Mercury flows in a zinc smelting facility in South Korea

To prepare for the international mercury convention, the characteristics of mercury emissions from a zinc smelting facility in South Korea have been reviewed and a material flow analysis (MFA) has been conducted in this research. As inputs into the mercury MFA study, zinc ores and sulfuric acid were examined, whereas wastewater sludge, effluence water, spent catalyst, and emissions from the casting and roasting processes were examined as outputs. Mercury concentrations extracted from end products like zinc ingots, cadmium ingots, and sulfuric acid were then analyzed. Our results showed that the wastewater sludge discharged from the zinc smelting process had a relatively higher concentration of mercury, indicating that the concentration of mercury was further enriched in the wastewater sludge. The wastes discharged through the zinc smelting process should be thoroughly controlled, as results of the MFA showed that approximately 89 % of the mercury contained in the original input was later found in the waste. According to this study, the higher the concentration of mercury within zinc ores at the input stage, the higher is the mercury concentration found in the wastewater sludge at the output stage.     

Assessment of the clear-sky bias issue using continuous PM10 data from two AERONET sites in Korea

A bias in clear-sky conditions that will be involved in estimating particulate matter(PM)concentration from aerosol optical depth(AOD) was examined using PM_(10) from two Aerosol Robotic Network sites in Korea. The study periods were between 2004 and 2007 at Anmyon and between 2003 and 2011 at Gosan, when both PM_(10) and AOD were available. Mean PM_(10) when AOD was available(PM AOD) was higher than that from all PM_(10)data(PM all) by 5.1 and9.9 μg/m~3 at Anmyon and Gosan, which accounted for 11% and 26% of PM all, respectively.Because of a difference between mean PM_(10) under daytime clear-sky conditions(PM clear)and PM AOD, the variations in ΔPM_(10), the difference of PM all from PM clear rather than from PM AOD, were investigated. Although monthly variations in ΔPM_(10)at the two sites were different, they were positively correlated to those in ΔT, similarly defined as ΔPM_(10)except for temperature, at both sites. ΔPM_(10)at Anmyon decreased to a negative value in January due to an influence of the Siberian continental high-pressure system while ΔPM_(10)at Gosan was high in winter due to an effect of photochemical production at higher temperatures than at Anmyon.     

Formic acid as an alternative reducing agent for the catalytic nitrate reduction in aqueous media

Formic acid was used for the nitrate reduction as a reductant in the presence of Pd:Cu/γ-alumina catalysts. The surface characteristics of the bimetallic catalyst synthesized by wet impregnation were investigated by SEM, TEM-EDS. The metals were not distributed homogeneously on the surface of catalyst, although the total contents of both metals in particles agreed well with the theoretical values. Formic acid decomposition on the catalyst surface, its influence on solution pH and nitrate removal efficacy was investigated. The best removal of nitrate (50 ppm) was obtained under the condition of 0.75 g/L catalyst with Pd:Cu ratio (4:1) and two fold excess of formic acid. Formic acid decay patterns resembled those of nitrate removal, showing a linear relationship between kf (formic acid decay) and k (nitrate removal). Negligible amount of ammonia was detected, and no nitrite was detected, possibly due to buffering effect of bicarbonate that is in situ produced by the decomposition of formic acid, and due to the sustained release of H2 gas.     

Insertable thin film thermocouples for in situ transient temperature monitoring in ultrasonic metal welding of battery tabs

Real-time monitoring and control of temperature in ultrasonic joining of battery tabs and coupons are important for the quality improvement and cost reduction of battery assembly. However, there have always been difficulties in accurate and real-time measurement of temperature by conventional sensors for practical implementation. In this study, an innovative method is developed to provide an enabling technology for the in situ transient temperature monitoring, which could provide reliable feedback signals for potential control of ultrasonic joining processes. Micro thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) were fabricated on thin silicon substrates, which were then inserted in the welding anvil as a permanent feature so that the sensors were always located about 100 μm directly under the welding spot during joining of multilayer Ni-coated Cu thin sheets for battery assembly. Good repeatability was demonstrated while a temperature rise of up to 650 °C was obtained due to the closeness of the sensors to the welding spot. The inserts with thin film sensors remained functional after welding experiments. This method has a great potential for in situ transient temperature monitoring, and thus the control of ultrasonic joining processes to realize a practical smart joining system.     

Predicting the transfer of 137Cs to rice plants by a dynamic compartment model with a consideration of the soil properties

The factors governing chlorine transfer from Phaeozem and Greyzem soils to various important crop species (foodstuff and forage) were determined in natural conditions in the Kiev region of Ukraine. The stable chlorine concentration ratio (CR) values were the lowest in apple (0.5+/-0.3) and strawberry (2+/-1), higher in vegetables (5+/-3), seeds (15+/-7) and reached a maximum in straw (187+/-90). The average CR values of 36Cl were estimated for the most important crops using all experimental data on 36Cl and stable chlorine transfer into plants from various soils. It was experimentally shown that boiling potatoes in water leads to an equilibrium between 36Cl specific content in the water and moisture in the cooked potato. The 36Cl processing factor (PF) for boiling various foodstuffs is equal to the ratio of water mass in the cooked foodstuff to the total water mass (in the food and the decoction). 36Cl PF for cereal flour can be estimated as 1. The 36Cl processing factor for dairy products is equal to the ratio of residual water mass in the product to initial water mass in milk. At a 36Cl specific activity in soil of 1 Bq kg-1, the estimated annual dietary 36Cl intake into human organism (adult man) is about 10 kBq. Sixty to seventy percent of the above amount will be taken in via milk and dairy products, 7-16% via meat, 14-16% via bread and bakery items and 8-12% via vegetables. The highest annual 36Cl intake, 10.7 kBq, is predicted for 1-year-old children. The expected effective doses from annual 36Cl intake are higher for younger age groups, increasing from 0.008 mSv in adults to 0.12 mSv in 1-year-old children.     

Groundwater contamination and natural attenuation capacity at a petroleum spilled facility in Korea

As a remedial option, the natural attenuation capacity of a petroleum contaminated groundwater at a military facility was examined. Hydrogeological conditions, such as high water level, permeable uppermost layer and frequent heavy rainfall, were favorable to natural attenuation at this site. The changes in the concentrations of electron acceptors and donors, as well as the relevant hydrochemical conditions, indicated the occurrence of aerobic respiration, denitrification, iron reduction, manganese reduction and sulfate reduction. The calculated BTEX expressed biodegradation capacity ranged between 20.52 and 33.67 mg/L, which appeared effective for the reduction of the contaminants levels. The contribution of each electron accepting process to the total biodegradation was in the order: denitrification > iron reduction > sulfate reduction > aerobic respiration > manganese reduction. The BTEX and benzene point attenuation rates were 0.0058-0.0064 and 0.0005-0.0032 day^-1, respectively, and the remediation time was 0.7-1.2 and 2.5-30 years, respectively. The BTEX and benzene bulk attenuation rates were 8.69 × 10^-4 and 1.05 × 10^-3 day^-1, respectively, and the remediation times for BTEX and benzene were 7.2 and 17.5 years, respectively. However, most of the natural attenuation occurring in this site can be attributed to dilution and dispersion. Consequently, the biodegradation and natural attenuation capacities were good enough to lower the contaminants levels, but their rates appeared to be insufficient to reach the remediation goal within a reasonable time frame. Therefore, some active remedial measures would be required.     

Nitrogen mass balance in a constructed wetland treating piggery wastewater effluent

The nitrogen changes and the nitrogen mass balance in a free water surface flow constructed wetland （CW） using the four-year monitoring data from 2008 to 2012 were estimated. The CW was composed of six cells in series that include the first settling basin （Cell 1）, aeration pond （Cell 2）, deep marsh （Cell 3）, shallow marsh （Cell 4）, deep marsh （Cell 5） and final settling basin （Cell 6）. Analysis revealed that the NH4＋-N concentration decreased because of ammonification which was then followed by nitrification. The NO4＋-N and NO4＋-N were also further reduced by means of microbial activities and plant uptake during photosynthesis. The average nitrogen concentration at the influent was 37,819 kg/year and approximately 45% of that amount exited the CW in the effluent. The denitrification amounted to 34% of the net nitrogen input, whereas the accretion of sediment was only 7%. The biomass uptake of plants was able to retain only 1% of total nitrogen load. In order to improve the nutrient removal by plant uptake, plant coverage in four cells （i.e., Cells 1, 3, 4 and 5） could be increased.     

Properties of alkali-activated systems with stone powder sludge

This article investigates the effects of stone powder sludge on the microstructure and strength development of alkali-activated fly ash and blast furnace slag mixes. Stone powder sludge produced from a crushed aggregate factory was used to replace fly ash and granulated blast furnace slag at replacement ratios of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by mass. The unit weight and compressive strength of the samples were measured, and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed. The test results indicated that the compressive strength of alkali-activated blast furnace slag mixes using stone powder sludge was higher than that of the alkali-activated blast furnace slag control mix, but the compressive strength of alkali-activated fly ash mixes decreased with increasing replacement ratio of stone powder sludge. Microscopy results indicated that for alkaliactivated blast furnace slag samples, broken surfaces were more evident than for the alkali-activated fly ash samples. For all XRD diagrams, broad and diffuse peaks were observed around 2θ = 35° (d = 2.96–3.03 Å), implying amorphous or short-ordering structure phases.     

Natural and anthropogenic influences on heavy metals in airborne particles over the Korean Peninsula

Six monitoring stations were selected to characterize the variations in airborne concentrations of heavy metals in South Korea between 1999 and 2012. Three stations represented higher concentrations, and three represented lower concentrations. The heavy metals monitored at these stations include cadmium, chromium, copper, iron (Fe), lead, manganese (Mn), and nickel. During the study period, concentrations of heavy metals at many stations, including those around the Seoul metropolitan area, showed a decreasing trend. However, concentrations of Mn and Fe that are primarily of crustal origin increased at four of the six stations. Some stations were significantly affected by emissions from the local industrial complex (IC), and heavy metal concentrations at those stations were relatively high even in summer. Many heavy metal concentrations were higher in spring than in winter, but wintertime concentrations of Cr and Pb were higher at the stations representing lower concentrations due to the dominant influence of combustion emissions. At stations less affected by emissions from the IC, concentrations of Fe and Mn that are predominantly crustal in origin were higher in spring, when Asian dust (AD) events are most frequent. Although Mn concentrations were also high at stations within the steelmaking IC during AD periods, they were much higher during non-AD periods due to local emissions. Variations in heavy metal concentrations, which are heavily influenced by emissions from the IC, warrant individual analysis because their emission characteristics differ from those of typical cases.     

Particle-size-fractioned transfer of dioxins from sediments to water columns by resuspension process

Particle-size-fractioned transfer of dioxins from sediments to water columns by resuspension process was investigated, using supernatant samples obtained from shaking experiments of sediment-water pairs simulating natural disturbances. The concentrations (dry-matter mass basis) of individual compounds (Cfraction) in two particle size fractions (0.1-1 and 1-10 μm) in the supernatants were generally slightly higher than those in the original sediment (Csed). Cfraction/Csed ratios ranged from 0.45 to 5.9 (median 1.5) without consistent differences among congener groups or consistent correlations against the number of chlorine atoms. The dioxin concentrations in the water column associated with the remaining sediment particles can therefore be estimated by those in the original sediment and by the concentration of suspended sediment particles in the water. The concentration of each compound in the remaining sediment particles (mostly 0.1-10 μm in size) can be roughly estimated by multiplying the concentration in the original sediment by 1.5.