• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.555-564
• /
• 2010

Remediation process by using the bio-carrier (beads) with dead Bacillus sp. B1 and polysulfone was investigated for heavy metal contaminated groundwater. Sorption batch experiments using the bio-carrier were performed to quantify the heavy metal removal efficiencies from the contaminated solution. The analyses using SEM/EDS and TEM for the structure and the characteristic of precipitates on/inside the beads were also conducted to understand the sorption mechanism by the bio-carrier. Various amounts of freeze-dried dead Bacillus sp. B1 were mixed with polysulfone + DMF(N,N-dimethylformamide) solution to produce the bio-carrier (beads; less than 2mm in diameter) and 5% of Bacillus sp. B1 in the bio-carrier was optimal for Pb removal in the solution. The removal efficiency ratings of the bio-carrier for Pb, Cu and Cd were greater than 80% after adding 2g of bio-carrier in 50ml of aqueous solution (<10mg/L of each heavy metal concentration). Reaction time of the bio-carrier was very fast and most of the sorption reaction for heavy metals were completed within few hours. Batch experiments were duplicated at various pH conditions of aqueous solutions and Cu and Pb removal efficiencies highly maintained at wide pH ranges (pH 2-12), suggesting that the bio-carrier can be useful to clean up the acidic waste water such as AMD. From SEM/EDS and TEM analyses, it was observed that the bio-carrier was spherical shape and was overlapped by many porous layers. During the sorption experiment, Pb was crystallized on the surface of porous layers and also was mainly concentrated at the boundary of Bacillus sp. B1 stroma and polysulfone substrate, showing that the main mechanism of the bio-carrier to remove heavy metals is the sorption on/inside of the bio-carriers and the bio-carriers are excellent biosorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions from groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study is to determine the order of priority for the use of amendments, matching the optimal amendment to the specific site in Korea. This decision-making process must prioritize the stabilization and economic efficiency of amendment for heavy metals and metalloid based on domestic site contamination scenarios. For this study, total 5 domestic heavy metal contaminated sites were selected based on different pollution scenarios and 13 amendments, which were previously studied as the soil stabilizer. Batch extraction experiments were performed to quantify the stabilization efficiency for 8 heavy metals (including As and Hg) for 5 soil samples, representing 5 different pollution scenarios. For each amendment, the analyses using XRD and XRF to identify their properties, the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) test, and the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) test were also conducted to evaluate the leaching safety in applied site. From results of batch experiments, the amendments showing > 20% extraction lowering efficiency for each heavy metal (metalloid) was selected and the top 5 ranked amendments were determined at different amount of amendment and on different extraction time conditions. For each amendment, the total number of times ranked in the top 5 was counted, prioritizing the feasible amendment for specific domestic contaminated sites in Korea. Mine drainage treatment sludge, iron oxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, calcite, iron sulfide, biochar showed high extraction decreasing efficiency for heavy metals in descending order. When the economic efficiency for these amendments was analyzed, mine drainage treatment sludge, limestone, steel making slag, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide were determined as the priority amendment for the Korean field application in descending order.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.56-65
• /
• 2022

Copper is one of the non-ferrous metals used in the electrical/electronic manufacturing industries due to its superior properties particularly the high conductivity and less resistivity. The effluent generated from the surface finishing process of these industries contains higher copper content which gets discharged in to water bodies directly or indirectly. This causes severe environmental pollution and also results in loss of an important valuable metal. To overcome this issue, continuous R & D activities are going on across the globe in adsorption area with the purpose of finding an efficient, low cost and ecofriendly adsorbent. In view of the above, present investigation was made to compare the performance of a plant root (Datura root powder) as a bio-adsorbent to that of the synthetic one (Tulsion T-42) for copper adsorption from such effluent. Experiments were carried out in batch studies to optimize parameters such as adsorbent dose, contact time, pH, feed concentration, etc. Results of the batch experiments indicate that 0.2 g of Datura root powder and 0.1 g of Tulsion T-42 showed 95% copper adsorption from an initial feed/solution of 100 ppm Cu at pH 4 in contact time of 15 and 30 min, respectively. Adsorption data for both the adsorbents were fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm. Experimental results were also validated with the kinetic model, which showed that the adsorption of copper followed pseudo-second order rate expression for the both adsorbents. Overall result demonstrates that the bio-adsorbent tested has a potential applicability for metal recovery from the waste solutions/effluents of metal finishing units. In view of the requirements of commercial viability and minimal environmental damage there from, Datura root powder being an effective material for metal uptake, may prove to be a feasible adsorbent for copper recovery after the necessary scale-up studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.866-871
• /
• 2006

The nutrient recovery in phosphate crystallization process was investigated by using laboratory scale uptlow reactors, adopting sequencing batch type configuration. The industrial waste lime was used as potential cation source with magnesium salt($MgCl_2$) as control. The research was focused on its successful application in a novel integrated sludge treatment process, which is comprised of a high performance fermenter followed by a crystallization reactor. In the struvite precipitation test using synthetic wastewater first, which has the similar characteristics with the real fermentation effluent, the considerable nutrient removal(about 60%) in both ammonia and phosphate was observed within $0.5{\sim}1$ hr of retention time. The results also revealed that a minor amount(<5%) of ammonia stripping naturally occurred due to the alkaline(pH 9) characteristic in feed substrate. Stripping of $CO_2$ by air did not increase the struvite precipitation rate but it led to increased ammonia removal. In the second experiment using the fermentation effluent, the optimal dosage of magnesium salt for struvite precipitation was 0.86 g Mg $g^{-1}$ P, similar to the mass ratio of the struvite. The optimal dosage of waste lime was 0.3 g $L^{-1}$, resulting in 80% of $NH_4-N$ and 41% of $PO_4-P$ removal, at about 3 hrs of retention time. In the microscopic analysis, amorphous crystals were mainly observed in the settled solids with waste lime but prism-like crystals were observed with magnesium salt. Based on mass balance analysis for an integrated sludge treatment process(fermenter followed by crystallization reactor) for full-scale application(treatment capacity Q=158,880 $m^3\;d^{-1}$), nutrient recycle loading from the crystallization reactor effluent to the main liquid stream would be significantly reduced(0.13 g N and 0.19 g P per $m^3$ of wastewater, respectively). The results of the experiment reveal therefore that the reuse of waste lime, already an industrial waste, in a nutrient recovery system has various advantages such as higher economical benefits and sustainable treatment of the industrial waste.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.38 no.3 s.172
• /
• pp.273-284
• /
• 2005

Coagulation and precipitation process by using lime$(Ca(OH)_2)$ and calcium carbonate $(CaCO_3)$ were applied to remove heavy metals from groundwater in laboratory scale. From results of batch tests, by the addition of $0.3\;wt.\%$ lime, more than $90\%$ of As and Mn were removed and $70-80\%$ of Cd and Zn were removed by using $0.5\;wt.\%$ of lime. Removal efficiency of Pb almost reached $100\%$ with only $0.1\;wt.\%$ of calcium carbonate and more than $93\%$ of Cd were removed by the addition of $0.1\;wt.\%$of calcium carbonate. Pilot scale column experiments were performed to remove heavy metals in the separation process of precipitated Hoc to supernatant after the coagulation/ precipitation. For lime as a coagulant, more than $99\%$of As were removed from artificial groundwater and removal efficiencies of Cd, Mn, and Zn were over $80\%$. By using calcium carbonate, more than $95\%$ of Cd and Pb were removed in column experiment. Fe and Mn contaminated groundwater taken from a real landfill site, Ulsan was used for the column experiment and more than $99\%$ of Fe and Mn were removed by the addition of $1\;wt.\%$ lime in column experiment, suggesting that the coagulation/precipitation process by using lime and calcium carbonate have a great possibility to remove heavy metals from contaminated groundwater.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.603-608
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate particle attrition characteristics in a gas desulfurization using zinc titanate sorbent in a 0.035 m i.d. by 1.34 m height gas fluidized bed reactor. Gas jetting from the distributor and bubbling in the gas fluidized bed were found to be the main causes of particle attrition. The experiment was carried out under a slow attrition rate condition to compare the performance of the batch reactor to that of a continuous reactor. The attrition index (AI) and corrected attrition index (CAI) were measured at various the gas velocity, temperature, pressure, and bed weight, in the gas fluidized bed, during the dexulfurization process. The AI (5) and CAI (5) decreased as the bed weight increased. Particle destruction occurred when the particles started to experience physical fatigue under specific impacts over several iterations. AI (5) and CAI (5) also increased as relative humidity, gas velocity and pressure increased, and as temperature decreased. Particle attrition was mainly affected by gas jetting from the distributor, and abrasion resulted in smaller particles than fragmentation did.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.241-249
• /
• 2000

In this study, UV-catalyzed $H_2O_2$ oxidation and $H_2O_2$ oxidation to remove contaminants from photo processing chemicals were investigated at various conditions. Photo processing chemicals contains high concentrations of organic compounds and has very low biodegradability. Hydrogen peroxide is subjected to gradual decomposition as metastable substance. In the process, short-lived and highly reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed. The decomposition can be significantly accelerated by use of appropriate catalyst, such as ultraviolet radiation. The experiments were conducted in a UV-free reflecting reactor in batch and a high-pressure mercury lamp was used as UV source. Mixing, cooling and ventilation of the reactor were operated during experiments. In $UV/H_2O_2$ oxidation and $H_2O_2$ oxidation, the removal efficiencies of $COD_{Cr}$, TOC and chromaticity increased with the increase of $H_2O_2$ dosage and were higher in the controlled pH condition of 3 than in original pH condition of 8. In $UV/H_2O_2$ oxidation under the optimum condition of pH 8 and 1.3 stoichiometric $H_2O_2$ dosage, the removal efficiencies of $COD_{Cr}$, TOC and chromaticity were 47.5%, 75.0% and 91.5% respectively and $BOD/COD_{Cr}$ ratio was significantly increased from 0.04 to 0.21.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.568-576
• /
• 2018

In order to investigate the adsorption characteristics of the antibiotics trimethoprim (TMP) by activated carbon (WCAC) prepared from waste citrus peel, the effects of operating parameters on the TMP adsorption were investigated by using a response surface methodology (RSM). Batch experiments were carried out according to a four-factor Box-Behnken experimental design with four input parameters : concentration ($X_1$: 50-150 mg/L), pH ($X_2$: 4-10), temperature ($X_3$: 293-323 K), adsorbent dose ($X_4$: 0.05-0.15 g). The experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation by the multiple regression analysis and examined using statistical methods. The significance of the independent variables and their interactions was assessed by ANOVA and t-test statistical techniques. Statistical results showed that concentration of TMP was the most effective parameter in comparison with others. The adsorption process can be well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The experimental data of isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption amount of TMP by WCAC calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model was 144.9 mg/g at 293 K.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 1999

2,4-Dichlorophenol was known pollutants caused by the endocrine disruptor into the refractory substances of environment and this is difficult to be degradable by conventional methods. Therefore, a considerable interest has been devoted to developing new process where 2,4-Dichlorophenol can easily decomposed. In this study, the series of ultrasonic irradiation for removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenol has been selected as a model reaction in the batch reactor system in order to obtain the basic data investigate the influence of various experimental parameters such as concentration, pH, reaction temperature, acoustic intensity. The products obtained form the ultrasonic irradiation were analysed by GC/MS and HPLC. The formation of $H_2O_2$, a well-known the strong oxidant was found proportionally to increase with irradiation time. The intermediates of ultrasonic irradiation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol were identified as HCl, catechol, hydroquinone, o,p-benzoquinone, muconic acid, and maleic acid. The final products of this was $CO_2$ and $H_2O$. As the decomposition of 2,4-Dichlorophenol proceeds by the ultrasonic irradiation, the pH of 2,4-Dichlorophenol containing aqueous solution increases slowly, The decomposition of 2,4-Dichlorophenol was found to be occured fast in the basic medium. In general, the rate of reaction is proportional to the reaction temperature obeying the Arrhenius' law. However, in the ultrasonic irradiation, this suggests as the reaction temperature increase the decomposition rate of the reactant decreases. This result meant that the increase of reaction temperature due to the increase of vapor pressure of water accelerated the decrease of acoustic intensity which was can be proportional to the decomposition rae of these compounds. It was found that more than 80% of phenol solution was removed within hours in all reaction conditions. The reaction order in the degradation of the 2,4-Dichlorophenol compounds was verified as the Pseude-first order. From the fore-mentioned results, it can be concluded that the refractory organic compounds caused by endocrine disruptor as 2,4-dichlorophenol could be removed by the ultrasonic irradiation with radicals, such as $H{\;}{\cdot}{\;}and{\;}OH{\;}{\cdot}$ radical causing the high increase of pressure and temperature. Finally, it apeared that the technology using ultrasonic irradiation can be applied to the treatment of refractory substances caused by endocrine disruptor which are difficult to be decomposed by the conventional methods.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.114-118
• /
• 1999

In order to use a polysaccharide, curdlan, as a concrete admixture, we first developed a pilot-scale fermentation process for the mass production of curdlan. We also examined the rheological properties of curdlan, and tested how well the curdlan obtained in this work increased the segregational resistance of the cement slurry. Fermentation was performed in a 300-liter fermenter equipped with 3 disk-turbine impellers. Since curdlan production is stimulated under nitrogen-limiting conditions, the culture pH was shifted from the optimal pH for cell growth (pH 7.0) to the optimal pH for curdlan production (pH 5.5) at the onset of ammonium exhaustion. We obtained a curdlan production of 65 g/L in 120 hr batch cultivation of Agrobacterium species. The insoluble curdlan at the final stage of fermentation was readily harvested by centrifugation together with the cells. The freeze-dried sample contained 78% (w/w) of curdlan. The solubility and viscosity of the curdlan increased with the increase of the solution pH, which enhances the viscosity of concrete since the pH of concrete is extremely high (pH 13.0). Test results of the curdlan as a concrete admixture with cement slurry demonstrated that it prohibits the leakage of water. In conclusion, this work certifies and enlarges curdlan's industrial potential as a concrete admixture.