• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1495-1501
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• 2012

In this study, an experiment was conducted on influent water with low concentrations of organic matter, such as river water or secondary treatment water of a sewage treatment plant, according to HRT changes by using aerobic biofilm. In the biofilm process, as the biofilm increases in thickness, the inner membrane can be low in oxygen transfer rate and become anaerobic conditions, while the detachment of biomass from biofilm occurs. To overcome these limitations in the detachment of microorganisms in biofilm, the yarn, which was made from poly propylene(PP), was weaved and manufactured into a tube. Then, a test was carried out by injecting air so that the interior of the biofilm could create aerobic conditions. The results of the experiment showed that the removal efficiency of $TCOD_{cr}$ reached 66.1~81.2% by HRT 2hr, and 50.9 ~61.8% after HRT 1 hr. The removal efficiency of $SCOD_{cr}$ was 45.9 to 55.1% by HRT 1hr, and 26.1% in HRT 0.5hr, showing the highest removal efficiency in HRT 1hr. The SS removal efficiency was at 81.8 to 94.6%, and the effluent SS concentration was very low, indicating less than 2.2 mg/L in all HRT's. As a result, the $SCOD_{cr}$ and $NH_4{^+}$-N that were removed per specific surface area and attached to microbial biofilm showed the highest efficiency in HRT 1hr with 8.37 $gSCOD_{cr}/m^2{\cdot}d$, 2.93 $gNH_4{^+}-N/m^2{\cdot}d$. From the result of reviewing the characteristics of biofilm growth, microorganisms were found to be attached, and increased by 36 days. Later, they decreased in number through detachment, but showed a tendency to increase again 41 days later due to microbial reproduction.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1455-1462
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• 2012

The vertical distributions of nitrifying bacteria in aerobic fixed biofilm were investigated to evaluate the relationship between nitrification performance and microbial community at different HRT. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and portable ion selective microelectrode system were adopted to analyze microbial communities and ions profiles according to the biofilm depth. Cilia media packed MLE (Modified Ludzack-Ettinger) like reactor composed of anoxic, aerobic I/II was operated with synthetic wastewater having COD 200 mg/L and $NH_4{^+}$-N mg/L at HRT of 6 hrs and 4 hrs. Total biofilm thickness of aerobic I, II reactor at 4 hrs condition was over two times than that of 6 hrs condition due to the sufficient substrate supply at 4 hrs condition (6 hrs; aerobic I 380 ${\mu}m$ and II 400 ${\mu}m$, 4 hrs; aerobic I 830 ${\mu}m$ and II 1040 ${\mu}m$). As deepen the biofilm detection point, the ratio of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was decreased while the ratio of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was maintained similar distribution at both HRT condition. The ratio of AOB was higher at 4 hrs than 6 hrs condition and $NH_4{^+}$-N removal efficiency was also higher at 4 hrs with 89.2% than 65.4% of 6 hrs. However, the ratio of NOB was decreased when HRT was reduced from 6 hrs to 4 hrs and $NO_2{^-}$-N accumulation was observed at 4 hrs condition. Therefore, it is considered that insufficient HRT condition could supply sufficient substrate and enrichment of AOB in all depth of fixed biofilm but cause decrease of NOB and nitrite accumulation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2001

Wastewater from the pigment industry has high levels of organics and is known as hardly biodegradable. The objective of this study is to evaluate the applicability of aerobic fixed-bed boifilm reactor packed with ceramic support carrier for the pigment wastewater treatment. Orange 2(widely used azo pigment) adsorption experiment onto biofilm and activated sludge, and continuous treatment experiments were performed. In batch adsorption experiment, maximum adsorption quantity of biofilm was at least two times higher than that of activated sludge. In continuous experiment using aerobic fixed-bed biodilm reactor, the influent concentration of COD and Orange 2 were 75~500mg/${\ell}$(0.45~3.00kg COD/$m^3.day), 5~50mg/$\ell$(0.03~0.30kg Orange 2/$m^3$.day), respectively. At a COD loading rate 2.5kg COD/$m^3$.day and Orange 2 loading rate of 0.18kg Orange 2/$m^3$.day, removal efficiency of COD and Orange 2 were over 95%, 97%, respectively.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.16
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• pp.5-11
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• 1996

While the enhanced biological phosphorus removal(EBPR), in anaerobic/aerobic condition, was known to remove phosphorus by means of metabolism of poly-P microorganisms, the phosphorus removed could be released in the form of ortho-P in the aerobic fixed biofilm reactor. This study was initiated to investigate the cause of ortho-P release in the aerobic fixed biofilm reactor. The resutls indicated that the phosphorus release was caused by autooxidation. The synthesis and release of phosphrous were related to the ORP and the boundary value for the phase change was about 170mV. In the synthesis phase, the phosphorus removal rate per COD removed was $0.023mgP_{syn}/mgCOD_{rem}$. The phosprous contents of the microorganism were 4.3 ~ 6.0% on a dry weight basis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.301-306
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• 2013

This research was conducted to investigate whether sequential anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and microfilteration (MF) membrane system can be used as a direct treatment for the removal of perchlorate and nitrate in groundwater. The biofilm process consisted of an anoxic first stage to remove perchlorate and nitrate and aerobic second stage to remove remaining acetate used as a carbon source for dissimilatory reduction of perchlorate and nitrate. In final stage, hollow fiber MF membrane was used to remove turbidity. In this research, perchlorate was reduced from the influent concentration of 102 ${\mu}/L$ to below the IC detection level (5 ${\mu}/L$) and nitrate was reduced from 61.8 mg/L (14 mg/L $NO_3$-N) to 4.4 mg/L (1 mg/L $NO_3$-N). Acetate used as a carbon source was consumed from 179 mg/L $CH_3COO-$ to 117 and 11 mg/L $CH_3COO^-$ in effluents from anoxic and aerobic biofilm reactors, respectively. Turbidity was reduced from 3.0 NTU to 1.5, 0.3, and 0.2 NTU in effluents from anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and MF membrane, respectively. It is expected that the sequential anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and MF membrane system can efficiently remove perchlorate and nitrate in surface water or groundwater.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.566-571
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• 2006

A sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) operated with a cycle of anaerobic - aerobic - anoxic - aerobic has been evaluated for the nutrient removal characteristics. The sponge-like moving media was filled to about 10% of reactor volume. The sewage was the major substrate while external synthetic carbon substrate was added to the anoxic stage to enhance the nitrogen removal. The operational results indicated that maximum T-N and T-P removal efficiencies were 97% and 94%, respectively were achieved, while COD removal of 92%. The observations of significant nitrogen removal in the first aerobic stage indicated that nitrogen removal behaviour in this SBBR was different to conventional SBR. Although the reasons for aerobic nitrogen removal has speculated to either simultaneous nitrification and denitrification or anoxic denitrification inside of the media, further researches are required to confirm the observation. The specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) test with biofilm and suspended growth sludge indicated that biofilm in SBBR played a major role to remove substrates.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2010

An ion selective microelectrode (ISME) was fabricated to measure concentrations of ammonium (${NH_4}^+$-N) and nitrate (${NO_3}^-$-N) according to the depth of nitrifying biofilm. The limits of detectability and validity of results were investigated to evaluate the ISME. The electromotive force (EMF) was directly proportional to the ion concentration, and average detection limits of ${NH_4}^+$ and ${NO_3}^-$ ISME were $10^{-5.14}$ and $10^{-5.18}$ M, respectively. The concentrations of ${NH_4}^+ $-N and ${NO_3}^-$-N in various depths on the nitrifying biofilm were measured by the ISME. When a modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) process was operated at an HRT of 6 h, concentration gradients of ${NH_4}^+$-N in the bulk solution and biofilm at depths of $100\;{\mu}m$ decreased by $70\;{\mu}M$, while ${NO_3}^-$-N increased by $101\;{\mu}M$ and remained constant thereafter. At an HRT of 4 h, concentration gradients of ${NH_4}^+$-N at depths of $500\;{\mu}m$ decreased by $160\;{\mu}M$ and ${NO_3}^-$-N increased by $162;{\mu}M$ and remained constant thereafter. As HRT decreased, the concentration gradients of ${NH_4}^+$-N and ${NO_3}^-$-N between bulk solution and biofilm was higher due to the increase of nitrogen load. Also, the concentration gradients of the ${NH_4}^+$-N and ${NO_3}^-$-N of biofilm in the second aerobic tank were lower than those of the first aerobic tank, suggesting differences of nitrogen load and concentrations of DO between the first and second aerobic tank.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.11-20
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• 2001

An anaerobic sludge-aerobic fixed-bed biofilm(packed with ceramic support carrier of 1 inch size) reactor system was built up to treat textile wastewater. The efficiency of reactor system was examined by determining the effects of textile wastewater ratio(from 25% to 100% at HRT 24 h). The influent range of SCOD concentration and color were 1,036~1,357 mg/L, and 1,487~1,853 degree, respectively. When textile wastewater ratio was 100% and hydraulic retention time was 24 hours, SCOD removal efficiency by the anaerobic stage were 39.2% 100% and hydraulic retention time was 24 hours, SCOD removal efficiency by the anaerobic stage were 39.2% and the removal efficiency of the whole system were 75.8%. Color removal efficiency by the anaerobic stage were 45.4%(soluble color), and the removal efficiency of the whole system were 70.2%. In the A/A reactor system, the aerobic stage played an important role in removing both color and COD as well as anaerobic stage.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.55-63
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• 2002

This study was carried out to treat textile wastewater using anaerobic sludge and aerobic fixed-bed biofilm reactor immobilized with Bacillus sp. dominated activated sludge(Bacillus sp. fraction : 81.5%). The range of influent con-centration of SCOD and soluble color were 1032-1507 mg/1, and 1239-1854 degree, respectively. Continuous treatment experiments were performed with variation of textile wastewater ratio at a same HRT. When textile wastewater ratio was 100%(HRT : 24 hours), The removal efficiency of SCOD and soluble color were 88% and 78%, respectively. When compare aerobic reactor of this study that was immobilized with Bacillus sp. dominated activated sludge to other study that was immobilized with activated sludge, SCOD and soluble color removal efficiency of this study showed a little higher efficiency than immobilized with activated sludge. The Bacillus sp. fraction of initial condition was 81.5%), but the fraction after operation was decreased to 31.8%).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1221-1228
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• 2005

Carbon electrode was applied to a wastewater treatment system as biofilm media. The spatial distribution of heterotrophic bacteria in aerobic wastewater biofilm grown on carbon electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and biomass measurement. Five volts of electric oxidation and reduction potential were charged to the carbon anode and cathode of the bioelectrochemical system, respectively, but were not charged to electrodes of a conventional system. To correlate the biofilm architecture of bacterial populations with their activity, the bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons was measured in the bioelectrochemical system and compared with that in the conventional system. In the SEM image, the biofilm on the anodic medium of the bioelectrochemical system looked intact and active; however, that on the carbon medium of the conventional system appeared to be shrinking or damaging. In the AFM image, the thickness of biofilm formed on the carbon medium was about two times of those on the anodic medium. The bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons in the bioelectrochemical system was about 1.5 times higher than that in the conventional system. Some denitrifying bacteria can metabolically oxidize $H_{2}$, coupled to reduction of $NO_{3}^{-}\;to\;N_{2}$. $H_{2}$ was produced from the cathode in the bioelectrochemical system by electrolysis of water but was not so in the conventional system. The denitrification efficiency was less than $22\%$ in the conventional system and more than $77\%$ in the bioelectrochemical system. From these results, we found that the electrochemical coupling reactions between aerobic and anaerobic reactors may be a useful tool for improvement of wastewater treatment and denitrification efficiency, without special manipulations such as bacterial growth condition control, C/N ratio (the ratio of carbon to nitrogen) control, MLSS returning, or biofilm refreshing.