Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Department of Environment and Energy Convergence master's student Han Kyu-hyun (advisor Professor Jin Seong-uk) received the Excellence Award at the '2025 KoSSGE Paper Competition' hosted by the Korean Society of Groundwater and Soil Environment. 

Han Kyu-hyun was recognized for the excellence and completeness of the paper he prepared based on research titled 'Evaluation of Denitrification Reaction Rates and Isotope Fractionation in Organic Matter-Based Permeable Reactive Barriers through Column Experiments'. 

The study evaluated changes in denitrification reaction rates during long-term operation of organic matter-based permeable reactive barriers and identified changes in nitrate and water stable isotope compositions accompanying the transformation of nitrogen compounds. The results are expected to provide baseline data for predicting the lifespan of permeable reactive barriers and for understanding isotope variation characteristics to enhance nitrate removal efficiency in groundwater. 

Han said, 'I sincerely thank Professor Jin Seong-uk for his meticulous guidance and encouragement up to the award, and my colleagues in the Applied Environmental Geology Laboratory.' He added, 'I will work even harder to grow as a researcher in the relevant field as a result of this award.'