• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

This research examined the presence of hazardous materials in chemical workplace field using an integrated chemical/biological monitoring. Chemical workplace field air for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis was collected using a collection tube packed with Tena.x TA adsorbent 400 mg. Workplace field air samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Simultaneously, Tradescantia BNL 4430 clone was exposed in situ to monitor hazardous materials in chemical workplace field. GC/MS analysis showed the presence of various VOCs such as trichloroethylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, (m,p,o)-xylenes, styrene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. The results showed that in situ monitoring of VOCs with the Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) assay gave positive results in chemical workplace field and negative response at outdoor air. In conclusion, inhalation of these field air by workers may affect chronic demage to their health by inducing micronuclei formation in Tradescantia pollen mother cells. The combination of chemical/biological monitoring is very effective to evaluate hazardous materials in workplace field and can be alternatively used for screening hazardous materials.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.49-55
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• 2012

A 1.28 L-batch reactor and continuous-flow stirred tank reactor (CFSTR) fed with formate and trichloroethene (TCE) were operated for 120 days and 56 days, respectively, to study the effect of formate as electron donor on anaerobic reductive dechlorination (ARD) of TCE to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (c-DCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and ethylene (ETH). In batch reactor, injected 60 ${\mu}mol$ TCE was completely degraded in the presence of 20% hydrogen gas ($H_2$) in less than 8 days by anaerobic dechlorination mixed-culture (300 mg-soluble protein), Evanite Culture with ability to completely degrade tetrachloroethene (PCE) and -TCE to ETH under anaerobic conditions. Once the formate was used as electron donor instead of hydrogen gas in batch or chemostat system, the TCE-dechlorination rate decreased and acetate production rate increased. It indicates that the concentration of hydrogen produced in both systems is possibly more close to threshold for homoacetogenesis process. Soluble protein concentration of Evanite culture during the batch test increased from 300 mg to 688 mg for 120 days. Through the protein monitoring, we confirmed an increase of microbial population during the reactor operation. In CFSTR test, TCE was fed continuously at 9.9 ppm (75.38 ${\mu}mol/L$) and the influent formate feed concentration increased stepwise from 1.3 mmol/L to 14.3 mmol/L. Injected TCE was accumulated at 18 days of HRT, but TCE was completely degraded at 36 days of HRT without accumulation of the injected-TCE during the left of experiment period, getting $H_2$ from fermentative hydrogen production of injected formate. Although c-DCE was also accumulated for 23 days after beginning of CFSTR operation, it reached steady-state in the presence of excessive formate. We also evaluated microbial dynamic of the culture at different chemical state in the reactor by DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.313-321
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• 1996

Our laboratoy has been participated in Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) program which is operated by the Americal Industrial Hygiene Association in cooperation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The program is designed to assist a laboratory improve its analytical performance by providing samples on a quarterly basis, evaluating the results, and providing reports on how well the laboratory performed. Evaluation of the results reported here covers five rounds of the PAT program (round 121~round 125). The way a laboratory is evaluated by PAT program is as follows: 1) There is no overall proficiency rating given to a laboratory. 2) A proficiency rating is given for each type of analyze (i.e., metals, silica, asbestos, solvents) that a laboratory analyzed. 3) Proficiency is rated acceptable ("A") if Z score lies between -3 and +3, and unacceptable if Z score is either higher than +3 ("H") or lower than -3 ("Lo"). Z score = (reported data - reference value) / standard deviation 4) For a laboratory to be rated proficient it must either have had no outliers over the most recent two rounds or of the samples actually analyzed over the past year (past four rounds), 75 % or more of the analyze sample results must be acceptable. According to the above rating criteria of PAT program, performance of metals including cadmium, lead, chromium and zinc, and asbestos sample analyses were rated acceptable ("A"). For silica analyses, all samples except one out of four samples in round 122 was rated high("H") were acceptable showing 95 % of ing 95 % of acceptance rate (19/20) throughout the rounds. Analyses of organic solvents were done on 52 samples in 9 types including methanol(MOH), 1,1,1-trichloroethane(MCM), tetrachloroethylene(PCE), trichloroethylene(TCE), benzene(BNZ), o-xylene(OXY), toluene(TOL), chloroform(CFM), 1,2-dichloroethane(DCE). All samples analyzed were rated acceptable except 2 samples that were rated high; one out of each four MCM and TCE samples in round 121, and one that was low out of four o-xylene analyses in round 122 indicating 94 % of acceptance rate(49/52) throughout the rounds. According to the laboratory rating criteria, our laboratory is rated proficient so far for all types of contaminants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2019

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are toxic carcinogenic compounds found in wastewater. VOCs require rapid removal because they are easily volatilized during wastewater treatment. Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes(EAOPs) are considered efficient for VOC removal, based on their fast and versatile anodic electrochemical oxidation of pollutants. Many studies have reported the efficiency of removal of various types of pollutants using different anodes, but few studies have examined volatilization of VOCs during EAOPs. This study examined the removal efficiency for VOCs (chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene and toluene) by oxidization and volatilization under a static stirred, aerated condition and an EAOP to compare the volatility of each compound. The removal efficiency of the optimum anode was determined by comparing the smallest volatilization ratio and the largest oxidization ratio for four different dimensionally stable anodes(DSA): Pt/Ti, $IrO_2/Ti$, $IrO_2/Ti$, and $IrO_2-Ru-Pd/Ti$. EAOP was operated under same current density ($25mA/cm^2$) and electrolyte concentration (0.05 M, as NaCl). The high volatility of the VOCs resulted in removal of more than 90% within 30 min under aerated conditions. For EAOP, the $IrO_2-Ru/Ti$ anode exhibited the highest VOC removal efficiency, at over 98% in 1 h, and the lowest VOC volatilization (less than 5%). Chloroform was the most recalcitrant VOC due to its high volatility and chemical stability, but it was oxidized 99.2% by $IrO_2-Ru/Ti$, 90.2% by $IrO_2-Ru-Pd/Ti$, 78% by $IrO_2/Ti$, and 75.4% by Pt/Ti anodes The oxidation and volatilization ratios of the VOCs indicate that the $IrO_2-Ru/Ti$ anode has superior electrochemical properties for VOC treatment due to its rapid oxidation process and its prevention of bubbling and volatilization of VOCs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.413-419
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• 2011

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles were tested as remediation media for groundwater contaminated by organic pollutants (e.g., TCE, trichloroethylene). The contaminated groundwater contained anions ($NO_3^-$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, and $HCO_3^-$) and natural organic matter (NOM). Treatability of commercial NZVI particles (NANOFER 25, Nanoiron, Czech) was tested by using a synthetic groundwater and the field groundwater samples. More than 95% of 1.8 mM TCE was removed within 20 hours with a NZVI dosage of 25 g/L ($k=0.15hr^{-1}$). Repetitive degradation experiments revealed that the removal capacity of NANOFER 25 was 0.19 mmole TCE/g NZVI. TCE degradation reactions were not substantially affected by the presence of each anion with concentrations as high as 100 times the average field concentrations. However, when the four anions ($NO_3^-$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $HCO_3^-$) were present simultaneously. the degradation reactivity and removal capacity were decreased by 60% ($k=0.069hr^{-1}$) and 10%, respectively. The k value of TCE degradation in the presence of NZVI (25 g/L) with dissovled organic carbon of 2.5 mg/L was also decreased by 84% ($k=0.025hr^{-1}$). In the experiments with the field groundwater, more than 90% of $1.8{\mu}M$ TCE, which is the concentration of TCE at the source zone, was removed within 10 hours with a NANOFER 25 dosage of 25 g/L. The results imply that the contaminated groundwater can effectively be treated by NANOFER 25 with more information on the hydrogeology of the site.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.753-770
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• 2006

In urban areas, groundwater pollution is heavily affected by urbanization with land use types. This study aims to characterize groundwater quality and contamination in Sasang industrial area of Busan Metropolitan City where metalworking, machinery and footwear factories are located. Busan Metropolitan City is the highest in the utilization of groundwater resources among the metropolitan cities in Korea. $K^+,\;Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-}\;and\;HCO_3^-$ concentrations, and electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity are high in the areas near the Nakdong River. The results are attributed to the influence of salt water which intruded into the coastal sediments during sedimentation. In addition, the dominant chemical type of Ca-Cl indicates the influence of salt water in the geological formations as well as anthropogenic pollution. $SiO_2$ ion is interpreted to originate from both water-silicate mineral reactions and the decomposition of cement concretes. Trichloroethylene (TCE) was detected at 12 sites of total 18 sites. However, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was detected at f sites and 1.1.1-trichloroethane (TCA) at 3 sites. According to the factor analysis, factor 1 was explained by 49.8%, factor 2 19.8%, and factor 3 11.0% with total 80.6% explanation. pH, TDS, salinity, $Ca^{2+},\;K^+,\;Mg^{2+},\;Na^+,\;Al^{3+},\;As^{3+},\;Cl^-\;and\;Fe^{2+}$ were positively highly loaded to factor 1. The chemical components loaded to factor 1 represent the chemical characteristics of both industrial pollution and influence by salt water. Based on the cluster analysis and distribution pattern of chemical components, the concentration of $Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-}\;K^+,\;and\;Mg^{2+}$ is high in the riverside area of the Nakdong River composed of coastal sediments that is influenced by salt water. The downstream area of the Hakjang Stream is judged to be affected by both salt water and artificial pollution. The other part of the study area is interpreted by anthropogenic pollution.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2006

Single and complex metal oxide catalysts supported onto a commercial DT51D $TiO_2$ have been investigated for gas-phase TCE oxidation in a continuous flow type fixed-bed reaction system to develop a better design approach to catalysts for this reaction. Among the $TiO_2$-supported single metal oxides used, i.e., $CrO_x,\;FeO_x,\;MnO_x,\;LaO_x,\;CoO_x,\;NiO_x,\;CeO_x\;and\;CuO_x$, with the respective metal contents of 5 wt.%, the $CrO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst was shown to be most active for the oxidative TCE decomposition, depending significantly on amounts of $CrO_x\;on\;TiO_2$. The use of high $CrO_x$ loadings greater than 10 wt.% caused lower activity in the catalytic TCE oxidation, which is probably due to production of $Cr_2O_3$ crystallites on the surface of $TiO_2$. $CrO_x/TiO_2$-supported $CrO_x$-based bimetallic oxide catalysts were of particular interest in removal efficiency for this TCE oxidation reaction at reaction temperatures above $200^{\circ}C$, compared to that obtained with $CrO_x$-free complex metal oxides and a 10 wt.% $CrO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst. Catalytic activity of 5 wt.% $CrO_x-5$ wt.% $LaO_x$ in the removal reaction was similar to or slightly higher than that acquired for the $CrO_x$-only catalyst. Similar observation was revealed for 5 wt.% $CrO_x$-based bimetallic oxides consisting of either 5 wt.% $MnO_x,\;CoO_x,\;NiO_x\;or\;FeO_x$. These results represent that such $CrO_x$-based bimetallic systems for the catalytic TCE oxidation on significantly minimize the usage of $CrO_x$ that is well known to be one of very toxic heavy metals, and offer a very useful technique to design new type catalysts for reducing chlorinated volatile organic substances.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.105-114
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• 2007

The most advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are based on reactivity of strong and non-selective oxidants such as hydroxyl radical (${\cdot}OH$). Decomposition of typical DNAPL chlorinated compounds (TCE, PCE) using various advanced oxidation processes ($UV/Fe^{3+}$-chelating agent/$H_2O_2$ process, $UV/H_2O_2$ process) was approached to develop appropriate methods treating chlorinated compound (TCE, PCE) for further field application. $UV/H_2O_2$ oxidation system was most efficient for degrading TCE and PCE at neutral pH and the system could remove 99.92% of TCE after 150 min reaction time at pH 6($[H_2O_2]$ = 147 mM, UVdose = 17.4 kwh/L) and degrade 99.99% of PCE within 120 min ($[H_2O_2]$ = 29.4 mM, UVdose = 52.2 kwh/L). Whereas, $UV/Fe^{3+}$-chelating agent/$H_2O_2$ system removed TCE and PCE ca. > 90% (UVdose = 34.8 kwh/L, $[Fe^{3+}]$ = 0.1 mM, [Oxalate] = 0.6 mM, $[H_2O_2]$ = 147 mM) and 98% after 6hrs (UVdose = 17.4 kwh/L, $[Fe^{3+}]$ = 0.1 mM, [Oxalate] = 0.6 mM, $[H_2O_2]$ = 29.4 mM), respectively. We improved the reproduction system with addition of UV light to modified Fenton reaction by increasing reduction rate of $Fe^{3+}$ to $Fe^{2+}$. We expect that the system save the treatment time and improve the removal efficiencies. Moreover, we expect the activity of low molecular organic compounds such as acetate or oxalate be effective for maintaining pH condition as neutral. This oxidation system could be an economical, environmental friendly, and practical treatment process since the organic compounds and iron minerals exist in nature soil conditions.

• Clean Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-87
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• 2004

In most of industrial fields, cleaning is employed for removing soils on their products or parts. Halogenated cleaning agents such as CFC-113, 1,1,1-TCE(1,1,1-trichloroethane), MC(methylene chloride) and TCE (trichloroethylene) have been used as cleaning ones in most of companies in the world since their excellent performance of cleaning ability and good material compatibility. However, CFC-113 and 1,1,1-TCE which are ozone destruction substances are not used any more in the advanced countries because of the which are ozone destruction substances are not used any more in the advanced countries because of the Montreal protocol. MC and TCE are now used restrictively at small part of industrial fields in most of countries since they are known to be hazardous or carcinogenic materials. Thus, it is indispensible that the alternative cleaning agents which are environmental-friendly and safe, and show good cleaning ability should be developed or utilized for replacement of the halogenated cleaning agents. Aqueous/semi-aqueous cleaning agents are evaluated to be promising alternative ones among various alternatives in environmental and economical view point. In this study, commercially available 12 aqueous and 6 semi-aqueous cleaning agents were selected and their physical properties, cleaning abilities, rinsing abilities and recycling of contaminated rinse water were measured and analyzed. Aqueous cleaning agents with higher wetting index showed better cleaning ability compared with those with lower wetting index. However wetting index did not have any correlation with cleaning ability in semi-aqueous cleaning agents. It was observed that soil concentration in aqueous and semi-aqueous cleaning agents should be maintained below the certain concentrations which depend on types of clearing agents. More than 70% soils in contaminated rinse water by some of aqueous and semi-aqueous clearing agents could be separated by simple settling method. This means that some cleaning agents with high oil-water separation efficiency will be effiective for recycling oil-contaminated rinse water. It was found that contaminated rinse water with aqueous agents was purified easiy by ultrafiltration method with PAN membrane of 30 kDa.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1572-1578
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• 2007

The specified wastes consist of waste acid, waste alkali, waste oil, waste organic solvent, waste resin, dust, sludge, infectious waste, and others. Among these specified wastes, a great portion is liquid phase wastes. The purpose of this study is to develop the high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) treatment system for decomposition of the liquid phase specified waste (LPSW). For this, we analyzed the physical and chemical properties of the LPSW such as density, proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, heating values, and designed 0.3 ton/day HTHP treatment system. The LPSW tested in this experiment were prepared by adding TCE(trichloroethylene) and toluene to liquid phase waste which was brought into the commercial waste treatment company. The average density of waste oil (25 samples), waste resin (5 samples), and waste solvent (12 samples) was 0.99 g/mL, 0.91 g/mL, and 0.93 g/mL, respectively. And the average lower heating value of waste oil, waste resin, and waste solvent was 8,294 kcal/kg, 5,809 kcal/kg, and 7,462 kcal/kg, respectively. The DRE (Destruction & Removal Efficiency) of TCE and toluene were 99.95% and 99.73% at atmospheric pressure conditions and that were 99.99% and 99.82% at pressurized conditions, respectively. These results showed that TCE/toluene mixtures were properly decomposed over about 99.73% of DRE by the HTHP treatment system and pressurized conditions were more effective to destroy those pollutants than atmospheric pressure conditions. Also these systems could be directly applied to industries which try to treat the liquid phase specified waste within the regulation limit.