• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2011

The accidental releases of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) due to oil spills frequently ended up with soil and ground water pollution. TPH may be degraded through physicochemical and biological processes in the environment but with relatively slow rates. In this study an attempt has been made to develop an integrated chemical and biological treatment technology in order to establish an efficient and environment-friendly restoration technology for the TPH contaminated soils. A Fenton-like reaction was employed as a preceding chemical treatment process and a bioaugmentation process utilizing a diesel fuel degrader consortium was subsequently applied as a biological treatment process. An efficient chemical removal of TPH from soils occurred when the surfactant OP-10S (0.05%) and oxidants ($FeSO_4$ 4%, and $H_2O_2$ 5%) were used. Bioaugmentation of the degrader consortium into the soil slurry led to an increase in their population density at least two orders of magnitude, indicating a good survival of the degradative populations in the contaminated soils ($10^8-10^9$ CFU/g slurry). TPH removal efficiencies for the Fenton-treated soils increased by at least 57% when the soils were subjected to bioaugmentation of the degradative consortium. However, relatively lower TPH treatment efficiencies (79-83%) have been observed in the soils treated with Fenton and the degraders as opposed to the control (95%) that was left with no treatment. This appeared to be due to the presence of free radicals and other oxidative products generated during the Fenton treatment which might inhibit their degradation activity. The findings in this study will contribute to development of efficient bioremediation treatment technologies for TPH-contaminated soils and sediments in the environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2010

Effects of operating parameters such as applied voltage, solution conductivity, ferrous ion concentration, electrode material on phenol degradation by pulsed corona discharges were investigated in laboratory scale experiments. The increase of applied voltage enhanced the phenol degradation by generating more energetic electrons. The solution conductivity inversely affected phenol removal rate in the tested ranges because the increase of conductivity decreased the electric field strength through the liquid phase. The addition of ferrous sulfate promoted the phenol degradation through the OH radical production by the Fentonlike reactions between ferrous ion and hydrogen peroxide generated by pulsed corona discharges. Catechol and hydroquinone were detected as primary intermediates of phenol degradation and the decrease of pH and the increase of conductivity were observed probably due to the generation of organic acids. Almost all of the initial phenol was disappeared and 29% of total organic corbon (TOC) was removed in the condition of 0.5 mM of ferrous sulfate after approximately 230 kJ of discharge energy transferred to the reactor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2009

This study was performed under four operational conditions for nitrogen removal in metal finishing wastewater. The conditions include electrode gap, reducing agent, the recycling of treated wastewater in 1st step and the simultaneous treatment of nitrate and other materials. Result showed that the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ was highest at the electrode gap of 10 mm. As the electrode gap was shorter than 10 mm, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ decreased due to increasing in concentration polarization on electrode. And, in case that the electrode gap was longer than 10 mm, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ increased with an increase in energy consumption. Because hydrogen ions are consumed when nitrate is reduced, reducing reaction of nitrate was effected more in acid solution. As 1.2 excess amount of zinc was injected, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ increased due to increasing in amount of reaction with nitrate. As the effluent from 1st step in the reactor was recycled into the 1st step, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ increased. Because the zinc were detached from the cathode and concentration-polarization was decreased due to formation of turbulence in the reactor. The presence of $NH_4{^+}-N$ did not affect the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ but the addition of heavy metal decreased the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$. As chlorine is enough in wastewater, the simultaneous treatment of nitrate and ammonia nitrogen may be possible. The problem that heavy metal decrease the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ may be solved by increasing current density or using front step of electrochemical process for heavy metal removal.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 1999

Naturally-occurring iron minerals, goethite, magnetite, and hydrogen peroxide were used to catalyze and initiate Fenton-like oxidation of silica sand contaminated with mixture of diesel and kerosene in batch system. Optimal reaction conditions were investigated by varying pH(3, 7), $H_2O_2$ concentration(0%, 1%, 7%, 15%, 35%), initial contaminant concentration(0.2, 0.5, 1.0 g-mixture of diesel and kerosene/ kg-soil), and iron mineral contents(1, 5, and 10 wt % magnetite or goethite). Contaminant degradations in silica sand-iron mineral-$H_2O_2$ systems were identified by determining total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH) concentration. The optimal pH of the system was 3. The system which iron minerals were the only iron source was more efficient than the system with $FeSO_4$ solution due to lower $H_2O_2$ consumption. In case of initial contaminant concentration of 1g-contaminant/kg-soil with 5 wt % magnetite, addition of 0%, 1%, 7%, 15%, and 35% of $H_2O_2$ showed 0%, 24.5%, 44%, 52%, and 70% of TPH reduction in 8 days, respectively. When the mineral contents were varied 0, 1, 5, and 10wt%, removal of contaminants were 0%, 33.5%, 50%, and 60% for magnetite and 0%, 29%, 41%, and 53% for goethite, respectively. Reaction of magnetite system showed higher degradation than that of goethite system due to dissolution of iron and mixed presence of iron(II) and iron(III); however, dissolved iron precipitated on the surface of iron mineral and seemed to cause reducing electron transfer activity on the surface and quenching $H_2O_2$. The system using goethite has better treatment efficiency due to less $H_2O_2$ consumption. When cach system was mixed by shaker, removal of contaminants increased by 41% for magnetite and 30% for goethite. Results of this study showed catalyzed $H_2O_2$ system made in-situ treatment of soil contaminated with petroleum possible without addition of iron source since natural soils generally contain iron minerals such as magnetite and goethite.