• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.2-4
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• 1998

Proliferation of Nocardia amarae cells in activated sludge has often been associated with the generation of nuisance foams. Despite intense research activities in recent years to examine the causes and control of Nocardia foaming in activated sludge, the foaming continued to persist throughout the activated sludge treatment plants in United States. In addition to causing various operational problems to treatment processes, the presence of Nocardia may have secondary effects on the fate of heavy metals that are not well known. For example, for treatment plants facing more stringent metal removal requirements, potential metal removal by Nocardia cells in foaming activated sludge would be a welcome secondary effect. In contrast, with new viosolid disposal regulations in place (Code o( Federal Regulation No. 503), higher concentration of metals in biosolids from foaming activated sludge could create management problems. The goal of this research was to investigate the metal sorption property of Nocardia amarae cells grown in batch reactors and in chemostat reactors. Specific surface area and metal sorption characteristics of N. amarae cells harvested at various growth stages were compared. Three metals examined in this study were copper, cadmium and nickel. Nocardia amarae strain (SRWTP isolate) used in this study was obtained from the University of California at Berkeley. The pure culture was grown in 4L batch reactor containing mineral salt medium with sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. In order to quantify the sorption of heavy metal ions to N amarae cell surfaces, cells from the batch reactor were harvested, washed, and suspended in 30mL centrifuge tubes. Metal sorption studies were conducted at pH 7.0 and ionlc strength of 10-2M. The sorption Isotherm showed that the cells harvested from the stationary and endogenous growth phase exhibited significantly higher metal sorption capacity than the cells from the exponential phase. The sequence of preferential uptake of metals by N. amarae cells was Cu>Cd>Ni. The specific surFace area of Nocardia cells was determined by a dye adsorption method. N.amarae cells growing at ewponential phase had significantly less specific surface area than that of stationary phase, indicating that the lower metal sorption capacity of Nocardia cells growing at exponential phase may be due to the lower specific surface area. The growth conditions of Nocardia cells in continuous culture affect their cell surface properties, thereby governing the adsorption capacity of heavy metal. The comparison of dye sorption isotherms for Nocardia cells growing at various growth rates revealed that the cell surface area increased with increasing sludge age, indicating that the cell surface area is highly dependent on the steady-state growth rate. The highest specific surface area of 199m21g was obtained from N.amarae cell harvested at 0.33 day-1 of growth rate. This result suggests that growth condition not only alters the structure of Nocardia cell wall but also affects the surface area, thus yielding more binding sites of metal removal. After reaching the steady-state condition at dilution rate, metal adsorption isotherms were used to determine the equilibrium distributions of metals between aqueous and Nocardia cell surfaces. The metal sorption capacity of Nocardia biomass harvested from 0.33 day-1 of growth rate was significantly higher than that of cells harvested from 0.5- and 1-day-1 operation, indicatng that N.amarae cells with a lower growth rate have higher sorpion capacity. This result was in close agreement with the trend observed from the batch study. To evaluate the effect of Nocardia cells on the metal binding capacity of activated sludge, specific surface area and metal sorption capacity of the mixture of Nocardia pure cultures and activated sludge biomass were determined by a series of batch experiments. The higher levels of Nocardia cells in the Nocardia-activated sludge samples resulted in the higher specific surface area, explaining the higher metal sorption sites by the mixed luquor samples containing greater amounts on Nocardia cells. The effect of Nocardia cells on the metal sorption capacity of activated sludge was evaluated by spiking an activated sludge sample with various amounts of pre culture Nocardia cells. The results of the Langmuir isotherm model fitted to the metal sorption by various mixtures of Nocardia and activated sludge indicated that the mixture containing higher Nocardia levels had higher metal adsorption capacity than the mixture containing lower Nocardia levels. At Nocardia levels above 100mg/g VSS, the metal sorption capacity of activate sludge increased proportionally with the amount of Noeardia cells present in the mixed liquor, indicating that the presence of Nocardia may increase the viosorption capacity of activated sludge.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.837-847
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• 2000

For the treatment of wastewaters generated from beer industry and petrochemical company with high organic and nitrogen contents, laboratory scale of A/O Pure-Oxygen Biofilm (POB) process was developed and studied by means of the comparative economic analysis with extended aeration process. When the wastewater of beer company was initially treated by the A/O POB process in the ranges of 70 to 150 mg TOC/L diluted with tap water, higher than 92% of TOC removal was accomplished in the all ranges. In case of petrochemical wastewater, the initial TOC removal was as low as 52%, though, it increased to 86% after 32 days of operation and also the TKN removal marked 71% after 27 days. Continuous high removal rates were monitored in both the TOC and TKN parameters during the experimental period. Due to the cost for PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) setting and biomass supporting media installation, the initial construction cost of A/O POB process was 2.9 times higher than that of extended aeration process. However, the advantages such as low sludge production, no need for sludge recycling and low energy consumption allow the A/O POB process to have 2.5 times lower operation and maintenance costs. Consequently, in the long term of operation, it is likely that A/O POB process would show higher performance as well as cost effectiveness compared to extended aeration process.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.480-489
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• 2016

In this study, the PVdF/MGO composite nanofiber membranes (PMGs) introducing Iron oxide-Graphene oxide ($Fe_3O_4/GO$, Metallic graphene oxide; MGO) was prepared via electrospinng method and its arsenic removal characteristics were investigated. The thermal treatment was carried out to improve the mechanical strength of nanofiber membranes and then the results showed that of outstanding improvement effect. However, in case of PMGs, the decreasing tendency of mechanical strength was indicated as increasing MGO contents. From the results of pore-size analysis, it was confirmed that the porous structured membranes with 0.3 to $0.45{\mu}m$ were prepared. For the water treatment application, the water flux measurement was carried out. In particular, PMG2.0 sample showed about 70% improved water flux results ($153kg/m^2h$) compared to that of pure PVdF nanofiber membrane ($91kg/m^2h$) under the 0.3 bar condition. In addition, the PMGs have indicated the high removal rates of both As(III) and As(V) (up to 81% and 68%, respectively). Based on the adsorption isotherm analysis, the adsorption of As(III) and As(V) ions were both more suitable for the Freundlich. From all of results, it was concluded that PVdF/MGO composite nanofiber membranes could be utilized as a water treatment membrane and for the Arsenic removal applications.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2006

Chemical wastes containing small amounts of uranium can not be disposed of them after treatment as an industrial waste, because the uranium concentration in the final dry cake exceeds the exemption level. Especially for the removal of uranium in this study, the method for immobilizing Diphosil powder within alginate beads is adopted to make a bead form from a powdered resin. Sodium alginate bead itself showed a capability to uptake uranium to above 60%, but the value was decreased to below 30% after equilibrium. The adsorption rate of uranium increased with the increasing content of Diphosil in the sodium alginate bead. Diphosil resin itself showed very fast uptake of uranium from early stages, and then the rates were leveled off. Diphosil bead showed an improved capability to uptake uranium considering the pure Diphosil content in the composite bead, and provide a considerable potential for further applications of a continuous process by using Diphosil as a bead form.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.775-780
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• 2009

The efficacy of nitrifying sludge existed in biological nutrient removal process was examined for possible removal of endocrine disrupting chemical(EDC) in the effluent of wastewater treatment plant. Some of ammonia oxidizing bacteria causes ammonia oxidation mediated by ammonia monooxygenase(AMO) activity, which has low substrate specificity resulting in cometablic degradation of several chemicals. In this study, the removal of three model EDCs such as bisphenol A(BPA), nonylphenol(NP) and dibutyl phthalate(DBP) was studied in batch cultures using nitrifying sludge, BOD-oxidizing sludge with low nitrifying activity, and sterilized sludge. Nitrifying sludge showed higher initial removal rates in all batches of three EDCs when it was fed with ammonium as an energy source. The acclimation time was required for the removal of EDCs in batches using BOD-oxidizing sludge or nitritefed nitrifying sludge. That retardation seemed to attribute to the slow growth of cells using the EDCs while ammonium-fed nitrifying sludge could degrade EDCs through simultaneous cooxidation with ammonia oxidation. Sterilized sludge was also tested under the same conditions in order to find the contribution of physical adsorption to the removal of EDCs. About 10~20% of initial EDCs dose was removed when using sterilized sludge. Thus the biological activity is likely to play major role for the degradation of BPA, NP, and DBP rather than the physical adsorption from wastewater.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.392-400
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• 2004

This research uses the $TiO_2$/UV process to verify the most suitable condition and possibility to dispose dyeing wastewater that contains pigment and a large amount of pollutants. For this, this research has enforced experiments that compare photo adsorption, photolysis, and photo catalyst oxidation reaction, and also evaluated and analyzed the change of pH and $TiO_2$ dosage, irradiation rates of ultraviolet rays and the dosage change and injection method of $H_2O_2$. According to the results of the dyeing wastewater experiment of storehouse catalyst that uses the new form of $TiO_2$, the photo catalyst oxidation reaction proved to be more effective than photo adsorption and photolysis; 35%, 21% in the case of $TCOD_{cr}$ and 39%, 28% in the case of chromaticity. Taking into consideration the reaction time, amount of photo catalyst reaction and irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays, the decomposition efficiency of pH change proved to be most effective at pH 4. On the whole, the acidity area proved to be effective in dyeing water exclusion than neutral and alkalinity areas. Having evaluated the influence of $TiO_2$ dosage, not only does the decomposition efficiency continuously improve as the $TiO_2$ dosage increases but the shielding effect does not occur also when the $TiO_2$ is at a fixed state. The influence of ultraviolet irradiation amount concluded in the result that as the ultraviolet irradiation amount increases the decomposition efficiency continually increased, but in the case of chromaticity when the irradiation amount was higher than 37.8mW/cm2 the removal efficiency is slowed remarkably. The influence of $H_2O_2$ dosage evaluation reached the results that although the decomposition efficiency increases with the increase of $H_2O_2$ dosage, when above 150mg (total dosage: 1200mg) $H_2O_2$ consumes OH radical itself and reduces the decomposition efficiency. Also in the case of the $H_2O_2$ injection method rather than injecting in the whole amount of $H_2O_2$ (1200mg) needed at the beginning all at once, injecting divided quantities of $H_2O_2$ whenever the electric current density falls below 10mgfl reduces the wases of OH radical due to an excess of $H_2O_2$ and in tum heightens the decomposition efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 1983

The catalytic oxidation of $SO_2$ has been investigated in the presence of vacuum-activated 10 mol % Ni-doped ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ under various partial pressures of $SO_2\;and\;O_2$ at temperatures from 320 to $440{\circ}C$. Over the temperature range $320{\sim}440{\circ}C$, the activation energy is 13.8 $kcal{\cdot}mol^{-1}$. The oxidation rates have been correlated with 1.5 order kinetics; first order with respect to $SO_2$ and 0.5 order with respect to $O_2$. From the kinetic data and conductivity measurements, the adsorption, oxidation mechanism of $SO_2$ and the defect structure of vacuum-activated 10 mol % Ni-doped {\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ are suggested. $O_2\;and\;SO_2$ appear to be adsorbed essentially as ionic species. Two surface sites, probably an $O^{2-}$ lattice and an oxygen vacancy which is induced by Ni-doping, might be required to adsorb $SO_2\;and\;O_2$. The conductivity measurements and kinetic data indicate that the adsorption process of $SO_2\;{(SO_2+O^{2-}}_{(latt)}{\rightleftharpoons}{{SO_3}^-}_{(ads)}+e')$ is the rate-determining step.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2017

Currently, researches on recycling and reuse of waste energetic materials have recently gained a great attention from advanced countries due to ever tightening environmental regulations. In this study, as a part of a recycling technology, the experiments and dynamic simulation of simulated moving bed (SMB) process were performed to efficiently separate TNT and RDX from their mixture, which are main components of ammunition. In order to determine the operation zone of SMB process, the retention times of TNT and RDX were measured using HPLC at different flow rates and the adsorption equilibrium of each component was obtained by using a moment method. According to the adsorption equilibrium and the triangle theory of SMB process, four operation points were determined and separation experiments were carried out by the SMB process using the solvent consisting of acetonitrile and water. Two different mixing ratios (6:4 and 1:1) of acetonitrile and water were chosen for the experiment due to the great impact of mixing ratio of the solvent on separation. The performance of SMB process was evaluated by purity, recovery, productivity and solvent consumption. Pure TNT and RDX were successfully obtained from the SMB process and the dynamic simulation for the SMB process agreed well with the experimental results. Therefore, the dynamic model could be applied for predicting the dynamic behavior of the SMB process and designing a large scale SMB process.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2008

A multilayer tower-type photoreactor, in which $TiO_2$-coated glass-tubes were installed, was used to measure the vapor-phase BTEX removal efficiencies by ozone oxidation ($O_3$/UV), photocatalytic oxidation ($TiO_2$/UV) and the combination of ozone and photocatalytic oxidation ($O_3/TiO_2$/UV) process, respectively. The experiments were conducted under various relative humidities, temperatures, ozone concentrations, gas flow rates and BTEX concentrations. As a result, the BTEX removal efficiency and the oxidation rate by $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system were highest, compared to $O_3$/UV and $TiO_2$/UV system. The $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system accelerated the low oxidation rate of low-concentration organic compounds and removed organic compounds to a large extent in a fixed volume of reactor in a short time. Therefore, $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system as a superimposed oxidation technology was developed to efficiently and economically treat refractory VOCs. Also, this study demonstrated feasibility of a technology to scale up a photoreactor from lab-scale to pilot-scale, which uses (i) a separated light-source chamber and a light distribution system, (ii) catalyst fixing to glass-tube media, and (iii) unit connection in series and/or parallel. The experimental results from $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system showed that (i) the highest BTEX removal efficiencies were obtained under relative humidity ranging from 50 to 55% and temperature ranging from 40 to $50^{\circ}C$, and (ii) the removal efficiencies linearly increased with ozone dosage and decreased with gas flow rate. When applying Langmuir-Hinshelwood model to $TiO_2$/UV and $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system, reaction rate constant for $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system was larger than that for $TiO_2$/UV system, however, it was found that adsorption constant for $O_3/TiO_2$/UV system was smaller than that for $TiO_2$/UV system due to competitive adsorption between organics and ozone.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2012

A high airtightness is required for the residential spaces constructed recently to save cooling and heating energy through improving insulation performance. Because the chances to release steam formed by human activity in building and inflow of water vapor in outdoor air to residential space are reduced, the natural humidity control performance of interior materials has become more important. In this study, hygroscopic performance of thermo-physically treated wood (Pinus koraiensis) was estimated. At various relative humidity condition, the water vapor adsorption and desorption rates of wooden materials were measured as well as equilibrium moisture content. Effects of roughness and surface microstructure as physical factors and functional groups as chemical factors on the hygroscopicity were analyzed. It is expected that the results from this study and further study of measuring moisture generation in residential spaces could contribute to install a system for evaluating the hygrothermal performance of wooden building.