• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.751-758
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• 2019

This study tested various assumptions that simplified the configuration of the numerical model for unsaturated zone's contaminant transport to simulate the pathway to exposed point. This study investigated the contaminant migration through in the pollutant exposure pathway of vadoze zone for risk assessment of the contaminated site. For the purpose, generic scenarios as well as contaminant-based scenarios were simulated using the numerical code for transport of the contaminant in the pathway. The finite-difference one-dimensional transport with adsorption and biodegradation were considered, and it also assumed that the initial concentration was also depleted over time. The results of the generic-scenario show that as the groundwater infiltration rate decreases, the longer the path from the source to the groundwater level, the lower the concentration at the point of inflow into the groundwater level. In particular, in the case of high biodegradation rate and rapid depletion of pollutant sources, statistically outliers were found in the simulated results and generic scenarios was good at prediction.

• 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.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2018

The biodegradation of toluene vapor was investigated using a new type of biofilter equipped with a laboratory-scale evaporative cooler model packed with wood wool fibers (area: $360cm^2$). For the purpose of this study, the biofilter system was inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. RSST (MG 279053). The performance of this biofilter, assessed in terms of toluene removal efficiency (and elimination capacity), was as high as 99 % at a loading rate of $6g/h{\cdot}m^2$. The toluene removal efficiency decreased in an exponential manner with the increase in the loading rate. The cooler model-based biofilter was able to remove more than 99 % of toluene using Pseudomonas sp. RSST (MG 279053) as an effective inoculum. This biofilter is designed to operate under batch conditions for the removal of toluene in confined environments (e.g., automotive plants, boiler rooms in manufacturing facilities, and offshore drilling platforms).

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.632-637
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• 2001

The cells obtained from diesel contaminated site were tested for diesel degradation by culturing them on the culture medium that contained diesel as the only carbon source. Two strains that grew well in the culture media were separated: one formed white colony and another strain formed yellow colony. When they were cultured together, much higher diesel degradation was obtained compares to that of individual cell culture. Mixed culture of white and yellow colony forming strains grew well with 1%(v/v) diesel and the addition of growth nutrients increased the diesel degradation. Additional nitrogen source was efficient for higher diesel degradation (over 90%) when it was compared with that without nitrogen source. When mixed culture of white and yellow colony forming cells were applied to the soil column system contaminated by diesel, 30 mL/min of air flow rate was found to be sufficient to degrade diesel oil. The diesel degradation did not increase noticeably at higher flow rate. The addition of nitrogen source resulted in the increase in diesel degradability.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.375-379
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• 2005

The morphology and therma]/viscoelastic characteristics were investigated for PLLA/MMT nanocomposite manufactured by incorporating inorganic nanosized silicate nanoplatelets into biodeuadable poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). The XRD difiactogram and TEM image may be regarded as a formation of homogeneously dispersed nanocomposites. The melting energy(${\Delta}H_m$) was increased during hydrolysis process because of increase of crystallinity. As MMT played a role of reinforcing agent, the storage modulus was increase in case of PLLA/MMT nanocomposite, it was well coincided with our previous results. From SEM image, many tiny pinholes formed by spinodal decomposition were observed on the surface, and the shape of nanocomposite was maintained during hydrolysis process. In this study, it was shown that the control of biodegradation rate, thermal/mechnical property was possibile by incorporating MMT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.149-156
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• 1999

In the United States (U.S.), the monitored natural attenuation (MNA) approach has been used as an alternative remedial option for organic and inorganic compounds retained in soil and dissolved in groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the MNA as“in-situ naturally-occurring processes include biodegradation, diffusion, dilution, sorption, volatilization, and/or chemical and biochemical stabilization of contaminants and reduce contaminant toxicity, mobility or volume to the levels that are protective of human health and the environment”. The Department of Soil Environment. National Institute Environmental Research (NIER) is in the process for demonstrating the MNA approach as a potential remedial option for the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City. The project is charactering the research site in terms of the nature and extend of contamination, biological degradation rate, and geochemical and hydrological properties. The microbial-degradation rate and effectiveness of nutrient and redox supplements will be determined through laboratory batch and column tests. The geochemical process will be monitored for determining the concentration changes of chemical species involved in the electron transfer processes that include methanogenesis, sulfate and iron reduction, denitrification, and aerobic respiration. Through field works, critical soil and hydrogeologic parameters will be acquired to simulate the effects of dispersion, advection, sorption, and biodegradation on the fate and transport of the dissolved-phase BTEX plume using Bioplume III model. The objectives of this multi-years research project are (1) to evaluate the MNA approach using the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City, (2) to establish a standard protocol for future application of the approach, (3) to investigate applicability of the passive approach as a secondary treatment remedy after active treatments. In this presentation, the overall picture and philosophy behind the MNA approach will be reviewed. Detailed discussions of the site characterization/monitoring plans and risk-based decision-making processes for the demonstration site will be included.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 2009

Tastes and odor in water caused by geosmin and 2-MIB are the major customer complaints for water utilities. Therefore, control of geosmin and 2-MIB is a worldwide concern. In this study, the effects of biofilter media type (three different activated carbons and anthracite), empty bed contact time (EBCT) and temperature on the removal of geosmin and 2-MIB in BAC filters were investigated. Experiments were conducted at three different water temperatures (5, 15 and $25^{\circ}C$) and four different EBCTs (5, 10, 15, and 20 min). The experimental results indicated that the coal based BAC retained more bacterial biomass on the surface of the activated carbon than the other BACs, and increasing EBCT or increasing water temperature also increased the geosmin and 2-MIB removal in BAC filters. To achieve above 50% of removal efficiency for geosmin and 2-MIB in a BAC filter, above 10 min EBCT at $5^{\circ}C$ and 5 min EBCT at above $15^{\circ}C$ were required. The kinetic analysis for the biodegradation of geosmin and 2-MIB indicated a first-order reaction rate at various water temperatures. Data obtained from the BAC filters at various temperatures were also used to evaluate pseudo first-order rate constants for geosmin and 2-MIB. The half-lives evaluated at 5, 15, and $25^{\circ}C$ for geosmin and 2-MIB ranged from 2.39 to 10.31 min and 3.35 to 13.97 min, respectively, which can be used to assist water utilities in designing and operating BAC system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.989-996
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• 2009

In this study, the effects of biofilter media type (three different activated carbons and anthracite), empty bed contact time (EBCT) and temperature on the removal of four aldehyde species (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal and methylglyoxal) 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 experimental results indicated that the coal based BAC retained more bacterial biomass on the surface of the activated carbon than the other BACs, and increasing EBCT or increasing water temperature also increased the four aldehyde species removal in BAC filters. To achieve above 80% of removal efficiency for four aldehyde species in a BAC filter, above 15 min EBCT at $5^{\circ}C$ and 10 min EBCT at above $15^{\circ}C$ were required. The kinetic analysis indicated a first-order reaction rate for the biodegradation of four aldehyde species at various water temperatures. Data obtained from the BAC filters at various temperatures were also used to evaluate pseudo first-order rate constants for four aldehyde species. The half-lives evaluated for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal and methylglyoxal in the coal-based BAC ranging from 0.89 to 3.19 min, from 0.75 to 3.35 min, from 2.16 to 4.72 min and from 1.49 to 3.86 min, respectively, could be used to assist water utilities in designing and operating BAC filters.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.688-695
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• 1999

Biodegradation of the reactive dye, Remazol Black B was investigated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket(UASB) reactor. Important parameters studied include dye concentration(20-60 mg/L), glucose concentration as a co-substrate(1,000-3,000 mg/L), hydraulic retention time(3-24 hr), and influent pH(6.0-8.0). Under most conditions tested, the molecules of Black B were degraded readily and completely according to HPLC chromatograms. However, the color removal efficiency based on spectroscopic measurement was always approximately 75%. This suggests that the degradation products have some color intensity corresponding to 25% of the original dye molecules. The maximum influent dye concentration which satisfies the legal discharge limit of color intensity of 400 ADMI was 13 mg/L. and the highest removal rate at this dye concentration was 104 mg/L${\cdot}$day.

• 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 $2200mg/{\ell}$.