• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2003

$TAO^{TM}$ System is an auto-heated thermophilic aerated digestion process using a proprietary microbe called as a Phototropic Bacteria (PTB). High metabolic activity results in heat generation, which enables to produce a pathogen-free and digested liquid fertilizer at short retention times. TAO$^{TM}$ system has been developed to reduce a manure volume and convert into the liquid fertilizer using swine manure since 1992. About 100 units have been installed and operated in Korean swine farms so far. TAO$^{TM}$ system consists of a reactor vessel and ejector-type aeration pumps and foam removers. The swine slurry manure enters into vessel with PTB and is mixed and aerated. The process is operated at detention times from 2 to 4 days and temperature of 55 to $65^{\circ}C$. Foams are occurred and broken down by foam removers to evaporate water contents. Generally, at least 30% of water content is evaporated, 99% of volatile fatty acids caused an odor are removed and pathogen destruction is excellent with fecal coliform, rotavirus and salmonella below detection limits. The effluent from TAO$^{TM}$ system, called as the "TAO EFFLUX", is screened and has superb properties as a fertilizer. Normally N-P-K contents of screened TAO Efflux are 4.7 g/L, 0.375 g/L and 2.8 g/L respectively. The fertilizer effect of TAO EFFLUX compared to chemical fertilizer has been demonstrated and studied with various crops such as rice, potato, cabbage, pumpkin, green pepper, parsley, cucumber and apple. Generally it has better fertilizer effects and excellent soil fertility improvement effects. Moreover, the TAO EFFLUX is concentrated through membrane technology without fouling problems for a cost saving of long distance transportation and a commercialization (crop nutrient commodity) to a gardening market, for example.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.245-257
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• 2017

The separation of nicotine and tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines is a tough problem in tobacco industry. In this study, separation of nicotine from 4-(methylnitrosamino) -1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) mixtures was investigated using electrodialysis by taking the principle of the protonation status difference between these two components. The results indicated that the solution pH has a dominant impact on the separation process. In a pH range of 5-7, nicotine molecules are existed as mono- and di-protonated ions and can be separated from the uncharged NNK molecules. The acidic electrolyte is conducive to the separation process from the point of flux and energy consumption; while the alkaline electrolyte has negative impact on the separation process. A current density of $10mA/cm^2$ is an appropriate value for the separation process. The lowest energy consumption of the separation process is 0.58 kWh/kg nicotine with the process cost to be estimated at only $0.208 /kg nicotine. Naturally, electrodialysis is a high-efficiency, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process to separate and purify nicotine from tobacco juice.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2011

A method of light pre-irradiation, one of methods modifying hydrophobic surface to hydrophilic surface in a membrane, was proposed to overcome the drawback of previous methods such as blending, chemical treatment and post-irradiation, Process of membrane preparation in the study was comprised of 4 parts as follows: firstly process of precursor preparation to introduce hydrophilic nature under atmosphere and aqueous vapor by irradiating electron beam (EB), secondly process of dope solution preparation to cast on non-woven fabrics, thirdly process of casting to prepare membrane and finally process of coagulation in non-solvent to form porous structure. The merit of this method might show simple process as well as homogenous modification compared to previous methods. To carry it out, precursor was prepared by irradiating EB to powder PVDF at 75~125 K Gray dose. Precursor prepared was analyzed by FTIR, EDS and DSC to confirm the introduction of hydrophilic function and its mechanism. From their results, it was inferred I conformed that hydrophilic function was hydroxy1 and it was introduced by dehydrozenation. Hydrophilicity of membranes prepared was evaluated by contact angle (pristine PVDF : $62^{\circ}$, 125 K Gray-PVDF$13^{\circ}$). Porosity was evaluated by mercury intrusion method, simultaneously morpholoy and surface pore size were observed by SEM phothographs. The result showed the trend that more dose of EB led to smaller pore size and to lower porosity (pristine PVDF : 82%, 125 K Gray-PVDF : 63%). Trend of water permeability was similar to result above (pristine PVDF : 892 LMH, 125 K Gray-PVDF : 355 LMH).

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2008

A series of anion exchange composite membranes were prepared and characterized for electro-dialysis process used in the removal of toxic anion and cation polutants in groundwater or wastewater. The membranes were prepared as follows; first, porous poly(ethylene) (PE) substrates were fully impregnated with monomer mixtures with various ratio of vinylbenzylchloride (VBC), divinylbenzene (DVB) and ${\alpha},\;{\alpha}$-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN). Second, they were thermally polymerized to yield crosslinked poly(VBC-DVB)/PE composite membranes. Finally, the membranes were treated in trimethylamine (TMA)/acetone to give $-N^+(CH_3)_3$-containing poly(VBC-DVB)/PE membranes. The basic membrane properties such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), electric resistance and water content of the resulting membranes were measured as a function of VBC/DVB and TMA/Acetone content. As a result, the composite membranes showed lower electric resistance, lower water content and higher IEC than commercial anion exchange membranes (AMX, Astom) due to thin PE substrates, indicating that the composite membranes could be successfully applied to the electrodialysis for water treatment.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 1998

To treat effectively EDIR (electrodeposition ion removal) wastewater in terms of CO$_{Mn}$ 1,500~2,000 ppm generated from aluminum painting process, a RO (reverse osmosis) process was designed and installed to recover and reuse the concentrated solvent sent back to the electrocodeposition tank while the permeate reused as rinse water. A RO system in which three polyamide-spiral wound modules ($102\Phi \times 1,016L$ mm) connnected in series had been running to treat 20 m$^3$ in waste volume in 3 days batch operation at the condition of system recovery of 30 %, applied pressure 11.5 $kg_f/cm^2$ and room temperature. During 42 hours continuous operation leading to 5-fold decrease in waste volume, nearly constant permeation flux of 390 l/m$^2$-hr was maintained and the permeate with average CO$_{Mn}$, 300 ppm was obtained which could be used for washing the remaining paint solution in ion-exchange tower instead of demineralized water. Also COD$_{Mn}$ rejection as a function of running time was observed to be in the range of 78~87 % and the observed solvent rejections for ethyl cellusolve, buthyl cellusolve and n-butanol were 79 %, 87 % and 70 %, respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 2008

This study is to concentrate vanadium in Jeju groundwater using reverse osmosis processes, and to utilize the concentrate for vanadium water. Groundwater samples were taken from Wahyul, Ayum, and Seogwipo groundwater wells with different in vanadium content each other. Their vanadiuln concentrations were 31.8, 44.5, and 53.0 ppb, respectively. The rejection coefficients of every component in groundwater were increased with the increase of TMP At the TMP of $8 kg_f/cm^2$, the rejection coefficients of vanadium, sodium, potassium, aluminium, iron, and barium were $97.4%{\sim}99.0%,\;97.7%{\sim}97.8%,\;98.0%{\sim}98.3%,\;94.8%{\sim}97.5%,\;88.0%{\sim}96.4.0%$, and $97.9{\sim}98.0%$, respectively. And those of magnesium, calcium, chromium, mauganese, and strontium in three groundwater were more than 99.0% at the same TMP. It was possible that vanadium contents of Wahyul, Ayum and Seogwipo groundwater were concentrated into 58.6, 118.9, and 165.1 ppb, respectively, by 6 stages treatment at the recovery ratio of 15%. And these concentrated water (vanadium water) did not exceed the permissible drinking water standards.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.301-306
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• 2013

This research was conducted to investigate whether sequential anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and microfilteration (MF) membrane system can be used as a direct treatment for the removal of perchlorate and nitrate in groundwater. The biofilm process consisted of an anoxic first stage to remove perchlorate and nitrate and aerobic second stage to remove remaining acetate used as a carbon source for dissimilatory reduction of perchlorate and nitrate. In final stage, hollow fiber MF membrane was used to remove turbidity. In this research, perchlorate was reduced from the influent concentration of 102 ${\mu}/L$ to below the IC detection level (5 ${\mu}/L$) and nitrate was reduced from 61.8 mg/L (14 mg/L $NO_3$-N) to 4.4 mg/L (1 mg/L $NO_3$-N). Acetate used as a carbon source was consumed from 179 mg/L $CH_3COO-$ to 117 and 11 mg/L $CH_3COO^-$ in effluents from anoxic and aerobic biofilm reactors, respectively. Turbidity was reduced from 3.0 NTU to 1.5, 0.3, and 0.2 NTU in effluents from anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and MF membrane, respectively. It is expected that the sequential anoxic/aerobic biofilm reactors and MF membrane system can efficiently remove perchlorate and nitrate in surface water or groundwater.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-70
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• 2016

Microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF) Adsorptive polyamide-6 (PA-6) membranes were prepared using wet phase inversion process. The prepared PA-6 membranes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity and swelling degree. In this study, the membranes performance has examined by adsorptive removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions in a batch adsorption mode. The $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes display sponge like and highly porous structures, with porosities of 41-73%. Under the conditions examined, the adsorption experiments have showed that the $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes had a good adsorption capacity (up to 120-280 mg/g at the initial copper ion concentration ($C_0$) = 680 mg/L, pH7), fast adsorption rates and short adsorption equilibrium times (less than 1.5-2 hrs) for copper ions. The fast adsorption in this study may be attributed to the high porosities and large pore sizes of the $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes, which have facilitated the transport of copper ions to the adsorption. The results obtained from the study illustrated that the copper ions which have adsorbed on the polyamide membranes can be effectively desorbed in an Ethylene dinitrilotetra acetic acid Di sodium salt ($Na_2$ EDTA) solution from initial concentration (up to 92% desorption efficiency) and the PA-6 membranes can be reused almost without loss of the adsorption capacity for copper ions. The results obtained from the study suggested that the $PA-6/H_2O$ membranes can be effectively applied for the adsorptive removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.341-353
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• 2016

Papermaking reconstituted tobacco is an important strategy for recycling the waste tobacco residues. To indentify the influences of the inorganic components on harmful components delivery in cigarette smoke, a self-made electrodialysis stack was assembled to desalt the tobacco extract. The influences of the applied current and extract content on the removal rate of the inorganic ions were investigated. Results indicated that the applied current was a dominant impact on the desalination performance. High currents lower than the limiting current density could accelerate the desalting efficiency but cause higher energy consumption. A current of 2 A, or current density of ${\sim}11mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, was an optimal choice by considering both the energy consumption and desalting efficiency. A 20% tobacco extract was an appropriate content for the electrodialysis process. More than 90% of inorganic ions could be removed under the optimum condition. The preliminary result indicated that removal of inorganic components was beneficial to decrease the harmful component delivery in cigarette smoke. Naturally, ED is an environmentally friendly and high-effective technology for desalting the tobacco extract.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2018

Microcystin-LR, one of algal toxins induced by the eutrophication of a reservoir, is known to be harmful to human by adversely affecting our liver and brain. Hypochlorous acid is very efficient to remove Microcystin-LR in a clear well. The previous researches showed that CT, pH and temperature affected removal rate in batch tests. It was noted that hydrodynamic properties of clear well could also influence its removal rate. A mathematical model was built using an axial dispersion reactor model and software was used to simulate the removal rate. The model consisted of the second order differential equations including dispersion, convection, Microcystin-LR reaction with chlorine. Kinetic constants were obtained through batch tests with chlorine. They were $0.430{\times}10^{-3}L/mg/sec$ and $0.143{\times}10^{-3}L/mg/sec$ for pH 7.0 and 8.1, respectively. The axial dispersion reactor model was shown to be useful for the numerical model through conservative tracer tests. The numerical model successfully estimated the removal rate of Microcyctin-LR in a clear well. Numerical simulations showed that a small dispersion number, low pH and long hydraulic retention time were critical for higher removal rate with same chlorine dosage. This model could be used to optimize the operation of a clear well during an eutrophication season.