• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1186-1192
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• 2005

The relationship between bacteria and anaerobic archaea, sludge yield coefficient and nitrogen removal rate were investigated in intermittent aeration systems(I/A) with added archaea, I/A and conventional activated sludge system. As the archaea solution was added to the I/A reactor, organic removal rate as well as nitrogen removal rate increased. Also, sludge production rate in I/A system added the archaea was maintained lower than other systems because sludge yield coefficient was decreased due to the role of anaerobic archaea such as anaerobic degradation of organics. The experimental data supported the possibility of symbiotic activated sludge system with anaerobic archaea under intermittent aeration, leading to the enhanced nitrogen removal. Crucial results to be presented are: 1) specific oxygen utilization rate(SOUR) of the I/A-arch system was $2.9\;mg-O_2/(g-VSS{\cdot}min)$. SOUR and nitrification rate of the sludge from the I/A-arch system was higher than those from the I/A and A/S reactors. 2) Removal efficiencies of $TCOD_{Cr}$ in the I/A-arch, I/A and A/S reactors were 93, 90 and 87%, respectively. 3) Nitrification occurred successfully in each reactor, while denitrification rate was much higher in the I/A-arch reactor. Efficiencies of TN removal in the I/A-arch, I/A and A/S reactors were 75, 63 and 33%, respectively.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

Free ammonia ($NH_3$-N) inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) has been widely studied for partial nitrification (or nitrite accumulation) and denitrification via nitrite ($NO_2^-$-N) as a low-cost treatment of ammonium containing wastewater. The literature on $NH_3$-N inhibition of NOB, however, shows disagreement about the threshold $NH_3$-N concentration and its degree of inhibition. In order to clarify the confusion, a simple and cheap respirometric method was devised to investigate the effect of free ammonia inhibition of NOB. Sludge samples from an autotrophic nitrifying reactor were exposed to various $NH_3$-N concentrations to measure the maximum specific nitrite oxidation rate ($\hat{K}_{NO}$) using a respirometer. NOB biomass was estimated from the yield values in the literature. Free ammonia inhibition of nitrite oxidizing bacteria was reversible and the specific nitrite oxidation rate ($K_{NO}$) decreased from 0.141 to 0.116, 0.100, 0.097 and 0.081 mg $NO_2^-$-N/mg NOB h, respectively, as the $NH_3$-N concentration increased from 0.0 to 1.0, 4.1, 9.7 and 22.9 mg/L. A nonlinear regression based on the noncompetitive inhibition mode gave an estimate of the Inhibition concentration ($K_I$) of free ammonia to be 21.3 mg $NH_3$-N/L. Previous studies gave $\hat{K}_{NO}$ of Nitrobacter and Nitrospira as 0.120 and 0.032 mg/mg VSS h. The free ammonia concentration which inhibits Nitrobacter was $30{\sim}50\;mg$ $NH_3$-N/L and Nitrospira was inhibited at $0.04{\sim}0.08\;mg$ $NH_3$-N/L. The results support the fact that Nitrobacter is the dominant NOB in the reactor. The variations in the reported values of free ammonia inhibition may be due to the different species of nitrite oxidizers present in the reactors. The respirometric method provides rapid and reliable analysis of the behavior and community of the nitrite oxidizing bacteria.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.485-491
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of nutrient removal of municipal wastewater in membrane bioreactor system. Membrane bioreactor consists of four reactors such as two intermittently anaerobic tanks, the oxic tank and the sludge solubilizaion tank with an internal recycle. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) and flux were 6.5 hours and $20.4L/m^2{\cdot}hr$ (LMH), respectively. The removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$, SS, TN and TP were 94.0%, 99.3%, 99.9%, 69.9%, and 66.9%, respectively. The estimated true biomass yield, specific denitrification rate (SDNR), specific nitrification rate (SNR), specific phosphorus release rate (SPRR) and specific phosphorus uptake rate (SPUR) were 0.34 kgVSS/kgBOD d, $0.067mgNO_3-N/mgVSS{\cdot}d$, $0.028mgNH_4-N/mgVSS{\cdot}d$, 16.0 mgP/gVSS d and 2.1 mgP/gVSS d, respectively. The contents of nitrogen and phosphorus of biomass were 8.9% and 3.5% on an average.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of nutrient removal of municipal wastewater in membrane bioreactor system. Membrane bioreactor consists of four reactors such as the anaerobic, the stabilization, the anoxic and the submerged membrane aerobic reactor with two internal recycles. The hydraulic retention time (HRT), sludge retention time (SRT) and flux were 6.2 h, 34.1 days and 19.6 L/$m^2$/hr (LMH), respectively. The removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$, SS, TN and TP were 94.3%, 99.9%, 69.4%, and 74.6%, respectively. The estimated true biomass yield, specific denitrification rate (SDNR), specific nitrification rate (SNR), specific phosphorus release rate (SPRR) and specific phosphorus uptake rate (SPUR) were 0.653 kgVSS/kgBOD/d, 0.044 $mgNO_3$-N/mgVSS/d, 0.035 $mgNH_4$-N/mgVSS/d, 51.0 mgP/gVSS/d and 5.4 mgP/gVSS/d, respectively. The contents of nitrogen and phosphorus of biomass were 8.86% and 3.5% on an average.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.595-604
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• 2006

The growth characteristics of Commercially Developed Nitrifying Bacteria (CDNB) were studied in laboratoryscale. CDNB, a pure, artificially isolated bacterium, was cultivated to produce Cultivated Nitrifying Bacterium Group (CNBG). The average ammonia removal rate of CDNB was 0.0234g $NH_4^+-N/g$ MLSS/hr. CNBG was produced in the batch reactor and Specific Nitrification Rate (SNR) was determined at 0.0107g $NH_4^+-N/g$ MLSS/hr. The SNR of CNBG was lower than the SNR of CDNB because the diverse and multi-cultured microbial growth took place during cultivation. The effect of the temperatures and the mixing ratios of sewage and culture solution on the SNR of CNBG was studied. The SNR of CNBG, 0.0107g $NH_4^+-N/g$ MLSS/hr at $27^{\circ}C$, decreased to 0.0048g $NH_4^+-N/g$ MLSS/hr at $15^{\circ}C$, and temperature coefficient (${\Theta}$) was calculated to be 1.07. With the varied sewage mixing ratios, the SNR of CNBG remained unchanged. Activated sludge reactors maintaining an MLSS of 2,000mg/L at HRT of 4 h were operated under conditions in which dosage of Concentrated CNBG Solution (CCNBGS, 10,000mg MLSS/L) and application method of CNBG were varied. The reactor with 20mL of CCNBGS took shorter time to oxidize $NH_4^+-N$ reaching 1mg/L than the reactor with 5mL of CCNBGS showing that higher dosages were associated with greater mass removal of $NH_4^+-N$. However, the total removal was not great. In terms of different methods of CNBG application, reactor seeded with 20mL of CCNBGS took 3days to reach 1mg/L of effluent ammonia concentration while reactor dosed with 20% (v/v) CNBG implanted media took 2days. Both the control reactor and the reactor dosed with 20% (v/v) media only did not reach 1mg $NH_4^+-N/L$ after operating 18days. The reactor with CNBG implanted media had the highest $NH_4^+-N$ removal rate because of maintaining high concentration of Nitrifying Oxidizing Bacteria (NOM), and is regarded as an appropriate method for the activated sludge process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.507-516
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• 2008

This research was conducted to elucidate the effect of temperature on the nitrogen removal of municipal wastewater with waste-tire media. The experiments were carried out in laboratory-scale batch reactor and pilot-scale moving bed biofilm reactor filled at a 0.15 filling ratio with waste-tire media, respectively. In batch tests, specific nitrification rate(SNR) with media was 3.4 mg NH$_4^+$-N/g Mixed-Liquor Volatile Suspended Solid(MLVSS)$\cdot$hr, compared with 1.7 mg NH$_4^+$-N/g MLVSS$\cdot$hr without media. In pilot-scale test with media, total nitrogen removal efficiency increased from 53 $\pm$ 8% to 76 $\pm$ 5% as the temperature increased from 9$\sim$10$^{\circ}C$ to 20$\sim$24$^{\circ}C$. At the temperature of 9$\sim$10$^{\circ}C$, 10$\sim$20$^{\circ}C$, and 20$\sim$24$^{\circ}C$, the SNRs were 0.8 $\pm$ 0.5, 3.1 $\pm$ 1.9, and 3.4 $\pm$ 2.1 mg NH$_4^+$-N/g MLVSS$\cdot$hr and the specific denitrification rates(SDNR) were 0.6 $\pm$ 0.2, 1.1 $\pm$ 0.6, 1.4 $\pm$ 0.6 mg NO$_3^-$-N/g MLVSS.hr, respectively. The overall activities of biomass in anaerobic, anoxic, and oxic zones at 20$\sim$24$^{\circ}C$ increased to 22, 20, and 15%, compared with those at 9$\sim$10$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity distribution of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter also increased with the increase of temperature.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2011

Juvenile red seabream (mean body weight 29.0 g) were reared in recirculating culture systems with three different biofilter media, sand (SF), polystyrene microbeads (PF), and Kaldnes beads (KF). The efficiencies of the three different biofilter media were also tested. The SF was fluidized, and the PF and KF were trickled. All treatments were duplicated. The volumetric removal rates of total ammonia nitrogen by SF, PF, and KF were 193.8, 183.9, and 142.6 g $m^{-3}day^{-1}$, respectively, and those of nitrite nitrogen ($NO_2$-N) were 113.4, 105.9, and 85.8 g $m^{-3}day^{-1}$, respectively. The TAN and $NO_2$-N removal rates of KF were lower than those of SF and PF (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in these rates between SF and PF (P > 0.05). Among the biofilters used, only KF showed total suspended solid (TSS) removal capacity. The TSS removal efficiencies of SF and PF were negative. The growth rates of fish in SF were significantly higher than those in KF but not higher than those in PF. There was no difference in growth rate between fish in PF and KF. The specific growth rate and feed conversion efficiency of red seabreams in KF were lower than those in SF and PF, but there were no significant differences between SF and PF. These results indicate that sand and polystyrene microbeads are recommended for red seabream culture in a recirculating system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2012

In this study, Application of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process for RO retentate treatment was performed. Efficiency of treatment by load and temperature variation was tested. The SBR process was operated two types as HRT per one cycle was 8 and 12 hours, respectively. Methanol was injected for an effective denitrificaion owing to low C/N ratio of the RO retentate. TN removal efficiency of the SBR process was relatively stable at the change of flow-rate and temperature. The optimum time cycle of SBR process was 2 cycle/day for TN removal, and in the case of 3 cycle/day, the effluent TN concentration was found under the effluent quality standard. In the result of assessment, the application of SBR process for RO retentate treatment was effective and could be utilized to design for the wastewater treatment plant. The specific nitrification rate (SNR) and specific denitrification rate (SDNR) were $0.043{\sim}0.066kg\;NH_3-N/kg\;MLVSS{\cdot}day$ and $0.096{\sim}0.287kg\;NH_3^--N/kg\;MLVSS{\cdot}day$, respectively. The derived kinetic could be applied for design to the aerobic and anoxic tank in the RO retentate treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.677-686
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• 2006

This study was the effectiveness of two downflow BAF(Biological Aerated Filter) systems at conventional water treatment system. A BAF reactor placed in front of coagulation and sedimentation tanks(Mode A) and after coagulation and sedimentation tanks(Mode B) that were compared in terms of removal of suspended particles, organic matters, and ammonia nitrogen. The suspended particles removal efficiency was over 80% for both Mode A and B, although Mode A gave slightly better results. $BOD_5$ removal and nitrification efficiencies were more than 90% for both reactor. The organic matter and ammonia removals were also superior in the Mode A. The biofilm thickness and biomass increased as increment of EBCT and the upper part of reactor more about 30% than lower part. The specific oxygen uptake rate(SOUR) was higher the upper part of reactor and Mode A than the lower part of reactor and Mode B. A cost analysis showed that the Mode A system was more cost effectiveness. It could save the coagulant dose by about 67% and the chlorine demand by about 95%. The ideal place to put the BAF reactor was in front of the coagulation/sedimentation process.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.262-271
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• 2008

Natural abundances of stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$) are being widely used to study N and C cycle processes in plant and soil systems. Variations in ${\delta}^{15}N$ of the soil and the plant reflect the potentially variable isotope signature of the external N sources and the isotope fractionation during the N cycle process. $N_2$ fixation and N fertilizer supply the nitrogen, whose ${\delta}^{15}N$ is close to 0%o, whereas the compost as. an organic input generally provides the nitrogen enriched in $^{15}N$ compared to the atmospheric $N_2$. The isotope fractionation during the N cycle process decreases the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of the substrate and increases the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of the product. N transformations such as N mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, assimilation, and the $NH_3$ volatilization have a specific isotope fractionation factor (${\alpha}$) for each N process. Variation in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of plants reflects the photosynthetic type of plant, which affects the isotope fractionation during photosynthesis. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ of C3 plant is significantly lower than, whereas the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of C4 plant is similar to that of the atmospheric $CO_2$. Variation in the isotope fractionation of carbon and nitrogen can be observed under different environmental conditions. The effect of environmental factors on the stomatal conductance and the carboxylation rate affects the carbon isotope fractionation during photosynthesis. Changes in the environmental factors such as temperature and salt concentration affect the nitrogen isotope fractionation during the N cycle processes; however, the mechanism of variation in the nitrogen isotope fractionation has not been studied as much as that in the carbon isotope fractionation. Isotope fractionation factors of carbon and nitrogen could be the integrated factors for interpreting the effects of the environmental factors on plants and soils.