• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1424-1433
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• 2019

DDT is a hydrophobic organic pollutant, which can be bio-accumulated in nature and have adverse consequences on the physical condition of humans and animals. This study investigated the relationship between the white-rot fungus Pleurotus eryngii and biosurfactant-producing bacterium Ralstonia pickettii associated with the degradation of DDT. The effects of R. pickettii on fungal development were examined using in vitro confrontation assay on a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. R. pickettii culture was added to the P. eryngii culture at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 ml ($1ml{\approx}1.44{\times}10^{13}CFU$). After 7 d incubation, about 43% of the initial DDT ($12.5{\mu}M$) was degraded by the P. eryngii culture only. The augmentation of 7 ml of R. pickettii culture revealed a more highly optimized synergism with DDT degradation being approximately 78% and the ratio of optimization 1.06. According to the confrontational assay, R. pickettii promoted the growth of P. eryngii towards the bacterial colony, with no direct contact between the bacterial cells and mycelium (0.71 cm/day). DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane), DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene), and DDMU (1-chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene) were identified as metabolic products, indicating that the R. pickettii could enhance the DDT biodegradation by P. eryngii.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2019

This study assessed the contribution of emergent vegetation (Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, and Nelumbo nucifera) to the submerged surface area, the amount of biofilms attached to the submerged portions of the plants, and the treatment performance of a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland. Results showed that a 1% increase ($31m^2$) in the vegetative area resulted in an increase of $220m^2$ of submerged surface area, and 0.48 kg Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) of attached biofilm. As the vegetation coverage increased, effluent organic matter and total Kjeldahl nitrogen decreased. Conversely, a higher nitrate concentration was found in the effluent as a result of increased nitrification and incomplete denitrification, which was limited by the availability of a carbon source. In addition, a larger vegetation coverage resulted in a higher phosphorus in the effluent, most likely released from senescent biofilms and sediments, which resulted from the partial suppression of algal growth. Based on the results, it was recommended that constructed wetlands should be operated with a vegetation coverage of just under 50% to maximize pollutant removal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2022

Recently microplastic (MP) biofilm is being attracted as an important environmental issue because it can act as a pollutant carrier in aqueous system. Therefore, this study investigated the MP biofilm communities originated from freshwater. The results showed the bacterial community structure of MP biofilm was distinctively different from the freshwater regardless of biofilm-forming condition and MP type. For MP biofilm communities exposed to raw freshwater, Solimonas variicoloris-like microbe, Frigidibacter albus-like microbe, Nitrospirillum amazonense-like microbe, and Pseudochroococcus couteii-like microbe became abundant, while Acinetobacter johnsonii, Macellibacteroides fermentans, and Sedimentibacter acidaminivorans-like microbe were found as major bacteria for MP biofilm communities exposed to organic rich condition. The results of this study suggest that the unique freshwater biofilm community could be formed on the MP surface.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2023

TiO₂ is a versatile metal oxide material that is frequently used as a photo-catalyst for organic pollutant oxidation and a functional material for ultraviolet-ray protection. To improve its chemical/physical properties and widen the range of industrial application, it is demanded to control the crystalline feature and morphology precisely by applying advanced nano-synthesis methods. In this study, we prepared TiO₂ nanoparticles using the water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion method and compared them with the particles synthesized by the conventional precipitation method. Also, we tried to find the optimum conditions for obtaining nano-sized, anatase-rich TiO₂ particles by the W/O microemulsion method. We analyzed the crystalline feature and particle size of the prepared samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In summary, we found the W/O microemulsion is more effective than precipitation in obtaining nano-sized TiO₂. The best result was derived when the microemulsion was formed using AOT surfactant, hydrolysis was performed under basic condition and the sample was calcined at 200℃.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

With industrial development, the inevitable increase in both organic and inorganic waste necessitates the exploration of waste treatment and utilization methods. This study focuses on co-pyrolyzing lignin and red mud to generate metalbiochar, aiming to demonstrate their potential as effective adsorbents for water pollutant removal. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed mass loss of lignin below 660℃, with additional mass loss occurring (>660℃) due to the phase change of metals (i.e., Fe) in red mud. Characterization of the metal-biochar indicated porous structure embedded with zero-valent iron/magnetite and specific functional groups. The adsorption experiments with 2,4-dichlorophenol and Cd(II) revealed the removal efficiency of the two pollutants reached its maximum at the initial pH of 2.8. These findings suggest that copyrolysis of lignin and red mud can transform waste into valuable materials, serving as effective adsorbents for diverse water pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.755-764
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• 2009

To estimate the pollutant removal efficiency by surface sediment, matter content within surface sediment and its release from the sediment were investigated at 12 sites in the Sihwa constructed wetland. The content of COD, TOC, IL, TN, and TP within sediment varied temporally and spacially, showing ranges of 4.1~7.7 mg/g, 0.29~2.81%, 1.88~8.15%, 0.03~0.35%, 362~1,150 ${\mu}g$/g, respectively. The contents of organic matter and TN were significantly highest in March and decreased towards fall (March${\geq}$May${\geq}$July${\geq}$September, p=0.003 for COD, p=0.001 for TOC, p=0.017 for IL, p=0.015 for TN), whereas TP content was not significant statistically in difference between sampling times. The contents of heavy metals also varied largely with sampling sites and times (As:3.5~3.9 ${\mu}g$/g, Cd:0.08~0.38 ${\mu}g$/g, Cr:51.8~107.0 ${\mu}g$/g, Cu:16.4~81.8 ${\mu}g$/g, Pb:26.~81.8 ${\mu}g$/g, Zn:85~559 ${\mu}g$/g). As compared with sediment quality guideline, the content of organic matter within surface sediment of the Sihwa constructed wetland was classified as unpolluted level. In contrast, the contents of TN, TP and heavy metals were classified as medium or severe pollution state, except some heavy metals (Cu and Pb). From the results of release experiment, TN, Pb, and Zn tend to be removed by surface sediment, but TP, Cd, and Cu have a tendency to released from sediment. Therefore, a relevant plan to improve the removal efficiency of pollutant (especially phosphorus) by surface sediment in the Sihwa constructed wetland is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 2016

Information on the lists of pollutants from industrial wastewater discharge are essential not only to specify the key pollutants to be managed in permission process but to design the treatment facilities by the dischargers. In this study, wastewater quality analysis was conducted for three industrial categories including the specified hazardous water pollutants. The general description of the wastewater occurrence, major sources, treatment facilities are also investigated to obtain integrated database on the pollutant inventories for the industrial categories. In addition Based on the analysis of raw wastewater and final effluent, the detected pollutant items are confirmed by analyzing their presence in the raw or supplement materials, the potential of formation as byproducts, and the possibility of inclusion as impurities. The three industrial categories include petrochemical basic compounds, basic organic compounds, and thermal power generation. The water pollutants emitted from petrochemical basic compound manufacturing facilities are 31 items including 16 specified hazardous water pollutants. Basic organic compound manufacturing facilities discharge 30 kinds of pollutants including 14 specified hazardous water pollutants. Thermal power generation facilities emit 20 pollutants, 8 specified hazardous water pollutants among them. These substances were decided as emission inventories of water pollutants finally through the probability evaluation. The compounds detected for each categories are screened through investigation on the possible causes of their occurrence and confirmed as the final water pollutant inventories.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 1984

This study was conducted to investigate characteristics of nonpoint pollutant discharges and concentrations in runoff from the urban and agricultural areas in Korea. The analytical parameters used for this study were COD, BOD and SS. This study was conducted during the period from May to August 1981. Nonpoint pollutant mass loadings from the urban area were influenced by the rainfall intensity and the duration of rainfall, and etc. The concentrations of pollutants in the first flush was higher as the discharges increased. It was, however, found that the concentrations of pollutants in the heavy storm runoff were decreased due to the dilution effect. When other rainfall followed a peak rainfall, the concentrations of pollutants were lower than expected, because the first flush conveyed the most of pollutants deposited on the combined sewers. However the concentrations were increased in proportion to the increased flow when a rainfall of higher intensity than the first flush was continued. Yearly area yield rates in kg/ha were estimated to be 690.5(489.9~1,328) of COD, 319.7(226.8~614.8) of BOD, and 831.2(589.7~1,598) of SS. Pollutant sources in agricultural area were of the domestic waste water, manure composting stack, and agricultural solid wastes and etc. In the paddy field, yearly area yield rates in kg/ha were estimated to be 623.4(21.7~114) of COD, 18.65(9.53~34.5) of BOD, and 91.9(46.3~171.8) of SS. In the crop land, however, yearly rates in kg/ha were estimated to be 91.9(46.3~171.8) of COD, 23.09(11.7~42.5) of BOD, and 23.09(11.4~43.4) of SS. Pollutant sources in the feedlot area were originating from the feces of cattle, the cleaning water, the wastes spilled from manure composting stack during rain. Yearly area yield rate in kg/ha was estimated to be 3.804(2,489~6,658) of COD, 2.047(464~2,900) of BOD, and 1.149 (729~1,442) of SS. Pollutant discharges in the forest area were resulted from the organic layer like leaves and others deposited on the surface. Yearly area yield rate in kg/ha was estimated to be 9.86(5.45~18.56) of COD, 3.48(1.67~7.54) of BOD, and 4.64(9.74~10.35) of SS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.603-610
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• 2009

This research was performed to improve removal efficiency of toluene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) using Candida tropicalis, one of the yeast species. An airlift loop bioreactor (ALB) was employed to enhance the capability of mass transfer for toluene and MEK from the gas phase to the liquid, microbial phase. Polymer gel media made from PAC, alginate and PEG was applied for the effective immobilization of the yeast strain on the polymer gel media. The experimental results indicated that the mass transfer coefficient of toluene without polymer gel media was 1.29 $min^{-1}$ at a gas retention time of 15 sec, whereas the KLa value for toluene was increased to 4.07 $min^{-1}$ by adding the media, confirming the enhanced mass transfer of volatile organic compounds between the gas and liquid phases. The removal efficiency of toluene and MEK by using yeast-immobilized polymer gel media in the ALB was greater than 80% at different pollutant loading rates (5, 10, 19 and 37 g/$m^3$/hr for toluene, 4.5, 8.9, 17.8 and 35.1 g/$m^3$/hr for MEK). In addition, an elimination capacity test conducted by changing inlet loading rates stepwise demonstrated that maximum elimination capacities for toluene and MEK were 70.4 and 56.4 g/$m^3$/hr, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2015

Newly, nutrients recovery by bioconversion in the swine waste which caused serious problems due to its high organic fraction and content of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen is viewed as a considerable approach since it produces valuable product as well as recycling of resources. Consequently, it is necessary to find new methods to treat swine waste. One possible solution to this problem is to use this potential pollutant as a growth substrate for economically valuable products. The study for the fundamental improvement of bioconversion efficiency by finding optimum growth conditions using statistical models and biotechnology was performed. A novel approach to utilize swine waste by cultivating mycelia of the mushroom Phellinus linteus are described. A central composite face-centered design (CCF) for the experiments was used to develop empirical model providing a quantitative interpretation of the relationships among the three variables, which were substrate concentration, pH, and temperature. The maximal radial extension rate (2.78mm/d) of P.linteus was determined under the condition of 5.0 g COD/L, pH 5.0, and temperature $29.7^{\circ}C$. The results of this study suggest that swine waste could be utilized as a growth substrate for the cultivation of mushroom mycelia enhancing an efficiency of utilizing this by-product of the livestock industry.