lead and cobalt that are one of representative pollutant in wastewater and radioactive liquid waste. The optimum pH range for maximum lead and cobalt removal was increased 6.5~11.4 and 8.6~12.0 for Absidia coerulea and 4.2~10.5 and 8.9~11.6 for Thraustochitrium sp. to compared to biosorbent-free control, pH of 8.4~11.2 and 10.5~11.5, respectively. With 1 g biosorbent/L at initial solution pH 5.0. Absidia coerulea and Thraustochitrium sp. took up lead from aqueous solutions to the extent of 104 and 125 mg/g biomass, respectively, whereas Absidia coerulea and Thraustochitrium sp. at initial pH 6.0 took up only 2 and 20 mg/g biomass of cobalt, respectively. For initial 500 mg Pb/L at initial pH 5.0. optimum amount of biosorbent for maximum lead uptake was 0.2 g/L for Absidia coerulea and Thraustochitrium sp., whereas optimum 3.0 g biosorbent/L was needed for initial 200 mg Co/L at initial pH 6.0. Absidia coerulea and Thraustochitrium sp. had higher adsorption capacity for lead than that of cobalt.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.420-431
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• 2010

Simple material budget models were developed to predict the dry season water quality for a river-type reservoir in Paldang, Republic of Korea. Of specific interest were the total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ (Chl. ${\alpha}$), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The models fit quite well with field data collected for 20 years and have enabled the identification of the origins of organic materials in the reservoir. The critical hydraulic load that determines the usability of phosphorus for algal production appeared to be about $1.5m\;d^{-1}$. When a hydraulic load was smaller than the critical value, the concentrations of $Chl.{\alpha}$, COD, and BOD in the reservoir water became sensitive to internal algal reactions such as growth, degradation, and settling. In spite of the recent intensive efforts for organic pollutant removal from major point sources by central and local governments, the water quality in the reservoir had not been improved. Instead, the concentration of COD increased. The model analysis indicated that this finding could be attributed to the continuing increase of the algal production in the reservoir and the allochthonous load from non-point sources. In particular, the concentrations of COD and BOD of algal origin during 2000~2007, each of which is comprised of approximately one half of the total, were approximately 2.5 times higher than those observed during 1988~1994 and approximately 1.3 times higher than those between 1995~1999. The results of this study suggested that it is necessary to reduce the algal bloom so as to improve the water quality of the reservoir.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Since 2000, environmental policies and regulations in Korea are rapidly changing to TMDL(Total Maximum Daily Load) and nonpoint source control. This is due to bad water quality in drinking water sources. Although many environmental facilities having high removal efficiency are constructed and applied in nationwide for controling various pollutants from wastewaters, the water quality in rivers is worse and worse because of nonpoint pollution. In fact, TMDL is a new environmental regulation controling total daily loadings from watershed areas. Actually, the nonpoint pollutant is originated from various landuses and its control is based on TMDL regulation. Therefore, this research is performed to determine the size of detention basin to control nonpoint pollutants from resort developing areas. The detention basin is one of best management practices, which is useful for controling pollutants and flooding from the developing areas. However, it should be designed and constructed with cost effective method. Recent 10 years rainfall data are used to determine the size of detention basin. The cost effective size is determined to 7.4mm accumulated rainfall.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.259-270
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• 2017

In this study, field-scale half-saturated bio-filter wetland equipped with recirculation system was operated with stormwater from the paved road, and its operational performance and functions of LID-BMP were analyzed and compared with other facilities. The reduction of TSS, COD, TN, and TP were 92%, 63%, 36%, and 75%, respectively. Comparison of the reduction efficiency were carried out with respect to ratio between surface and catchment areas(SA/CA). In addition, this LID-BMP facility can reduce about 70% of pollutant by treating only 18% of total rainfall runoff. The results show that LID used for this study gave similar efficiency although its ratio was smaller. In addition, comparison study was made between synthetic fiber as a filter media and organic media, which shows that there was not any significant difference between, TSS and TP reduction, but there were large difference in COD and TN removal due to the presence and absence of release of organic carbon. Meanwhile, wetland system in this study equipped with a first-flush capture gave a higher stability in terms of treatment performance.