Mass Load-Based Pollution Management of the Han River and Its Tributaries, Korea

Spatio-temporal variations of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total coliform (TC) in the Han River, Korea, were investigated in terms of concentration-based and mass loading-based approaches. Considering the river water quality criteria regulated by the Ministry of Environment in Korea, the tributaries linked to the mainstream of the Han River were found to be highly contaminated with respect to both BOD and TC and, in fact, most of the tributaries exceeded the maximum water quality criteria. To evaluate the pollution impact of tributaries on the mainstream, the monthly water quality monitoring data for six years (from 1995 to 2000) were collected from the Han River basin, and statistically analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results revealed that mass loading-based approach was superior to the concentration-based approach for effective Han River watershed management. Overall results supported that the mass loading-based approach associated with total maximum daily loads (TMDL) management would be a useful and suitable protocol in watershed management for improving the water quality of the Han River and protecting public health. Therefore, this study supporting TMDL management can be applicable to a wide array of contaminants and watershed settings in Korea.     

Preparation of Alginic Acid and Metal Alginate from Algae and their Comparative Study

Alginic acid and metal alginates are prepared from fresh algae using extraction method. A FTIR spectrum indicates that alginic acid is converted into the metal alginate. Comparing calcium and cobalt alginates, asymmetric stretching of free carboxyl group of calcium alginate at 1630 cm⁻¹ is shifted to 1585 cm⁻¹ in cobalt alginate, due to the change of charge density, radius and atomic weight of the cation, creating a new environment around the carbonyl group. The strong exothermic peak of alginic acid in DSC thermogram indicates the decomposition of biopolymer, whereas strong exothermic peak of metal alginate in DSC thermogram attributed to the decomposition of biopolymer and formation of respective carbonate. Based on DSC study, the decomposition of cobalt alginate occurs at higher temperature comparing to those of sodium and calcium alginate, which may conclude into the higher stability of cobalt alginate. TGA results reveal that, cobalt alginate is more stable than calcium and sodium alginate at 300 °C temperature. Surface morphology (at same magnification), as well as porosity (%) and pore size distribution results change with metals present in different metal alginates.     

Uncertainty Reduction of the Flood Stage Forecasting Using Neural Networks Model1

Abstract: The Elman Discrete Recurrent Neural Networks Model (EDRNNM), which is one of the special types of neural networks model, is developed and applied for the flood stage forecasting at the Musung station (No. 1) of the Wi‐stream catchment, which is one of the International Hydrological Program representative basins, Korea. A total of 135 different training patterns, which involve hidden nodes, standardization process, data length, and lead‐time, are selected for the minimization of the architectural uncertainty. The model parameters, such as optimal connection weights and biases, are estimated during the training performance of the EDRNNM, and we apply them to evaluate the validation performance of the EDRNNM. Sensitivity analysis is used to reduce the uncertainty of input data information of the EDRNNM. As the results of sensitivity analysis, the Improved EDRNNM consists of four input nodes resulting from the exclusion of Dongkok station (No.5) in initial five input nodes group of the EDRNNM. The accuracy of flood stage forecasting during the training and validation performances of the Improved EDRNNM remains the same as that of the EDRNNM. The Improved EDRNNM, therefore, gives highly reliable flood stage forecasting. The best optimal EDRNNM, so called the Improved EDRNNM, is determined by elimination of the uncertainties of architectural and input data information in this study. Consequently, we can avoid unnecessary data collection and operate the flood stage forecasting system economically.     

Feasibility of phosphate fertilizer to immobilize cadmium in a field

To reduce effectively cadmium (Cd) phytoextractability by phosphate fertilizer in Cd contaminated soil, fused and superphosphate (FSP) was applied at the rate of 0, 33.5 (recommendation level), 167.5, and 335 kg P ha⁻¹ for radish (Raphanus sativa L.). Unlike from what we expected, soil Cd extractability and Cd concentration in radish increased with increasing FSP application in the field. To determine the effect of FSP on Cd immobilization, FSP was mixed with the selected soil at the rate of 0, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg P kg⁻¹ and then incubated for 8 weeks. As observed in the field study, NH₄OAc extractable Cd concentration increased slightly with FSP addition up to 400 mg P kg⁻¹ and thereafter dramatically decreased upon increasing its application rate. Soil pH and negative charge were decreased at low level of FSP application up to 400 mg P kg⁻¹, but thereafter continually increased with increasing application level. This could be indirect evidence that net soil negative charge was increased by the specific adsorption of phosphate at the high rate of FSP application over 400 mg P kg⁻¹. The labile Cd fraction (water soluble and exchangeable + acidic fraction) increased with increasing FSP application by 400 mg P kg⁻¹ and thereafter gradually decreased with corresponding increase in unlabile fraction (oxidizable and residual fraction). Based on these results, FSP might be applied with a very high rate over 800 mg P kg⁻¹ to decrease Cd extractability in the selected field. However, this level is equivalent to 1440 kg P ha⁻¹, which is about 43 times higher than the recommendation levels for radish production and resulted in a significant increase in water soluble P concentration creating a new environmental problem. Therefore, the feasibility of FSP to reduce Cd extractability in the field is very low.     

Characterization of cyclohexane and hexane degradation by Rhodococcus sp. EC1

Cyclohexane is a recalcitrant compound that is more difficult to degrade than even n-alkanes or monoaromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, a cyclohexane-degrading consortium was obtained from oil-contaminated soil by an enrichment culture method. Based on a 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis method, this consortium was identified as comprising Alpha-proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Gamma-proteobacteria. One of these organisms, Rhodococcus sp. EC1, was isolated and shown to have excellent cyclohexane-degrading ability. The maximum specific cyclohexane degradation rate (Vmax) for EC1 was 246 micromol g-DCW(-1) (dry cell weight)h(-1). The optimum conditions of cyclohexane degradation were 25-35 degrees C and pH 6-8. In addition to its cyclohexane degradation abilities, EC1 was also able to strongly degrade hexane, with a maximum specific hexane degradation rate of 361 micromol g-DCW(-1)h(-1). Experiments using 14C-hexane revealed that EC1 mineralized 40% of hexane into CO2 and converted 53% into biomass. Moreover, EC1 could use other hydrocarbons, including methanol, ethanol, acetone, methyl tert-butyl ether, pyrene, diesel, lubricant oil, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-xylene, p-xylene and o-xylene. These findings collectively suggest that EC1 may be a useful biological resource for removal of cyclohexane, hexane, and other recalcitrant hydrocarbons.     

Influence of HCl on oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury by dielectric barrier discharge process

The influence of HCl on the oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) has been investigated using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma process, where the temperature of the plasma reactor and the composition of gas mixtures of HCl, H2O, NO, and O2 in N2 balance have been varied. We observe that Cl atoms and Cl2 molecules, created by the DBD process, play important roles in the oxidation of Hg0 to HgCl2. The addition of H2O to the gas mixture of HCl in N2 accelerates the oxidation of Hg0, although no appreciable effect of H2O alone on the oxidation of Hg0 has been observed. The increase of the reaction temperature in the presence of HCl results in the reduction of Hg0 oxidation efficiency probably due to the deterioration of the heterogeneous chemical reaction of Hg0 with chlorinated species on the reactor wall. The presence of NO shows an inhibitory effect on the oxidation of Hg0 under DBD of 16% O2 in N2, indicating that NO acts as an O and O3 scavenger. At the composition of Hg0 (280 microg m(-3)), HCl (25 ppm), NO (204 ppm), O2 (16%) and N2 (balance) and temperature 90 degrees C, we obtain the nearly complete oxidation of Hg0 at a specific energy density of 8 J l(-1). These results lead us to suggest that the DBD process can be viable for the treatment of mercury released from coal-fired power plants.     

Single-well, gas-sparging tests for evaluating the in situ aerobic cometabolism of cis-1,2-dichloroethene and trichloroethene

This study developed single-well, gas-sparging tests for assessing the feasibility of in situ aerobic cometabolism of trichloroethene (TCE) and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) using propane and methane as growth substrates. Tests were performed in groundwater contaminated with TCE (100-400 microg l(-1)) and cis-DCE (20-60 microg l(-1)). A series of gas-sparging tests was performed by first sparging ("bubbling") gas mixtures in a well fitted with a "straddle" packer and then periodically sampling groundwater from the same well to develop concentration profiles and to estimate transformation rate coefficients. Evidence that gas-sparging of propane (or methane) and oxygen had stimulated organisms expressing a propane (or methane) monooxygenase enzyme system and the capability to transform TCE and cis-DCE included: (1) the transformation of sparged ethylene and propylene to their corresponding cometabolic by-products, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, (2) the transformation of both cis-DCE and TCE in the propane-sparged well, (3) the transformation of cis-DCE in the methane-sparged well, and (4) the inhibition of ethylene and propylene transformations in the presence of acetylene, a known monooxygenase inactivator. At a well sparged with propane, first-order rate coefficients for propane utilization and ethylene and propylene transformation were similar, ranging from 0.007 to 0.010 h(-1). At the well sparged with methane, the propylene first-order transformation rate coefficient was 0.028 h(-1), a factor of 1.8 and 1.6 greater than methane and ethylene, respectively. The results demonstrated that gas-sparging tests are a rapid, low-cost means of assessing the potential for the in situ aerobic cometabolism of cis-DCE and TCE.     

Response of microbial growth to orthophosphate and organic carbon influx in copper and plastic based plumbing water systems

Consequences of orthophosphate addition for corrosion control in water distribution pipes with respect to microbial growth were investigated using batch and dynamic tests. Batch tests showed that the release of copper in either low or high organic carbon content water was decreased by 69% and 56% with addition 206 microg PO(4)-P, respectively. Dosing of orthophosphate against corrosion did not increase microbial growth potential in the water and in the biofilm in both corroded and uncorroded systems receiving tap water with a low content of organic carbon and of biodegradable organic fraction. However, in tap water having a high concentration of organic carbon from acetate addition, orthophosphate addition promoted the growth of bacteria, allowed more bacteria to assemble on corroded and uncorroded surfaces, and increased the consumption of organic carbon. Orthophosphate consumption did not exceed 1% of the amount of easily biodegradable organic carbon required for microbial growth, and the orthophosphate demand for corrosion control greatly exceeded the nutritional requirement of microbial growth. The results of the dynamic tests demonstrated that there was a significant effect of interaction between biodegradable organic carbon and orthophosphate on biofilm growth, whereby the effect of orthophosphate flux on microbial growth was dependent on the levels of biodegradable organic carbon. Controlling an easily biodegradable organic carbon would be therefore necessary to minimize the microbial growth potential induced by orthophosphate-based anticorrosion treatment.     

Association patterns among male and female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) reflect male mate choice

Although female animals tend to be choosier than males in selecting mates, sexual selection theory predicts that males should also be choosy when female fecundity varies. Reproductive success among female spotted hyenas varies greatly with social rank. Our goals were therefore to determine whether male hyenas preferentially associate with high-ranking females, and whether male preferences are affected by female reproductive state. Interactions between adult males and females were observed intensively, and association indices calculated for all male-female pairs, over a 7-year period in one population of free-living hyenas. Males initiated most affiliative interactions with females, and males associated most closely with females that were likeliest to be fertile. High- and middle-ranking males associated most closely with high-ranking females, but low-ranking males associated equally closely with females in all rank categories. We used molecular markers to determine the paternity of cubs born during the study period, and found that sires associated more closely with the mothers of those cubs than did non-sires, particularly during the last months before conception. These association data indicate that male spotted hyenas do indeed exhibit selective mate choice, and that they prefer females likeliest to maximize male reproductive success.     

Determination of antibiotic compounds in water by on-line SPE-LC/MSD

This study attempts to provide an improved approach for the analysis of antibiotics, which normally exist at low concentration in complex matrices such as receiving streams of wastewater treatment plant discharge. The analytical method developed in this study combines an existing pretreatment technique of solid-phase extraction (SPE) with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MSD) through on-line connection. The on-line connection suppressed the target loss by keeping the cartridge from drying, which resulted in improvement of the recovery and saving of the analytical time. For the on-line solid-phase extraction of 10 ml water samples, recoveries were between 74.3% and 116.5% and average LOQ was 0.11 microg l(-1) for the sulfonamide antibiotics (SA) and 0.09 microg l(-1) for the tetracycline antibiotics (TA). Application of the developed method for the analysis of fourteen antibiotics revealed that several antibiotics were detected at concentrations above the LOQ in ARW. Treated and untreated sewage and agricultural wastewater were mostly responsible for the antibiotics contamination of the river. Antibiotics were detected at much higher concentrations in the agricultural wastewater sample than in the sewage sample, implying substantial use of antibiotics in the agricultural industry. Wastewater treatment was generally effective in separation of the antibiotics tested in this study. The extent of the treatment depended on the type of antibiotics. Hydrophobic antibiotics were more effectively separated from the solution than hydrophilic antibiotics.