• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.629-637
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• 2000

A two-phase anaerobic reactor with a submerged microfiltration system was tested for its ability to produce methane energy from organic wastewater. A membrane separation system with periodic backwashing with compressed air was submerged in the acidogenic reactor. The cartridge type of microfiltration (MF) membrane with pore size of $0.5{\mu}m$ (mixed esters of cellulose) was tested. An AUBF (Anaerobic Upflow Sludge Bed Filter: 1/2 packed with plastic media) was used for the methanogenic reactor. Soluble starch was used as a substrate. The COD removal was investigated for various organic loading with synthetic wastewater of 5,000 mg starch/L. When the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the acidogenic reactor was changed from 10 to 4.5 days, the organic loading rate (OLR) varied from 0.5 to $1.0kg\;COD/m^3-day$. When the HRT of the methanogenic reactor was changed from 2.8 to 0.5 days, the OLR varied from 0.8 to $5.8kg\;COD/m^3-day$. The acid conversion rate of the acidogenic reactor was over 80% in the 4~5 days of HRT. The overall COD removal efficiency of the methanogenic reactor showed over 95% (effluent COD was below 300 mg/L) under the highly fluctuating organic loading condition. A two-phase anaerobic reactor showed an excellent acid conversion rate from organic wastewater due to the higher biomass concentration than the conventional system. A methanogenic reactor combined with sludge bed and filter, showed an efficient COD and SS removal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.131-140
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• 2008

The application of magnetic ion exchange resin($MIEX^{(R)}$) is effective for natural organic matter(NOM) removal and for control of the formation of disinfection byproducts(DBPs). NOM removal is also enhanced by adding $MIEX^{(R)}$ with coagulant such as polyaluminium chloride(PACl) in conventional drinking water treatment systems. In the application of $MIEX^{(R)}$, it is important to understand changes of NOM characteristics such as hydrophobicity and molecular weight distributions with $MIEX^{(R)}$ or $MIEX^{(R)}$+coagulant treatment.To observe characteristics of NOM by treatment with $MIEX^{(R)}$ or $MIEX^{(R)}$+coagulant, four major drinking water sources were employed. Results showed that the addition of $MIEX^{(R)}$ to coagulation significantly reduced the amount of coagulant required for the optimum removal of dissolved organic matter(DOC) and turbidity in the all four waters. The DOC removal was also increased approximately 20%, compared to coagulant treatment alone. The process with $MIEX^{(R)}$ and coagulant showed that complementary removal of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fraction of DOC. The combined processes preferentially removed the fractions of intermediate (3,000-10,000 Da) and low (< 500 Da) molecular weight. The microfiltration test showed that membrane cake resistance was decreased for waters with flocs from $MIEX^{(R)}$+coagulant. A porous layer was formed to $MIEX^{(R)}$ on the membrane surface and the layer consequently inhibited settling of coagulant flocs, which could act on a foulant.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.121-137
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• 2010

This work presents inexpensive inorganic precursor formulations to yield submicron range symmetric ceramic microfiltration (MF) membranes whose average pore sizes were between 0.1 and $0.4{\mu}m$. Incidentally, the sintering temperature used in this work was about 800 to $950^{\circ}C$ instead of higher sintering temperatures ($1100^{\circ}C$) that are usually deployed for membrane fabrication. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were carried out to evaluate the effect of temperature on various phase transformations during sintering process. The effect of sintering temperature on structural integrity of the membrane as well as pore size distribution and average pore size were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The average pore sizes of the membranes were increased from 0.185 to $0.332{\mu}m$ with an increase in sintering temperature from 800 to $950^{\circ}C$. However, a subsequent reduction in membrane porosity (from 34.4 to 19.6%) was observed for these membranes. Permeation experiments with both water and air were carried out to evaluate various membrane morphological parameters such as hydraulic pore diameter, hydraulic permeability, air permeance and effective porosity. Later, the membrane prepared with a sintering temperature of $950^{\circ}C$ was tested for the treatment of synthetic oily waste water to verify its real time applicability. The membrane exhibited 98.8% oil rejection efficiency and $5.36{\times}10^{-6}\;m^3/m^2.s$ permeate flux after 60 minutes of experimental run at 68.95 kPa trans-membrane pressure and 250 mg/L oil concentration. Based on retail and bulk prices of the inorganic precursors, the membrane cost was estimated to be $220 /$m^2$ and $1.53 /$m^2$, respectively.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2008

The Gongji stream water of Chuncheon city was filtrated by 2 kinds of tubular alumina ceramic MF membranes with periodic $N_2$-back-flushing. $N_2$-back-flushing time (BT) was changed in $0{\sim}50$ sec at fixed filtration time (FT), or back-flushing period, of 4 min for NCMT-5231 membrane ($0.05\;{\mu}m$). Then, FT was changed in $0{\sim}32$ min at fixed BT of 40 sec for NCMT-7231 $0.1{\mu}m)$). In the viewpoints of total permeate volume ($V_T$), dimensionless permeate flux ($J/J_0$) and resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$), the optimal $N_2$-BT was 50 sec, which was the longest BT, at 4 min FT for NCMT-5231. It means the longest BT was the most effective to minimize the membrane fouling, and we could acquire the most $V_T$. But the optimal FT for NCMT-7231 was 16 min in the viewpoint of $V_T$, and was 8 min in the viewpoints of $J/J_0$ and $R_f$ at fixed BT of 40 sec. The rejection rates were excellent as $80.6{\sim}96.6\;%$ for turbidity, $35.2{\sim}58.4%$ for $NH_3$-N, $16.3{\sim}45.2%$ for T-P and $16.3{\sim}45.2%$ for $COD_{Mn}$. However, the rejection rate of T-N was very low as $2.7{\sim}13.4%$ and it of TDS below 6.1%.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2017

Transient behavior of fouling resistance was observed with a laboratory-scaled, submerged microfiltration membrane system treating high-turbidity source water consisting of inorganic silica particles and humic acid. Fouling mitigation efficiency with inorganic silica particles caused by aeration was reduced significantly as both humic acid and calcium ion existed together. Scanning electron microscopic observations showed that humic acid was adsorbed onto the surface of inorganic silica particles in the presence of calcium. Turbidity removal was achieved almost completely by submerged MF system regardless of feed compositions. However, the $UV_{254}$ removal of humic acid was improved in the presence of both calcium and inorganic silica particles. Additionally, increasing air-flow rate tended to increase $UV_{254}$ removal efficiency higher than 80%. This may be caused by back-transport of humic acid enhanced by inorganic silica particles providing surface for organic adsorption in the presence of calcium.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-70
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• 2016

Microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF) Adsorptive polyamide-6 (PA-6) membranes were prepared using wet phase inversion process. The prepared PA-6 membranes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity and swelling degree. In this study, the membranes performance has examined by adsorptive removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions in a batch adsorption mode. The $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes display sponge like and highly porous structures, with porosities of 41-73%. Under the conditions examined, the adsorption experiments have showed that the $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes had a good adsorption capacity (up to 120-280 mg/g at the initial copper ion concentration ($C_0$) = 680 mg/L, pH7), fast adsorption rates and short adsorption equilibrium times (less than 1.5-2 hrs) for copper ions. The fast adsorption in this study may be attributed to the high porosities and large pore sizes of the $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes, which have facilitated the transport of copper ions to the adsorption. The results obtained from the study illustrated that the copper ions which have adsorbed on the polyamide membranes can be effectively desorbed in an Ethylene dinitrilotetra acetic acid Di sodium salt ($Na_2$ EDTA) solution from initial concentration (up to 92% desorption efficiency) and the PA-6 membranes can be reused almost without loss of the adsorption capacity for copper ions. The results obtained from the study suggested that the $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes can be effectively applied for the adsorptive removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.598-607
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• 2004

In this study, the effects of two pre-treatment processes were observed prior to membrane filtration: pre-coagulation and pre-ozonation. To compare the effect of two above-mentioned pre-treatments, we adopted the four schemes: first one is direct membrane filtration of river surface water, second one is membrane filtration after pre-coagulation, third one is membrane filtration after pre-ozonation and fourth one is membrane filtration after pre-coagulation and pre-ozonation. There are two exceptional characteristics in applied processes. One is the usage of the MF membrane which has high ozone resisting characteristic. Therefore, ozone resides in membrane module during filtration. The other is adoption of Jet Mixed Separator (JMS) as coagulation-sedimentation process. The change in transmembrane pressure and permeate water quality were also examined. As a result, considering the filtration performance efficiency and permeate water quality, the process composed of filtration with combination of both pre-coagulation and pre-ozonation was proved most effective. The improved efficiency was due to the reduction of loading rate of fouling inducing materials to membrane module by coagulation process as well as variable reactions, such as degradation, particle destabilization and coagulation, occurred by residual ozone in membrane module. The additional effect of pre-coagulation before pre-ozonation is suppression of AOC, one of the by-products induced by ozonation. Therefore, combination of pre-coagulation and pre-ozonation is the effective process to overcome the major de-merit of ozonation i.e. by-products formation.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.161-173
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• 2007

Membrane filtration processes are increasingly popular for drinking water treatment that requires high quality of water. Low pressure membrane(LPM) processes such as microfiltration(MF) and ultrafiltration(UF), however, are ineffective in the removal of dissolved organic matter and also membrane fouling is still an important issue to be resolved. High pressure membranes(HPMs) may guarantee better water quality, but at the high energy consumption. Thus, various approaches to combine LPM processes with other physicochemical methods have been recently made to achieve their efficiency to the level comparable to that of HPM processes. In this work, therefore, hybrid processes that coupled MF/UF with coagulation, adsorption, chemical reactions(e.g., chelation and oxidation) are reviewed regarding system design and performance and also membrane surface modifications conducted by grafting and polyelectrolyte multilayer formation were assessed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.607-618
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• 2015

This study was conducted to suggest hydraulic modification for improving evenness of inlet flow distribution into side stream type low-pressure MF (microfiltration) module using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation and PIV (particle image velocimetry) techniques. From the results of CFD simulation for various typed inlet structure, it was investigated that installing internal orifice baffle in inlet the distribution channel could improve the evenness of inlet flow distribution over about 40%. Also, from the results of PIV measurements which were carried out for verifying the CFD simulation, it was observed that the momentum of the water body coming from the opposite side of the inlet was relatively larger. This momentum would generate strong shear force in the near of inlet side wall. On the other hands, occurrence of dead zone and eddy flow was confirmed in the opposite side.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Temperature correction trans-membrane pressure (TC-TMP) is frequently used as a fouling index in membrane water treatment plants. TC-TMP equation is derived based on an assumption that the total membrane resistance (i.e. the sum of the intrinsic membrane resistance and fouling resistance) is not affected by temperature. This work verified the validity of this assumption using microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with and without fouling. The foulants used in the work were kaolin (inorganic) and humic acid (organic). The intrinsic resistances of MF and UF membranes remains at constant values regardless of temperature change. When the same amount of foulants were accumulated on the membrane, inorganic fouling resistance with kaolin was constant regardless of temperature change while organic fouling resistance with humic acid decreased at higher temperatures, which means that TC-TMP cannot be used as a fouling index when organic fouling occurs in a real field application. Since TC-TMP underestimates the amount of fouling at higher temperatures, more attention should be necessary in the operation of membrane water treatment plant in a hotter season like summer.