• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.423-437
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• 2015

Polyvinylidene fluoride/fullerene nanoparticle (PVDF/$C_{60}$) composite microfiltration (MF) membranes were fabricated by a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) using N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as solvent and deionized water (DI) as coagulation solution. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added to the casting solution to form membrane pores. $C_{60}$ was added in increments of 0.2% from 0.0% to 1.0% to produce six different membrane types: one pristine PVDF membrane type with no $C_{60}$ added as control, and five composite membrane types with varying $C_{60}$ concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0%, respectively. The mechanical strength, morphology, pore size and distribution, hydrophilicity, surface property, permeation performance, and fouling resistance of the six membranes types were characterized using respective analytical methods. The results indicate that membranes containing $C_{60}$ have higher surface porosity and pore density than the pristine membrane. The presence of numerous pores on the membrane caused weaker mechanical strength, but the water flux of the composite membranes increased in spite of their smaller size. Initial flux and surface roughness reached the maximum point among the composite membranes when the $C_{60}$ concentration was 0.6 wt.%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.501-510
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• 2017

In this study, it is estimated that ceramic membrane process which can operate stably in harsh conditions replacing existing organic membrane connected with coagulation, sedimentation etc.. Jar-test was conducted by using artificial raw water containing kaolin and humic acid. It was observed that coagulant (A-PAC, 10.6%) 4mg/l is the optimal dose. As a results of evaluation of membrane single filtration process (A), coagulation-membrane filtration process (B) and coagulation-sedimentation-membrane filtration process (C), TMP variation is stable regardless of in Flux $2m^3/m^2{\cdot}day$. But in Flux $5m^3/m^2{\cdot}day$, it show change of 1-89.3 kpa by process. TMP of process (B) and (C) is increased 11.8, 0.6 kpa each. But, the (A) showed the greatest change of TMP. When evaluate (A) and (C) in Flux $10m^3/m^2{\cdot}day$, TMP of (A) stopped operation being exceeded 120 kpa in 20 minutes. On the other hand, TMP of (C) is increased only 3 kpa in 120 minutes. Through this, membrane filtration process can be operated stably by using the linkage between the pretreatment process and the ceramic membrane filtration process. Turbidity of treated water remained under 0.1 NTU regardless of flux condition and DOC and $UV_{254}$ showed a removal rate of 65-85%, 95% more each at process connected with pretreatment. Physical cleaning was carried out using water and air of 500kpa to show the recovery of pollutants formed on membrane surface by filtration. In (A) process, TMP has increased rapidly and decreased the recovery by physical cleaning as the flux rises. This means that contamination on membrane surface is irreversible fouling difficult to recover by using physical cleaning. Process (B) and (C) are observed high recovery rate of 60% more in high flux and especially recovery rate of process (B) is the highest at 95.8%. This can be judged that the coagulation flocs in the raw water formed cake layer with irreversible fouling and are favorable to physical cleaning. As a result of estimation, observe that ceramic membrane filtration connected with pretreatment improves efficiency of filtration and recovery rate of physical cleaning. And ceramic membrane which is possible to operate in the higher flux than organic membrane can be reduce the area of water purification facilities and secure a stable quantity of water by connecting the ceramic membrane with pretreatment process.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2023

Marine structures are subject to damage not only from sea salt but also from the adhesion of marine microorganisms and suspended particles, which cause additional damages. In order to prevent this, periodic coating is employed in the case of vessels to maintain the necessary performance. However, it is true that periodic coating is difficult for concrete or steel support structures, and there is a risk of marine environmental pollution. In this study, authors developed an anti-fouling coating agent using eco-friendly materials that possess hydrophilic cellulose nanofibers and AKD(alkyl ketene dimer). To achieve a homogeneous mixture, the content of cellulose nanofibers was fixed at 1 %, and AKD, distilled water, and waste glass were mixed using a digital mixer and homogenizer. The contact angle of the prepared coated surface was observed to be over 130°, indicating sufficient performance even in a water droplet flow test with a 15° slope, suggesting self-cleaning capability. Furthermore, through the analysis of viscosity characteristics at different temperatures, it was confirmed that the application is feasible at room temperature. Microstructure analysis also verified that the coating agent is uniformly applied to the concrete surface.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2023

In this study, the feasibility of laser patterning on the surface of food packaging polymer film was confirmed, and the surface patterning process conditions of femtosecond laser were established. In addition, it was proved that the surface properties of the film can be changed and controlled through the fabrication of various patterned films on the surface of food packaging films such as HDPE, PP, and PET. Various patterned surfaces, including large-scale circular patterns induced by a single femtosecond laser pulse, roughness patterns achieved by overlapping single pulses by 30%, straight line patterns, roughness patterns obtained by overlapping straight line patterns, and grid patterns formed by intersecting straight line patterns were fabricated. The characteristics of the patterned HDPE, PP, and PET films, based on the surface pattern structure and size, were analyzed using SEM, AFM, and contact angle measurements. Compared to the surface of each control film without femtosecond laser patterning, the contact angles of the surfaces of large-area circular patterning HDPE and PP films, large-area roughness patterning HDPE and PP films by overlapping 30% of single pulses, and large-area roughness patterning PET film by overlapping rectilinear patterning were in the range of 27.1-37.5 degree. This indicated that the HDPE, PP, and PET films became more hydrophilic after patterning. On the other hand, the HDPE film patterned with a large-scale grid pattern exhibited a contact angle of 120.4 degree, indicating that the HDPE film became more hydrophobic after patterning. Therefore, films that have been changed to hydrophilic surfaces through patterning can be used in anti-fouling applications where proteins, cells, viruses, and other food materials do not adhere or are easily detached. In addition, if a superhydrophobic surface of 150 degrees or more is fabricated through more precise lattice patterning in the future, it will be possible to use it for superhydrophobic surface applications such as self-cleaning.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.175-186
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• 2005

An electrodialysis process was operated for a long period to investigate the scale formation on the membrane surface. During the desalination process, concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ and $SO_4^{2-}$ ions increased continuously in the concentrate compartment and eventually caused precipitation on the cation exchange membrane (Neosepta CMX) surface. During the initial scale formation, the performance of the process and membrane characteristics did not show significant changes, except the decrease in limiting current density of the CMX membrane occurring due to increase in the salt concentration in the concentrate compartment. Eventually, the limiting current density of the fouled CMX membrane dropped significantly to $300\;A/m^2$ as water dissociation occurred in the CMX membrane. It was concluded that the fouling was caused mainly by the scale formation on the cation exchange membrane surface in the concentrate and consequent water dissociation. Also the scale formation was reasonably predicted by the solubility of $CaSO_4$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2017

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode has an extremely wide potential window in aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes, very low and stable background current and high resistance to surface fouling due to weak adsorption. These features endow the BDD electrode with potentially wide electrochemical applications, in such areas as wastewater treatment, electrosynthesis and electrochemical sensors. In this study, the characteristics of the BDD electrode were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated by accelerated life test. The effects of manufacturing conditions on the BDD electrode were determined and remedies for negative effects were noted in order to improve the electrode lifetime in wastewater treatment. The lifetime of the BDD electrode was influenced by manufacturing conditions, such as surface roughness, seeding method and rate of introduction of gases into the reaction chamber. The results of this study showed that BDD electrodes manufactured using sanding media of different sizes resulted in the most effective electrode lifetime when the particle size of alumina used was from $75{\sim}106{\mu}m$ (#150). Ultrasonic treatment was found to be more effective than polishing treatment in the test of seeding processes. In addition to this, BDD electrodes manufactured by introducing gases at different rates resulted in the most effective electrode lifetime when the introduced gas had a composition of hydrogen gas 94.5 vol.% carbon source gas 1.6 vol.% and boron source gas 3.9 vol.%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2016

In this study, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) was used as an inhibitor of scale production on the surface of RO membrane. In order to compare the effects of $CO_2$ injection on scale production, four RO modules: 1) without $CO_2$ injection and anti-scalant (RO module #1), 2) with only $CO_2$ injection (RO module #2), 3) with only anti-scalant (RO module #3), 4) with both $CO_2$ injection and anti-scalant (RO module #4), were operated for 60 days under constant flux mode. The trans-membrane pressure (TMP) was observed to decrease significantly in RO modules with $CO_2$ injection as compared with the other RO modules. When the feed water pH was controlled at 5.0 by injecting $CO_2$, the maximum TMP in RO modules #2 and #4 was founded to decrease by 42 and 40%, respectively. Moreover, the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the concentrate was 20mg/L lower in RO modules without $CO_2$ injection which is attributed to the scale formation on the surface of the RO membranes. The SEM-EDS analysis further showed a serious fouled RO membrane surface in RO modules #1 and #3.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PAC(Powder Activated Carbon) retention time on stable operation of high concentration powered activated carbon(HCPAC-MBR) in the treatment of secondary domestic wastewater. The pilot scale HCPAC-MBR system was operated at two different SRTs, 25 days and 100 days. The main drawback of HCPAC-MBR system was the rapid increase of trans-membrane pressure. The increase rate of trans-membrane pressure was proportional to SRT value at constant flux. This result seemed to be caused by reduced amount of EPS adsorbed on the PAC in the reactor by decreasing the SRT of the PAC. The particle size of the PAC was also influenced by SRT. The PAC size was decreased as SRT was increased. The change of particle size could be one reason for the change of trans-membrane pressure. The pore volume in the cake-layer formed on the membrane surface became to be increased by reducing SRT, because the cake-layer was highly composed of the PAC. Therefore, increased pore volume might play a role to reduce the trans-membrane pressure. The removal rate of E260 and TOC was also inversely proportional to SRT value.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2001

The biodeterioration with blue-green algae has been studied since 1997 up to 2000 in the tomb of King Mooryong in Kongiu, Korea. Biodeterioration in the tomb initially started from the formation of micro-organismic biofilm that had been suggested to make minor changes on the stone surface. This study revealed that the biofilm formed by microorganisms could result in permanent damages on stone cultural properties. The application of a chemical, 'K2Ol', developed by the author successfully removed fouling of biofilm on the surfaces of stone cultural properties. When small pieces of granite stone were embedded in the solution to study the side effects of the chemicals for a period of three months, the mechanical stability was 0.97 compared to control and there was no change in color. Biodeterioration is one of the most harmful factors that decrease the value of stone cultural properties but it may be treated with a development of proper chemicals.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2018

Direct membrane filtration (DMF) of wastewater has many advantages over conventional biological wastewater treatment processes. DMF is not only compact, but potentially energy efficient due to the lack of biological aeration. It also produces more biosolids that can be used to produce methane gas through anaerobic digestion. Most of ammoniacal nitrogen in wastewater is preserved in effluent and is used as fertilizer when effluent is recycled for irrigation. In this study, a technical feasibility of DMF was explored. Organic and nitrogen removal efficiencies were compared between DMF and membrane bioreactor (MBR). Despite the extremely high F/V ratio, e.g., $14.4kg\;COD/m^3/d$, DMF provided very high COD removal efficiencies at ~93%. Soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were less in DMF sludge, but membrane fouling rate was far greater than in MBR. The diversity of microbial community in DMF appeared very narrow based on the morphological observation using optical microscope. On the contrary, highly diverse microbial community was observed in the MBR. Microorganisms tended to form jelly globs and attach on reactor wall in DMF. FT-IR study revealed that the biological globs were structurally supported by feather-like materials made of secondary amines. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) study showed microorganisms mainly resided on the external surface of microbial globs rather than the internal spaces.