• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

The accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) resulted in the deposition of large quantities of radionuclides over parts of eastern Japan. Radioactive contaminants have been observed over a large area including forests, cities, rivers and lakes. Due to the strong adsorption of radioactive cesium by soil particles, radioactive cesium migrates with the eroded soil, follows the surface flow paths, and is delivered downstream of population-rich regions and eventually to coastal areas. In this study, we developed a model to simulate the transport of contaminated sediment in a watershed hydrological system and this model was compared with observation data from eroded soil observation instruments located at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Two methods were applied to analyze the soil particle size distribution of the collected soil samples, including standardized sieve analysis and image analysis methods. Numerical models were developed to simulate the movement of soil along with actual rainfall considering initial saturation, rainfall infiltration, multilayer and rain splash. In the 2019 study, a numerical model will be used to add rainfall shield effect by trees, evaporation effect and shield effects of surface water. An eroded soil observation instrument has been installed near the Wolsong nuclear power plant since 2018 and observation data are being continuously collected. Based on these observations data, we will develop the numerical model to analyze long-term behavior of radionuclides on land as they move from land to rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.379-387
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• 2018

This study was conducted to improve the membrane characteristics and performance by increasing hydrophilicity by adding additives to the ultrafiltration polysulfone (PSf) hollow fiber membrane. The mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared by dispersing 15 nm of fumed silica (FS) in the spinning solution at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 wt%. SEM analysis was carried out to confirm the cross-section and surface condition. It was confirmed that mean pore radius of the hollow fiber increased by 4 nm as FS was added. In addition, contact angle measurement was carried out for the hydrophilicity analysis of hollow fiber membranes, and it was confirmed that the hydrophilicity of MMMs were increased by adding of FS. In the case of water permeability, the membrane including FS showed 91~96 LMH and showed 5~11% more increase than PSf membrane. In the antifouling performance test, relative flux reduction ratios of FS mixed hollow fiber membranes were lower than that of PSf membranes, and it was confirmed that increase of hydrophilicity hinders adsorption of hydrophobic BSA on the membrane surface.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.408-414
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• 2021

This study aimed to improve the production of bioactive materials with antioxidant activity using a fermented Luffa aegyripia extract and improve the anticancer effect by enhancing UV absorption and inhibiting melanoma cell growth. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the fermented extract were 30.23 mg GAE/g DM and 45.12%, respectively, which was 1.4 times higher than that of the hot-water extract (HWE). The fermented extract showed a UV adsorption rate of 53.9%, which was 1.5 times higher than HWE, and it was concluded that UV absorption was increased by TPC, which was increased through the fermentation of L. aegyptiaca extracts using Lactobacillus. In the anticancer effect test, fermented and HWE extracts had carcinogenic effects of 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, respectively. This suggests that the increased antioxidant activity due to the increase in TPC caused by fermentation contributed to the anticancer effect. The UV absorption rate of fermented extracts was 2.4 times higher than HWE, giving them potential use as cosmetics and pharmaceutical materials with high polyphenol contents and antioxidant properties and skin cancer prevention.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2011

Due to the strong dependence on fossil fuels within the history of human progress, it leads to disaster of the whole world like flood, shortage of water and extinction of the species. In order to curb carbon dioxide emissions, many technologies are being developed. Among them, porous carbon materials have important advantages over other absorbent, such as high surface area, thermal and chemical resistance, low cost, various pore distribution and low energy requirement for their regeneration. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has attracted the significant research efforts for reducing green house gas emission using several absorbent and process. Moreover, the absorbent are used for the separation of bio mass gas that contains methane which is considered a promising fuel as new green energy resource. In this review, we summarized the recent studies and trend about the porous carbon materials for CCS as well as separation from the biogas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.858-863
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• 2020

We experimented with the particle-settling velocity and CHCl3 absorption efficiency of seven activated-carbon and analyzed seven heavy metal contents by elution for application to the field treatment of sunken HNS on the marine seabed. The mean particle-settling velocity was in the range 0.5-8 cm/s, except when the 8-20 mesh was used. The larger the HNS particle, the faster the particle-settling velocity was, and the CHCl3 absorption efficiency increased considerably owing to the larger surface area. In addition, the elution test results showed that the total Zn and As contents in >100-meshed activated carbon was higher than the contents criteria for the standard for water-treatment agents, and Cr, Zn, and As were released at higher concentrations than those released by other activated-carbon groups. Taken together, the CHCl3 absorption efficiency, settling velocity, and elution test results suggested that the 20-60, 20-40, and 2mm&down mesh activated-carbon adsorbents could be applied to the field treatment of HNSs and that the minimum required amount for field treatment were 0.82, 0.90, and 1.28 ton/㎘, respectively, as calculated based on the HNS-adsorption-capacity priority.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.303-311
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• 2022

Gadolinium, commonly used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is discharged into aquatic environments without removal after treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) because of its high stability. In this study, we collected water samples from Suyeong WWTP, Busan, to investigate the dissolved rare earth element (REE) removal capacity of each wastewater treatment process and to evaluate the discharge of anthropogenic Gd (Gd_anth) from effluents. As wastewater passed through each stage of treatment, the concentrations of light REEs (La-Eu) decreased, whereas those of heavy REEs (Tb-Lu) were relatively consistent. Negative Sm anomalies (<1) were observed in several samples, indicating that Sm can be removed by adsorption onto particles or phosphate during the biological removal process. Positive Gd anomalies (149±50, n=9) were observed in all samples. The ratios of Gd_anth concentrations to measured Gd concentrations in all wastewater treatment processes were higher than 97%. This indicates that Gd_anth was discharged to the Suyeong River without removal during the wastewater treatment process. Considering the daily treatment capacity in each process, the total flux of Gd_anth was estimated to be 259 mmol/day. Our results suggest that mid- and/or long-term monitoring of Gd is needed because Gd_anth is continuously discharged into Suyeong Bay through WWTPs.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 2022

Bentonite is being considered as a candidate for buffer material in geological disposal systems for high-level radioactive wastes. In this study, the effect of cement-bentonite interactions on bentonite alteration was investigated by reviewing the literature on studies of cement-bentonite interactions. The major bentonite alteration by hyperalkaline fluids produced by the interaction of cementitious materials with groundwater includes cation exchange, montmorillonite dissolution, secondary mineral precipitation, and illitization. When the hyperalkaline leachate from the reaction of the cementitious material with the groundwater comes into contact with bentonite, montmorillonite, the main component of bentonite, is dissolved and a small amount of secondary minerals such as zeolite, calcium silicate hydrate, and calcite is produced. When montmorillonite is continuously dissolved, the physicochemical properties of bentonite may change, which may ultimately causes changes in bentonite performance as a buffer material such as adsorption capacity, swelling capacity, and hydraulic conductivity. In addition, the bentonite alteration is affected by various factors such as temperature, reaction period, pressure, composition of pore water, bentonite constituent minerals, chemical composition of montmorillonite, and types of interlayer cations. This study can be used as basic information for the long-term stability verification study of the buffer material in the geological disposal system for high-level radioactive wastes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.409-419
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• 2023

Acid mine drainage(AMD) treatment is classified as both passive and active treatment. During the treatment, about 5,000 tons of neutralization sludge is generated as a by-product per year in Korea. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of sludge generated from physico·chemical treatment processes as an active treatment from 5 different sources (D, H, S, T, Y) and the possibility of the sludges being recycled. The sludges have a pH range of 5.86 ~ pH 7.89, and a water content range of 51% ~ 82%. Most of particle sizes were less than 25 ㎛. In analysis of inorganic elements, the concentration of Al, Fe, and Mn were between 1,189 mg/kg ~ 129,344 mg/kg, 106,132 mg/kg ~ 338,011 mg/kg, and 3,472 mg/kg ~ 11,743 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of As and Zn in sludge-T, Cd in sludge-D, Ni in sludge-H, Zn in sludge-S, and Cd in sludge-Y exceeded the soil contamination standards of Korea. The results from 2 separate kinds of leaching test, the Korea Standard Leaching Test(KSLT) and Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure(TCLP), showed that all the sludges met the Korea groundwater standards. From the XRD and SEM-EDS analysis, the peaks of calcite and quartz were found in the sludges. The sludge also had a high proportion of Fe and O, and the majority of the composition was amorphous iron hydroxide.

• Clean Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.258-264
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• 2010

This study estimated the possibility of phosphate removal characteristics to utilize EAF(electric arc furnace) slag as submarine cover material. The major phosphate removal mechanism was a certain formation of HAP precipitation occurred by the ionization reaction between $Ca^{2+}$ and $OH^-$, which were leached from the EAF Slag. Another phosphate removal mechanism was the adsortion of EAF slag surface. As a result of $PO_4{^-}-P$ removal characteristics using continuous column reactor, $PO_4{^-}-P$ concentration decreased rapidly after 3 days and 10 days later, it show under 0.5 ppm. The result as applied in real sea water, shows that the phosphate removal effects were 93~98% by the subaqueous sediment removal using the EAF slag. In conclusion, EAF slag is useful in $PO_4{^-}-P$ removal and control and it is possible to use without additional process like crush and selection.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

Todorokite is a manganese oxide mineral containing Mg²⁺ in a tunnel structure in which MnO₆ octahedra share corners. In order to investigate the suitability and efficiency of high temperature-treated todorokite as a material for adsorption and fixation of Cs, Cs was ion exchanged and the amount of leached Cs from todorokite was measured. The todorokite used in this study was synthesized by transforming Na-birnessite to Mg-buserite and used as a precursor. After high temperature treatment, Cs exchanged todorokite changed to birnessite and hausmannite as the temperature increased. The amount of leached Cs was investigated for Cs exchanged todorokite which was reacted with distilled water and 1 M NaCl solution at different reaction times. In general, for the samples reacted with 1 M NaCl solution, the fixation of Cs was quite effective, although the amount of leached Cs was greater due to the ion exchange reaction with Na. As the treatment temperature increased, the amount of leached Cs increased and then decreased again, which was related to the mineral phases formed at each temperature. As birnessite was formed, the amount of leached Cs increased, but as birnessite decreased, that decreased again. As the mineral phase changed to hausemanite, the amount of Cs decreased rapidly. The results of our study show that Cs exchanged todorokite can be used as a material that effectively fixes Cs and prevents its diffusion by high temperature treatment.