• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.468-475
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• 2005

Biofilters packed with various materials have emerged as a sustainable technology for the treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); however, problems including low performance and clogging are commonly encountered. Recently, a bioactive foam reactor (BFR) using surfactants has been suggested to ensure efficient and stable VOCs removal performance. This study was mainly conducted to investigate the feasibility of BFRs using toluene as a model compound. Prior to bioreactor studies, a series of bottle tests were used to select a suitable surfactant for the BFR application. Experimental results of the batch bottle tests indicated that TritonX-100 was the most appropriate one among the surfactants tested, since it showed a minimal effect on the toluene biodegradation rate while the other surfactants lowered the toluene biodegradation rate significantly. Using the selected surfactant, the BFR performance was determined by changing operating parameters including gas residence time and toluene loading. As the gas residence time increased from 0.5 minutes to 2 minutes, the toluene removal efficiency increased from approximately 50% to 80%. In addition, an increase of the toluene loading from $38\;g/m^3/hr$ to $454\;g/m^3/hr$ resulted in a decrease of toluene removal efficiency from approximately 70% to 20%. The BFR had a maximum elimination capacity of $108\;g/m^3/hr$ for toluene, which was much higher than those generally reported in the literature. The high toluene-elimination performance indicates that the BFR be a potential alternative to the conventional, packed-type biofilters. However, the limitation of toluene solubilization and foam stability at either high or low gas flow rate are still problems to be challenged.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.25-33
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• 1999

The recent emergence of biofiltration as a cost effective waste-gas control technology has stimulated in European countries and the USA. Biofiltration of soil vapor extraction off-gas from gasoline contaminated site was simulated in lab-scale in this study. A filling material used was a compost. This study was conducted to evaluate biofiltration characteristics of the compost material for gasoline off-gas. TPH elimination capacity at the gas loading rate of about 50g/$\textrm{m}^3$((filling material)/hr was circa 40g/$\textrm{m}^3$((filling material)/hr. Removal rate of xylene was the highest among BTEX. while it was the lowest in case of bezene. The maximum elimination capacity of the compost was about 1.5g/$\textrm{m}^3$((filling material)/hr for benzene. More than 95% of trimethylbenzene and naphtalene were removed below the loading rate of 0.7g/㎥(filling material)/hr. About 80% of total TPH and BTEX were removed by biodegradation.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to Investigate the effect of environmental conditions on the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons(TPH) in soil. The soil used for this study was sandy loam. Target contaminant, diesel oil, was spiked at 10.000mgTPH/kg dry soil. Moisture content was controlled to 50%, 70%, and 90% of field capacity of the soil. Temperature was controlled to $5^{\circ}C$, $10^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $30^{\circ}C$. The active degradation of TPH was observed at the moisture contents of 50% and 70% of field capacity, and temperature of $10^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$. Degradation rate of n-alkanes was about two times greater than that of TPH. Volatilization loss of TPH was about 2% of initial concentration. Biocide control and no aeration experiments indicated that removal of TPH was primarily occurred by biodegradation under aerobic condition.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2003

The benzene removal characteritics of the polyurethane (PU) biofilter immobilized with S. maltophilia T3-c, that could efficiently degrade benzene, was investigated. Maximum capacity to eliminate benzene was maintained at $100-110g{\cdot}m^-3{\cdot}h^-1$ when space velocity (SV) ranged from 100 to $300 h^-1$ -1/, however, it decreased sharply to $55 g{\cdot}m^-3{\cdot}h^-1^$ as SV increased to $400 h^-1$. The critical elimination capacities that guaranteed $90\%$ removal of inlet loading of the PU biofilter were determined to be 70,30, and $15 g{\cdot}m^-3{\cdot}h^-1$ at SV 100,200, and $300 h^-1$, respectively. Based on the result of a kinetic analysis of the PU biofilter, maximum benzene elimination velocity ($V_m$) was $125 g{\cdot}m^-3^\;of\;PU{\cdot}h^-1$ and saturation constant ($K_m$) was $0.22 g{\cdot}m^-3^$ of benzene ($65{\mu}{\cdot}I^-1$). This study suggests that the biofilter utilizing S. maltophilia T3-c and polyurethane is a very promising technology for effectively degrading benzene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2016-2023
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• 2015

Xylanase plays important roles in a broad range of industrial production as a biocatalyst, and its applications commonly require immobilization on supports to enhance its stability. Aluminum hydroxide, a carrier material with high surface area, has the advantages of simple and low-cost preparation and resistance to biodegradation, and can be potentially used as a proper support for xylanase immobilization. In this work, xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was immobilized on two types of aluminum hydroxide particles (gibbsite and amorphous Al(OH)₃) through adsorption, and the properties of the adsorbed enzymes were studied. Both particles had considerable adsorptive capacity and affinity for xylanase. Xylanase retained 75% and 64% of the original catalytic activities after adsorption to gibbsite and amorphous Al(OH)₃. Both the adsorptions improved pH and thermal stability, lowered activation energy, and extended lifespan of the immobilized enzyme, as compared with the free enzyme. Xylanase adsorbed on gibbsite and amorphous Al(OH)₃ retained 71% and 64% of its initial activity, respectively, after being recycled five times. These results indicated that aluminum hydroxides served as good supports for xylanase immobilization. Therefore, the adsorption of xylanase on aluminum hydroxide particles has promising potential for practical production.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2020

Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHD) in the aquatic environment causes irreversible change to microbes, making them resistant to biodegradation, which needs remediation other than biological process. Adsorption study was performed for the removal of CHD on fly ash (FA) as a function of pH and ionic strength. Experimental result has been validated by characterization using Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. CHD adsorption with FA showed an increasing trend with an increase in pH. Variation in pH proved to be an influential parameter for the surface charge of adsorbent and the degree of ionization of the CHD molecules. The adsorption capacity of CHD decreased from 23.60 mg g-1 to 1.13 mg g-1, when ionic strength increased from to M. The adsorption isotherms were simulated well by the Freundlich isotherm model having R2 = 0.98. The Lagergren's model was incorporated to predict the system kinetics, while the mechanistic study was better explained by pseudo-second order for FA. On the basis of operational conditions and cost-effectiveness FA was found to be more economical as an adsorbent for the adsorption of CHD.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.186-190
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• 2004

The electrokinetic bioremediation employing electrolyte circulation method was carried out for the cleanup of phenanthrene-contaminated kaolinite, and microorganism used in the biodegradation of phenanthrene was Sphingomonas sp. 3Y. The electrolyte circulation method supplied ionic nutrientsand the microorganism into soil, and inhibited the significant pH change of soil by increasing the soil buffering capacity by providing phosphate buffer compounds. When the remediation process was conducted without surfactant, the removal efficiency of phenanthrene, at the initial concentration of 200 ppm, was 69% for only 7 days. Higher microbial population and lower phenanthrene concentration were observed in the anode and middle regions of soil specimen than in the cathode region. The higher density of microorganism was because the microbial movement was in the direction of the anode part due to the negative surface charge. When Triton X-100 and APG of 20 g/1 were used to improve the bioavailability of phenanthrene strongly adsorbed onto soil surface, about 90 and 39% of phenanthrene removal were obtained. Consequently, it was confirmed that the microorganism preferred APC to phenanthrene as carbon source and so the removal efficiency with APG decreased less than that without APG.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1035-1042
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• 2005

Granular Activated Carbon(GAC) is widely used in drinking water treatment. At S and B Water Treatment Plant, GAC is used in place of granular media in conventional rapid filters(GAC Filter-Adsorber) for removal of Disinfection By-products(DBPs). The primary focus of this study is on the performance of existing filter-adsorber, and their operation. It was found that F/A process removed turbidity as effective as sand system. The ratio of Hydrophobic DOM (HPO) and hydrophilic DOM (HPI) fraction in the raw water at S and B WTP was similar. Filter Adsorber presented earlier DOC breakthrough and steady state condition which was contributed by biodegradation during operation period. The removal efficiency of DBPs were used to evaluate the filter performance. The DBPs concentration of F/A treated water was below treatment goal level (THM < $80\;{\mu}g/L$, HAA < $60{\mu}g/L$). The removal efficiency of THM decreased rapidly during operation period. However, HAA were removed steadily regardless of the influent concentration of HAA. These results indicate that the removal of THM depend upon the adsorption mechanism while the removal of HAA depend upon biodegradation as well as adsorption. The decrease of adsorption capacity and characteristic value of GAC may be attributed to the effect of high organic loading, residual free chlorine, coagulants, manganese oxidants and frequently backwashing. This study has confirmed that Filter adsorber process can be considered as effective alternatives for the removal of DBPs, especially HAA.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of aging and soil texture on composting of diesel-contaminated soil. The soils used for this study were silt loam and sand. Target contaminant, diesel oil, was spiked at 10,000mgTPH/kg of dry soil. Aging times of diesel-contaminated soils were 15days and 60days, respectively. Fresh diesel-contaminated soil was also investigated. Moisture content was controlled to 70% of soil field capacity. Mix ratio of soil to sludge was 1:0.3 as wet weight basis. Temperature was maintained at $20^{\circ}C$ Volatilization loss of TPH was below 2% of initial concentration. n-Alkanes lost by volatilization were mainly by the compounds of C10 to C17. Diesel in contaminated soil was mainly removed by biodegradation mechanism. First order degradation rate constant of TPH in sandy soil was ranged from 0.081 to 0.094/day, which is higher than that in silt loam(0.056-0.061/day). From fresh to 60day-aged soils, there was little difference of TPH biodegradation rate between the soils. Carbon recovery ranged from 0.61 to 0.89. TPH degradation rate was highly correlated with $CO_2$ production rate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.648-653
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• 2006

As an alternative for the traditional materials packed in biofilters treating gaseous VOCs, a novel packing material has been developed and tested. In the packing material(named as Hydrogel Bead, HB), pollutant-degrading microorganisms were immobilized in hydrogel consisted of alginate, polyvinyl alcohol(PVA), and powdered activated carbon. A closed-bottle study showed that the HB rapidly removed gaseous styrene without the losses of adsorption and biodegradation capacity. Biofilter column experiments using the HBs also demonstrated that greater than 95% of removal efficiencies were found at an inlet styrene loading rate of $245g/m^3/hr$, which was higher biofilter performance than other elimination capacity reported earlier. Furthermore, when the inlet styrene concentration increased stepwise, the adsorption played an important role in overall styrene removals. The absorbed styrene was found to be biodegraded in the following low inlet loading condition. Consequently, the new HB material is able to successfully minimize the drawbacks of activated carbon(necessity of regeneration) and biological processes(low removal capacity at dynamic loading conditions), and maximize the overall performance of biofilter systems treating VOCs.