• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.65-76
• /
• 2019

Despite the expansion of sewage treatment facilities to reduce pollutants in the tributaries of the Han River, water pollution accidents such as fish deaths continue to frequently occur. The purpose of this study was to identify the pollutant sources using water quality and stable isotope ratio (${\delta}^{15}N$, ${\delta}^{13}C$, ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$, ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$) analysis results in the three inflow tributaries (Gulpocheon (GP), Anyangcheon (AY) and Sincheon (SC)) of the Han River. Water quality was analyzed in June and October from 2013 to 2017, and the results showed that the concentrations of nutrients, such as T-N, $NO_3-N$, and T-P, were increased at GP4, AY3, SC3, and SC4, which lie downstream of sewage treatment facilities. The results of ${\delta}^{15}N$ for June 2017 indicated that the source of nitrogen was sewage or livestock excreta at GP4 and SC4, and organic fertilizers at AY3 and SC3. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ results suggested that the source of nitrogen was related to organic sewage, livestock or manure at GP4, AY3 and SC4. Therefore, GP4 and SC4 were more influenced by effluent from sewage treatment facilities than by their tributaries, AY3 and SC3 were considered to be influenced more by their tributary than effluent from sewage treatment facilities. With the results of this study, the source of contamination (sewage treatment facility effluent) of river inflow downstream of Han River could be confirmed using water quality and stable isotope ratio.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.495-508
• /
• 2013

Recently, stable isotopes (${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$) of water are increasingly analyzed using laser-based technologies. These methods have advantages over Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) in that they can be used for in-situ measurements and require much less maintenance and preparation work. Two types of laser-based methods are currently available, which have different analytical principles; OA-ICOS (off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy) and WS-CRDS (wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectroscopy). In the WS-CRDS instrument, water is vaporized at controlled environment and transferred to an optical cavity by nitrogen carrier gas, and stable isotopic compositions of water vapor are measured using the degree of absorbance of specific wavelengths and the ratios of attenuation time of the laser intensity with the sensitivity of ppb to tens of ppt level. In this study, we introduce the principle of the WS-CRDS technology and the performance results including stability and comparisons with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) and suggest possible applications of various topics in isotope hydrology.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.175-184
• /
• 2013

Organic carbon and total nitrogen stable isotope ratios of suspended materials were determined at 3 stations (from Mongtan Bridge to Youngsan river estuary barrage) (n=6, each) from November 2008 to August 2009, in order to understand the origin of particulate organic matter at the Estuary of Youngsan River. Allochthonous organic matter, ammonia-N and silicate were increased after heavy rain (in August). Carbon isotope ratios were significantly different between stations in November and August, and it was possible to determine the origin of organic matter. The heavier nitrogen isotope ratios, as well as higher phosphate concentrations, were found in November than other sampling times. Livestock wastewater and farmland input was likely the main causes of these high values. In addition, YS3 station, the nearest site to estuary barrage, appears to be affected by a substantial amount of livestock wastewater and farmland input, considering that nitrogen isotope ratios were heavier than those at the upper sites. These results suggest that the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a simple but useful tool for the determination of organic matter origin in aquatic environments.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.229-236
• /
• 2018

In this study, inter-laboratory comparison was done using elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometers (EA-IRMSs) to determine carbon and nitrogen contents as well as stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions (${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$) of five environmental samples containing lake and marine sediments, higher plant leaves, and fish muscle, and one organic analytical standard (Protein (Casein) Standard OAS). Five national laboratories participated in this comparison study, and each laboratory analyzed all five samples and the analytical standard. Results showed that variations in total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents as well as ${\delta}^{13}C_{TOC}$ and ${\delta}^{15}N_{TN}$ values among the laboratories were large compared to the analytical uncertainties. The results highlighted the inhomogeneity of the test samples and thus, the need to select suitable standard reference materials for future inter-laboratory studies. Further inter-laboratory comparison exercises could promote good measurement practices in the acquisition of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition data.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.120-128
• /
• 2001

Pollution sources and their environmental contributions were investigated to select the best management practices for the effective control of water quality. The nitrogen isotope mass ratio was determined to estimate the nitrate sources and their contribution. Sampling sites were chosen by calculating effluent loads at each watershed. Two liters each of the surface water samples were collected from four sites at Bokha river and two sites and Gwanri river. They were sequentially prepared through distillation method and analyzed using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer(IsoPrime EA). As revealed by the experimental values obtained the mass ratio values ($\delta$$^{5}$ N) of watersheds with a large amount of nonpoint sources were less than +5 an indication that the samples were influenced by chemical fertilizers. However watersheds with large amount of point sources were influenced not only by chemical fertilizers but also by animal and municipal wastes. The mass ratio values of samples generally decreased during rainy days. But during dry days the mass ratio values well-reflected the nitrate sources and the condition of watersheds. Through this study the nitrogen isotope mass ratio has been found to be useful for estimating nitrate sources and their contribution to the rural watersheds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.34-44
• /
• 2015

Fish fauna, difference of stable isotope ratio between freshwater and seawater, and trophic guilds of freshwater fishes were investigated in the lower Geum River. The study was conducted in 2011, and total study area was about 30 km of 20 km upstream and 10 km downstream from the Geum River estuary barrage. Only freshwater fishes were used for analyzing trophic guilds, and discriminant function analysis (DFA) was utilized to reclassify trophic guilds based on stable isotope ratio. Fish fauna in freshwater and seawater areas were entirely different each other, but small number of migratory species such as Coilia nasus and Chelon haematocheilus occurred both areas. Other species were not collected in the different areas because they did not have physiological ability to adapt different salinity concentrations. Stable isotope ration of two areas were different considerably due to food sources. Estuary and seawater fishes uptake food sources originated from marine, and freshwater fishes were from freshwater and terrestrial. Some migratory species showed reverse stable isotope ratio. Even though they collected in freshwater, they showed stable isotope ratio of seawater. This is because ecological characteristics of each species. Trophic guilds of freshwater fishes were reclassified by DFA, and showed slight difference with literatures. However, because this result is related with ontogenetic shift of species, more studies are needed to explain exact and correct trophic guilds. Stable isotope ratio can be changed among regions, seasons and ontogenetic stage, thus we always consider these aspects when analyzing results to get a right answer.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.349-357
• /
• 2017

Korean mariculture Undaria pinnatifida was collected during the months of January, February, March, and December of 2010, as well as from January of 2011 to investigate the changes in the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$) and heavy metal with respect to it growth and to identify the factors that influence such changes. The blades of U. pinnatifida showed ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ in the range (mean) of -13.11 to -19.42‰ (-16.93‰) and 2.99 to 7.57‰ (4.71‰), respectively. Among samples with the same grow-out period, those that weighed more tended to have higher ${\delta}^{13}C$ suggesting a close association between the carbon isotope ratio and growth rate of U. pinnatifida. Indeed, we found a very high positive linear correlation between the monthly average ${\delta}^{13}C$ and the absolute growth rate in weight ($r^2=0.89$). Nitrogen isotope ratio tended to be relatively lower when nitrogen content in the blade was higher, probably due to the strengthening of isotope fractionation stemming from plenty of nitrogen in the surrounding environment. In fact, a negative linear correlation was observed with the nitrate concentration in the nearby seawaters ($r^2=0.83$). Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and Fe in the blades showed a rapid decrease in their concentration per unit weight in the more mature U. pinnatifida. Specifically, compared to adult samples, Cu, Hg, and Pb were concentrated by 30, 55, and 73 folds, respectively, in the young blades. Therefore, U. pinnatifida tissue ${\delta}^{13}C$ is as an indirect indicator of its growth rate, while ${\delta}^{15}N$ values and heavy metal concentrations serve as tracers that reflect the environmental characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.655-659
• /
• 2020

Hydrogen isotopes (i.e. deuterium and tritium) are supplied to the tokamak in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fuel cycle. One important part of the ITER fuel cycle is the recycling of unused fuel back to the tokamak, as almost 99 % of fuel is unburned during fusion reaction. For this, cryogenic distillation has been used in the isotope separation system (ISS) of ITER, but this technique tends to be energy-intensive and to have low selectivity (typically below 1.5 at 24 K). Recently, efficient isotope separation by porous materials has been reported in the so-called quantum sieving process. Hence, in this study, hydrogen isotope adsorption behavior is studied using chemically stable ZIF-11. At low temperature (40 K ~ 70 K), the adsorption increases and the sorption hysteresis becomes stronger as the temperature increases to 70K. Molar ratio of deuterium to hydrogen based on the isotherms shows the highest (max. 14) ratio at 50 K, confirming the possibility of use as a potential isotope separation material.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.159-165
• /
• 2015

The organic matter sources of phytoplankton and related environmental factors influencing algal bloom in Paldang reservoir were studied using nitrogen and carbon isotope ratio(${\delta}^{15}N$, ${\delta}^{13}C$). Phytoplankton samples for stable isotope analysis were collected from four points in reservoir using a plankton net. Physicochemical water quality, algal taxa and hydrological data were collected from published monitoring material. Phytoplankton samples were analyzed by IRMS. CN ratio of each sample was very similar to that of phytoplankton from literature cited. ${\delta}^{15}N$ of each sample was decreased during July. Mixing and dilution of nitrogen sources due to increment of influx by concentrated rainfall were considered as the main reason for the decline of ${\delta}^{15}N$. Based on analyzed ${\delta}^{15}N$ value of each sample, nitrogen source of Bughan river sample was presumed to come from soil. The nitrogen sources of Namhan river and Kyeongan stream samples seemed to be sewage or animal waste. Low ${\delta}^{15}N$ value in August (2012) seemed to be influenced by isotope fractionation due to the blooming of nitrogen-fixation blue-green algae (Anabaena spp.). Variation in ${\delta}^{15}N$ values particularly by blue-green algal bloom was considered the important factor for estimating the organic matter sources of phytoplankton.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.172-175
• /
• 2008

Stable isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen ($\delta^{13}C$ & $\delta^{15}N$), and $\Delta^{9}$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contents were measured on 37 Korean cannabis and 10 commercial grade marijuana seized in Korea. Factors influencing on the measured values and their variations were investigated. $\delta^{13}C$ value of cannabis is specified mainly by water availability. Korean cannabis showed relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values ranging -33.29$\sim$-27.01% (mean=-31.01%), which reflect geographic conditions of Korea where is rainy, especially during summer. $\delta^{15}N$ values, which reflect individual planting conditions, were relatively high up to -0.5$\sim$18.0% (mean=6.44%). It reflects characteristics of Korean cannabis growing wild in forest or cultivated in fertile soil. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the major hallucinogenic compound of cannabis. Ethanol extracts of cannabis leaves were derivatized by N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), and the derivatives were analyzed by GC-MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. THC contents of Korean cannabis ranged 0.11$\sim$4.34% (mean=1.47%), which were relatively low compared with commercial grade marijuana.