Jeong‐Gyu Kim

The present study was conducted to ascertain the potential of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of cadmium (Cd) from aqueous solutions. Therefore, Cd adsorption batch tests, using SCGs that had not undergone any chemical pretreatment, were conducted using Cd solutions with a wide concentration range (i.e., 0.1–120 mM) under various adsorption conditions, e.g., ion strength, pH, and solid/solution ratio. For comparison, zeolite, as a well-known common represe

Since conventional ecological remediation technologies are often unreliable and inefficient, the use of phytoremediation, which uses plants to restore damaged or polluted environments, has been actively developed. In particular, phytoremediation for the management of abandoned mines has gained public acceptance due to its aesthetic advantages, environmental friendliness, use of solar energy, and low remediation costs. In this article, we review the current status of the phytoremediation of aband

Many studies have examined the application of soil amendments, including pH change-induced immobilizers, adsorbents, and organic materials, for soil remediation. This study evaluated the effects of various amendments on trace element stabilization and phytotoxicity, depending on the initial soil pH in acid, neutral, and alkali conditions. As in all types of soils, Fe and Ca were well stabilized on adsorption sites. There was an effect from pH control or adsorption mechanisms on the stabilization

The key to understanding proton equilibria and cation binding on the surface of humic acid is the quantification of the total carboxylic acid contents. Such quantification via titration alone is highly ambiguous and not straightforward due to the complexity and interference of noncarboxylic acids (phenolic acid, thiols, etc.). To gain a greater understanding of such analysis, potentiometric titration data was incorporated into modeling approaches, and they were compared with two other methods: c

For the ammonia generated in Korea, the contribution rate of livestock manure is high, and a large amount of ammonia (NH3) is emitted into the atmosphere during the soil application process. Volatilization of NH3 is affected by soil characteristics as well as manure characteristics, but the current inventory does not sufficiently reflect this. This study was conducted to confirm the change of the NH3 emitted from liquid fertilizer (LF) due to soil pH and to evaluate the impacts of biochar (BC) o

Arsenic (As) contamination in abandoned mining areas has been of concern in Korea; hence, the reclamation and restoration of these areas must be conducted. Since large contaminated areas have not been restored yet, post management of restoration sites would be insufficient. The aim of this study was to monitor the pollution of environments near the waste dam in mining areas and to assess the fraction and mobility of As. Chemical assessment was conducted using sequential extraction and single ext

In Korea, for heavy metal-contaminated soil, there are insufficient basic data as well as field application cases for soil washing. This study was conducted to suggest the significant factors and optimal operation conditions for the maximum heavy metal removal efficiency. Five types of washing solution [acid solution (HCl), citric acid, oxalic acid, EDTA, and CaCl2], washing time (10–360 min), and solid-solution ratio (1:2–1:100) were selected as significant operational factors. Non-observed eff

This study was carried out to assess heavy metal pollution at 16 abandoned mining areas and to get basic data for phytoremediation. In most of surveyed area, there was no vegetation cover and soil reaction shows in low to moderate pH. Low CEC, low organic matter content were the general properties of these soils. Heavy metals content of these soils were exceed background level of unpolluted soil in Korea, especially Cu content was 2,634mg/kg at Jeil site, 3,415mg/kg Zn, 8.03mg/kg Cd at Yonhwa 2

Indiscriminate overuse of liquid fertilizer and arsenic (As) contaminated soil by abandoned mines is one of the important environmental issues in Korea. This study was carried out to solve these two problems. Amendments (limestone, red mud and acid mine drainage sludge), liquid fertilizer and plant vegetation (Hairy vetch; Vicia villosa Roth) were simultaneously treated. Some soil chemical properties (pH, dissolved organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen content, and bioavailable As), soil respiratio

In South Korea, most metal mines were abandoned and caused contamination for more than 30 years. Even the soil is highly contaminated with trace elements, plants still grow in the area and can affect the contamination. Phytolith is amorphous silica in the plant body. Phytolith is resistant to decomposition, and the stabilization of carbon, nutrients, and toxic substances accumulated in the phytolith is being studied. In this study, the Gilgok gold mine, which is contaminated with arsenic was sel