• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.379-386
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• 2002

In this study, estimation model for iron compound originated from upflow, anaerobic fixed bed reactor, which treats sewage domestic wastewater, was developed. The estimation model was formulated by a mathematical expression which was based on the mass balance. Below the HRT of 60 minute, sulfide concentration combining with iron $FeS_2$ is the highest because the maximum sulfate consumption rate $V_{maxS}$ and half-saturation constant of sulfate $K_{mS}$ exert an important effect on the estimation model as temperature was increased. But increment of $FeS_2$ concentration is weakened above the HRT of 60 minutes and represent the lowest value at the HRT of 108 minutes. It implies that liquid phase distribution ratio of sulfide ${\alpha}r$ becomes lower as temperature was increased. While phosphorus concentration combining with iron $Fe_3(PO_4)_3$ is increased as HRT and temperature are increased, which is affected by phosphorus removal rate constant $k_p$. As the result of estimating the iron concentrations of corrosion by the model, the concentration of iron corrosion is higher than any other at the HRT of 108 minute and $20^{\circ}C$. The predicted values were compared with measured ones at different HRT(13.5, 27, 54, 108 min) and temperature(20, 25, $30^{\circ}C$). The experimental data could be fitted with the simulated curves. Therefore, the mathematical expression could be applicable to design full-scale wastewater treatment plants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2004

To treat a waste gas containing a high strength H2S, the two-stages microbial desulfurization process that conof a bioreactor immobilized with Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans and a chemical absorption scrubber has was proposed. After 4 times repeat of batch cultures, the immobilized bioreactor has been stabilized and the rate of iron oxidation reached 0.89 kg . $m^{-3}{\cdot}m^{-1}$ at steady state. The two-stages microbial desulfurization prowas able to be operated for a long term over 54 days. The removal efficiencies of H2S were 97-99% at a space velocity of 70 h-I and a inlet concentration of 37,000 ppmv. The maximum elimination capacity of H2S was approximately 3.3 kg S . $m^{-3}{\cdot}m^{-1}$. In the bioractor, the concentrations of the $Fe^{3+}$ and the immobilzed cell were constantly maintained during the desulfurization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.471-477
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• 2009

An experimental removal of dissolved uranium (U) exsiting as uranyl ion (${UO_2}^{2+}$) was carried out using Shewanella p., iron-reducing bacterium. By the microbial reductive reaction, initial U concentration ($50{\mu}M$) was constantly decreased, and most U were removed from solution after 2 weeks. Major mechanism that U was removed from the solution was adsorption, precipitation and mineralization on the microbe surface. Under the transmission electron microscopy, the U adsorbed on the microbe was observed as being crystallized and eventually enlarged to several ${\mu}m$ sizes of minerals by combining with individual microbes and organic exudates. It seems that such U growth and mineralization on the microbial surface could affect the U behavior in a radioactive waste disposal site. Thus, the biogechemical reaction of metal-reducing bacteria observed in this experiment could give an affirmative measure that the microbial activity may retard U movement in subsurface environment.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 1989

Blast furnace slag presents coarse surface for microbes to grow on and high calcium and magnesium contents to neutralize acid to be produced during anaerobic digestion. Also, slag contains aluminum and iron oxides which would promote biological flocculation, and minerals which would stimulate microbial growth. Acid wastes like dairy waste, carbohydrate waste, sanitary landfill leachate and molases wastes were applied without neutralization to laboratory reactors to examine the applicability of blast furnace slag as media. The study results indicated slag media was effective to neutralize pH and maintain microbial population in the system. Particularly, COD removal efficiency was greater than those from plastic media operations treating dairy waste at higher loading rates.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.445-455
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• 2009

Microbiological sulfate reduction is the transformation of sulfate to sulfide catalyzed by the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria using sulfate as an electron acceptor. Low solubility of metal sulfides leads to precipitation of the sulfides in solution. The effects of microbiological sulfate reduction on in-situ precipitation of arsenic and copper were investigated for the heavy metal-contaminated soil around the Songcheon Au-Ag mine site. Total concentrations of As, Cu, and Pb were 1,311 mg/kg, 146 mg/kg, and 294 mg/kg, respectively, after aqua regia digestion. In batch-type experiments, indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria rapidly decreased sulfate concentration and redox potential and led to substantial removal of dissolved As and Cu from solution. Optimal concentrations of carbon source and sulfate for effective microbial sulfate reduction were 0.2~0.5% (w/v) and 100~200 mg/L, respectively. More than 98% of injected As and Cu were removed in the effluents from both microbial and chemical columns designed for metal sulfides to be precipitated. However, after the injection of oxygen-rich solution, the microbial column showed the enhanced long-term stability of in-situ precipitated metals when compared with the chemical column which showed immediate increase in dissolved As and Cu due to oxidative dissolution of the sulfides. Black precipitates formed in the microbial column during the experiments and were identified as iron sulfide and copper sulfide. Arsenic was observed to be adsorbed on surface of iron sulfide precipitate.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.238-245
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• 1996

Microbial desulfurization characterlstics of a bituminous coal have been determined by using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The effects of process variables (such as coal pulp density, particle size and addition of surfactants) on pyrite removal have been investigated in both shake and airlift-bioreactor culture experiments. In shake experiments, pyrite could be removed over 78% for pulp densifies below 20% (w/v) and removed below 40% for pulp densities over 30% (w/v) in 8 days. Pyrite removal decreased with increasing pulp densities, and it also decreased sharply with increasing particle sizes. In airlift bioreactor experiments, pyrite at 50% (w/v) pulp density could be removed about 50%. Its value is much higher than 15% at the same pulp density in a shake experiment. With addition of surfactants, pyrite removal was enhanced in shake experiments significantly, whereas it was slightly decreased in an airlift bioreactor experiment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2008

Generally speaking, there are two widely used methods of Nitrogen removal from waste water: 1) nitrification using autotrophic microorganisms, and 2) denitrification using heterotrophic microorganisms. The C/N ratio is an important factor of the denitrification process. In this case, if methanol is added to increase the lacking organic matter, a high economic cost is incurred and methanol is left in the processed water. In an effort to fix these issues, autotrophic denitrification through the use of Hydrogen, Iron and Sulfur is being studied, and among those Sulfur is cheaper and carries out denitrification effectively, and therefore is being studied the most. In this study, after cultivating T. denitrificans, the presence of T. denitrificans was determined and the effectiveness of denitirification via T. denitrificans was studied. In order to find out about the inhibition of T. denitrificans from the loading of organic matter, this shows that the greater the loading of organic matter, the more the denitrification ability of T. denitrificans is hindered. In order to research the hindrance of T. denitrificans resulting from the loading of $NO_3{^-}-N$, these results show that concentrations less than 100mg/L per 100mL of gel volume do not hinder T. denitrificans. In order to research the optimization of denitrification resulting from T. denitrificans, three 500mL samples of Sulfur granules were prepared: 1) one with only T. denitrificans attached (Mode I), 2) one with both T. denitrificans and active sludge attached (Mode II), and 3) one with only active sludge attached (Mode III). The results showed that autotrophic denitrification using S from Mode I was the most active.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2010

Acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned mine sites typically has low pH and contains high level of various heavy metals, aggravating ground- and surface water qualities and neighboring environments. This study investigated removal of heavy metals in a biological treatment system, mainly focusing on the removal by adsorption on a substrate material. Bench-scale batch experiments were performed with a mushroom compost to evaluate the adsorption characteristics of heavy metals leached out from a mine tailing sample and the role of SRB in the overall removal process. In addition, adsorption experiments were perform using an artificial AMD sample containing $Cd^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ to assess adsorption capacity of the mushroom compost. The results indicated Mn leached out from mine tailing was not subject to microbial stabilization or adsorption onto mushroom compost while microbially mediated stabilization played an important role in the removal of Zn. Fe leaching significantly increased in the presence of microbes as compared to autoclaved samples, and this was attributed to dissolution of Fe minerals in the mine tailing in a response to the depletion of $Fe^{3+}$ by iron reduction bacteria. Measurement of oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and pH indicated the reactive mixture maintained reducing condition and moderate pH during the reaction. The results of the adsorption experiments involving artificial AMD sample indicated adsorption removal efficiency was greater than 90% at pH 6 condition, but it decreased at pH 3 condition.