• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.647-655
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• 2016

Lead dioxide ($PbO_2$) is an electrode material that is effective for organic pollutant degradation based on hydroxyl radical ($^{\bullet}OH$) attack. Representative parameters for $PbO_2$ electrodeposition are summarized to current, temperature, reaction time, concentration of Pb(II) and electrolyte agent. In this study, $Ti/PbO_2$ electrodes were fabricated by electrodeposition method under controlled reaction time, current density, temperature, concentration of $HNO_3$ electrolyte. Effects of deposition parameters on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution were investigated in terms of electrochemical bleaching of p-Nitrosodimethylaniline (RNO). As major results, the $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution was promoted at the $PbO_2$ that was deposited in longer reaction time (1-90 min), lower current density ($0.5-50mA/cm^2$), higher temperature ($5-65^{\circ}C$) and lower $HNO_3$ concentration (0.01-1.0 M). Especially, the $PbO_2$ which was deposited in 0.01 M of lowest $HNO_3$ concentration by applying $20mA/cm^2$ for above 10 min was most effective on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution. The performance gap between $PbO_2$s that was best and worst in $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution was about 41%. Among the properties of $PbO_2$ related on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution performance, conductivity of $Ti/PbO_2$ significantly influenced on $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution. The increase in conductivity promoted $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution. In addition, the increase in crystal size of $PbO_2$ interfered $^{\bullet}OH$ evolution at surface of some $PbO_2$ deposits.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of a gamma irradiation to decompose 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) in an aqueous solution. The decomposition reaction of TNT by gamma irradiation was a pseudo first-order kinetic over the applied initial concentrations($25{\sim}100mg/L$). The dose constant was strongly dependent on the initial TNT concentration. The removal of TNT was more efficient at pH below 3 and at pH above 11 than at neutral pH(pH 5-9). The required irradiation dose to remove over 99% of TNT was 40, 80 and 10 kGy, individually at pH 2, 7 and 13. The dose constant was increased by 1.6 fold and over 15.6 fold at pH 2 and 13, respectively, when compared with that at pH 7 When irradiation dose of 200 kGy was applied, the removal efficiencies of TOC were 91, 46 and 53% at pH 2, 7 and 13, respectively. Ammonia and nitrate were detected as the main nitrogen byproducts of TNT and glyoxalic acid and oxalic acid were detected as organic byproducts. The results showed that a gamma irradiation was an attractive method for the decomposition of TNT in an aqueous solution. However, regarding the application of high energy radiation for the TNT decomposition and mineralization, an application of an acidic pH below 3 to the solution before irradiation should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.279-290
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• 2016

The performance of upflow anaerobic bioelectrochemical reactor (UABE), equipped with electrodes (anode and cathode) inside the upflow anaerobic reactor, was compared to that of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater. The UASB was stable in pH, alkalinity and VFAs until the organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.0 g COD/L.d, but it became unstable over 4.0 g COD/L.d. As a response to the abrupt doubling in OLR, the perturbation in the state variables for the UABE was smaller, compared to the UASB, and quickly recovered. The UABE stability was better than the UASB at higher OLR of 4.0-8.0 g COD/L.d, and the UABE showed better performance in specific methane production rate (2,076mL $CH_4/L.d$), methane content in biogas (66.8%), and COD removal efficiency (82.3%) at 8.0 g COD/L.d than the UASB. The maximum methane yield in UABE was about 407mL/g $COD_r$ at 4.0 g COD/L.d, which was considerably higher than about $282mL/g\;COD_r$ in UASB. The rate limiting step for the bioelectrochemical reaction in UABE was the oxidation of organic matter on the anode surface, and the electrode reactions were considerably affected by the pH at 8.0 g COD/L.d of high OLR. The maximum energy efficiency of UABE was 99.5%, at 4.0 g COD/L.d of OLR. The UABE can be an advanced high rate anaerobic process for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater.