• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.156-164
• /
• 1998

This study was performed to select media for the development of biological activated carbon process. Using activated carbon made by Norit, Calgon, Samchully Co., removal efficiency of humic acid by the isothermal adsorption test and biodegradation of organic matters by microbes attached to BAC and observation and counting of microbes attached to BAC were examined. The removal efficiency of humic acid with dose of activated carbon was influenced by initial concentration. Compared with other activated carbon, Norit was found to be most effective in view of adsorption capacity, biodegradation of organic matter, and attachment characteristics of microorganism. In conclusion, Norit which has high adsorption capacity and good biodegradation of organic matter was recommended for selecting media in BAC process.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.12
• /
• pp.1774-1778
• /
• 2013

Methylotrophs within biological activated carbon (BAC) systems have not received attention although they are a valuable biological resource for degradation of organic pollutants. In this study, methylotrophic populations were monitored for four consecutive seasons in BAC of an actual drinking water plant, using ribosomal tag pyrosequencing. Methylotrophs constituted up to 5.6% of the bacterial community, and the methanotrophs Methylosoma and Methylobacter were most abundant. Community comparison showed that the temperature was an important factor affecting community composition, since it had an impact on the growth of particular methylotrophic genera. These results demonstrated that BAC possesses a substantial methylotrophic activity and harbors the relevant microbes.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.107-107
• /
• 2002

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1280-1286
• /
• 2006

Three different virgin activated carbons made of each coal(Calgon), coconut(Samchully) and wood(Picabiol) based activated carbon(AC) were tested for an adsorption performance of 1,4-dioxane in a continuous adsorption column. Breakthrough behavior was Investigated that the breakthrough points of coal, coconut and wood based AC were observed as 3600 bed volumn(BV), 1440 BV and 144 BV respectively. Adsorption capacity(X/M) of coal, coconut and wood based AC was observed. The reported results of adsorption capacity showed that coal based AC was highest(578.9 ${\mu}g/g$), coconut based AC was intermediate(142.3 ${\mu}g/g$) and wood based AC was lowest(7.4 ${\mu}g/g$) due to increasing specific surface area. Moreover, carbon usage rates(CURs) for coal, coconut and wood based AC had been shown as 0.48 g/day, 1.41 g/day and 6.9 g/day respectively. The constant characteristic of the system, k of coal based AC was found to be 91.5 and k of coconut based AC was found to be 17.9. Removal efficiencies of 1,4-dioxane with different ozonation dosages(2 and 5 mg/L) for 20 min ozonation had been shown 38% and 87% respectively. There was no observation for biological removal of 1.4-dioxane by attached micro-organisms when used(3.1 years and over 5 years) biological activated carbon(BAC) without pretreatment of oxidation were employed. When a combination of ozonation(2 mg/L and 5 mg/L) and BAC process for $10{\sim}30$ min was applied, removal efficiency for 1,4-dioxine increased only $2{\sim}6%$ compared to only applying ozonation. Therefore removal efficiency of BAC process prior to using oxidation was proven to negligible. Consequently, the results presented in this paper provide a better insight into the adsorption performance of 1,4-dioxane. This observation suggests that using virgin activated carbon made of coal is the best selection for removal of 1,4-dioxane in the water treatment for an advanced treatment. It is clear from this research that longer EBCT for ozonation or higher ozone concentration are more effective operation methods for removal of 1,4-dioxane than longer EBCT in the BAC process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2017

In this study, We investigated the effects of water temperature and empty bed contact time (EBCT) on the biodegradability of 8 blood lipid lower agents (BLLAs) in biological activated carbon (BAC) process. Experiments were conducted at three water temperatures ($8^{\circ}C$, $16^{\circ}C$ and $24^{\circ}C$) and three EBCTs (5 min, 10 min and 15 min). Increasing water temperature and EBCT increased the biodegradation efficiency of BLLAs in BAC process. Simvastatin and fenofibrate were the highest biodegradation efficiency, but atorvastatin and clofibric acid were the lowest. The kinetic analysis suggested a pseudo-first-order reaction model for biodegradation of 8 BLLAs at various water temperatures and EBCTs. The pseudo-first-order biodegradation rate constants ($k_{bio}$) of clofibric acid and atorvastatin were $0.0075min^{-1}$ and $0.0122min^{-1}$ at $8^{\circ}C$, and were $0.0540min^{-1}$ and $0.0866min^{-1}$ at $24^{\circ}C$, respectively. By increasing the water temperature from $8^{\circ}C$ to $24^{\circ}C$, the biodegradation rate constants ($k_{bio}$) were increased 7.1~7.2 times.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.689-699
• /
• 2003

This study was to examine characteristics of treating toluene vapor, which gets to be problematic due to its harmful carcinogenicity and mass generation from various sources, through a biological treatment facility which is environment-friendly and adopts a high-efficient and low-cost clean technology. In order to identify whether Alnus Firma Fruit (AFF) can be used as a media for a bioreactor, its utility and basic operating factors, a study was conducted on pressure drop, supply of nutrient substances and retention time which are operating factors of a biofilter, and eliminating characteristics were compared between AFF and the conventional biological activatedcarbon (BAC) widely used as filter media. In the case of AFF, the initial microbial deposits was 2.3${\times}$10$^{7}$ CFU/g dry AFF, which represents the initial microbial density higher than the case of BAC showing 5.5${\times}$10$^{6}$ CFU/g dry BAC And it took about 2 weeks to acclimate until its eliminating rate got to be increased over 90%. As a result of comparing pressure loss taking place with the lapse of time between BAC and AFF, after 130 days passed at SV 25h$^{-1}$ , BAC showed that its eliminating efficiency had a tendency to drop greatly due to a great pressure loss (0.53\longrightarrow54.7 mm$H_2O$/m) caused by an excess of biomass as accumulated. On the other hand. AFF showed that the pressure drop was 0.53 mm$H_2O$/m, about 2 times as much as the initial pressure loss of 0.4 mm$H_2O$/m, which represents no great change in the pressure loss, and its eliminating efficiency was also shown to be continuously high. Therefore, when AFF was used as a filler for a biological treatment facility, a biological filter enabling improvement of the purifying efficiency to be promoted could be provided, and moreover, the pressure loss was so small that the filler replacement cycle or the back flushing cycle could be extended. So, even in terms of the operating cost, it was identified to be an economical filler When an inorganic material was used as a filler, the biofilters performance acted sensitively on whether nutrient substances were supplied or not. In the case of AFF with low adsorptivity, addition of ethyl-alcohol increased the solubility of toluene, and consequently, biodegradation got to be actively made by microbes, and thus, its eliminating rate could be increased. As the flow velocity and the inflow concentration got to be more increased, its eliminating rate got to be lower, and particularly, an increase in the flow velocity made its eliminating rate drop more greatly than an increase in the concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.7
• /
• pp.404-411
• /
• 2015

In this study, the effects of empty bed contact time (EBCT) and water temperature on the biodegradation of 9 halonitromethanes (HNMs) in biological activated carbon (BAC) process were investigated. Experiments were conducted at three water temperatures ($10^{\circ}C$, $15^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$) and three EBCTs (5, 10 and 15 min). Increasing EBCT and water temperature increased the biodegradation efficiency of HNMs in BAC column. Dibromochloronitromethane (DBCNM) and tribromonitromethane (TBNM) showed the highest biodegradation efficiency, but chloronitromethane (CNM) and dichloronitromethane (DCNM) were the lowest. The kinetic analysis suggested a pseudo-first-order reaction model for biodegradation of 7 HNMs at various water temperatures and EBCTs. The pseudo-first-order biodegradation rate constants ($k_{bio}$) of 7 HNMs ranged from $0.0797{\sim}0.7657min^{-1}$ at $10^{\circ}C$ to $0.1245{\sim}1.8421min^{-1}$ at $25^{\circ}C$. By increasing the water temperature from $10^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$, the biodegradation rate constants ($k_{bio}$) were increased 1.6~2.4 times.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2008

In this paper, the property of influent water and variations of removal efficiencies in each unit processes were studied based on the experiment data from the advanced water treatment plant in a city of Korea. The microbial species in the biological activated carbon(BAC) after backwashing of activated carbon filtration tank(ACFT) were also identified. The property and the removal efficiencies were evaluated by considering 8-9 items. The variations of 4 items were investigated from the influent and effluent of ACFT. SEM recording were conducted on BAC samples before and after backwashing. And the existence of attached microorganisms were identified through HPC(Heterotrophic Plate Counter) investigation. For the property of influent water, the concentrations of most items were maintained in the constant ranges, some items had seasonal properties. For the removal efficiencies, there were some items showing similar monthly-pattern and increasing with time, other items decreasing at the ozone contactor. Through these investigations, it was possible to distinguish the target items, which were removed by the advanced processes. The existence of microorganisms in ACFT could be predicted based on the variation curve of NH$_3$-N, and this fact were proved by SEM and HPC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1037-1044
• /
• 2000

The objective of this study is the preparation of activated carbon for BAC(biological activated carbon). Prepared activated carbon was measured iodine adsorption(mg/g). methylene blue adsorption(mg/g), B.E.T($m^2/g$), PSD(Pore Size Distribution) and 'Picabiol' which in commercial activated carbon for BAC. Activation method for this study was a chemical activation used the phosphoric acid. In the method, two important factors affected activation characterized in preparation were temperature and impregnated phosphoric acid concentration. Activation temperature and impregnated phosphoric acid concentration were changed the $600{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ and 35~50wt% respectively. Activation time was fixed for 3 hour. Optimal activation temperature was $800^{\circ}C$ and impregnated phosphoric acid concentrations was about 50wt%. By the above condition specific surface area, iodine adsorption number and methylene blue adsorption number resulted $1643.3m^2/g$, 1093 mg/g, 445.6 mg/g, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.186-192
• /
• 2009

In this study, The effects of three different activated carbon materials (each coal, coconut and wood based activated carbons), empty bed contact time (EBCT) and water temperature on the removal of pharmaceutical 4 species (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, trimethoprime and caffeine) in BAC filters were investigated. Experiments were conducted at three water temperature (5, 15 and $25^{\circ}C$) and four EBCTs (5, 10, 15 and 20 min). The results indicated that coal based BAC retained more attached bacterial biomass on the surface of the activated carbon than the other BAC, increasing EBCT or increasing water temperature increased the pharmaceutical 4 species removal in BAC columns. In the coal-based BAC columns, removal efficiencies of oxytetracycline and tetracycline were 87~100% and removal efficiencies of trimethoprime and caffeine were 72~99% for EBCT 5~20 min at $25^{\circ}C$. The kinetic analysis suggested a firstorder reaction model for pharmaceutical 4 species removal at various water temperatures (5~$25^{\circ}C$). The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants and half-lives were also calculated for pharmaceutical 4 species removal at 5~$25^{\circ}C$. The reaction rate and half-lives of pharmaceutical 4 species ranging from 0.0360~0.3954 $min^{-1}$ and 1.75 to 19.25 min various water temperatures and EBCTs, could be used to assist water utilities in designing and operating BAC filters.