Jin-Mo Yeon

Hazardous waste characterization among various thermal processes in South Korea: a comparative analysis.

Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea (South Korea) is in progress of converting its current hazardous waste classification system to harmonize it with the international standard and to set-up the regulatory standards for toxic substances present in the hazardous waste. In the present work, the concentrations along with the trend of 13 heavy metals, F(-), CN(-) and 19 PAH present in the hazardous waste generated among various thermal processes (11 processes) in South Korea were analyzed along with their leaching characteristics. In all thermal processes, the median concentrations of Cu (3.58-209,000 mg/kg), Ni (BDL-1560 mg/kg), Pb (7.22-5132.25mg/kg) and Zn (83.02-31419 mg/kg) were comparatively higher than the other heavy metals. Iron & Steel thermal process showed the highest median value of the heavy metals Cd (14.76 mg/kg), Cr (166.15 mg/kg) and Hg (2.38 mg/kg). Low molecular weight PAH (BDL-37.59 mg/kg) was predominant in sludge & filter cake samples present in most of the thermal processes. Comparatively flue gas dust present in most of the thermal processing units resulted in the higher leaching of the heavy metals.

Analytical method for combustible waste contaminated by the HF leakage from industrial process

Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid (HF), a typical inorganic acid, has been used in the industry for its various usageand classified as the toxic compound, because it can cause the pneumonia and pulmonary edema when it wasexposed to respiratory organs. The official environmental analytical method for fluorine and its compound inwaste has not been developed. For this reason, we have faced some problem to treat the contaminated wastesby the HF leakage from industrial process. In this study, prepared for analytical method for combustible waste(crop, trees, etc.) generated from HF leaking accident and to be applied as the official analytical method forfluorine contaminated waste when the fluorine and its compound will be regulated as a hazardous materialby the waste management law later.요약: 불화수소는 유리의 식각, 금속의 녹 제거 등 산업계에서 많이 사용되는 대표적인 무기산이며 노출 시 눈, 코, 목안을 강하게 자극하고, 흡입 시 폐렴, 폐수종 기관지염을 일으키는 대표적인 유독물질에해당하는 화학물질로 구분되어 있다. 현행 폐기물공정시험기준에는 불소화합물에 대한 함량분석방법이마련되어 있지 않아 최근 발생된 불화수소 누출사고로 발생된 불산에 오염된 농작물, 수목 등 가연성 폐기물의 신속하고 안전한 처리방법 마련에 어려움을 겪었다. 본 연구에서는 불화수소 누출사고로 발생된가연성 폐기물(농작물, 수목 등) 중 불소 및 불소화합물의 함량분석방법 마련을 통해 폐기물의 불산 오염여부를 판단하고 적절한 폐기물 처리방법을 제시하고, 향후 이 방법을 폐기물 관리법상에 지정폐기물에 함유된 유해물질로 불소 및 불소화합물에 대한 항목 추가 시 폐기물공정시험기준으로 활용하고자 한다.Key words: Hydrofluoric acid (HF), leaking accident, combustible waste, analytical method

Heavy metal exposure assessment of recycled plastic buckets

This study has been conducted to provide a management plan for recycled products (plastic wastes) by identifying hazardous substances present in it and conducting exposure assessment. The concentration of 7 heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Zn) was analyzed. Exposure scenario was assumed by the consumption of kimchi made in a recycled plastic bucket. According to the analysis, all of the analyzed samples were within the food code standard level except one sample (137.03 mg/kg, sum of Cd, , Pb and Hg). In leaching test, all of heavy metals were within the leaching standard (Standards specifications of utensil and container-Packing). In an oral exposure test, Fe, Pb and Zn were detected in cabbages and were below PMTDI (Provisional Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake). As one of the recycled plastic buckets exceeded the standard level, we conclude not to recommend the recycled plastic buckets for cooking purpose.

Content characteristics of persistent organic pollutants waste from paint, iron making and steel making process

This study has been carried out in order to effectively manage three groups of unregulated hazardous organic substances (PCDD/DFs, PAHs, PCBs) in South Korea. The investigated substances have been analyzed according to the test methods for hazardous substances in specified wastes provided by the National Institute of Environmental Research, Korea. Total contents of the organic compounds have been determined for hazardous wastes from three major industrial categories (paint, iron removal, steelmaking), such as waste organic solvent, waste paint or dust. By investigating the waste samples for 7 PAHs using GC/MSD, Naphthalene has been detected (N.D~1631.33 mg/kg). The highest Naphthalene concentration, which exceeded the korean marine dumping waste standard, was found in waste organic solvents and waste paints. Although a content analysis of 7 PCB isomers has been conducted, none of these compounds was detected. The analysis of PCDD/DFs has revealed that all samples meet the criterion for low POP content defined in the technical guidelines developed under the Basel Convention. The PCDD/DFs content in dust samples deriving from 10 manufacturing processes (billet, bloom) was determined to be in the range of N.D~5.66 ng I-TEQ/g waste.

Estimation on the application of Reference Materials for PCBs Proficiency Testing from the transformer oil

This study was carried out to produce Reference Materials (RMs) for Proficiency Testing (PT) of PCBs in waste analytical laboratories. Two RMs were prepared from used transformer oil samples and PCB free transformer oil by spiking PCBs standard solutions. The spiked PCB RMs were homogenized by mixing and settling up to 90 days. Homogenized concentration of PCBs with Arochlor 1254 (6 ppm), 1254:1260 (1:1) (5 ppm) were observed in 60 days stationary phase but Arochlor 1260 (3.5 mg/L) were observed in 90 days stationary phase. One-way ANOVA test were carried out and showed that the RMs were suitably homogenized, which can be used for proficiency testing. The Relative Standard Deviations (RSDs) of analytical results were 3.51~5.01% for the PCBs RMs in 10 replicates. The expanded uncertainty of PCBs analytical procedure were 0.26~0.49.

Total content characteristics of inorganic and organic substances from wastes from thermal processes

In this study, heavy metals, PCDD/PCDFs, PAHs in wastes generated from thermal processes were analyzed. Waste from lead thermal metalurgy (EWC 10 04) inorganic metal substances in the regulation were detected in the highest concentrations of Pb. EWC 10 04 seems to be a result of the dust. Waste from zinc thermal metalurgy (EWC 10 05) inorganic metal substances in the regulation were detected in high concentration of Zn. EWC 10 05 seems to be a result of the dust. Waste from copper thermal metalurgy (EWC 10 06) Cu in the 651,77 mg/kg to 651 times higher than regulation standard appeared in the copper thermal metallurgy process seems to be a result of dust. The concentrations of PCDD/PCDFs ranged from 0.0005~11.748 ng-TEQ/ g in dust, 0.0027 ng-TEQ/g in fly ash. PCDD/PCDFs content was not detected in excessive value in regulation

Characteristics of hazardous oil & liquid fuel waste discharged from various industries

Abstract: This study was performed to investigate the contents characteristics of hazardous oil wastes and wastesof liquid fuels from different industrial process. In order to establish a hazardous waste list, samples of variousindustrial discharge have been analyzed for 16 non-regulated inorganic hazardous substances (i.e., Cu, Pb, Cd,CN, Hg, As, T-Cr, Cr 6+ , Sb, Ni, F, V, Ba, Zn, Be, Se). In more detail, hazardous waste samples includingwaste hydraulic oils, waste engine, gear and lubricating oils, waste insulating and heat transmission oils, bilgeoils, oil/water separator contents processing were collected from 37 workplaces and analyzed. We observedthat the most of the inorganic substances exceeded the proposed criteria in many samples. Especially theconcentration of Sb in heat transmission oil, bilge oil and gear & lubricating oils were ranged from 6 to 419mg/kg whereas the proposed criteria is 50 mg/kg. The assessment result of hazardous waste in Korea accordingto the EWC showed that the out of 24 processes, 16 belongs to absolute entry and 8 belongs to mirror entry.In conclusion, we expect the outcome of this study to align the classification system of hazardous wastemanagement in South Korea with international legislations, and consequently contribute to reduce environmentalpollution as well as health risks by toxic wastes.요약: 국내 유해폐기물의 적정 관리를 위해 폐유 및 액상연료 공정에서 발생한 폐기물 중 규제 무기물질류의 배출특성을 조사하였다. 사업장은 올바로시스템에 등록된 폐기물 배출업체를 대상으로, 유럽폐기물 분류체계(EWC, European Waste Catalogue)의 폐유 및 액상연료 공정(EWC 13)과 유사한 폐기물 발생업체를 선정하였다. 조사대상 사업장 37 개 업체를 현지 방문하여 원료, 생산제품, 생산 공정, 폐기물의 종류 및 배출과정을 조사하고 생산 공정에서 배출되는 51 개의 폐기물을 채취하여 무기물질류 16 항목(Cd, Pb, Cu, Hg, As, CN, Cr, Cr

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Industrial Organic Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Korea

This study presents the concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) listed as priority pollutants by United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), in 98 sludges from 54 industrial wastewater treatment facilities of South Korea. The mean concentrations of Σ16PAHs were ranged from 32.5 μg/kg-dw to 1189.3 μg/kg-dw by industries, and the highest content was found in the petrochemical industry, followed by chemical, clothing manufacturing and dying, pulp and papermaking, secondary wastewater treatment, and food/beverage producing industries. Comparisons to the EU and Danish standards of Σ16PAHs in sewage sludge for land application showed only two samples (one from petrochemical, and the other from chemical industry) exceeded the limits. ANOVA test with PAH concentrations as variables revealed no statistically significant influences by industrial types and sampling time (i.e., seasonal variations). Pearson correlations between individual PAHs showed strong relationships (r>0.7) among 4-ring PAHs. Concentrations of acenaphthylene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(f)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene presented strong correlations to Σ16PAHs. Principal component analysis discriminated entire samples into three groups by two principal components (PC1 and PC2) with 70% of data variations, in which industrial types were not of importance, but a dominance of certain PAHs. Samples in group-I, which is high PC1 and low PC2, were characterized by a dominance of 2-ring PAHs, and in group-II, PC1 and PC2 showed a linear relation, was dominant 4-ring PAHs. Group-III with low PC1 and high PC2 includes 17 samples showing a noticeably high contribution of 3-ring PAHs to Σ16PAHs. This study provides concentrations of PAHs in industrial sludges collected from a wide variety of sources (six industrial types) and two seasons of sampling events, and the comparison of Σ16PAHs with other studies are also discussed.

Characteristics of organic pollutants in discharged industrial waste in Korea - Focuse on metallic and plastic manufacturing processes and wastewater treatment plants -

In this study, PCDD/PCDFs, PAHs and PCBs in wastes from metal, plastic and wastewater treatment facilities were analyzed. The concentrations of PCDD/PCDFs ranged from 7.37~432.20 ng-TEQ/kg in fly ash, 0.51~855.01 ng-TEQ/kg in incinerated ash and 0.37~385.81 ng-TEQ/kg in dust. Dioxin content was lower, compared to data in foreign countries. PAHs concentration was in the range of 0.0075~2.9225 mg/kg for process sludge and 0.0035~1.6716 mg/kg for wastewater sludge, which satisfied all of the two standards (Nap, Ant, B(a)F:4/0.8, Phen, B(a)A:5/1, Flt:10/2.5, B(a)P:4.5/0.9) of the Marine Environment Management Act. PAHs concentration in process sludge and wastewater sludge were slightly lower than those abroad. According to the analysis of seven types of PCBs (in comparison with the first standard, 0.15 mg/kg), concentration was found in the range of 0.0~0.65 mg/kg, while PCB-52, PCB-101, PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180 isomers were detected in excessive value in some machine oil and hydraulic fluid.