• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.227-238
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• 2005

The characteristics of nitrogen removal by the free cell and the immobilized cell of R. capsulatus were investigated. Denitrification by R. capsulatus cells resulted in reduction of ORP with the rapid depletion of DO and the increase of pH. Without accumulation of nitrite, the removal efficiencies of ${NO_3}^-$-N for the free cell and the immobilized cell were 99.1 and 99.3%, respectively. During the three-month experiment of goldfish breeding equipped with a water-purification biofilter, the average values of pH and total cell numbers present in an aquarium were not significantly different between water-purification system and the control. The average concentrations of ${NH_4}^+$-N and ${PO_4}^{2-}$-P in water-purification system were relatively low, compared to that in the control. Goldfish died at $11^{th}$, $16^{th}$, $43^{rd}$, and $67^{th}$ days in the control, while goldfish died at $10^{th}$, $20^{th}$, and $39^{th}$ days in the water-purification system. On the days of goldfish's death, the total concentrations of nitrogenous compounds except for ${NO_2}^--N$ were higher than those on the other days of the experiment, especially with the concentrations of ${NH_4}^+$-N ranging from 7.4 to 13.5 mg/L. The water-purification system also showed the less turbidity of water with more active movement of goldfish than the control. PVA gel beads showed almost the full denitrifying ability even after the long-term experiment. As a result, the water-purification system was effective to remove nitrogenous compounds with better survival of goldfish.

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

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.285-291
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• 2006

Biofiltration is a simple, effective, economically viable and the most widely used gas treatment technique for treating malodors at low concentrations and high flow rates. This paper reports the performance of two lab scale immobilized cell biofilters operated in continuous mode for hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) and ammonia ($NH_3$) removal. The removal efficiency (RE, %) and the elimination capacity (EC, $g/m^3{\cdot}hr$) profiles were monitored by subjecting the biofilters to different loading rates of $H_2S$ (0.3 to $8\;g/m^3{\cdot}hr$) and $NH_3$ (0.3 to $4.5\;g/m^3{\cdot}hr$). The removal efficiencies were greater than 99% when inlet loading rate to the biofilters were upto $6\;gH_2S/m^3{\cdot}hr$ and $4\;gNH_3/m^3{\cdot}hr$ respectively. The performance of the biofilters were also ascertained by conducting shock loading studies at a loading rate of $10\;gH_2S/m^3{\cdot}hr$ and $6\;gNH_3/m^3{\cdot}hr$. The results from this study show high removal efficiency, good recuperating potential and stability of the immobilized microbial consortia to transient shock loads.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.466-473
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• 2001

A bacterium was isolated from soils in Suwon, Korea for the purpose of H$_2$S removal using a biofilter system. The isolate was gram-negative, rod-shaped, catalase-positive, motile, and the isolated bacterium showed a positve in utilizing energy sources including citrate, mannitol, sucrose, fructors, and trehalsoe. Based on its biochemical characteristics it was identified as Burkholderia(Pseudomonas) cepacia. The growth rate of the bacterium in thiosulfate medium with yeast extract was 0.15 hr$\^$-1/ and generation time was 4.6 hr. The cell productivity was 8.05 mg/L$.$h and the isolate grew logarithmically up to 12 hr. The maximum rate of sulfur oxidation was 0.18 g-S/L$.$h. The optimum pH and temperature for the growth of the bacterium were 7.0 and 30$\^{C}$, respectively. The pH range for the growth of B. cepacia was 5.0-8.0. The oxidation rate of thiosulfate was lowered by a substrate thiosulfate when the concentration was higher than 0.12 M. both growth rate and sulfur oxidation rate of Burkholderia(Pseudomonas) cepacia was enhanced about 1.5 times with the addition of 0.2% yeast extract. The removal of hydrogen sulfide was investigated by immobilized B. cepacia with Ca-alginate. The maximum rate removal for H$_2$S was 6.25 g$.$㎤ $.$h$\^$-1/ when 12 L/h of flow rate was supplied. From this study suggest the immobilized B. cepacia could have a potential for H$_2$S removal.