• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2019

The present study explores the applicability of response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with central composite design (CCD) matrix to statistically optimize ettringite crystallization process for the removal of sulphate from landfill leachate. A three factor-five coded level CCD with 20 runs, was performed to estimate the best fitted model. The RSM results indicated that the fitted quadratic regression model could be appropriate to predict sulfate removal efficiency. The pH was identified as the most dominant parameter affecting sulphate removal. 61.6% of maximum sulphate removal efficiency was obtained at pH of 11.06 for a 1.87 of $Ca/SO_4$ and 0.51 of $Al/SO_4$ molar ratios. The operating cost for ettringite crystallization at optimized conditions was calculated to be 0.52 $/$m^3$. The significance of independent variables and their interactions were tested by analysis of variance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of ettringite crystal and were used to describe its morphology features.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제53권9호
• /
• pp.2926-2936
• /
• 2021

Rare-earth (RE) industries generate a massive amount of radioactive residue containing high thorium concentrations. Due to the fact that thorium is considered a non-economic element, large volume of these RE processed residues are commonly disposed of without treatment. It is essential to study an appropriate treatment that could reduce the volume of waste for final disposition. To this end, this research investigates the applicability of carbon-based adsorbent in separating thorium from aqueous phase sulphate is obtained from the cracking and leaching process of solid rare-earth by-product residue. Adsorption of thorium from the aqueous phase sulphate by carbon-based electrodes was investigated through electrosorption experiments conducted at a duration of 180 minutes with a positive potential variable range of +0.2V to +0.6V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Through this research, the specific capacity obtained was equivalent to 1.0 to 5.14 mg-Th/g-Carbon. Furthermore, electrosorption of thorium ions from aqueous phase sulphate is found to be most favorable at a higher positive potential of +0.6V (vs. Ag/AgCl). This study's findings elucidate the removal of thorium from the rare-earth residue by carbon-based electrodes and simultaneously its potential to reduce disposal waste of untreated residue.

• Advances in environmental research
• /
• 제5권3호
• /
• pp.189-200
• /
• 2016

This study aimed at advanced oxidation of hetero tri-functional reactive dye Acid orange 7 using photo-Fenton conditions in a lab-scale experiment. Decolourisation of Acid Orange 7 dye by Fenton's process was dependent on concentration of Hydrogen peroxide, Ferrous sulphate, pH, and contact time. A $2^3$ factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of these key factors: pH, Fe(II), and $H_2O_2$ concentration, for a dye concentration of 50 mg/L with COD of 340 mg/L at pH 3.0. The response function was removal of colour under optimised conditions; pH 3.0, [Fe(II)] 40.83 mg/L, [$H_2O_2$] 4.97 mmol/L; 13.6 min. of treatment resulting in 100% colour removal. The final COD of treated wastewater was nil suggesting that AOP is a potentially useful process of color removal and dye degradation/mineralisation of effluent having AO7. Minimum contact time for complete decolourisation was at 5 mmol/l $H_2O_2$ concentration. Increase in $FeSO_4$ (mg/l) concentration resulted in decrease of time for complete decolourisation. Box-Behnken Design was used to optimize the process variables. Maximum and minimum levels of pH (3-5), $H_2O_2$ (4-6 mmol/l), $FeSO_4$ (30-46 mg/l) and contact time (5-15 minutes) were used. The statistical analysis revealed a value of 0.88 for coefficient of regression ($R^2$) indicating a good fit of model. Calculated F-value was found higher than the tabulated value confirming to significance of the model. Based on student's t-test, Ferrous sulphate, pH, and contact time have a positive effect on the percent decolourisation of Acid Orange 7.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2015

The cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum Ind1 isolated from a coal mining site was tested for removal of cadmium at optimum pH 7.0 and temperature $25^{\circ}C$. The organism recorded high percentage of metal removal (92-69%) within seven days of exposure to 0.5-2.0 ppm cadmium. Biosorption onto the cell surface was the primary mode of metal removal. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) established hydroxyl, amides, carboxyl, sulphate and carbonyl groups to be the major functional groups on the cell surface involved in cadmium binding. Cellular ultrastructure and a range of vital physiological processes (i.e., photosynthetic pigments, respiration, photosynthesis, heterocyst frequency and nitrogenase activity) remained unaffected upon 0.5 ppm treatment; higher concentrations of cadmium exerted visible adverse effects. Amongst the five photosynthetic pigments tested, phycocyanin was the most targeted pigment (inhibition was 15-89%). Both respiration and photosynthetic activities were inhibited by cadmium with more severe effect seen on respiration. 2.0 ppm cadmium exposure also had drastic negative effect on nitrogenase activity (87% decreased).

• 대한환경공학회지
• /
• 제34권9호
• /
• pp.590-596
• /
• 2012

고도응집 공정은 DBP 전구물질인 NOM을 제거하는 최적기법이다. 본 연구에서는 낙동강 원수를 대상으로 $FeCl_3$, alum, PSOM 및 PACl 응집제를 대상으로 고도응집 공정의 적용시 가장 효과적인 응집제와 응집조건을 DOC, THMFP, HAAFP 및 제타전위 변화를 중심으로 평가하였다. 탁도 제거율은 고도응집을 적용시 기존응집에 비해 제거율의 상승은 없었으며, 일정 응집제 주입량 이상에서는 제거율이 더욱 저하되었으나 DOC, THMFP 및 HAAFP 제거율은 응집제 종류별로 기존응집에 비해 각각 13~18%, 9~18% 및 9~18% 정도 증가하였다. 응집 pH 변화에 따른 탁도 제거특성은 $FeCl_3$와 PACl이 pH 4~10 범위에서 비교적 높은 탁도 제거율을 나타내었고 alum과 PSOM의 경우는 pH 5~8의 범위에서 안정적인 제거율을 나타내었다. DOC는 4종의 응집제 모두 pH 5~7 범위에서 안정적인 제거율을 나타내었다. 고도응집 공정을 적용시 1 kDa 이하 및 10 kDa 이상의 용존 유기물질의 제거율은 각각 11~21% 및 16% 정도 기존응집 공정에 비해 증가하였으며, 소수성 및 친수성 유기물질의 제거율은 각각 27~38% 및 11~15% 정도 증가하였다. 낙동강 원수의 고도응집에 가장 효과적인 응집제로는 $FeCl_3$로 나타났으며, 다음으로 PSOM, PACl 및 alum 순이었다.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제39권5호
• /
• pp.530-536
• /
• 2006

Thermal conformational changes of human serum albumin (HSA) in phosphate buffer, 10 mM at pH = 7 are investigated using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), circular dichroism (CD) and UV spectroscopic methods. The results indicate that temperature increment from $25^{\circ}C$ to $55^{\circ}C$ induces reversible conformational changes in the structure of HSA. Conformational change of HSA are shown to be a three-step process. Interestingly, melting temperature of the last domain is equal to the maximum value of fever in pathological conditions, i.e. $42^{\circ}C$. These conformational alterations are accompanied by a mild alteration of secondary structures. Study of HSA-SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) interaction at $45^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$ reveals that SDS affects the HSA structure at least in three steps: the first two steps result in more stabilization and compactness of HSA structure, while the last one induces the unfolding of HSA. Since HSA has a more affinity for SDS at $45^{\circ}C$ compared to $35^{\circ}C$, It is suggested that the net negative charge of HSA is decreased in fever, which results in the decrease of HSA-associated cations and plasma osmolarity, and consequently, heat removal via the increase in urine volume.

• 한국재료학회지
• /
• 제24권11호
• /
• pp.617-624
• /
• 2014

To elucidate the effects of a pretreatment process on the uniformity of Ag electroless plating on Cu flakes, pretreatment time was mainly considered with a mixed solution of 0.15 M ammonium hydroxide and 0.0375 M ammonium sulphate. Optical inspection of Ag-coated Cu flakes determined that the optimal pretreatment time is 120 s. Repetition of the sequence in which Ag plating was done immediately after the pretreatment of 120 s clearly enhanced the plating uniformity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that holes were formed irregularly on some Cu flakes during the period from the asdropping of an Ag precursor solution to 5 min. The hole formation was judged to be due to continuous removal of Cu on the local surfaces by the repetitive formation and elimination of $Cu_2O$ or $Cu(OH)_2$ layers. However, the increase of the amount of Ag coating suppressed the hole creation and increasingly enhanced the antioxidant property.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.263-270
• /
• 2006

Pongamia pinnata Pierre is a tree legume, having potential in production of raw material for biodiesel. A protocol for in wk propagation of this plant was standardized using seedling explants. Growth regulators (GR) including gibberellic acid $(GA_3),\;N^6-benzylaminopurine(BA)$, thidiazuron (TDZ), and Adenine sulphate (Ads) were tested for optimum germination of seeds. Removal of seed coat prior to germination, controlled fungal growth partially but enhanced bacterial growth. Antibiotic cefotaxime was ineffective in controlling bacterial contamination. Seedling derived nodal explants and cotyledon nodes with attached cotyledons were excised and cultured for induction of shoots. Optimum sprouting and multiplication of shoot buds were obtained in MS medium supplemented with $8.88{\mu}M$ BA. These buds differentiated and rooted on medium devoid of GR. Optimum growth of Pongamia seedling was obtained in cotton plugged culture vessels. Reculturing of the cotyledon node explants produced more shoots from the same site. This process of removing shoots and reculturing of cotyledon node was followed for eight passages yielding 4 to 8 shoots in each cycle. The shoots (75%) rooted on half strength MS basal medium supplemented with 0.22% charcoal. All plants survived on transfer to soil. This is the first report on in vitro regeneration of Pongamia pinnata. This report demonstrates the possibility of coupling more than one parameter in single experiment to hasten the process of standardization. The process of cycling the nodal explant repeatedly for production of large number of shoots from single meristem may find application in genetic transformation experiments wherein meristems are used for transformation.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.83-93
• /
• 2021

In this study, defluoridation efficiency by aluminium sulphate (alum) and polyaluminium chloride (PACl) were compared for recommended Nalgonda dose (100%) and 80% of this dose in both batch and continuous modes. The residual turbidity was found to be higher in case of alum as compared to PACl with 80% dose representing lesser efficient settling of suspensions, which primarily comprise alumino-fluoro complexes that result in high residual aluminium in the treated water and this was confirmed by TEM and Zeta analysis. Moreover, the application of PACl also resulted in much lesser addition to the TDS and also required lesser lime for pH compensation due to its lower acidity. Hence this reduced dose was recommended for defluoridation. It was also observed that in case of alum, residual aluminium in treated water was 0.88 mg/L (100% dose) & 0.72 mg/L (80% dose) and in case of PACl, it was 0.52 mg/L(100% dose) & 0.41 mg/L(80% dose). After subsequent microfiltration, residual aluminium was 0.28 & 0.21 mg/L for 100% & 80% dose respectively and in case of alum and in case of PACl, it was 0.16 & 0.11 for 100% & 80% dose respectively, which conform to the Al standards(<0.2 mg/L).

• 에너지공학
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.13-29
• /
• 2016

본 연구에서는 실제 난지 하수처리장에서 바이오가스를 연료로 사용하여 발전할 때, 가스엔진에서 발생하는 고장 사례에 대한 조사와 분석을 통해 바이오가스 플랜트의 주요 고장원인을 분석하고, 그 대책을 제시하였다. 바이오 가스엔진에 유입되는 바이오 가스 속의 황화수소와 수분 제거설비의 간헐적인 오작동으로 인한 수분이 바이오 가스엔진의 인터쿨러 부식을 초래하였다. 또한 바이오가스 속의 실록산이 이산화규소와 규산염 화합물을 형성하여 피스톤 표면 및 실린더라이너 내벽의 긁힘과 마모 등의 손상을 유발하였다. 연소실과 배기가스 설비에 부착된 물질들은 황화수소와 다른 불순물질이 결합한 것으로 분석되었다. 이러한 원인으로는 바이오 가스 속의 고함량(50ppm이상)의 황화수소가 탈황설비에 장기간 공급되었고, 탈황설비내 활성탄의 파과점 도달에 따른 제거효율 저하 때문에 황화수소가 엔진으로 유입됨으로써 발생한 것으로 사료된다. 또한, 황화수소는 흡착탑의 실록산 제거용 활성탄 기능을 저하시킴으로써 제거되지 않은 실록산 화합물이 엔진으로 유입되어 다양한 형태의 엔진고장을 유발한 것으로 판단된다. 따라서, 황화수소와 실록산, 수분은 바이오 가스엔진 고장의 주요 원인으로 볼 수 있으며, 이 중 황화수소는 고장을 일으키는 다른 물질과 반응하며, 전처리 공정에 중대한 영향을 미치는 물질로 볼 수 있다. 결과적으로, $H_2S$ 제거방법의 최적화가 안정적인 바이오 가스엔진 운영을 위한 필수적인 대책으로 사료된다.