• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1205-1214
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• 2018

During the past few decades, significant increase in the consumption of coffee has led to rapid increase in the production of coffee waste in South Korea. Spent coffee waste is often treated as a general waste and is directly disposed without the necessary treatment. Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs) can release several organic contaminants, including caffeine. In this study, leaching tests were conducted for SCGs and oxidative degradation of caffeine were also conducted. The tested SCGs contained approximately 4.4 mg caffeine per gram of coffee waste. Results from the leaching tests show that approximately 90% of the caffeine can be extracted at each step during sequential extraction. Advanced oxidation methods for the degradation of caffeine, such as $UV/H_2O_2$, photo-Fenton reaction, and $UV/O_3$, were tested. UV radiation has a limited effect on the degradation of caffeine. In particular, UV-A and UV-B radiations present in sunlight cause marginal degradation, thereby indicating that natural degradation of caffeine is minimal. However, $O_3$ can cause rapid degradation of caffeine, and the values of pseudo-first order rate constants were found to be ranging from $0.817min^{-1}$ to $1.506min^{-1}$ when the ozone generation rate was $37.1g/m^3$. Additionally, the degradation rate of caffeine is dependent on the wavelength of irradiation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2005

Algae causes not only the eutrophication of lake, but also the deterioration of drinking water process. Especially, algogenic organic matters(AOM) are assumed as disinfection by-products(DBPs) precursors like humic and fulvic acids. In this study, it was investigated the characteristics changes of algogenic organic matter(AOM) by prechlorination and coagulation treatment. Evaluation of enhanced coagulation and applicability of UV oxidation process were also evaluated as the drinking water treatment system for the eutrophicated water source. prechlorination was effective process for algae removal but caused releasing of dissolved organic matter(DOC) into water due to the destruction of algae's cell. In coagulation treatment with Fe(III) coagulant, reaction pH is an important factor for the removal of AOM and triholomathanes(THMs). At pH 5, removal efficiency of DOC and THMs were dramatically improved by 50% and 28%, respectively, in comparison with the conventional coagulation treatment at about pH 7. Photo-Fenton($UV/H_2O_2/Fe^{3+}$) process among the UV oxidations is the most effective system to remove AOM, but its removal efficiency was lower than that of enhanced coagulation treatment at pH 5.