• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.6-13
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• 2016

The effect of blast oxygen furnace (BOF) slag used as filling materials on the soil environment was studied using column tests that simulated the flow of the BOF slag leachate through the soil layer. The Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, and F contents of the leachate affected soil were similar to that of the controls (i.e., soils that were not affected by the leachate). The As, Cd, and Pb contents were lower in the leachate affected soils than the controls. The changes in these contaminants contents can be attributed to the interactions between anions such as alkalinity generating anions (e.g., CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, OH⁻) or calcium ions with heavy metals or F, which consequently affected the fate of heavy metals and F in the leachate affected soils. The germination and growth of Spinapis alba in the soils affected by the leachate and the controls were also similar. However, the proportion of alkalophilic bacteria in the soils affected by the leachate significantly increased, and this can be explained by the increased soil pH due to the alkaline leachate. Overall, this study shows that the alkalinity of the BOF slag leachate, rather than the presence of heavy metals and F in the leachate, needs to be considered when the BOF slag is to be reused as structural filling materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 1997

This paper examines the influences of mining activities on the concentrations of heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of the Dalsung Cu-W mine, Korea. Geochemical surveys were undertaken in the Dalsung mine area and sampling of surface and subsurface soils was carried out. Samples were prepared using 0.1 N HCI, HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$, and aqua regia, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. In addition, soil samples were sequentially extracted to investigate the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils. Heavy metals are highly contaminated in soils in the vicinity of mining area ranging up to 28 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cd, 5000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cu, 2390 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Pb and 930 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Zn by the method using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$. The pollution indices calculated with the permissible levels are up to 49 in surface and subsurface soils, which are considered sufficient to raise environmental problems. However, the heavy metal levels by the method using 0.1 N HCl are not higher than Korean standard for soil contamination. It suggests that analytical methods and soil standard should be re-examined. From the results of the sequential extraction methods for metal speciation, total Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations may be determined by analytical methods using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$ or aqua regia, and exchangeable phase of those metals by the method using 0.1 N HCl.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 2017

Nitrogen and phosphorus are key factors in causing eutrophication of water body. In this study, ceramics media was selected to increase the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus. We designed vertical, horizontal flow constructed wetlands to create aerobic and anaerobic flow conditions by using the media, then proceeded to performance evaluations after acrylic reactors were produced. In the case of vertical and horizontal flow constructed wetlands, we measured oxygen concentrations to evaluate aerobic and anaerobic conditions. we got the result of 2.7 mg/L in the aerobic condition, N.D in the anaerobic condition respectively, which suited our purpose. The result of the combined vertical and horizontal flow condition showed that the removal efficiency of SS was 94%, 91%, 61% at 140 min, 80 min, 60 min of running times, respectively, and the removal efficiency of T-P was 84%, 71%, 63% during each running time. In case of T-N, the removal efficiency was 63%, 49%, 42% during each running time. We found that the reactor exerted better removal efficiency when in the short time compared to 12 - 24 hr residence time of existing wetlands. In this study, we conducted experiments to explore functional effects after applying combined vertical and horizontal flow methods in the field. Further study will be carried out to identify its mechanism and administrative perspective.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2004

Temporal changes of Chl-α, physical and chemical factors were investigated by diurnal observation at 2-hour interval at three fixed stations in the western Chinhae Bay from 12 Aug. to 13 Aug. 1999. Difference of dissolved oxygen between surface and bottom layer was maximum when the thermocline were strong. Organic distribution such as COD was affected by the growth of phytoplankton. Limitting factor was nitrogen, that is, inorganic nitrogen plays a significant role on regulating the algal growth. Surface distribution of dissolved inorganic nitrogen was very low compared to bottom layer by uptake of organisms. Maximum value of Chl-α at station C2 and C11 were observed from subsurface layer, ranges of which exceeded possibility concentration of red tide outbreak, 10 mg/㎥. On the other hand, that of C15 exist at surface layer. In this area, DIN and DIP concentrations increased by input sources such as rainfall and benthic flux before the bloom of phytoplankton. Accumulation of phytoplankton occurred at subsurface layer by the rapid uptake of DIN, especially nitrate ion, when strong thermocline existed as approach to the afternoon, which led to the increase of organics in water column and oxygen deficiency water mass at bottom layer until late at evening. Since then, DIN increases gradually as water temperature decrease to minimum. The quantitative understanding of nitrogen of fluxed to and from the various sources is necessary for environmental management.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 1999

Partitioning of two hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs), phenanthrene and naphthalene, to kaolinite and sorbed surfactants was studied to evaluate the feasibility of surfactant-enhanced remediation (SER) of contaminated subsurface systems. Sorbed surfactant partition coefficients. $K_ss$, showed a strong dependence on the surfactant sorption isotherms at low sorbed surfactant levels $K_ss$ values were at their highest and then decreased with increasing surfactant sorption densities. $K_ss$ values for SDS were always larger than corresponding $K_mic$values. For Tween 80, however. $K_ss$ values $K_mic$ were higher than $K_mic$ values only at the lower sorbed surfactant densities. HOC distribution between immobile and mobile phases varied with surfactant dose distribution coefficients increased initially with increasing surfactant concentrations and then decreased at higher doses. This observation shows directly the competition between sorbed and micellar surfactants for HOC partitioning. Overall results of this study demonstrate that surfactant sorption to the solid phase can lead to increases in HOC retardation in some SER applications. Therefore, before an SER process is selected, appropriate consideration of surfactant sorption and HOC partitioning to immobile versus mobile phases pertinent to a specific subsurface system must be contemplated.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1998

Inorganic nitrogens resulting from fertilizers are possible contaminants of bank-filtered ground water, which is an alternative source of safe drinking water. We conducted a laboratory study to determine the fate of inorganic nitrogens in the near field of bank filtration sites and we consequently illustrated the effects of these possible contaminants on the water quailty of bank filtration. Soil properties were found to be well equivalent to those of other cultivated field soils in Korea. Surface soil pH was about 4.3 which is slightly lower than average level. Overall, diverse concentrations of $NO_3$-N and $NH_3$-N were measured, and $NO_2$-N was nearly undetected. $NH_3$-N level in the field decreased, while $NO_3$-N increased along with increasing depth of unsaturated zone. Numbers of viable and nitrifying bacteria ranged from 6.73$\times$$10^{6}$to 10.7$\times$$10^{6}$ and 0.44$\times$$10^{4}$ to 5.21$\times$$10^{4}$ respectively, and both of them were highly correlated ($R^{2}$=0.992). Nitrifying potential assayed by batch test showed relatively lower than other reported results. The oxygen uptake potential of surface and subsurface soil was measured in the presence of ${(NH_4)_2}$$SO_4$. The results demonstrated that surface soil required shorter lag period and uptaked more oxygen than subsurface's.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.463-475
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• 2020

Presence of microplastics in soil and groundwater has recently been reported and environmental concerns are raised as to the plastic pollution. In the subsurface environment, clay minerals and metal oxide minerals are commonly found as finely dispersed states. Because the minerals have high sorption capacities for diverse pollutants, interactions with mineral surface play an important role in the transport of microplastics in groundwater. Accordingly, environmental mineralogy investigating the interactions between microplastics and mineral surfaces is the essential research area to understand the fate and transport of microplastics in the subsurface environment. The microplastic-mineral surface research requires molecular- to nano-scale analyses to be able to probe the relatively weak interactions between them. The current report introduces a nano-scale analysis tool called quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) that can measure the sorbed/desorbed mass of nanoplastics on mineral surfaces at the level of a few nanograms (~10-9 g). This report briefly reviews the main principles in the QCM measurement and discusses applications of QCM to the environmental mineralogy research.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.559-572
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• 2020

This paper performs laboratory experiments for borehole stability considering temperature and true triaxial stress condition, and observes a thermo-mechanical behavior of the rock under stress and temperature conditions of deep underground. China yellow sandstone and Hwangdeung granite specimens were used to perform a true triaxial compression test. Mechanical tests were carried out under nine confining pressure conditions, and thermo-mechanical tests using granite samples were carried out under six confining pressure conditions at 60-100℃. In the mechanical tests, maximum principal stress at borehole breakout was proportional to intermediate principal stress. In the thermo-mechanical tests, it was confirmed that thermal stress is added to the stress field of the borehole with the increase in temperature, resulting in additional breakout progress. To analyze the results of the laboratory experiment, Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion was used. The results of traditional triaxial compression test on cylindrical specimens and borehole breakout under true triaxial compressions matched well with Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.21-29
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• 2008

Sorption and desorption processes play an important role in the transport and fate of organic contaminants in subsurface system. In this study, sorption and desorption characteristics of atrazine in 7 soils selected at the Gwangju area were investigated. Soil organic carbon contents ranged from 0.42 to 2.82%. Sorption and desorption experiments were performed in batch slurries. Sorption distribution coefficient ($K_d$) of atrazine were ranged from 0.48 to 3.26 l/kg and $K_d$ value increased with increasing organic carbon contents except of Kyongbang and Youngdong soils. Single desorption data were analyzed by the three-site desorption model including equilibrium, non-equilibrium and non-desorbable site. Non-desorbable site fractions of atrazine in all soils were enumerated and non-desorbable atrazine was observed in seriesdilution desorption experiment. Sorption/desorption hysteresis was also observed in the series-dilution desorption experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 1995

Colloids such as exogenous biocolloids in a bioremediation operation can enhance the transport of contaminant in ground water by reducing retardation effects. Because of their colloidal size and favorable surface conditions in addition to their low density, bacteria can act as efficient contaminant carriers. When mobile bacteria are present in a subsurface environment, the system can be treated as consisting of three phases: water phase, bacterial phase, and the stationary solid matrix phase. In this work, a mathematical model based on mass balances is developed to describe the facilitated transport and fate of a contaminant in a porous medium. Bacterial partition between the bulk solution and the stationary solid matrix, and the contaminant partition among the three phases are represented by the equilibrium relationships. Solutions were obtained to provide estimates of contaminant and bacterial concentrations. A dimensionless analysis of the transport model was utilized to estimate model parameters from the experimental data. The model results matched with experimental data of Jenkins and Lion (1993). The presence of mobile bacteria enhances the contaminant transport. However, bacterial consumption of the contaminant which serves as a bacterial nutrient, can attenuate the contaminant concentration.