• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.175-185
• /
• 1993

Soils and dusts collected from Changhang smelter area were analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd in order to determine their dispersion pattern and mode of occurrences, and to investigate the pollution level of heavy metals such as Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd by smelting activity. The soil pH of Changhang area is in the range of 3.7~8.8, and increased with increasing distance from the smelter site. The particles containing heavy metals are several tens of ${\mu}m$ in diameter, and have well crystal form. Samples collected near the smelter show similar particle properties in size, shape, and composition, which means that they could be originated from the same contamination source. Element couples of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd indicate high correlation with each other, which means that Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd could be originated from the same point source of smelter. Heavy metal contents were decayed to background levels from 2.5 kilometer away from the smelter.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.83-95
• /
• 2012

China has been a top producer and exporter of refined lead products in the world since the year 2000. After the phasing-out of leaded gasoline in the late 1990s, non-ferrous metallurgy and coal combustion have been identified as potential major sources of aerosol lead in China. This paper presents the single particle analytical results of ambient aerosol particles collected near a lead smelter using a scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Aerosol particle samples were collected over a 24-hour period, starting from 8 pm on 31 May 2002, using a high volume TSP sampler. For this near source sample, 73 particles among 377 particles analyzed (accounting for 19.4%) were lead-containing particles mixed with other species (S, Cl, K, Ca, and/or C), which probably appeared to be from a nearby lead smelter. Lead-containing particles of less than $2{\mu}m$ size in the near source sample were most frequently encountered with the relative abundances of 42%. SEM-EDX analysis of individual standard particles, such as PbO, PbS, $PbSO_4$, $PbCl_2$, and $PbCO_3$, was also performed to assist in the clear identification of lead-containing aerosol particles. Lead-containing particles were frequently associated with arsenic and zinc, indicating that the smelter had emitted those species during the non-ferrous metallurgical process. The frequently encountered particles following the lead-containing particles were mineral dust particles, such as aluminosilicates (denoted as AlSi), $SiO_2$, and $CaCO_3$. Nitrate- and sulfate-containing particles were encountered frequently in $2-4{\mu}m$ size range, and existed mostly in the forms of $Ca(NO_3,SO_4)/C$, $(Mg,Ca)SO_4/C$, and $AlSi+(NO_3,SO_4)$. Particles containing metals (e.g., Fe, Cu, and As) in this near source sample had relative abundances of approximately 10%. Although the airborne particles collected near the lead smelter contained elevated levels of lead, other types of particles, such as $CaCO_3$-containing, carbonaceous, metal-containing, nitrates, sulfates, and fly-ash particles, showed the unique signatures of samples influenced by emissions from the lead smelter.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2010

Heavy metals in soils exist in various forms dependent upon surrounding conditions. As the Janghang smelter area is of concern for its high elevated heavy metal concentrations, Korean government decided to remediate the area. Main objectives of this research were; to analyze heavy metal concentrations and their existing forms in the vicinity of the smelter; and to understand differences made by analysis techniques of heavy metals. Top soils of rice field, crop field, bare field, and forestry in the area were sampled and analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, and As were analyzed with two pretreatment techniques adopted using 0.1 N HCl and aqua regia. To analyze existing forms of heavy metals, Tessier's schemes for sequential extraction technique were adopted. Exchangeable fraction and carbonate bound fraction of heavy metals may pose potential threat to environment and were in the order of Pb > As > Cu > Cd. If assessing mobile fraction of heavy metals by land uses, the order was forestry > bare land > crop field > rice field. When analyzed using Tessier's scheme, high ratio of residual fractions to total arsenic concentration should be considered for remediation design of the area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.52-61
• /
• 2014

Metal concentrations in the former Janghang smelter area were determined and human health risk of arsenic (As) with bioaccessibility was investigated. Site investigation of the area within 1.5 km from the Janghang smelter showed the As concentrations of 4.8~169.8 mg/kg (avg. 37.8 mg/kg). For 85 samples out of 126 samples, As concentrations were higher than the Worrisome Level of the Korean Soil and Environment Conservation Act, and seven samples exceeded the Countermeasure Standard. Risk assessment for As incorporated with the bioaccessibility revealed that potential human health risk of the carcinogenic ($1.8{\sim}5.0{\times}10^{-5}$) was above the acceptable risk range ($10^{-5}{\sim}10^{-6}$) while the risk of the non-carcinogenic was not found. Remediation goals based on risk incorporated with bioaccessibility of As ranged from 10.8 to 20.0 mg/kg. Such difference in the remediation goals resulted from various bioaccessibility of As (i.e., between 8.7~66.3%) at the study site.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 1997

The Janghang smelter is the first lead, zinc and copper smelting facility in Korea which was operated for a half century from 1936 to 1989. The clay minerals and their heavy metal association in the soil profile around the smelter have been studied using XRD, EPMA, SEM-EDS, TEM, EPR and sequential extraction techniques. The soils in A horizon are highly acidic showing pH 4.45. The pH is going up with increasing depth. They have residual water contents of 1.18-1.51 wt%, loss on ignition of 6.32-7.79 wt%, and carbon contents of 0.08-0.88 wt%. Soils consist of quartz, feldspar, muscovite, kaolinite, vermiculite, biotite, chlorite, goethite and hematite in the decreasing abundance. The contents of clay minerals, especially vermiculite and chlorite, decrease with increasing depth. Sequential extraction experiments for the profile samples show that heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) are highly concentrated in the A horizon of the soil profile as water-extractable (mostly amorphous), MgCl2-extractable (exchangeable in clay minerals), and organic phases. The heavy metal contents decrease with increasing depth. It suggests that the heavy metals are mainly associate with clay minerlas in an exchangeable state. It is also noted that heavy metals are highly concentrated in the manganese and iron oxide phases.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.14-21
• /
• 2016

This study evaluated the applicability of stabilization of arsenic (As)-contaminated soil with iron (Fe) oxides at the former Janghang smelter site. Three Fe oxides (magnetite, goethite, and hematite) were tested as stabilizing agents to one soil sample collected from the study site. Amendment of 5% of magnetite, goethite, or hematite for one week showed the 64, 58, and 36% of reduction of the SBRC (Solubility/Bioavailability Research Consortium)-extractable (bioaccessible) As, respectively. Duration of stabilization more than one week did not show an additional reduction in SBRC-extractable As. Amendment of 5% of magnetite, which showed the highest As stabilization efficiency, was applied to 24 soil samples collected from the same site for one week, and 72% of reduction in the bioaccessible As was observed. The potential carcinogenic human health risk at the study site caused by As was $1.7{\times}10^{-5}$, which could be reduced to $8.1{\times}10^{-6}$ by the amendment of 5% magnetite for one week.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 2012

This paper presents the short-term and long-term measures to determine the fugitive dust concentration in a contaminated site, which is a crucial step for the determination of particulate emission factor (PEF) for risk assessment. As a long-term measure, USEPA method employing Q/C value (inverse of the ratio of the geometric mean air concentration to the emission flux at center of a 0.5-acre square source) seems to be suitable as it reflects regional-specific meteorological conditions. However, it requires nation-wide database collection and interpretation. Use of ASTM method is an alternative as a short-term measure. The method is readily field-applicable as PEF calculation equation is simple and input parameters can be easily derived at the site of interest as well without the nation-wide efforts. Using ASTM method, PEF at the Former Janghang Smelter Site was determined. According to various mode of aggregate size distribution and fractions of vegetative cover, which are the most important factors in PEF calculation, PEF values at the Former Janghang Smelter Site varied greatly. When the mode of aggregate size distribution was set at 0.25 mm, PEF values at the Former Janghang Smelter Site was 5~20 times higher than the default PEF value (i.e., 35 ${\mu}g/m^3$) shown in the current Korean Soil Contamination Risk Assessment Guidance. On contrast, when the mode was set at 2 mm, PEF values at the Former Janghang Smelter Site was 160~640 times lower than the default PEF value in the Korean Guidance.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 1999

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.955-966
• /
• 2017

Amendment of multi-binders was employed for the immobilization of metal(loid)s in field-contaminated soils to reduce the leaching potential. The effect of different types of multi-binders (lime/diammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate/ladle slag and lime/ladle slag) on the solidification/stabilization of metal(loid)s (Pb, Zn, Cu and As) from the smelter soil and mine tailing soil were investigated. The amended soils were evaluated by measuring Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure (TCLP) leaching concentration of metal(loid)s. The results show that the leaching concentration of metal(loid)s decreased with the immobilization using multi-binders. In terms of TCLP extraction, the mixed binder was effective in the order of lime/ladle slag > diammonium phosphate/ladle slag > lime/diammonium phosphate. When the mixed binder amendment (0.15 g lime+0.15 g ladle slag for 1g smelter soil and 0.05 g lime+0.1 g ladle slag for 1 g mine tailing soil, respectively) was used, the leaching concentration of metal(loid)s decreased by 90%. However, As leaching concentration increased with diammonium phosphate/lime and diammonium phosphate/ladle slag amendment competitive anion exchange between arsenic ion and phosphate ion from diammonium phosphate. The Standard, Measurements and Testing programme (SM&T) analysis indicated that fraction 1 (F1, exchangeable fraction) decreased, while fraction 4 (F4, residual fraction) increased. The increased immobilization efficiency was attributed to the increase in the F4 of the SM&T extraction. From this work, it was possible to suggest that both arsenic and heavy metals can be simultaneously immobilized by the amendment of multi-binder such as lime/ladle slag.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2015

The contaminated soil at abandoned smelter areas present challenge for remediation, as the degraded materials are typically deficient in nutrients, and rich in toxic heavy metals and metalloids. Bioremediation technique is to isolate new strains of microorganisms and develop successful protocols for reducing metal toxicity with heavy metal tolerant species. The present study collected metal contaminated soil and characterized for pH and EC values, and heavy metal contents. The pH value was 5.80, representing slightly acidic soil, and EC value was 13.47 mS/m. ICP-AES analytical results showed that the collected soil samples were highly contaminated with various heavy metals and metalloids such as lead (183.0 mg/kg), copper (98.6 mg/kg), zinc (91.6 mg/kg), and arsenic (48.1 mg/kg), respectively. In this study, a bacterial strain, Bacillus cereus KM-15, capable of adsorbing the heavy metals was isolated from the contaminated soils by selective enrichment and characterized to apply for the bioremediation. The effects of heavy metal on the growth of the Bacillus cereus KM-15 was determined in liquid cultures. The results showed that 100 mg/L arsenic, lead, and zinc did not affect the growth of KM-15, while the bacterial growth was strongly inhibited by copper at the same concentration. Further, the ability of the bacteria to adsorb heavy metals was evaluated.