• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2018

The objective of this work was to analyze organic matter removal, nitrification, biomass growth and membrane fouling in a submerged flat-sheet membrane bioreactor, fed with synthetic wastewater, of similar composition to the effluents generated in a fish meal industry. After biomass acclimatization with saline conditions of 12 gNaCl/L and COD/N ratio of 15 in the bioreactor, results showed that the organic matter removal was higher than 90%, for all organic loading rates (0.8, 1, 1.33 and $2gCOD/L{\cdot}d$) and nitrogen loading rates (0.053, 0.067, 0.089 and $0.133gN/L{\cdot}d$) tested during the study. However, nitrification was only carried out with the lowest OLR ($0.8gCOD/L{\cdot}d$) and NLR ($0.053gN/L{\cdot}d$). An excessive concentration of organic matter in the wastewater appears as a limiting factor to this process' operating conditions, where nitrification values of 65% were reached, including nitrogen assimilation to produce biomass. The analysis of membrane fouling showed that the bio-cake formation at the membrane surface is the most impacting mechanism responsible of this phenomenon and it was demonstrated that organic and nitrogen loading rates variations affected membrane fouling rate.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.231-251
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• 2010

The sulfatation of chitosan, by reaction with chlorosulfonic acid under controlled conditions, allowed increasing the pH range of chitosan solubility. The biopolymer was characterized using FTIR and $^{13}C$-NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and titration analysis and it was tested for mercury recovery by polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF). In slightly alkaline conditions (i.e., pH 8) mercury recovery was possible and at saturation of the polymer the molar ratio $-NH_2$/Hg(II) tended to 2.6. Polymer recycling was possible changing the pH to 2 and the polymer was reused for 3 cycles maintaining high metal recovery. The presence of chloride ions influences metal speciation and affinity for the polymer and "playing" with metal speciation allowed using the PEUF process for mercury separation from cadmium; at pH 11 the formation of hydroxo-complexes of Hg(II) limits it retention. Cake formation reveals the predominant controlling step for permeation flux.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.331-338
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the membrane fouling and sludge characteristics in a pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated under low temperature ($7^{\circ}C$). To elucidate the mechanisms of membrane fouling at low temperature, we studied the correlation between MBR performances and physicochemical properties of sludge including extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), relative hydrophobicity (RH) and floc size during long-term operation. The MBR was shown able to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) stably and efficiently (>90 %) in the case of overgrowth of filamentous bacteria (bulking sludge) at low temperature. On the other hand, the occurrence of filamentous bulking greatly accelerated membrane fouling, as indicated by membrane filtration period of 14 days for filamentous bulking at $7^{\circ}C$, in comparison with that of 27 days for non-bulking sludge at $24^{\circ}C$ The overgrowth of filamentous bacteria resulting from low-temperature condition led to an increased release of EPS, higher RH, smaller floc size and lower fractal dimension of sludge. These factors accelerated the formation of compact cake layer on membrane surface in association with performance diminution in terms of increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) of the membrane and thus the decrease in membrane permeability.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.519-528
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• 2023

In this paper, we present the results of an experimental study on the effect of polymer support fluid on shaft resistance of offshore bored piles. A series of pullout tests were performed on bored piles installed under various boundary conditions considering different types of grounds and support fluids, and a range of support fluid exposure times. Contrary to previous studies concerning onshore bored piles, a time dependent effect of polymer fluid on shaft resistance was observed in all ground types. The adverse effect of polymer support fluid on the shaft resistance, however, was considerably less than bentonite support fluid for a given exposure time. No significant reduction in shaft resistance was evident when limiting the exposure time of the polymer support fluid to the side wall of the borehole within 2-3 hours. The degree to which the polymer fluid affects shaft resistance seemed to vary with the ground type. A proper consideration should be given to the time dependent effect of polymer fluid on shaft resistance of bored piles installed in offshore construction environment to limit its adverse effect on the pile performance. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 1994

In order to elucidate the interaction effect between temperature and moisture content on the oil expression of perilla seed, recovery of expressed oil (REO) and volumetric strain of pressed cake (VSPC) of both roasted and unroasted perilla seeds were observed at different temperatures of 30, 40, 50 and $60^{\circ}C$, and different moisture contents of 2.5, 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5% (w.b). And duration of press was 11 min and applied pressure was 50 MPa. At the low temperature REO and VSPC of roasted and unroasted perilla seed increased in high moisture content and at the high temperature those increased in low moisture content. But REO and VSPC at 8.5% moisture content were decreased without relation to temperature. From the analysis of variance between expression factors and REO and VSPC, temperature and moisture contents showed high significance. Also the interaction effect between temperature and moisture content was higher than temperature. In our experimental conditions, the highest interaction effect between expression factors was observed in the range of $2.5{\sim}4.5%$ of moisture content in all temperatures. The maximum REO of unroasted perilla seeds was observed as 84.4% at 2.5% of moisture content and $60^{\circ}C$, and that of roasted one was as 84.3% at 6.5% of moisture content and $30^{\circ}C$.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.12-18
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• 2004

A study on the enhancement of the dewaterability of sewage sludge was carried out by using the sea waste materials as a dewatering aid. It was made from a starfish and a shell by heating at $105∼700 ^{\circ}C$ and centrifuge and belt press were used as a mechanical dewatering process. The moisture content of sludge cake was reduced by 15∼22% (w/w) after addition of the dewatering aid at the dose of 1∼8 g/100mL of digested sludge. CST (capillary suction time) was measured to evaluate the effect of dewatering aid on sludge dewatering properties. CST was reduced after addition of a shell while increased after addition of a starfish. Enhancement of dewaterability after addition of a shell was better than that of a starfish. The heating temperature effect of the dewatering aid on dewaterability was not clear.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.95-111
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• 2017

The valorization of swine manure samples, i.e., de-watered cake (SMc) and solid digestate (SMd), in products with beneficial value, i.e., low cost activated carbons (ACs), is studied. For this purpose slow pyrolysis and steam activation at three different duration times are applied. Additionally, the obtained ACs are characterized and tested towards removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. It is revealed that BET surface area varies in the range of $236-267m^2/g$ for ACs prepared from SMc sample and in the range of $411-432m^2/g$ for ACs prepared from SMd sample. Despite the low determined surface area of prepared ACs, a high total Cr removal capacity is observed occurring through a "coupled adsorption-reduction" mechanism. Higher Cr(VI) removal capacity is demonstrated for ACs having higher surface area ($q_m$ is 140.9 mg/g according Langmuir modelling). Cr(VI) removal is found to be pH dependent with a maximum at pH 1. However at that pH significant amounts of Cr remain in the solution as Cr(III). At pH 2 lower amount of Cr(VI) is removed compensated by a higher removal of Cr(III) resulting in a higher amount of adsorbed $Cr_{tot}$. Therefore adsorption at pH 2 is found to be appropriate. The removal capacity of the studied ACs towards Cr(VI) is almost independent of activation time.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

Background: Since the revised Ginseng Industrial Act was passed, ginseng sprouts have become a new medicinal vegetable for which there is high consumer demand. However, the existing amount of research and data on ginseng production has not kept pace with this changed reality. Methods and Results: In this study we analyzed the changes in the amounts of ginsenosides in different parts of growing ginseng sprouts during the period from when organic seedlings were planted in nursery soil until 8 weeks of cultivation had elapsed, which was when the leaves hardened. In the leaves, ginsenoside content increased 1.62 times with the panaxadiol (PD) system and 1.31 - 1.56 times with the panaxatriol (PT) system from 7 to 56 days after transplantation. During the same period, the total ginsenoside content of the stems decreased by 0.66 - 0.91 times, and those of the roots increased until the $21^{st}$ day, and then underwent steep declines. The effect of fermented press cake extract (FPCE) and tap water (TP) on the total amount of ginsenoside per plant were similar, and could be represented with the equations $y=1.4330+0.2262x-0.0008x^2$ and $y=0.9555+0.2997x-0.0031x^2$ in which y = ginsenoside content x = amount of and on the total amounts of FPCE or TP, respectively after 26.4 days, however, the difference between ginsenoside content with FPCE and TP widened. Conclusions: These results suggested that the amounts of ginsenosides in different parts of ginseng varied with the cultivation period and nutrient supply. These findings also provide fundamental data on the distribution of ginsenosides among plant parts for 2-year-old ginseng plants in the early-growth stage.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.297-316
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• 2010

Membrane fouling is one of the major operational concerns of membrane processes which results in loss of productivity. This paper investigates the ultrafiltration (UF) results of synthetic oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion using flat sheets of polysulfone (PSf) membrane synthesized with four different compositions. The aim is to identify the mechanisms responsible for the observed permeate flux reduction with time for different PSf membranes. The experiments were carried out at four transmembrane pressures i.e., 68.9 kPa, 103.4 kPa, 137.9 kPa and 172.4 kPa. Three initial oil concentrations i.e., 75 $mgL^{-1}$, 100 $mgL^{-1}$ and 200 $mgL^{-1}$ were considered. The resistance-in-series (RIS) model was applied to interpret the data and on that basis, the individual resistances were evaluated. The significances of these resistances were studied in relation to parameters, namely, transmembrane pressure and initial oil concentration. The total resistance to permeate flow is found to increase with increase in both transmembrane pressure and initial oil concentration while for higher oil concentration, resistance due to concentration polarization is found to be the prevailing resistance. The applicability of the constant pressure filtration models to the experimental data was also tested to explain the blocking process. The study shows that intermediate pore blocking is the dominant mechanism at the initial period of UF while in the later period, the fouling process is found to approach cake filtration like mechanism. However, the duration of pore blocking mechanism is different for different membranes depending on their morphological and permeation properties.