• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.327-332
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• 2002

Optical microscope, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and fluorescent microscope were used for qualitative and morphological studies of the attached biomass on PE (polyethylene) substratum under anaerobic condition. It was shown by the observation of optical microscope that the initial attachment of biomass began in crevices of the surface of PE. The shape and structure of the attached biofilm could be observed by SEM photographs, but species of bacteria were and methanogens were not classified. A large number of methanogenic bacteria were identified on the surface of PE substratum by fluorescence under 480nm of radiation. It was estimated that methanogenic bacteria was also related to initial attachment of biomass under anaerobic condition.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 1996

Using rotating biological contactor(RBC) with artificial endogenous stage and aerobic fixed biofilm reactor(AFBR), organic material removal and biological nitrification of piggery wastewater has been studied at a pilot plant. RBC was operated in the endogenous phase at a interval of every 25 days. The concentration of COD, BOD and TKN in influent wastewater were from 2,940 to 3,800 mg/L, from 1,190 to 1,850 mg/L and from 486 to 754 mg/L respectively. The maximum active biomass content represented as VSS per unit aera was $2.0mg/cm$^{2}$ and biofilm dry density of $17mg/cm^{3}$ was observed at biofilm thickness of $900{\;}{\mu}m$. It was observed that the pilot scale RBC/AFBR process exhibited 72 percentage to 93 percentage of BOD removal, In order to obtain more than 90 percentage of BOD removal, the organic loading rate to the RBC/AFBR process should be maintained less than $0.09{\;}m^{3}/m^{2}{\cdot}day(125.9g{;\}BOD/m^{3}{\cdot}d$. The TKN removal efficiencies was from 45.5 to 90.9 percentage according to vary influent loading rate, It was estimated that the RBC/AFBR process consumed approximately 6.2 mg/L(as $CaCO_{3}$) of alkalinity per 1 mg/L of $NH_{3}$-N oxidized as the nitrification took piace.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.661-674
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• 2010

Bacterial biomass and its activity were measured in two kinds of granular activated carbon (GAC), the experimental and existing biofiltration system in a drinking water plant. The bacterial biomass was around 210 to 250 nmol P/g WW with phospholipid concentration at acclimation of ozonation treatment. The phospholipid biomass shows more or less a declining gradient along filter depth and no clear seasonality in its values. On the other hand, the microbial activity of [$^3H$]-thymidine and [$^{14}C$]-acetate incorporation within cells increased significantly along the filter depth, showing the difference of three fold between the upper and bottom layer. These factors support the different microbial composition or metabolic activity along the depth of GAC column. Turnover rates, the rate of bacterial biomass and production of biofilm, ranged from 0.26 /hr to 0.37 /hr, indicating a highly rapid recovery itself at amature state. In the non-ozonation treatment, the bacterial biomass was lower than in the ozonation and biological activity also declined towards the filter depth. The biomass levels during cessation of ozonation in the existing GAC filters were 68% of the actively ozonated state.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1101-1109
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• 2014

In this study we followed biofilm formation and development in a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter on pilot-scale during the 12 months of operation. GAC particles and water samples were sampled from four different depths (-5, -25, -50 and -90 cm from surface of GAC bed) and attached biomass were measured with adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) analysis and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) method. The attached biomass accumulated rapidly on the GAC particles of top layer throughout all levels in the filter during the 160 days (BV 23,000) of operation and maintained a steady-state afterward. During steady-state, biomass (ATP and HPC) concentrations of top layer in the BAC filer were $2.1{\mu}g{\cdot}ATP/g{\cdot}GAC$ and $3.3{\times}10^8cells/g{\cdot}GAC$, and 85%, 83% and 99% of the influent total biodegradable dissolved organic carbon ($BDOC_{total}$), $BDOC_{slow}$ and $BDOC_{rapid}$ were removed, respectively. During steady-state process, biomass (ATP and HPC) concentrations of middle layer (-50 cm) and bottom layer (-90 cm) in the BAC filter were increased consistently. Biofilm development (growth rate) proceed highest rate in the top layer of filter (${\mu}_{ATP}=0.73day^{-1}$; ${\mu}_{HPC}=1,74day^{-1}$) and 78%~87% slower in the bottom layer (${\mu}_{ATP}=0.14day^{-1}$; ${\mu}_{HPC}=0.34day^{-1}$). This study shows that the combination of different analytical methods allows detailed quantification of the microbiological activity in drinking water biofilter.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 1995

Stability of reactor and effect on biofilm characteristics were investigated by varying the hydraulic residence time in an inverse fluidized bed biofilm reactor(IFBBR). The SCOD removal efficiency was maintained above 90 % in the HRT range of 12hr to 2hr, but the TCOD removal efficiency was dropped down to 50% because of biomass detachment from overgrown bioparticles. The reactor was stably operated up to the conditions of HRT of 2hr and F/M ratio of 4.5kgCOD/$m^3$/day, but above the range there was an abrupt increase of filamentous microorganisms. The optimum biofilm thickness and the biofilm dry density in this experiment were shown as $200\mu\textrm{m}$ and $0.08 g/cm^3$, respectively. The substrate removal rate of this system was found as 1st order because the biofilm was maintained slightly thin by the increased hydraulic loading rate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.927-938
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• 2000

When microorganism is injected into porous medium such as soils along with appropriate substrate and nutrients, biomass retained in the soil pore. Soil pore size and shape are varied from the initial condition as a result of biofilm formation, which make hydraulic conductivity reduced. In this research, hydraulic conductivity reduction was measured after microorganism are inoculated and cultured with synthetic substrates and nutrients. Biomass-soil mixture was evaluated its applicability to the field condition as an alternative liner material in landfill by measuring hydraulic conductivity change after repetitive freeze-thaw cycles. Resistance of biofilm to chemical solution and degree of biodegradation were measured through column test.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.27-34
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• 2001

This paper discussed the shape effect of ceramic support carrier in order to facilitate biomass immobilization. The shape of ceramic support carrier was modified hollow pipe type into hollow gear type. After seeding, microorganisms were attached in crevices where protection from shear forces or surfaces where easy to contact with support carrier surface. In case of hollow gear type carrier, initial attachment rate was faster than that of hollow pipe type and obtained thick biofilm. Synthetic wastewater(COD:75~880 mg/L, organic loading rate:0.36~4.22 kgCOD/㎥.d) was treated aerobic fixed bed biofilm reactor where 100% of the volume was filled with the ceramic carrier. COD removal efficiency of reactor filled with gear type support carrier was a little high withing 70 days, and then showed similar removal efficiency. It was found that highly loaded operation with up to 4.22 kgCOD/㎥.d was possible in both reactor. Total biomass amounts of pipe type was higher than gear type, however, attached biomass of gear type was higher than that of pipe type.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.148-154
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• 2007

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of low concentration of oxygen on reduction of perchlorate, especially low perchlorate influent concentrations in a biofilm reactor, as well as the effect of flow pattern in a biofilm reactor. Dissolved oxygen averaging 1 mg/L did not inhibit reduction of influent perchlorate from 23 to $426\;{\mu}g/L$ in the biofilm reactors when sufficient acetate was added, probably due to limitation of oxygen diffusion into the biofilm. Influent perchlorate ranging from 23 to $426\;{\mu}g/L$ was reduced to below detection level ($4\;{\mu}g/L$) in the presence of 1 mg/L dissolved oxygen (DO). Chloride was produced in a ratio of $0.37gCl^-/g{ClO_4}^-$ and $0.35gCl^-/g{ClO_4}^-$ in plug flow and recirculation biofilm reactor which is similar to stoichiometric amount ($0.36gCl^-/g{ClO_4}^-$) indicating complete perchlorate reduction at $426\;{\mu}g/L$ of ${ClO_4}^-$ feeding. At $23\;{\mu}g/L$L influent perchlorate, total biomass solids were 3.18 g and 2.81 g in the plug flow and recirculation biofilm reactors. The most probable number(MPN) analysis for perchlorate-reducing bacteria showed $10^4$ to $10^5\;cells/cm^2$ in both biofilm reactors throughout the experiments. The effluent perchlorate concentrations were not significantly different in the two different flow regimes, plug flow and recirculation biofilm reactors.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2007

Biofilm media was equipped in two-compartmented wastewater treatment bioreactor which was separated by porcelain septum. DC 2.0 volt of electric potential was charged to anodic (oxidative) biofilm media (ABM) to induce oxidation potential but not to that of carbon (neutral) biofilm media (CBM) that was used for control test. Biofilm structure, biomass variation, Off variation and wastewater treatment efficiency in the bioreactor equipped with ABM (ABM-bioreactor) and CBM (CBM-bioreactor). Time-coursed variation of biofilm structure forming on surface of ABM and CBM was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The biofilm growing on ABM was dispersed on surface and was not completely covered the media but the biofilm growing on CBM was continuously increased and finally covered the media. The ORP of CBM was decreased to 100 mV, which was reciprocally proportional to the biomass growth. However, the ORP of ABM was about 800 mV, which was maintained during operation for about 60 days. The treatment efficiency of COD in the ABM bioreactor was 2 times higher than those in the CBM bioreactor. From these results, we proposed that electrochemical oxidation potential charged to biofilm media may inhibit formation of biofilm extremely condensed and activate bacterial cell metabolism.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2018

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been widely used as an initial mucolytic agent and is generally used as an antioxidant to help alleviate various inflammatory symptoms. NAC reduces bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, bacterial adhesion to the surface and strength of mature biofilm. The efficacy has been shown to inhibit proliferation of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes, which contain a variety of gram negative bacteria, biofilm formation has become a serious problem in stable operation. In this study, use of NAC as an inhibitor of biofilm contamination was investigated using the center for disease control (CDC) reactors with MBR sludge. Biomass reduction was confirmed with CLSM images of membrane surfaces by addition of NAC, which was more efficient as the concentration of NAC was increased to 1.5 mg/mL. NAC addition also showed decreases in EPS concentrations of the preformed biofilm, indicating that NAC was able to degrade EPS in the mature biofilm. NAC addition was also effective to inhibit biofilm formation by MBR sludge, which consisted of various microorganisms in consortia.