• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2017

The objective of this study is the evaluation of the performance of a large-scale respirometer (LSR) of 17.7 L in the determination of the methane generation rate constant (k) values. To achieve this objective, a comparison between anaerobic (GB21) and LSR tests was conducted. The data were modeled using a linear function, and the resulting correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of the linear regression is 0.91. This result shows that despite the aerobic conditions, the biodegradability values that were obtained from the LSR test produced results that are similar to those from the GB21 test. In this respect, the LSR test can be an indicator of the anaerobic biodegradability for landfill waste. In addition, the results show the high repeatability of the tests with an average coefficient of variance (CV) that is lower than 10%; furthermore, the CV for the LSR is lower than that of the GB21, which indicates that the LSR-test method could provide a better representation of waste samples. Therefore, the LSR method allows for both the prediction of the long-term biodegradation potential in a shorter length of time and the reduction of the sampling errors that are caused by the heterogeneity of waste samples. The k values are $0.156y^{-1}$ and $0.127y^{-1}$ for the cumulative biogas production (GB21) and the cumulative oxygen uptake for the LSR, respectively.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.229-243
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• 2013

Coagulation-flocculation (CF) was tested coupled with an aerobic biofilter to reduce total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPHs) concentration and toxicity from petrochemical wastewater. The efficiency of the process was followed using turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The biofilter was packed with a basaltic waste (tezontle) and inoculated with a bacterial consortium. Toxicity test were carried out using Lactuca sativa var. capitata seeds. Best results for turbidity removal were obtained using alum. Considerable turbidity removal was obtained when using Opuntia spp. COD removal with alum was 25%, for Opuntia powder it was 36%. The application of the biofilter allowed the removal of 70% of the remaining TPHs after 30 days with a biodegradation rate (BDR) value 47 $mgL^{-1}d^{-1}$. COD removal was slightly higher with BDR value 63 $mgL^{-1}d^{-1}$. TPH kinetics allowed a degradation rate constant equal to $4.05{\times}10^{-2}d^{-1}$. COD removal showed similar trend with $k=4.23{\times}10^{-2}d^{-1}$. Toxicity reduction was also successfully achieved by the combined treatment process.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.8-15
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• 2016

Bioremediation, which uses microbes to degrade most organic pollutants in soil and groundwater, can be used in solving environmental issues in various polluted sites. In this research, a wind-driven bioventing system is built to degrade about 20,000 mg/kg of high concentration diesel pollutants in soil-pollution mode. The wind-driven bioventing test was proceeded by the bioaugmentation method, and the indigenous microbes used were Bacillus cereus, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Pseudomonas putida. The phenomenon of two-stage diesel degradation of different rates was noted in the test. In order to interpret the results of the mode test, three microbes were used to degrade diesel pollutants of same high concentration in separated aerated batch-mixing vessels. The data derived thereof was input into the Haldane equation and calculated by non-linear regression analysis and trial-and-error methods to establish the kinetic parameters of these three microbes in bioventing diesel degradation. The results show that in the derivation of μ_m (maximum specific growth rate) in biodegradation kinetics parameters, K_s (half-saturation constant) for diesel substance affinity, and K_i (inhibition coefficient) for the adaptability of high concentration diesel degradation. The K_s is the lowest in the trend of the first stage degradation of Bacillus cereus in a high diesel concentration, whereas K_i is the highest, denoting that Bacillus cereus has the best adaptability in a high diesel concentration and is the most efficient in diesel substance affinity. All three microbes have a degradation rate of over 50% with regards to Pristane and Phytane, which are branched alkanes and the most important biological markers.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2002

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) have been widely used as solvents in various industries. Biodegradation of MEK and MIBK by Pseudomonas putida KT-3, which could utilize MEK or MIBK as a sole carbon source, was characterized, and the cosubstrate interaction in MEK/MIBK mixture was also studied. Within the range of initial MEK concentration (from 0.5 to 5.5 mM), an increased substrate concentration increased the specific degradation rate of MEK by P putida KT-3 (from 3.15 to 10.58 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h), but the rate sightly increased at 11.0 mM of initial MEK concentation (11.28 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h). The similar degradation rates of MIBK (4.69-4.92 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h) were obtained at more than 3.0 mM of initial MIBK concentation. Kinetic analysis on the degradation of MEK/MIBK mixture by P. putida KT-3 showed that MEK or MIBK acted as a competitive inhibitor. Maximum degradation rate ($V_{max}$), saturation constant ($K_{m}$) and inhibition constant ($K_{1}$) were as follows: $V_{max,MEK}$=12.94 mmol/g DCW$\cdot$h; $K_{m,MEK}$=1.72 mmol/L; $K_{l,MEK}$=1.30 mmol/L; $V_{max,MIBK}$=5.00 mmol/g-DCW$\cdot$h; $K_{m,MIBK}$=0.42 mmol/L; $K_{l,MEK}$=0.77 mmol/L.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.119-126
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• 1996

Influence factors and efficiency characteristics for treatment of wastewater containing phenol were studied with using Pseudomonas sp. B3. It took 130 hours to remove phenol, when only activated sludge of terminal disposal palnt of sewage was innoculated in batch culture, but it was required just 36 hours, when bacteria degrading phenol and activated sludge were simultaneously innoculated. If only phenol an carbon source was used, it necessary 36 hours for biodegradation of phenol, while glucose was added to medium, it took 73 hours. It was revealed as excellent effluent and SVI, when the F/M ratio, COD and phenol concentration were 53mg/l and 1.2mg/l, respectively, and optimum F/M ratio was revealed 0.31. The reactor were seriously shocked as reducing hydraulic retention time at constant phenol concentration more than increasing phenol concentration at constant hydraulic retention time, when volumetric loading rate was increased to $0.8kg\;phenol/m^3{\codt}d$ from $1.6kg\;phenol/m^3{\codt}d$. And also the effluent phenol concentration was 34mg/l after starting 12 hours of shocking and reactor was recovered as steady state after 65 hours of changing in the former test. Although the effluent phenol concentration was maximum value with 12mg/l after starting 20 hours of shocking and reactor was recovered as steady state after 54 hours of changing in the later test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.547-551
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• 1998

Reaeration coefficient is the physical absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere by water. It is the most important natural means by which a stream replaces the oxygen consumed in the biodegradation of organic wastes, and the rate constant describing this process is the reaeration coefficient, It. Reaeration coefficient is the dominant parameter affecting the use of water quality model. Therefore accurate estimation of the reaeration coefficient is essential for optimum water quality management. There is several method to estimate stream reaeration coefficient. In this study, it would be concluded that SI-peak method is of practical use when applied to small stream, and CRI method is adequate to large stream.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2004.03b
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• pp.461-468
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• 2004

The amount of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ that were produced during biodegradation with were measured as function of time. Also, the settlements of landfill lysimeters were measured at the same time, and the relation with LFF(landfill gas) production was investigated. The effects of leachate recycle on the acceleration of settlement were studied by comparing two lysimeters. The gas production rate constant, $^{\kappa}_{LFG}$ is obtained to predict future gas production and settlement. These will be key role factors to predict gas production patterns and residual long-term settlement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.619-627
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• 2000

Biodegradation of the C. I. Reactive Blue 114 was investigated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Important parameters studied include dye concentration, the kind and concentration of carbon source, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and influent pH. Glucose was found to be a better co-substrate than the mixture of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), although its concentration did not affect dye removal efficiency in the range of $1000{\sim}3000mg/{\ell}$. When HRT increased from 6 hr to 24 hr, dye removal efficiency increased up to 12 hr and remained almost constant thereafter at about 40%. When influent pH was varied in the range of 6.0~8.0, the effluent pH was varied in the range of 6.8~7.5 with maximum efficiency at pH 7.0. The highest dye removal rate obtained was $52mg/{\ell}{\cdot}day$, while the maximum dye load to meet the discharge limit of color intensity was estimated to be $46mg/{\ell}{\cdot}day$ at HRT of 12 hr and an influent glucose concentration of $2200mg/{\ell}$.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.38-48
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• 2004

Natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbon was investigated at an industrial complex about 45 Km away from Seoul. The three-years monitoring results indicated that the concentrations of DO, nitrate, and sulfate in the contaminated area were significantly lower than the background monitoring groundwater under the non-contaminated area. The results also showed a higher ferrous iron concentration, a lower redox potential, and a higher (neutral) pH in the contaminated groundwater, suggesting that biodegradation of TEX(Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) is the major on-going process in the contaminated area. Groundwater in the contaminated area is anaerobic, and sulfate reduction is the dominant terminal electron accepting process in the area. The total attenuation rate was about 0.0017∼0.0224day$^{-1}$ and the estimated first-order degradation rate constant(λ) was 0.0008∼0.0106day$^{-1}$ . However, the reduction of TEX concentration in the groundwater was resulted from not only biodegradation but also dilution and reaeration through recharge of uncotaminated surface and groundwater. The natural attenuation was, therefore, found to be an effective, on-going remedial process at the site.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.173-184
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• 1990

A mathematical model was proposed to predict the predominant reactions and transport pathways of anthracene in a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment system. The model consists of five differential equations with seven kinetic parameters and eighteen input variables. Volatilization, biodegradation, adsorption/desorption as well as the convective inputs and outputs are included in the model. The steady state calculations showed that volatilization (61%) in aeration tank and the withdrawal of primary sludge (33%) were two major pathways for removal of anthracene from the system. The overall removal was about 97%. The system reached a practical steady state at about 160 hours via dynamic modeling. The proposed model can give plausible predictions of the fate of priority organic pollutants in activated sludge processes.