• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.216-225
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• 2018

Over the past 40 years, the public sector has continued to invest in the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Korea. Currently, the domestic sewage treatment rate is over 90% with the enhancement of operating efficiency of the STPs, and water quality of major rivers has been continuously improved. However, COD and T-N indicators are stagnating or slightly worsening, and though advanced treatment facilities are installed in most of the STPs, there is a limit to the removal of nutrients. Since there are a lot of water pollution sources in the vicinity of the watershed because of high population density in Korea, it is essential to reduce the inflow of the nutrients in order to prevent the eutrophication of the rivers and lakes. While the effluent T-P standard in STPs has greatly strengthened since 2012, which results in the considerable investment for the improvement of treatment process in STPs for the last few years, it is necessary to strengthen the T-N standards, as the effluent standard of T-N has been maintained at 20 mg/L since 2002. In this study, based on the analysis of the effluent T-N standard status of major industrialized countries, and the domestic nitrogen load in public waters, the option of appropriate T-N standard level is reviewed, and the required investment costs and the effect of strengthening the standard are estimated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.737-744
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• 2007

Recently, one of the most interesting topic in the field of wastewater treatment is the disposal of excess sludge. The new concept of excess sludge reduction with recirculation of solubilized sludge via effective microorganisms for cell disruption within the wastewater treatment process has been developed in this study. The alkalophiles for degradation of sludge cell wall were isolated as Exiguobacterium sp., which could be more effectively solubilized sludge in the anaerobic condition. The SCOD of solubilized excess sludge by Exiguobacterium sp. was up to about 2,000mg/L and average TN and TP concentration of solubilized component were 117mg/L and 58mg/L, respectively and C/N ratio was more than 17. To investigate the effects of solubilized sludge by alkalophiles on excess sludge reduction and nutrient removal efficiency, the pilot plant of $DF^{(S)}-MBR$ process, combined with membrane bioreactor and sludge solubilization tank, was operated. In the control run(without sludge solubilization), the daily sludge production was about 4.54 kgMLVSS/day. However, in the $DF^{(S)}-MBR$(with sludge solubilization), the daily sludge production was decreased to 1.39kgMLVSS/day. The effluent quality satisfied the effluent regulation in both cases. Furthermore, the $DF^{(S)}-MBR$ showed relatively better TN removal efficiency in spite of high influent loading. So we concluded that the solubilized excess sludge by alkalophiles was effectively degraded in the MBR process as the carbon source and 70% of sludge reduction efficiency can be achieved.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.347-352
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• 2005

These experiments investigated the conditioning pattern and the nitrification efficiency of a fluidized sand biofilter (FSB) for seawater application. The FSB fed artificial nutrient was fully conditioned within 22 weeks. The maximum nitrification efficiency of the FSB was achieved at a superficial water velocity (SWV) of 1.0 cm/sec. After fixing the superficial water velocity at 1.0 cm/sec, the nitrification rates of the FSB were assessed at 3 total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) loading rates (250, 500, 1,000 g TAN/$m^3$/day) and 3 water temperatures (12, 16, $20^{\circ}C$). The TAN concentration in the simulated culture tank ranged from 2.87 to 9.72 mg/L at TAN loading rate of 1,000 g TAN/$m^3$/day, while that ranged from 0.45 to 1.26 mg/L at TAN loading rate of 500 g TAN/$m^3$/day. The ranges of TAN concentration in the former were too high for aquatic organisms and those in the latter were acceptable. Therefore, the safe TAN loading rate for the FSB in seawater conditions was decided as 500 g TA/$m^3$/day. From these results, daily TAN removal rates (g TAN/$m^3$/day) of FSB under conditions of inlet TAN concentration (C, mg/L) and water temperature (T, $^{\circ}C$) were calculated by the following non-linear multi-regression equation: TAN removal rate: f(z)=-1,311.295+655.714LnT+225.775LnC ($r^2=0.962$).

• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2015

Conventional physicochemical technologies for algae growth inhibition have economical and environmental pollution problems. This study attempted to overcome the problems by nature-friendly biological inhibition technology using fibrous carrier. The experimental results showed that the most effective carrier material, polyester, exhibited the highest biofilm thickness. The removal efficiency for nutrient salts, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, and algae growth inhibition of polyester carrier was 14.59%, 6.36%, and 77%, respectively, which is higher than for control group. These result indicate that the polyester carrier is available in eutrophic lake.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.359-370
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• 2015

This study developed an up-flow wetland providing either an eco-friendly follow-up process of medium-sized public treatment facility for livestock manure or a non-point source pollution controller near livestock farms. The four bench-scale up-flow wetlands were operated with four different bed media sets. The removal efficiencies of the wetland effluent for CODCr, TN, TP, SS were 35.2 %, 29.5 %, 31.2 % and 52.2 % for set 1(Blank, without reed, with bio-ceramic), 40.6 %, 43.4 %, 42.2 % and 55.4 % for set 2(with bio-reed & without bio-ceramic), 45.2 %, 48.7 %, 46.6 % and 66.3 % for set 3(with bio-reed & bio-ceramic), 32.9 %, 27.3 %, 29.3 % and 54.1 % for Set 4(with reed & bio ceramic), respectively. The set 3 condition having a mixture of bio-reed and bio-ceramic showed the highest efficiency in the bench-scale evaluation. This study suggests a mixture of bio-reed and bio-ceramic as suitable bed media in the construction of artificial wetlands near livestock farms. Soils including the bed media were monitored during the evaluation for trace elements. Soil analysis results were satisfied with the Korean Soil Contamination Standard. This study showed that the up-flow constructed wetland was feasible to treat the effluent livestock wastewater treatment facility.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2009

DO, ORP and pH values measured during SBR operation can provide information about removal reaction of organic contaminants and nutrient materials in the reactor. It is already generalized control strategy to control reaction phase time using their special patterns indicating the end of the removal reactions. However, those informations are limited to point out the end time of oxidative reaction in the aerobic phase or reductive reaction in the anoxic phase without giving quantitative value of influent loading level. In this research, a diagnosis algorithm which can estimate the loading level of carbon and ammonia as high, medium and low was developed using the basic measurements like DO, ORP, and pH. It will be possible to know the level of influent loading rate from those online measurements without experimental analysis.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1999

A new biological nutrient removal system combining $A^2/O$ process with fixed film was developed in this work and the characteristics of denitrification were especially investigated in the combined fixed film reactor(CFFR). Media was added in the anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic reactors, respectively. Tests were made to establish the effluent level of $NO_x-N$, COD, DO and nitrite effects on $NO_x-N$ removal in the CFFR by decreasing hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 10.0 to 3.5 hours and by increasing internal recycle ratio form 0% to 200%. The influent was synthesized to levels similar to the average influent of municipal wastewater treatment plants in Korea. SARAN media with a porosity of 96.3% was packed 40% / 130% / 25% based on its reactor volume, respectively. It was found that COD rarely limited dentrification in the anoxic reactor because of high $C/NO_x/-N$ ratio in the anoxic reactor, while DO concentration in the anoxic reactor and $NO_2-N/NO_x/-N$ from the aerobic effluent inhibited denitrification in the anoxic reactor. It was proved that the critical points of DO concentration in the anoxic reactor and $NO_2-N/NO_x/-N$ from the aerobic effluent were 0.15mg/L and 10%, respectively. As the internal recycle ratio increased, DO concentration in the anoxic reactor and $NO_2-N/NO_x/-N$ from the aerobic effluent increased. Especially, at the condition of internal recycle ratio, 200%, DO concentration in the anoxic reactor and $NO_2-N/NO_x/-N$ from the aerobic effluent exceeded the critical points of 0.15mg/L and 10%, respectively. Then, denitrification efficiency considerably decreased. Consequently, it was represented that the control of DO concentration in the anoxic reactor and $NO_2-N/NO_x/-N$ from the aerobic effluent can assure effective denitrification.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2014

While coupling wastewater treatment with microalgal bioenergy production is very promising, new approaches are needed to enhance microalgal growth and lipid accumulation in wastewater. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of iron on the growth, nutrient removal, and lipid accumulation of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 in both artificial wastewater and domestic secondary effluents. When increasing the iron concentration from 0 to 2 mg/l in the artificial wastewater, the biomass production of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 increased from 0.17 to 0.54 g/l; the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency increased from 15.7% and 80.6% to 97.0% and 99.2%, respectively; and the lipid content was enhanced 84.2%. The relationship between the carrying capacity/maximal population growth rate of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 and the initial iron concentration were also in accordance with the Monod model. Furthermore, when increasing the iron concentration to 2 mg/l in four different domestic secondary effluent samples, the lipid content and lipid production of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 was improved by 17.4-33.7% and 21.5-41.8%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2019

The physical treatment such as chemical precipitation or adsorption was usually added after biological treatment in wastewater treatment process since it was enforced to reduce the concentration of phosphate for wastewater effluent to 0.2 mg/L as P which was well known as one of main nutrient causing eutrophication in waterbody. Therefore, the new material functioned for both adsorption and disinfection was prepared with Fe and Cu, and $TiO_2$, respectively, by changing the ratio of concentration referred to tri-metal (TM). According to SEM-EDS, $TiO_2$ was 30~40% composition for any TM regardless of any synthesis condition. However, the ratio of composition for Fe and Cu was dependent on the initial Fe and Cu concentration, respectively. The removal efficiency of phosphate was obtained to 15% at low initial concentration and the maximum uptake (Q) was calculated to ~11 mg/g through Langmuir isotherm model using TM1 which was synthesized at 1000 mg/L, 1000 mg/L, and 2 g (10 g/L) for $Fe(NO_3)_3$, $Cu(NO_3)_2$, $TiO_2$, respectively. In disinfection test, the efficiency of virus removal using TM was increased with increase of dosage of TM and can be reached 98% at 0.2 g.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.209-221
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• 2024

This study explored effects of a sludge-based biochar addition on nitrogen removal of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. The membrane fouling reduction by the biochar addition was also investigated. A dose of 3 g/L of the biochar was applied to an MBR (i.e., BC-MBR) and treatment efficiencies of organic matter and nutrient were analyzed. The MBRs with powdered activated carbon (i.e., AC-MBR) and without any additives were also operated in parallel. The average removals of COD and TN were improved with the biochar addition compared to those with the control MBR. Interestingly, operational duration was also increased with biochar addition. The CLSM analysis revealed that biomass amounts of BC-MBR and AC-MBR were reduced by more than 40%, and thickness of the biofilm attached to the membrane surface also was decreased. The physical properties of biochar surfaces were compared with a commercial powdered activated carbon. The specific surface area with 38 m²/g and pore volume with 0.13 cm³/g of the biochar were much smaller than those of the powdered activated carbon, which were 1100 m²/g and 0.67 cm³/g, respectively. Manufacturing conditions for the biochar production needs to be further investigated for enhancing physical properties for adsorption and biological improvement.