• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.489-493
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• 2017

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are bio-electrochemical processes that can convert various organic materials present in wastewater into electrical energy. For scaling-up and practical application of MFC, it is necessary to investigate the effect of anode size, electrode distance, and total area of anode on substrate degradation. Spaced electrode assembly (SPA) type microbial fuel cell with multiple anodes treating domestic wastewater was used for simulation. According to computer simulation results, the shorter the distance between electrodes than the size of single electrode, the faster the substrate degradation rate. Particularly, when the total area of the anode is large, the substrate decomposition is the fastest. In this study, it was found that the size of the anode and the distance between the electrodes as well as the cathode electrode, which is known as the rate-limiting step in the design of the microbial fuel cell process, are also important factors influencing the substrate degradation rate.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2002

Reactive dyes waste water, a toxic and refractory pollutant, was treated by an electrochemical method using $Ti/IrO_2$ as anode and Stainless Steel 316 as cathode. In this technique, sodium chloride as an electrolyte was added. A number of experiments were run in a batch system. Artificial samples (reactive blue 19, red 195, yellow 145) were used. Operation parameters, such as supporting electrolyte concentration, current density, pH and sample concentration have been investigated for their influences on COD and color removal efficiencies during electrolysis. After 5 and 90 minites of eletrolysis, color was reduced by 51.5% and 98.9% respectively. Under the condition of current density $10A/dm^2$, NaCl concentration 12mg/l and pH 3, 62.9% of $COD_{Cr}$ was removed after electrolysis for 90 minites. The optimum condition of color removal and COD reduction in this work was found to be the following : pH 3, sodium chloride concentration 20g/l, current density $10A/dm^2$. As a result, we confirmed to be effective to color removal and reduction of refractory organic material.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.315-324
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• 2006

This research was conducted to clarify the characteristics of electrochemical decolorization of effluent discharged from a biological animal wastewater treatment process and to finally establish parameters or mode for optimum operation of electrolysis system. Average color unit of wastewater was about 1,200 and DSA(Dimensionally Stable Anode) was used as electrode. Experiments were performed with two different operation conditions or modes, fixed voltage-free current(Run A) and free voltage-fixed current(Run B). Color removal rate was proportional to the electrode area and electrical conductivity, and an equation subject to them at a condition of fixed voltage was derived as follows; Ct=C0ekt, k=[{0.0121×ａ(dm2)× c(mS/cm)}+0.0288], [where, C0: initial color, Ct: color unit after treatment for t, k: reaction coefficient, t: time(min.), ａ: electrode area, c: conductivity]. From the study on the effects of current density on color removal, it was revealed that the removal efficiency of color was function of the current density, showing direct proportion. However, when considered energy consumption rate, maintenance of low current density was an economical way. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that supplementation of electrolyte is not necessary for the removal of color from the effluent of secondary treatment process and operation with the mode of free voltage-fixed current, rather than operation with fixed voltage-free current mode, would be an efficient way to increase the removal performance and capacity per consumed energy.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2021

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical device that generates electricity by utilizing bacterial catalytic activity that degrades wastewater. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is the core component of MFC that decides its performance, and Nafion membrane is the most widely used PEM. In spite of the excellent performance of Nafion, it has drawbacks such as high cost, biofouling issue, and non-biodegradable property. Recent studies in MFC attempted to synthetize the alternative membrane for Nafion by incorporating various polymers, sulfonating, fluorinating, and doping other chemicals. This review summarizes characteristics and performances of different composite membrane based MFCs, mostly focusing on PEM.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2019

We report on the design of oil-water separators and the selection of materials for the effective application of highly selective membranes fabricated by commercial PET (polyester) fabrics. The waterproof ability of PET fabrics was optimized to improve the separation selectivity. The density of individual PET fabrics should be over $60g/m^2$, and the multi-layered structure is more favorable for the waterproof ability together with maintaining the removal efficiency. For the continuous adsorption and removal process, the rotating perforated cylinder was selected, and covered with membranes. Furthermore, more improved and stable removal efficiency was obtained by installing floating baffles which forces the oil content to move toward membranes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 2004

This study focused on examining the possibility of recycling mine solid waste as environmental materials, especially for porous media. Basic properties including mineralogical compositions, chemical compositions, and particle size distribution of the tailings from the Sangdong W mine were checked. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of the tailings samples were not much different in depth. According to Korean Standard Leaching Test for Wastes(KSLT), concentrations of heavy metals leached from the tailings were below the standard values. As a result of particle size analysis, the median diameter (d$_{50}$) of the tailings was in the range of 10 to 30 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. The stable tailings slurry made up of 3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in d$_{50}$ was prepared using Attrition Mill. The milling condition was 40 vol% in slurry concentration, 700 rpm in stirring speed, and 1 hour in milling time. PEI was added as dispersing agent. Concentrated slurry was extended to 3 times by foaming method. In the case of 3 times foamed slurry, the total and open porosity of ceramic supports sintered at 1,075$^{\circ}C$ for 90 minutes was about 80% and 72%, respectively. Pore size was in the range of 30∼350${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. Therefore, the tailings could be recycled starting material for environmental materials such as macroporous ceramic support.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2023

Increased nitrogen in the water system has become an important environmental problem around the world, as it causes eutrophication, algae bloom, and red tide, destroys the water system, and undermines water's self-purification. The most common form of nitrogen in the water system is ammonium ion (NH₄⁺), and the largest portion of ammonium ions comes from wastewater. NH₄⁺ is a major contributor to eutrophication, which calls for appropriate treatment and measures for ammonium removal. This study produced biochar by applying Sorghum × drummondii, a type of biomass with a great growth profile, analyzed the adsorption capacity of Sorghum × drummondii biochar produced from the changing carbonization temperature condition of 200 to 400℃ in the ammonium ion range of 10 to 100 ppm, and used the results to evaluate its potential as an adsorbent. Carbonization decomposed the chemical structure of Sorghum × drummondii and increased the content of carbon and fixed carbon in the biochar. The biochar's pH and electrical conductivity showed high adsorption potential for cations due to electrical conductivity as its pH and electrical conductivity increased along with higher carbonization temperature. Based on the results of an adsorption experiment, the biochar showed 54.5% and 17.4% in the maximum and minimum NH₄-N removal efficiency as the concentration of NH₄-N increased, and higher carbonization temperature facilitated the adsorption of pollutants due to the biochar's increased pores and specific surface area and subsequently improved NH₄-N removal efficiency. FT-IR analysis showed that the overall surface functional groups decreased due to high temperature from carbonization.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.816-821
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• 2017

An integrated slow mixing/sedimentation and net fit fiber filtration system has been developed to reduce the high concentrations of suspended solid (SS) and total phosphorus (T-P) in the reject water from sewage/wastewater. A filtration device used in this experiment consists of coagulation, in-line mixing, air injection, slow mixing/sedimentation, and filtration processes. The performance test using this device was carried out with six operational modes for reject water from sewage treatment plant. Experimental conditions used were 16.7, 33.3, 41.7 and 50.0 ton/day of flow rate and 2~4 of Al/P molar ratio. By injection of coagulant in each operational mode, the high removal efficiencies of SS and T-P were obtained, but continuous operation time was decreased to 7.8~11.4 min in most modes. However, when the Mode 5 of the developed filtration device was applied, the continuous operation time was maintained up to 88.2 min. Also, it was found that the continuous operation time in the Mode 5 using the developed system was increased from 8 to 11.3 times longer than those in other modes. Backwashing flow rate was also very low at 5.4% of total filtered water. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Mode 5 of the developed filtration system was the most efficient treatment method for the removal of high concentrations of SS and T-P.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.690-695
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• 2018

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) composed of O3 and UV were applied to degrade penicillin (PEN). The degradation efficiency was evaluated in terms of changes in the absorbance (ABS) and total organic carbon (TOC). The combination of $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$ and $O_3/UV$ showed the best performance for the reduction of ABS (100% for 9 min) and TOC (70% for 60 min) values, although the mineralization was uncompleted under the experimental condition in this study. The change in biotoxicy was monitored with Escherichia coli susceptibility and Vibrio fischeri biofluorescence. The E. coli susceptibility was eliminated completely for 9 min by $O_3/UV$, and the toxicity to V. fischeri biofluorescence was 57% reduced by $O_3/H_2O_2/UV$. For the ultimate treatment of PEN, it is suggested that an AOP using $O_3/UV$ is followed by biological treatment, utilizing the enhanced biodegradability by the AOP. During 30 min of $O_3/UV$ treatment, the $BOD_5/COD$ ratio as an indication of biodegradability showed about 4-fold increment, compared to that of using a non-treated sample. TOC removal rate for AOP-pretreated PEN wastewater increased 55% compared to that of using the non-pretreated one through an aerobic biological treatment by Pseudomonas putida for artificial wastewater containing 20 mg/L of PEN. In conclusion, $O_3/UV$ process is recommended as a pretreatment step prior to an aerobic biological process to improve the ultimate degradation of penicillin.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2023

Due to water shortages caused by water pollution and climate change, total organic carbon (TOC) standards have been implemented for wastewater discharged from public sewage treatment facilities. Furthermore, there is a growing interest and body of research pertaining to the reuse of sewage treatment water as a secure alternative water resource. The membrane bio-reactor (MBR) method is commonly used for advanced wastewater treatment because it can remove organic and inorganic ions and it does not require or emit any chemicals. However, the MBR process uses a separation membrane (MF), which requires frequent film cleaning due to fouling caused by a high concentration of mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS). In this study, process improvement and microbubble cleaning efficiency were evaluated to improve the differential pressure, water flow, and MF fouling, which are the biggest disadvantages of operating the MF. The existing MBR method was improved by installing a precipitation tank between the air tank and the MBR tank in which raw water was introduced. Microbubbles were injected into a separation membrane tank into which the supernatant water from the precipitation tank was introduced. The microbubble generator was operated with a 15 day on, 15 day off cycle for 5 months to collect discharged water samples (4L) and measure TOC. As the supernatant water from the precipitation tank flowed into the separation membrane tank, about 95% of the supernatant water MLSS was removed so the MF fouling from biological contamination was prevented. Due to the application of microbubbles to supernatant water from the precipitation tank, the differential pressure of the separation membrane tank decreased by 1.6 to 2.3 times and the water flow increased by 1.4 times. Applying microbubbles increased the TOC removal rate by more than 58%. This study showed that separately operating the air tank and the separation membrane tank can reduce fouling, and suggested that applying additional microbubbles could improve the differential pressure, water flow, and fouling to provide a more efficient advanced treatment method.