• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.501-512
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• 2015

A laboratory-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) was continuously operated for 100 d at an infinite sludge retention time (SRT) with the aim of identifying possible relation between the filterability of mixed liquor and sludge properties, such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), soluble microbial products (SMP), viscosity of mixed liquor, zeta potential of flocs and particle size distributions (PSD). Research results confirmed that MBR can operate with a complete sludge retention ensuring good treatment performances for COD and $NH_3-N$. However, the long term operation (about 40 d) of MBR with no sludge discharge had a negative influence on sludge filterability, and an increase in membrane fouling rates with the time was observed. There as a strong correlation between the sludge filterability and the fouling rate. Among the different sludge properties parameters, the concentration SMP and EPS had a more closely correlation with the sludge filterability. The concentrations of SMP, especially SMP with MW above 10 kDa, had a strong direct correlation to the filterability of mixed sludge. The protein fractions in EPS were biodegradable and available for microorganism metabolism after about 60 days, and the carbohydrates in EPS had a significantly negative effect on sludge filterability in MBR at an infinite SRT.

• 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.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2014

A membrane-coupled sequencing batch reactor (MSBR) was used for the advanced treatment of rural village sewage which is very low C/N ratio. The effect of powdered activated carbon, aeration rate, and external organic material loadings on the treatment efficiency and filtration performance were investigated in sequencing batch reactor, in which a flat-sheet type microfiltration membrane with a pore size of $0.4{\mu}m$ was submerged. At the initial operation (within 54 days) MLSS concentration, and the removal efficiencies of COD, T-N, and T-P were increased with the increase of C/N ratio. After 89 days the removal efficiencies of COD, T-N, and T-P were 97.1%, 75.0%, and 48.3%, respectively. Suspended solid-free effluent was obtained by membrane filtration. The T-P removal was relatively low because of depending on the amount of excess sludge wasting. During the operation of MSBR with powdered activated carbon, the particle size of the sludge reduced by the increase of collision frequency and mixing intensity. In comparison with MSBR without powdered activated carbon, TMP of MSBR with that was significantly elevated.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.465-474
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• 2022

The suction pressure was measured with respect to operational time by the backwashable flat sheet membrane module in membrane bioreactor (MBR). The membrane module having the nominal pore size of 0.2 ㎛ and the effective membrane area of 128cm² was submerged in MLSS 8,000 mg/L active sludge aqueous solution. The suction pressure was observed with respect to permeation flux and the quorum quenching (QQ) treatment. The effects of FR and SFCO operation methods were compared and analyzed in the experimental groups: vacant bead (VB), BH4 and DKY-1 beads. The suction pressure reduction was the most effective for the permeation flux 40 L/m² ⋅h with the injection of DKY-1 QQ beads. Also, the suction pressure reduction by the backwashing method was more than twice for using DKY-1 QQ beads.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2011

In this study, combined effect of airflow rate, $TiO_2$ concentration, solution pH and $Ca^{+2}$ addition on HA (humic acid) fouling in submerged, photocatalytic hollow-fiber microfiltraiton was investigated systematically. Results showed that UV irradiation alone without $TiO_2$ nanoparticles could reduce HA fouling by 40% higher than the fouling obtained without UV irradiation. Compared to the HA fouling without UV irradiation and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, the HA fouling reduction was about 25% higher only after the addition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. Both adsorptive and hydrophilic properties of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for the HA can be involved in mitigating membrane fouling. It was also found that the aeration itself had lowest effect on fouling mitigation while the HA fouling was affected significantly by solution pH. Transient behavior of zeta potential at different solution pHs suggested that electrostatic interactions between HA and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles should improve photocatalytic efficiency on HA fouling. $TiO_2$ concentration was observed to be more important factor than airflow rate to reduce HA fouling, implying that surface reactivity on $TiO_2$ naoparticles should be important fouling mitigation mechanisms in submerged, photocatalyic microfiltraiton. This was further supported by investigating the effect of $Ca^{+2}$ addition on fouling mitigation. At higher pH (= 10), addition of $Ca^{+2}$ can play an important role in bridging between HA and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles and increasing surface reactivity on nanoparticles, thereby reducing membrane fouling.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of coagulation on filtration performance of membrane in submerged MBR system and influence of continuous aeration to reduce fouling of membrane surface on coagulated floc. For this purpose, aeration tank sludge of MBR system was compared with jar-test sludge. The experimental results were analysed in terms of floc size and SRF (Specific resistance of Filtration). The more alum was added, the more content of floc below $10{\mu}m$ reduced and SRF decreased. But compared with jar-test results, it was found that effect of coagulation on MBR floc was reduced. Operation time of membrane in alum added MBR was longer than that in control MBR. But operation time was not proportional to alum dose. It was thought that the result was reason that floc below $10{\mu}m$ was not reduced sufficiently by shear force of continuous aeration. Moreover it was founded that if alum is added more than proper dose, it brings filtration resistance to increase.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers Conference
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• 2001.08a
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• pp.279-286
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• 2001

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.541-554
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• 2000

Experimental study of anaerobic digestion process combined with and without the submerged separation membrane was investigated by using laboratory-scale reactor at the hydraulic retention time of 0.5 day and 1.0 day. The removal efficiencies of carbohydrate at the digester without and with membrane were 84.4 to 86.8 % and 99.6 to 99.7 %, respectively, and the methane gas recovery efficiencies were 0.4 to 1.2 % and 12.3 to 28.7 %. According to the measurement by the most probable numbers method. the numbers of various groups of bacteria in the digesters with membrane were enumerated in the following ranges ; acidogens : $1.7{\times}10^9$ to $5.0{\times}10^9MPN/m{\ell}$, homoacetogens : $5.0{\times}10^7$ to $2.4{\times}10^8MPN/m{\ell}$, $H_2$-utilizing methanogens : $1.3{\times}10^7$ to $9.2{\times}10^8MPN/m{\ell}$, and acetate-utilizing methanogens : $2.3{\times}10^6$ to $2.0{\times}10^8MPN/m{\ell}$. The number of methanogens at the digester with membrane increased by approximately $10^2$ to $10^4$ times in comparison with that of the digester without membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2018

In this study the cleaning spherical beads with same density as water were fabricated. Bead moving velocity was measured with respect to the aeration rate and bead concentration in water reservoir. The permeation experiments for FR (filtration and relaxation) and SFCO (sinusoidal filtration continuous operation) modes were simultaneously carried out under the condition of 1 to 3% cleaning spherical bead concentration, 20 LMH and 500 mL/min aeration rate in the MLSS 8,000 mg/L activated sludge solution. The used membrane was the $90cm^2$ effective area and $0.4{\mu}m$ nominal pore size flat membrane. The TMP (transmembrane pressure) decreased as the bead concentration increased, and was shown most effective in FR mode with 2% bead concentration.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 1999

Membrane separation process is considered as an alternative of conventional water purification system using coagulationㆍsedimentation＋sand filtration. In this study, it was examined that the application possibility of Hollowfiber Microfiltration membrane for water purification process. A $20m^3/day$ scale pilot plant was used for studying the possibility of long-term operation and the stability of water quality under the optimum conditions, 0.03m/h permeate flux, filtration for 10 minutes, pause for 2 minutes(including air-scrubbing for 30 seconds), obtained by lab-scale experiment. As a result, it was proved stability of pilot plant over one year and filtrate quality(Turbidity. SS etc). Therefore, it was proved that membrane separation process using Hollowfiber Microfiltration membrane can be applied for water purification system