• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2003

To evaluate the effects of slow release fertilizer and chemical dispersant on oil biodegradation, mesocosm studies were conducted on sand seashore. The rapid removal rates (85%) of aliphatic hydrocarbons and the simultaneous decreases of n-$C_{17}$/pristane (69%) and $n-C_{18}/phytane$ (61%) ratios by the addition of slow-release fertilizer (SRF) within 37 days of experiment indicated that SRF could enhance the oil degrading activity of indigenous microorganisms in sand mesocosm. Although the growth of heterotrophic bacteria and petroleumdegrading bacteria in the mesocosm treated with $Corexit 9527^{R}$ was stimulated, the biological oil removal based on the ratios of $Corexit 9527^{R}$ and $n-C_{18}/phytane$ was inhibited. Removal rates of aliphatic hydrocarbons (56%), and n-$C_{17}$/pristane (27%) and $n-C_{18}/phytane$ (17%) ratios by the addition of chemical dispersant $Corexit 9527^{R}$ were similar or lower than those values of control (50, 60, 46%), respectively. The biodegradation activity, however, when simultaneously treated with SRF and $Corexit 9527^{R}$, was not highly inhibited and even recovered after the elimination of chemical dispersant. From these results it could be concluded that the addition of SRF enhanced the oil removal rate in oligotrophic sand seashore and chemical dispersant possibly inhibit the oil biodegradation. Hence, in order to prevent the unrestrained usage of chemical dispersant in natural environments contaminated with oil, the National Contingency Plan of Oil Spill Response should be carefully revised in consideration of the application for bioremedaition techniques.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.127-133
• /
• 2000

We propose a novel monitoring system for a recycling piggery slurry treatment system through neural networks. Here we tried to model treatment process for each tank(influent, fermentation, aeration, first sedimentation and fourth sedimentation tanks) in the system based on population densities of heterotrophic and lactic acid bacteria. Principle component analysis(PCA) was first applied to identify a relation between input(microbial densities and parameters for the treatment) and output, and then multilayer neural networks were employed to model the treatment process for each tank. PCA filtration of input data as microbial densities was found to facilitate the modeling procedure for the system monitoring even with a relatively lower number of input. Neural networks independently trained for each treatment tank and their subsequent combinatorial data analysis allowed a successful prediction of the treatment system for at least two days.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2011

To investigate the effects of pipe materials on biofilm accumulation and water quality, an annular reactor with the sample coupons of four pipe materials (steel, copper, stainless steel, and polyvinyl chloride) was operated under hydraulic conditions similar to a real plumbing system for 15 months. The bacterial concentrations were substantially increased in the steel and copper reactors with progression of corrosion, whereas those in stainless steel (STS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reactors were affected mainly by water temperature. The heterotrophic plate count (HPC) of biofilms was about 100 times higher on steel pipe than other pipes throughout the experiment, with the STS pipe showing the lowest bacterial number at the end of the operation. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences of 176 cultivated isolates revealed that 66.5% was Proteobacteria and the others included unclassified bacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacilli. Regardless of the pipe materials, Sphingomonas was the predominant species in all biofilms. PCR-DGGE analysis showed that steel pipe exhibited the highest bacterial diversity among the metallic pipes, and the DGGE profile of biofilm on PVC showed three additional bands not detected from the profiles of the metallic materials. Environmental scanning electron microscopy showed that corrosion level and biofilm accumulation were the least in the STS coupon. These results suggest that the STS pipe is the best material for plumbing systems in terms of the microbiological aspects of water quality.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2008

To explore the optimal conditions for the removal of $H_{2}S$ gas by biofiltration, various conditions, including inlet $H_{2}S$ concentration, flow rate, moisture, and cell number, were examined. Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the compost of the animal excreta. A strain that effectively removed $H_{2}S$ was selected and identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous B261 by analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence. A cell number of $10^{7}\;cfu/g^{-}compost$ was sufficient to dominate the microbiota, and an effective removal was observed at $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations below 220 mg/L. The moisture content of 33-38% was suitable for activation of the microbial activity and delaying the desiccation. Higher flow rates resulted in lower removal rates of the $H_{2}S$ gas. Under the conditions of $10^7\;cfu/g^{-}compost$, $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 220 mg/L, and moisture content of 33-38%, the inlet $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 120 and 400 mg/L were completely removed for 34 and 12 days, respectively. The amount of sulfur removed was $2.99{\times}10^{-9}H_{2}S-S/cell$, which was suggested as the amount of sulfur removed by a single cell. The biofilter consisting of the compost and R. rhodochrous B261 could be suitable for a long-term biofilteration for the removal of $H_{2}S$ and other malodorous compounds.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.26-33
• /
• 2006

This study investigated the characteristics of the biofilm removal by free chlorine or monochloramine. The simulated drinking water distribution pipes on which biofilms had been formed were supplied with tap water containing 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/L of free chlorine or monochloramine residuals. The biofilm removal was characterized by measurement of attached HPC and biomass on pipe surfaces. Chlorine was more effective in both inactivation of attached viable heterotrophic bacteria and removal of biofilm biomass compared to monochloramine. Biofilm matrix was not much eliminated from the surfaces by monochloramine disinfection. Free chlorine residual of 2.0 mg/L was found to be effective in biomass removal. However, biofilm level as low as $10CFU/cm^2$ of attached HPC and $5{\mu}g/cm^2$ of biomass still remained on the surfaces at 2.0 mg/L of chlorine residual. The measurement of biomass appeared to be a useful means in evaluating the characteristics of biofilm removal.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.451-457
• /
• 2011

Purple non-sulfur (PNS) bacterium $Rhodobacter$ $sphaeroides$ KD131 was studied with the aim of achieving maximum hydrogen production using various carbon and nitrogen sources at different pH conditions. Cells grew well and produced hydrogen using $(NH_4){_2}SO_4$ or glutamate as a nitrogen source in combination with a carbon substrate, succinate or malate. During 48h of photo-heterotrophic fermentation under 110$W/m^2$ illumination using a halogen lamp at $30^{\circ}C$, 67% of 30mM succinate added was degraded and the hydrogen yield was estimated as 3.29mol $H^2$/mol-succinate. However, less than 30% of formate was consumed and hydrogen was not produced due to a lack of genes coding for the formate-hydrogen lyase complex of strain KD131. Initial cell concentrations of more than 0.6g dry cell weight/L-culture broth were not favorable for hydrogen evolution by cell aggregation, thus leading to substrate and light unavailability. In a modified Sistrom's medium containing 30mM succinate with a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 12.85 (w/w), glutamate produced 1.40-fold more hydrogen compared to ammonium sulfate during the first 48h. However, ammonium sulfate was 1.78-fold more effective for extended cultivation of 96h. An initial pH range from 6.0 to 9.0 influenced cell growth and hydrogen production, and maintenance of pH 7.5 during photofermentation led to the increased hydrogen yield.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.125-135
• /
• 2012

To evaluate the algicidal impact of a newly developed algicide thiazolidinedione derivative, TD49, on dinophyceae Akashiwo sanguinea in aquatic ecosystems, tentative culture experiments for the target species were conducted in small (SS), middle (MS), and large scale (LS) culture vessels. When TD49 was introduced at the final concentration of $2{\mu}M$ in SS and MS, as well as $1{\mu}M$ in LS, the abundance of A. sanguinea decreased significantly in all the treatments. On the other hand, total phytoplankton abundance, except A. sanguinea in the TD49 treatments, gradually increased with culture time, which implies that a cell destruction of A. sanguinea by TD49 is a major cause of the population growth by other phytoplankton species. Also, A. sanguinea was easily destroyed, which was likely to be a source of extracellular substances. In particular, a pH decrease was significant in the treatments than in the control, which indicates that the water in the treatments has been acidified, due to an increase in the heterotrophic metabolisms of bacteria and degradation of A. sanguinea cells. Our results indicate that the TD49 substance is the potential agents for the control of A. sanguinea in the enclosed and eutrophic water bodies.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.355-365
• /
• 2000

In order to study the relationship between water quality and phytoplankton standing crops, the authors investigated the physicochemical factors, phytoplankton standing crops and chlorophyll-a at two stations in the Daechung Reservoir during the period from May to November 1998. Nutrients (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and phosphate) have gradually increased more than those of the previous reports. Concentrations of the total nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll -a and transparency exceeded the standard value of eutrophication. It could be assumed that the eutrophication of the Daechung reservoir was caused by various pollutants. Chlorophyll-a concentration was under the influence of phytoplankton standing crops, but very tiny cell-sized blue-green algae were less important in regards to the chlorophyll-a. Except at station 1 from July to August, phytoplankton standing crops bloomed during the time of the survey. Spring phytoplankton blooms caused by nitrate and phosphate in the surface layer. High concentrations of the suspended solids in July and August were caused by an inflow of them due to heavy rains. Density of heterotrophic bacteria was high in August owing to the high water temperatures and the organic nutrients which were from the nearby reservoir.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 1993

To investigate the eutrophication process and pollution characteristics in Paldang Lake, Korea, water and sediment samples were analysed during July 1986~June 1987. The transparency, chlorophyll-a concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration and biochemical oxygen demand in Paldang Lake ranged 0.5~3 m, 3-17 ${\mu}gI^{-1}$, 7.2~12.3 ppm and 0.5~2.3 ppm, respectively. Heterotrophic bacterial number fluctuated seasonally between $3.0{\times}10^{3}/ml and 5.0{\times}10^{5}/ml$ in the water column and between $2{\times}10^{6} and 1{\times}10^{8}$ in the I g dry sediment. Water turbulence and water quality of up-stream seem to play important roles for determining the water quality in Paldang Lake particularly where the hydraulic retention time is so short as about 5 days. The present water quality in Paldang Lake according to the criteria of lake water quality was shown to be between mesotrophic and eutrophic state by secchi depth(O.5 ~ 3 m) and chlorophyll-a concentration (3~17 ${\mu}gI^{-1}$). The distribution of coliform bacteria showed that the pollution was mainly due to the human activities in this area and it is needed to establish countmeasurements for the problems.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.318-327
• /
• 1987

Taxonomic composition and diversity were wxamined by statistical analysis for bacterial communities in surface waters of the Sudong Stream, a tributary of North Han River. For total 282 isolates, Flavobacterium, Aeromonas and Enterobacteriaceae was identified by the deterministic schemes as a major group above 50% of total isolates in all sampling sites. Morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics were numerically analyzed for bacterial isolates from each site and clustered into 15-28 groups. Not all statistically clustered groups were identical to the groups derived from deterministic identification. Especially, consistent relationship was not found in dendrograms for the groups with each a single strain which gas peculiar sugar-degrading activity. At a level of 80% similarity, bacterial diversity (H) was ranged as 2.37-3.14, and it was suggested that the research area was oligotrophic-mesotrophic status. Regional distribution of bacterial community was most heterogeneous at the site where large input of allochthonous materials or bacteria were occurred. And that was the significant factor for the compositions of bacterial communities in the Sudong stream.