• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.499-506
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effects of influent C/N ratio on the removal of organic and nitrogenous compounds by two nonwoven fabric filter bioreactors. The reactors were alternately aerated at an aeration/nonaeration period ratio of 60 min/60 min, and fed with wastewater only during nonaeration period. The influent C/N ratio (COD/TKN) was gradually reduced from 10 to 2. The influent was prepared by diluting the leachate from a foodwaste treatment facility in I city so that the COD concentration could be about 2,500 mg/L. The C/N ratio of the wastewater was adjusted by adding ammonium chloride. The results of the experiment showed that the COD and BOD concentration of the effluent was $40{\sim}54\;mg/L$ and $1{\sim}4\;mg/L$, respectively at the C/N ratios of $10{\sim}3$, and the effluent SS concentration was always below 2.0 mg/L. The T-N removal efficiencies were 96% or higher at C/N ratios of $10{\sim}5$, but decreased to 83% and 81%, respectively at the C/N ratios of 3 and 2.8. At the C/N ratios of 2.6 and 2, the effluent quality deteriorated due to ammonia toxicity. The fraction of nitrifying microorganism in the reactors increased from 10% to 20% as the C/N ratio decreased from 5 to 2.6. Alkalinity consumed were $3.12{\sim}3.49\;g$ alkalinity/g T-N removed at the C/N ratios of $10{\sim}5$, which are lower than the theoretical value of 3.57. However, the ratio increased to 4.63 and 4.87 g alkalinity/g T-N removed, respectively at the C/N ratios of 3 and 2.8.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2017

Arsenic (As) has been considered as the most toxic one among various hazardous materials and As contamination can be caused naturally and anthropogenically. Major forms of arsenic in groundwater are arsenite [(As(III)] and/or arsenate [(As(V)], depending on redox condition: arsenite and arsenate are predominant in reduced and oxidized environments, respectively. Because arsenite is much more toxic and mobile than arsenate, there have been a number of studies on the reduction of its toxicity through oxidation of As(III) to As(V). This study was initiated to develop photocatalytic oxidation process for treatment of groundwater contaminated with arsenite. The performance of two types of light sources (UV lamp and UV LED) was compared and the feasibility of goethite as a photocatalyst was evaluated. The highest removal efficiency of the process was achieved at a goethite dose of 0.05 g/L. Based on the comparison of oxidation efficiencies of arsenite between two light sources, the apparent performance of UV LED was inferior to that of UV lamp. However, when the results were appraised on the basis of their emitting UV irradiation, the higher performance was achieved by UV LED than by UV lamp. This study demonstrates that environmentally friendly process of goethite-catalytic photo-oxidation without any addition of foreign catalyst is feasible for the reduction of arsenite in groundwater containing naturally-occurring goethite. In addition, this study confirms that UV LED can be used in the photo-oxidation of arsenite as an alternative light source of UV lamp to remedy the drawbacks of UV lamp, such as long stabilization time, high electrical power consumption, short lifespan, and high heat output requiring large cooling facilities.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.471-480
• /
• 2007

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a low-energy finisher diet on feed and growth efficiencies and carcass traits of ‘high’-market weight (MW) finishing pigs and thereby to extrapolate optimal dietary energy level for the high-MW swine. A total of 160 (Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc-crossbred finishing gilts and barrows weighing approximately 90 kg were fed a low-energy (3,200 kcal DE/kg) diet (LE) or control (3,400 kcal) diet (CON) ad libitum in 16 pens up to 135- and 125-kg live weights, respectively, at which the animals were slaughtered and their carcasses were analyzed [2 (sex) × 2 (diet) factorial experimental design]. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency did not differ between the two sex or diet groups. Backfat thickness was less (P<0.05) in LE (22.4 mm) than in CON group (24.3 mm) in gilts, but not in barrows (24.4 ± 0.4 mm). The percentage of C- & D-grade carcasses was over 90% because of the ‘over-weight’ problem in gilts, whereas in barrows, percentages of A plus B grades and C plus D grades were 79% and 21%, respectively. The yield percentage of each trimmed primal cut per total trimmed cuts (w/w) did not differ between the two sex or diet groups. Physicochemical characteristics of longissimus muscle including color (lightness and redness), pH, drip loss and chemical composition, which overally were within the range of normal carcass, also did not differ between the two sex or diet groups. In conclusion, both LE and CON are judged to be adequate for the high-MW swine during the latter finishing period. If fat deposition of a given herd of high-MW pigs needs to be suppressed by a dietary treatment, the energy content of the diet will have to be reduced to a level lower than 3,200 kcal DE/kg.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.1107-1111
• /
• 2011

Organic fertilizers application has become a popular alternatives to reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizer in Korean farming systems. In this study, we evaluated the nitrogen (N) use efficiency and growth performance of Chinese cabbage grown by black vinyl mulching after application of organic and chemical fertilizers compared with no-mulching. The treatments included chemical fertilizer alone as control (NPK, N-$P_2O_5-K_2O$ : $320-78-198kg\;ha^{-1}$), organic fertilizer alone (OF100), 70% organic fertilizer and 30% chemical fertilizer (OF70+N30), and 30% organic fertilizer and 70% chemical fertilizer (OF30+N70), which were all applied in the no-mulching plots and in plots with black vinyl mulching. Daily means soil temperature was $2^{\circ}C$ higher in the black vinyl mulched treatments throughout the 54 days compared with no-mulched treatments. OF100 with black vinyl mulching gave highest soil inorganic N content. Also, Chines cabbage yield increased 46% by black vinyl mulched compared with no-mulching in OF100 treatment. Without mulching, N use efficiency was, 44, 26, 29, and 27% in NPK, OF100, OF70+N30, and OF30+N70, respectively. However, black vinyl mulching much more effectively increased N use efficiencies by 56, 55, 51, and 39% in the same treatments in the order as mentioned above. Conclusively, combined organic and chemical fertilizers application with black vinyl mulching could be good practical technique to reduce a amount of used nitrogen because of its greater ability to enhance N use efficiency.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2019

Batch experiments for the soil washing coupled with the magnetic separation process were performed to remediate the soil contaminated with metal and oil wastes. The soil was seriously contaminated by Zn and TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbon), of which concentrations were 1743.3 mg/kg and 3558.9 mg/kg, respectively, and initial concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, and TPH were higher than the 2nd SPWL (soil pollution warning limit: remediation goal). The soil washing with acidic solution was performed to remove heavy metals from the soil, but Pb and Zn concentration of the soil maintained higher than the 2nd SWPL even after the soil washing with acidic solution. The 2nd soil washing was repeated to increase the Pb and Zn removal efficiency and the Zn and Pb removal efficiencies additionally increased by only 8 % and 5 %, respectively, by the 2nd soil washing (> 2nd SPWL). The small particle separation from the soil was conducted to decrease the initial concentration of heavy metals and to increase the washing effectiveness before the soil washing and 4.1 % of the soil were separated as small particles (< 0.075 mm in diameter). The small particle separation lowered down Zn and Pb concentrations of soil to 1256.3 mg/kg (27.9 % decrease) and 325.8 mg/kg (56.3 % decrease). However, the Zn concentration of soil without small particles still was higher than the 2nd SPWL even after the soil washing, suggesting that the additional process is necessary to lower Zn concentration to below the 2nd SPWL after the treatment process. As an alternative process, the magnetic separation process was performed for the soil and 16.4 % of soil mass were removed, because the soil contamination was originated from unreasonable dumping of metal wastes. The Zn and Pb concentrations of soil were lowered down to 637.2 mg/kg (63.4 % decrease) and 139.6 mg/kg (81.5 % decrease) by the magnetic separation, which were much higher than the removal efficiency of the soil washing and the particle separation. The 1st soil washing after the magnetic separation lowered concentration of both TPH and heavy metals to below 2nd SPWL, suggesting that the soil washing conjugated with the magnetic separation can be applied for the heavy metal and TPH contaminated soil including high content of metal wastes.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.419-430
• /
• 2023

In response to the periodic occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in Korean freshwaters, various types of cyanobacteria removal technologies are being developed and implemented. Due to the differing principles behind these technologies, it is difficult to compare and evaluate their removal efficiencies. In this study, a standardized method for evaluating cyanobacteria removal efficiency was proposed by utilizing the results of removal operations using a mobile cyanobacteria removal device in the Seohwacheon area of Daechung Reservoir. During removal operations, the decrease in chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration (ΔChl-a) in the working area was calculated based on the amount of collected sludge, the efficiency rate, and the concentration of chl-a. Additionally, the required working days (WD) to reduce the chl-a concentration to 1 mg/m³ in the target area was calculated based on the area of the target zone, the maximum daily working area, and the efficiency rate. A method for calculating the cyanobacteria removal capacity was proposed based on the reduction rate of chl-a concentration in the water before and after the operation, the treatment capacity of the removal technology, and the water volume of the target area. The cyanobacteria removal capacity of the mobile cyanobacteria removal device used in this study was 6.64%/day (targeting the Seohwacheon area of Daechung Reservoir, approximately 500,000 m²), which was higher compared to other physical or physicochemical cyanobacteria removal technologies (0.02~4.72%/day). Utilizing the evaluation method of cyanobacteria removal efficiency presented in this study, it will be possible to compare and evaluate the cyanobacteria removal technologies currently being applied in Korea. This method could also be used to assess the performance and efficiency of physical or physicochemical combined cyanobacteria removal techniques in the "Guidelines for the Installation and Operation of Algae Removal Facilities and the Use of Algae Removal Agents" operated by the National Institute of Environmental Research.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.168-181
• /
• 2024

Constructed wetlands (CWs) deliver a range of ecosystem services, including the removal of contaminants, sequestration and storage of carbon, and enhancement of biodiversity. These services are facilitated through hydrological and ecological processes such as infiltration, adsorption, water retention, and evapotranspiration by plants and microorganisms. This study investigated the correlations between microbial populations, soil physicochemical properties, and treatment efficiency in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSF CW) treating runoff from roads and parking lots. The methods employed included storm event monitoring, water quality analysis, soil sampling, soil quality parameter analysis, and microbial analysis. The facility achieved its highest pollutant removal efficiencies during the warm season (>15℃), with rates ranging from 33% to 74% for TSS, COD, TN, TP, and specific heavy metals including Fe, Zn, and Cd. Meanwhile, the highest removal efficiency was 35% for TOC during the cold season (≤15℃). These high removal rates can be attributed to sedimentation, adsorption, precipitation, plant uptake, and microbial transformations within the CW. Soil analysis revealed that the soil from HSSF CW had a soil organic carbon content 3.3 times higher than that of soil collected from a nearby landscape. Stoichiometric ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the inflow and outflow were recorded as C:N:P of 120:1.5:1 and 135.2:0.4:1, respectively, indicating an extremely low proportion of N and P compared to C, which may challenge microbial remediation efficiency. Additionally, microbial analyses indicated that the warm season was more conducive to microorganism growth, with higher abundance, richness, diversity, homogeneity, and evenness of the microbial community, as manifested in the biodiversity indices, compared to the cold season. Pollutants in stormwater runoff entering the HSSF CW fostered microbial growth, particularly for dominant phyla such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, which have shown moderate to strong correlations with specific soil properties and changes in influent-effluent concentrations of water quality parameters.