• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.251-261
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• 2023

Background: This paper deals with the study of natural radioactivity in rocks from Ogun State in Southwestern Nigeria. The aim is to determine radiation emissions from rocks in order to estimate radiation hazard indices. Objectives: The following objectives were targeted: 1. To determine radiation emissions from each type of rocks; 2. To estimate radiation hazard indices based on the rocks; 3. To correlate the activity concentrations of radionuclides with major oxides. Methods: The samples were analyzed using a NaI (Tl) gamma ray spectrometric detector and PerkinElmer AAnalyst 400 AAS spectrometer. Results: The activity of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were found in order of decreasing magnitude from pegmatite>granite>migmatite. In contrast, lower concentrations were found in shale, phosphate, clay stone, sandstone and limestone. The mean absorbed doses were 125±23 nGyh^-1 (migmatite), 74±13 nGy/h (granite), 72±13 nGyh^-1 (pegmatite), 64±09 nGyh^-1 (quartzite), 45±16 nGyh^-1 (shale), 41±09 nGyh^-1 (limestone), 41±11 nGyh^-1 (clay stone), 24±03 nGyh^-1 (phosphate), and 21±10 nGyh^-1 (sandstone). The outdoor effective dose rates in all rock samples were slightly higher than the world average dose value of 0.34 mSvy^-1. The percentage composition of SiO₂ in the rock samples was above 50 wt% except for in the limestone, shale and phosphate. Al₂O₃ ranged from 4.10~21.24 wt%, Fe₂O₃ from 0.39~7.5 wt%, and CaO from 0.09-46.6 wt%. In addition, Na₂O and K₂O were present in at least 5 wt%. Other major oxides, including TiO₂, P₂O₅, K₂O, MnO, MgO and Na₂O were depleted. Conclusions: The findings suggest that Ogun State may be described as a region with elevated background radiation. It is recommended that houses should be constructed with good cross ventilation and residences should use home radiation monitoring instruments to monitor radon emanating from walls.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2023

Phosphorus (P) is a macro mineral needed for bone mineralization and cell membrane structure and P is also involved in several fundamental pathways of metabolism in the body. Because of the low concentration and digestibility of P in plant ingredients that are the main components of diets for poultry and pigs, feed phosphates are usually included in diets in addition to the P contributed by plant ingredients. The most widely used feed phosphates in poultry and swine diets are dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP), but tricalcium phosphate (TCP), monosodium phosphate (MSP), and magnesium phosphate (MgP) may be used as well. Because feed phosphates are mostly produced from rock phosphate, feed phosphates have impurities that contain minerals other than P. Concentrations of P in feed phosphates range from 14.8% (MgP) to 25.7% (MSP). The standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in pigs ranges from 71% (TCP) to 95% (MSP). The STTD of Ca and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of P and Ca in feed phosphates fed to pigs and poultry have been determined only in a few experiments. Available data indicate that the STTD of Ca and SID of P in MCP are greater than in DCP in both poultry and pigs, but the SID of Ca is similar between DCP and MCP fed to broilers. Information on mineral concentrations and digestibility values in feed phosphates is needed in diet formulation for pigs and poultry, but if diets are formulated to contain equal concentrations of digestible P and Ca, it is unlikely that animal performance will be impacted by the source of feed phosphates used in the diet.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1273-1279
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• 2005

Penicillium oxalicum strain CBPS-3F-Tsa, an efficient phosphate solubilizing fungus, was evaluated for its production of organic acid in vitro and effect of inoculation on the growth promotion of Maize under greenhouse conditions. The fungus solubilized 129.1, 118.8, and 54.1 mg P/1 of tricalcium phosphate [$Ca_{3}(PO_{4})_{2}$], aluminum phosphate ($A1PO_{4}$),and ferric phosphate ($FePO_{4}$), respectively, after 72 h of incubation. Malic acid, gluconic acid, and oxalic acid were detected in the flasks supplemented with various phosphate sources [240, 146, 145 mM/1 $A1PO_{4},\;FePO_{4},\;and\;Ca_{3}(PO_{4})_{2}$, respectively] together with a large amount of malic acid followed by the other two. The effects of inoculation of P. oxalicum CBPS-3F-Tsa on maize plants were studied under pot culture conditions. P. oxalicum CBPS-3F-Tsa was inoculated to maize plants alone or together with inorganic phosphates in the form of fused phosphates (FP) and rock phosphates (RP). Inoculation of P. oxalicum CBPS-3F-Tsa increased the plant growth and N and P accumulation in plants, compared with control plants, and also had positive effects when applied with RP. The results of this study show that the fungus P. oxalicum strain CBPS-3F-Tsa could solubilize different insoluble phosphates by producing organic acids, particularly malic acid, and also improved the efficiency of RP applied to maize plants.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate nitrogen availability of applied fertilizer and to investigate yield and growth of Korean kimchi cabbage as affected by amount of fertilizer and soil fertility in organic farming applied various fertilizers in rainshelter. The head weight of Korean kimchi cabbage cultured in infertile soil (sand loam) with no amendments was very low. and that in fertile soil (clay loam) was higher than in infertile soil (sand loam). The head weight of Korean kimchi cabbage as affected by amount of fertilizer was more variable in infertile soil (sand loam) than in fertile soil (clay loam). Nitrogen availability of applied fertilizer by Korean kimchi cabbage was lower in fertile soil (clay loam) than in infertile soil (sand loam) and the lower that was, the more fertilizer applied. By application of poultry manure compost 20Mg ha-1 and natural mineral materials such as guano, phosphate rock, and potassium magnesium rock equal to amount of fertilizer recommended in conventional farming, the yield of Korean kimchi cabbage in infertile soil (sand loam) with 1% organic matter came up to 90% of the yield in fertile soil (clay loam) with 6% organic matter. Therefore natural mineral materials such as guano for N source, phosphate rock for P source, and potassium magnesium rock for K source may be able to use as environmental-friendly fertilizers in organic Korean kimchi cabbage production in highland.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2001

The present work is aimed to evaluate the conditions of the hydride generation (HG) for germanium analysis by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Twelve different kinds of acids were used such as phosphoric, hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric, perchloric, boric, tartaric, malic, oxalic, tannic, citric, and acetic acid. It was found that phosphoric acid yielded the maximum efficiency of hydride generation. Also, efficient hydride generation was obtined with the buffer solutions containing phosphate ions over a wide range of pH. In addition, in the presence of phosphoric acid the interference caused by metals was suppressed in the hydride generation of germanium. As the concentrations of a reducing agent and a stabilizing increased the hydride generation efficiency and the acid concentration proviaing the maximum intensity were increased. By using an analytical method developed in this study, the contents of germanium in water and rock samples were determined. The detection limit of germanium in the presence of phosphoric acid was $0.03{\mu}g/L$.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2005

Enterobacter intermedium oxidizes glucose to gluconic acid and sequentially converts gluconic acid to 2-ketogluconic acid (2-KGA) under aerobic condition. Shaking incubation of E. intermedium in a broth medium containing 22.5 g glucose, 8.2 g gluconic acid and 40 g rock phosphate per liter resulted in $1028mg\;L^{-1}$ soluble phosphate. The culture broth was used as phosphate bio-fertilizer (PBF) in this experiment. To evaluate PBF produced by E. intermedium on lettuce growth, five treatments (PBF1/3, PBF2/3, PBF3/3, BP, and MF) were used. In MF and BP treatments, $P_2O_5$ 5.9 kg of mineral fertilizer per 10a was added, while in PBF1/3, PBF2/3, and PBF3/3 treatments, culture broth containing one third, two third, and same amount of soluble $P_2O_5$ 5.9 kg per 10a was applied, respectively. At 20, 35, and 50 days after transplanting of lettuce, plant growth components, biomass, enzyme activities and soil chemical properties were analyzed. Dehydrogenase activity and available phosphate concentration of rhizosphere in phosphate bio fertilizer treatments (PBF1/3, PBF2/3, PBF3/3) were generally higher compared to MF and BP treatments. Soil biomass in PBF3/3 treatment was significantly higher than MF and BP treatments at early growth stage. However, there was no significant difference among all treatments with time. Plant fresh weights in PBF1/3, PBF2/3, and MF treatments were better than those in BP and PBF3/3 treatments. However, in PBF2/3 treatment the highest fresh weight was discovered where alkaline phosphatase activity was generally higher than other treatments at 35 and 50 days. Enhancement of lettuce growth at 35 and 50 days in PBF2/3 treatment was associated with greater phosphate uptake in lettuce tissue. As regarding all results, PBF showed better lettuce growth compared to mineral phosphate fertilizer where PBF2/3 treatment resulted in increase of lettuce fresh weight by 23% and phosphate uptake by 50%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2005

This study was performed to compare the treatment efficiencies of two media, newly developed Bio-rock and conventional gravel, in soil clothing contact oxidation process. The composition of synthetic wastewater were $COD_{Cr}$ $150{\sim}370\;mg/L$, $BOD_5$ $150{\sim}270\;mg/L$, T-N $20{\sim}60\;mg/L$, T-P $5{\sim}25\;mg/L$, pH 7 and 2 mL/L of trace element solution. The experiment using two reactors was comparatively conducted for the flow rate of 40 L/d for 13 months, respectively. Initially Bio-rock reactor was increased to pH 12 due to $Ca(OH)_2$ with hydration of cement, but gravel reactor was dropped to pH 4 due to the degradation of organic material and nitrification. This significant pH variation deteriorated the growth and activity of microorganism. But the high pH of Bio-rock seems favorite to ammonia stripping and precipitation of phosphate. Such pH variation of Bio-rock and gravel reactors were finally stabilized to pH 8 and pH 6, respectively. The removal efficiencies of organic compounds from Bio-rock reactor were 96% of $COD_{Cr}$, 98% of $BOD_5$, 80% of T-N and 85% of T-P which stably coping against variation of influent concentration. But those of gravel reactor were 96% of $COD_{Cr}$, 96% of $BOD_5$, 42% of T-N and 40% of T-P, respectively. The Bio-rock was 2 times higher than T-N and T-P in treatment efficiency. And electron-microscopic examination showed that Bio-rock was more favorable to microbial adherence than gravel. The microbial populations were $5.2{\times}10^6\;CFU/mL$ of Bio-rock reactor compared to $2.6{\times}10^6\;CFU/mL$ in gravel reactor. In result Bio-rock was favor to microbial adherence and high treatment efficiency in spite of variation of influent concentration which had the advantages in saving running time and reducing site requirement.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1972

In order to expect the effect of silica with large quantity application of current Fused calcium-magnesium phosphate on the paddy rice, there are difficulties of excess phosphorus application because of the high content of phosphate in this fertilizer. This experiment was discussed on the effect of posphate and silica absorbed by rice plant from the low concentrated fused calcium-magnesium phosphate which was fused with mixture of rock phosphate, chemical calcium oxide, magnesium oxide and silicate oxide in the furnace using coke, 1. The fusion material contained 8.9% of citric acid soluble $P_2O_5$ and 33% of soluble $SiO_2$. 2. The rice yields were increased with high significance accompanying the application levels of fused material amounts. 3. No. of grains per head, weight of 1,000 grains and percent of filled grain were caused to increase the productivity of rice plant on account of the high content of silica in straws absorbed from fusion material. The treatment of 300 kg/10a. was the highest yield among the levels of fusion material. 4. At the growing periods of rice plant, amount of absorbed phosphate was higher in the small amount treatment of fusion material until the formation period of young head, and was highest in the treatment of 300 kg/10a. leval among them but slightly desreased at 500 kg/10a. level at the harvest. Amount of absorbed silica was the same trend with phosphorus at the begining of growth period but increased rapidly from the formation period of young head to harvest in the large quantity application levels. 5. Much amount of nutrients were residued in the soil after experiment pacing with application levels. 6. The effect of silica and phosphate on rice plant can be expected with fusion material but it is necessary to decrease the phosphate content on account of the large residue of phosphate in the soil after experiment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2019

Utilization of organic waste as a renewable energy source is promising for sustainability and mitigation of climate change. Pyrolysis converts organic waste to gas, oil, and biochar by incomplete biomass combustion. Biochar is widely used as a soil conditioner and adsorbent. Biochar adsorbs/desorbs metals and ions depending on the soil environment and condition to act as a nutrient buffer in soils. Biochar is also regarded as a carbon storage by fixation of organic carbon. Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are strictly controlled in many wastewater treatment plants because it causes eutrophication in water bodies. P and N is removed by biological and chemical methods in wastewater treatment plants and transferred to sludge for disposal. On the other hand, P is an irreplaceable essential element for all living organisms and its resource (phosphate rock) is estimated about 100 years of economical mining. Therefore, P and N recovery from waste and wastewater is a critical issue for sustainable human society. For the purpose, intensive researches have been carried out to remove and recover P and N from waste and wastewater. Previous studies have shown that biochars can adsorb and desorbed phosphates implying that biochars could be a complementary fertilizer. However, most of the conventional biochar have limited capacity to adsorb phosphates and nitrate. Recent studies have focused on biochar impregnated with metal salts to improve phosphates and nitrate adsorption by synthesizing biochars with novel structures and surface properties. Metal salts and metal oxides have been used for the surface modification of biochars. If P removal is the only concern, P adsorption kinetics and capacity are the only important factors. If both of P and N removal and the application of recovery are concerned, however, P and N desorption characteristics and bioavailability are also critical factors to be considered. Most of the researches on impregnated biochars have focused on P removal efficiency and kinetics. In this study, coffee waste is thermally treated to produce biochar and it was impregnated with Mg/Al to enhance phosphates and nitrate adsorption/desorption and P bioavailability to increase its value as a fertilizer. Kinetics of phosphates and nitrate adsorption/desorption and bioavailability analysis were carried out to estimate its potential as a P and N removal adsorbent in wasewater and a fertilizer in soil.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Phosphate rock, phosphogypsum, and products in phosphate processing facility contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Therefore, they may give rise to enhanced radiation dose to workers due to inhalation of airborne particulates. Internal dose due to particle inhalation varies depending on particle properties. The objective of the present study was to characterize particle properties at the largest phosphate processing facility in Korea. A cascade impactor was employed to sample airborne particulates at various processing areas in the plant. The collected samples were used for characterization of particle size distribution, particle concentration in the air, and shape analysis. Aerodynamic diameters of airborne particulates ranged 0.03-100 ${\mu}m$ with the highest concentration at the particle size range of 4.7-5.8 ${\mu}m$ (geometric mean = 5.22 ${\mu}m$) or 5.8-9.0 ${\mu}m$ (geometric mean = 7.22 ${\mu}m$). Particle concentrations in the air varied widely by sampling area up to more than two orders of magnitude. The large variation resulted from the variability of mechanical operations and building ventilations. The airborne particulates appeared as spheroids or rough spherical fragments across all sampling areas and sampled size intervals. Average mass densities of phosphate rocks, phosphogypsums, and fertilizers were 3.1-3.4, 2.1-2.6, and 1.7 $gcm^{-3}$, respectively. Radioactivity concentration of uranium series in phosphate rocks varied with country of origin, ranging 94-866 $Bqkg^{-1}$. Among the uranium series, uranium was mostly concentrated on products, including phosphoric acid or fertilizers whereas radium was concentrated on byproducts or phosphogypsum. No significant radioactivity of $^{226}Ra$ and $^{228}Ra$ were found in fertilizer. However, $^{40}K$ concentration in fertilizer was up to 5,000 Bq $g^{-1}$. The database established in this study can be used for the accurate risk assessment of workers due to inhalation of airborne particles containing NORM. In addition, the findings can be used as a basic data for development of safety standard and guide and for practical radiation safety management at the facility.