• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.209-221
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• 2024

This study explored effects of a sludge-based biochar addition on nitrogen removal of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. The membrane fouling reduction by the biochar addition was also investigated. A dose of 3 g/L of the biochar was applied to an MBR (i.e., BC-MBR) and treatment efficiencies of organic matter and nutrient were analyzed. The MBRs with powdered activated carbon (i.e., AC-MBR) and without any additives were also operated in parallel. The average removals of COD and TN were improved with the biochar addition compared to those with the control MBR. Interestingly, operational duration was also increased with biochar addition. The CLSM analysis revealed that biomass amounts of BC-MBR and AC-MBR were reduced by more than 40%, and thickness of the biofilm attached to the membrane surface also was decreased. The physical properties of biochar surfaces were compared with a commercial powdered activated carbon. The specific surface area with 38 m²/g and pore volume with 0.13 cm³/g of the biochar were much smaller than those of the powdered activated carbon, which were 1100 m²/g and 0.67 cm³/g, respectively. Manufacturing conditions for the biochar production needs to be further investigated for enhancing physical properties for adsorption and biological improvement.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2003

Nitrification performance of fixed film biofilters using coarse sand, loess bead, or styrofoam beads in biofilter columns 1 meter high and 30cm in diameter were studied at different hydraulic and organic matter loading rates. Synthetic wastewater was supplied to the culture tank in order to maintain desired TAN concentrations in inlet water to biofilters. All the biofilters were conditioned 5 months before start of sampling. TAN and $NO_2-N$ conversion rates increased with an increase in the hydraulic loading rate (HLR). However, the improvement in biofilter performance was not linearly correlated to HLR in styrofoam bead filters. This is mainly due to the characteristics of the styrofoam beads used. TAN conversion rates of sand filters increased with the increase of HLR up to $200m^3/m^2$. per day. No increase in the TAN conversion rate was observed at the highest HLR since flooding on the media surface took place. HLR had a significant impact on the TAN conversion rates in loess bead filter up to the highest HLR tested (P<0.05). TAN conversion rates were much less at organic matter loading rates of 9 and 18kg $O_2/m^3$ per day than those without the addition of organic matter in styrofoam bead filters. The addition of glucose resulted in a reduction of the TAN conversion rate from 540 to 284g $TAN/m^3$ per day. No significant difference of TAN conversion rates between the two organic matter loading rates was found (p<0.05). This indicates that the impact of organic matter on nitrification becomes less and less sensitive with an increase in the COD/TAN ratio. At an organic matter loading rate of 9kg $O_2/m^3$. per day, a great reduction of TAN conversion rates was observed in sand filters and loess bead filters. Clearly, organic matter can be one of the most Important Impacting factors on nitrification. $NO_2-N$ conversion rates showed a similar trend for TAN. Based on the TAN and nitrite conversion rates, styrofoam beads showed the best performance among the three filter media tested. Also, the low gravity and price of styrofoam beads make the handling easier and more cost-effective for commercial application. The results obtained at the highest organic matter loading rates can be used in the biofilter design in recirculating aquaculture system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.578-582
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• 2015

It was investigated whether the removal of nitrogen ions included livestock wastewater were increased by increasing the reaction time of livestock wastewater and microbubbles with catalyst. For this study, the nitrogen reduction system using microbubbles with catalyst was used. The two reactors were consecutively arranged, and the second reactor (Step 2) was located to next the first reactor (Step 1). Each reactor was reacted for 2 hours and air or oxygen as oxidant was fed into the reactor during operation before microbubble device. When oxygen was used, ammonia nitrogen was removed each 18.3% and 52.8% during 2 (only step 1) and 4 (step 1 and step 2) hours reactions. This value was higher than that of when air was fed. When oxygen was used, the longer the reaction time, the ammonia nitrogen removal was higher. The longer the reaction time, the higher the nitrite and nitrate was also removed such as ammonia nitrogen. Also this system was examined whether organic matter removal is effective. The total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal was higher than the soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD). Some materials among causing substances COD were difficult to decompose biologically. Therefore, it means that it will be easy to operate the biological processes following step and reduce the concentration of organic contaminants in effluent.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.662-669
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• 2017

This study evaluated the ecotoxicological properties of livestock waste water treated by a LID (Low Impact Development) system, using a mixture of bio-reeds and bio-ceramics as suitable bed media for a subsequent treatment process of a livestock wastewater treatment plant. The relationship between the pollutant reduction rate and the ecotoxicity was analyzed with the effluents from the inlet pilot plant, with vegetated swale and wetlands and the batch type of an infiltration trench. Each pilot plant consisted of a bio process using bio-reeds and bio-ceramics as bed media, as well as a general process using general reeds and a bed as a control group. The results indicated that, after applying the HRT 24 hour LID method, the ecotoxicity was considerably lowered and the batch type pilot plant was shown to be effective for toxicity reduction. The LID method is expected to be effective for water quality management, considering ecotoxicity by not only as a nonpoint source pollution abatement facility but also, as a subsequent treatment process linked with a livestock manure purification facility. It is necessary to take the LID technic optimization study further to apply it as a subsequent process for livestock wastewater treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1027-1035
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• 2015

A strain GP32 which produces a highly viscous extracellular polysaccharide was conducted with soil samples and identified as Pseudomonas species. The culture flask conditions for the production of extracellular polysaccharide by Pseudomonas sp. GP32 were investigated. The most suitable carbon and nitrogen source for extracellular polysaccharide production were galactose and (NH₄)₂SO₄. The optimum carbon/nitrogen ratio for the production of extracellular polysaccharide was around 50. The optimum pH and temperature for extracellular polysaccharide production was 7.5 and 32℃, respectively. In batch fermentation using a jar fermentor, the highest extracellular polysaccharide content (15.7 g/l) was obtained after 70 hr of cultivation. The extracellular polysaccharide produced by Pseudomonas sp. GP32 (designated Biopol32) was purified by ethanol precipitation, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) precipitation, and gel permeation chromatography. Biopol32, which has an estimated molecular weight of over 3×10⁷ datons, is a novel polysaccharide derived from sugar components consisting of galactose, glucose, gulcouronic acid and galactouronic acid in an approximate molar ratio of 1.85 : 3.24 : 1.00 : 1.42. The solution of Biopol32 showed non-Newtonian characteristics. The viscosity of Biopol32 exhibited appeared to be higher at all concentration compared to that of zooglan from Zoogloea ramigera. An analysis of the flocculating efficiency of Biopol32 in industry wastewater (food, textile, and paper wastewater) revealed chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction rates 58.4-67.3% and suspended solid (SS) removal rates 82.6-91.3%. Based on these results, Biopol32 is a possible candidate for industrial applications such as wastewater treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2006

In this study, effects of influent C/N(COD/Nitrate) ratio and dissolved oxygen(DO) concentration on biological nitrate removal from groundwater were investigated in the fixed-type biofilter. Influent nitrate of 30 mg/L was removed completely by biological denitrification at the C/N ratio of 10 and 4.0, while residual nitrate of 5 mg/L occurred at the C/N ratio of 2.0, which resulted from deficiency of organic electron donor. Furthermore, nitrite was accumulated up to about 5 mg/L as the C/N ratio decreased to 2.0. Increase in DO concentration also inhibited denitrification activity at the relatively high C/N ratio of 5.0, which decreased the nitrate removal efficiency. Although the influent DO concentration was reduced as low as 0.3 mg/L using sodium sulfite($Na_2SO_3$), effluent nitrite was up to 3.6 mg/L. On the other hand, nitrate was completely removed without detection of nitrite at the DO concentration of 0.3 mg/L using nitrogen gas($N_2$) sparging. The organic matter for denitrification in biofilter were in the range from 3.0 to $3.5gSCOD/g{NO_3}^--N$, while utilized these values increased at the high DO concentration of 5.5 mg/L. In addition to the high DO concentration and the low influent C/N ratio, DO control by chemical such as sodium sulfite affected on biological denitrification, which resulted in the reduction of nitrate removal efficiency and nitrite build-up in a biofilter.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.16-34
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• 2015

Impervious covers(IC) are artificial structures, such as driveways, sidewalks, building's roofs, and parking lots, through which water cannot infiltrate into the soil. IC is an environmental concern because the pavement materials seal the soil surface, decreasing rainwater infiltration and natural groundwater recharge, and consequently disturb the hydrological cycle in a watershed. Increase of IC in a watershed can cause more frequent flooding, higher flood peaks, groundwater drawdown, dry river, and decline of water quality and ecosystem health. There has been an increased public interest in the institutional adoption of LID(Low Impact Development) and GI(Green Infrastructure) techniques to address the adverse impact of IC. The objectives of this study were to construct the modeling site for a samll urban watershed with the Storm Water Management Model(SWMM), and to evaluate the effect of various LID techniques on the control of rainfall runoff processes and non-point pollutant load. The model was calibrated and validated using the field data collected during two flood events on July 17 and August 11, 2009, respectively, and applied to a complex area, where is consist of apartments, school, roads, park, etc. The LID techniques applied to the impervious area were decentralized rainwater management measures such as pervious cover and green roof. The results showed that the increase of perviousness land cover through LID applications decreases the runoff volume and pollutants loading during flood events. In particular, applications of pervious pavement for parking lots and sidewalk, green roof, and their combinations reduced the total volume of runoff by 15~61 % and non-point pollutant loads by TSS 22~72 %, BOD 23~71 %, COD 22~71 %, TN 15~79 %, TP 9~64 % in the study site.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.154-162
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• 2011

Seawater quality was investigated each month at 30 stations near Tongyeong, South Korea, to provide data for the effective use of coastal fisheries and the reduction of economic damage to marine products. Water temperature was lowest in January and highest at the end of August. Neither extremely low water temperature below $4^{\circ}C$ nor fish damage caused by low water temperature was observed. Salinity ranged from 24.04 to 34.39 psu in the surface layer and from 29.92 to 34.39 psu in the bottom layer. The minimum salinity, attributable to rainfall events, was observed in July; salinity increased to high of about 34 psu in November. Low dissolved oxygen (DO), below 4 mg/L, was observed at Wenmun and Buksin Bays during May to October. Concentrations of $NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N, and $PO_4$-P were low from March to September and high from October to February. Transparency was 6 m on average and was high in Wenmun Bay. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chlorophyll a (Chl. a) were high during summer, when the water temperature was high. With cluster analysis based on environment factors related to water quality, the study area could be divided into three main sea areas: Buksin Bay, coastal seawater, and offshore seawater. Buksin Bay was characterized by low salinity, high DO and Chl. a, and high transparency in the surface layer and by low DO and high $NH_4$-N in the bottom layer. Offshore seawater had high salinity and $NO_3$-N and low Chl. a concentration. In summer season that oyster need lots of phytoplankton, $NO_3$-N and Chl. a concentrations at this study area were low compare to Gwangy-ang and Gamak Bays. In winter, a sea squirt swallow much more than other season, the Chl. a concentrations were also low than Gwangyang and Gamak Bays.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.795-802
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• 2013

According to the increase of impervious area due to the town development, the rate of infiltration generally lessens and that of runoff rises during wet weather events. And it is concerned that its impacts on water quality for the downstream water bodies due to the change of rainfall runoff patterns may also increase. To cope with these issues, LID (Low Impact Development) techniques which try to maintain the characteristics of rainfall runoff regardless of the town development have been introduced actively. However, the behaviors of each LID technique for rainfall runoff and pollutant loads is not understood sufficiently. In this study, considering the applications of some LID techniques, several sets of simulations using a distributed rainfall runoff model, SWMM-LID, have been conducted for D town whose development is progressing. As the results of the simulations, the rates of infiltration/storage have been decreased from 78% in the case before the town development to 15% after the development and increased again by 24% with LID techniques such as porous pavement, rain barrel and rain garden. The rates of runoff have been increased more than three times from 20% in the case before the development to 74% after the development, and they have also been decreased to 66% by the adoption of LID techniques. It has been simulated that porous pavement is more effective than others in the view point of the reduction of runoff and rain barrel is more attractive for the management of pollutant loads (TSS, BOD, COD, T-N and T-P). Therefore, if some LID techniques should be selected for the a new town, it could be concluded that some techniques with better infiltration functions are recommendable for the control of runoff, and ones with larger storage functions for the management of pollutant loads.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.105-113
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• 2003

Successful operation of a reactor can be accomplished when it is operated at proper D depending on the state of degradation. Operation at high D leads to the washout of biomass in the reactor while operation at low D leads to product inhibition due to the accumulation of excess VFA. These appear to limit the production of hydrogen to reach a higher level. Operation by D control was performed to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fermentation of food waste. Although simple organic matters were rapidly degraded in the early stage (day 1-2), proper VFA concentration and pH values were kept in the reactor at D of $4.5d^{-1}$, which was previously reported to be optimum initial D. High butyrate/acetate (B/A) ratios over 3.2 were obtained. Without D control, the reduction of simple organic matters after day 2 caused the decrease of VFA production and the increase of pH. Hydrogen production also decreased, as microbial proliferation was less than microbial loss by washout. However, the reactor performance was dramatically improved at D control from 4.5 to $2.3d^{-1}$. It showed the highest B/A ratios over 2.0 among the reactors on day 4-7. The second hydrogen peak appeared on day 4, resulting in the highest fermentation efficiency (70.8%) among the reactors. It was caused by the enhanced degradation of slowly degradable matters. The COD removed was converted to hydrogen (19.3%), VFA (36.5%), and ethanol (15.0%). Therefore, the strategy using D control, depending on the state of degradation, was effective in improving the efficiency of hydrogen fermentation.