• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.314-319
• /
• 2013

In this study, nitrogen doped $TiO_2$ ($N-TiO_2$) coated on an activated carbon pellet (ACP) was prepared using sol-gel and the solid state heat treatment of urea to improve the removal property of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To explore the visible light photocatalytic activity of the ACP under the light emitting diods (LED), the removal property of benzene gas was characterized by gas chromatography. The SEM and BET results show that the increment of titanium tetra isopropoxide contents leads to the increased $TiO_2$ coating amount of ACP surface and decreased specific surface area. From the results of benzene gas removal, the breakthrough time of ACP10 increased about 2 times compared to that of the ACP. The improved performance was attributed to the $N-TiO_2$ coating on ACP surface, which could be more effective to remove benzene gas under the condition of LED lamp.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.77-88
• /
• 2015

Soil column experiments were evaluated effects of silver nanoparticles (i.e., 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/L) on the microbial viability which is strongly associated with the degradation of organic matter, pharmaceutically active compounds(PhACs) and biological oxidation of nitrogenous compounds during river bank filtration. The addition of silver nanoparticles resulted in almost no change in the aqueous matrix. However, the intact cell concentration decreased with addition of silver nanoparticles from 2.5 to 10 mg/L, which accounted for 76% to 82% reduction compared to that of control (silver nanoparticles free surface water). The decrease in adenosine triphosphate was more pronounced; thus, the number and active cells in aqueous phase were concurrently decreased with added silver nanoparticles. Based on the florescence excitation-emission matrix and liquid chromatograph - organic carbon detection analyses, it shows that the removal of protein-like substances was relatively higher than that of humic-like substances, and polysaccharide was substantially reduced. But the extent of those substances removed during soil passage was decreased with the increasing concentration of silver nanoparticles. The attenuation of ionic PhACs ranged from 55% to 80%, depending on the concentration of silver nanoparticles. The attenuation of neutral PhACs ranged between 72% and 77%, which was relatively lower than that observed for the ionic PhACs. The microbial viability was affected by silver nanoparticles, which also resulted in inhibition of nitrifiers.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.9
• /
• pp.1237-1242
• /
• 2012

The use of biological-activated carbon (BAC) processes in water treatment involves biofiltration, which maximizes the bacteria's capabilities to remove organic matter. In this study, the distribution of the bacterial community was assessed in response to different types of BAC processes applied downstream in the Nakdong River. The bacterial biomass and activity were $1.20{\sim}34.0{\times}10^7$ CFU/g and 0.61~1.10 mg-C/$m^3{\cdot}hr$ in coal-based BAC, respectively. The attachment of the bacterial biomass and the removal efficiency of the organic carbon were greatest with the coal-based activated carbon. The bacteria attached to each activated carbon material were detected in the order of Pseudomonas genus, Chryseomonas genus, Flavobacterium genus, Alcaligenes genus, Acinetobacter genus, and Spingomona genus. Pseudomonas cepacia was the dominant species in the coal-based materials, and Chryseomonas luteola was the dominant species in the wood-based material.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.898-904
• /
• 2005

Although Euonymus alatus (EA) has been used as traditional medicine for cancer treatment, exact substances involved in curing of the disease are not yet known. Free radical scavenging and reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal activities of aqueous extract components isolated from winged stem of EA in animal cell line were investigated. Aqueous extract of EA (AEEA) was fractionated by ultrafiltration. All fractions mainly consisted of polysaccharide (44.8%), protein (2.1%), small amounts of phenol compounds and organic acids. Antioxidant activity of AEEA increased depending on concentration fractions, as determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method. ROS removal activity was visualized in Chinese hamster ovary cell line using laser scanning confocal microscope, and AEEA activity increased in order of F IV>F III>F I>F II. These results suggest AETA has bioactive carbohydrates with potentials as functional foods and antioxidants.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.195-207
• /
• 2000

Organic and inorganic characteristics including bacterial cell number, enzyme activity, nutrients, and heavy metals have been monitored in twelve acrylic experimental tanks for two weeks to estimate and compare self-purification capacities in two Korean wet-land environments, tidal flat and rice field, which are possibly different with the environments in other countries because of their own climatic conditions. FW tanks, filled with rice field soils and fresh water, consist of FW1&2 (with paddy), FW3&4 (without paddy), and FW5&6 (newly reclaimed, without paddy). SW tanks, filled with tidal flat sediments and salt water, are SW1&2 (with anoxic silty mud), SW3&4 (anoxic mud), and SW5&6 (suboxic mud). Contaminated solution, which is formulated with the salts of Cu, Cd, As, Cr, Pb, Hg, and glucose+glutamic acid, was spiked into the supernatent waters in the tanks. Nitrate concentrations in supernatent waters as well as bacterial cell numbers and enzyme activities of soils in the FW tanks (except FW5&6) are clearly higher than those in the SW tanks. Phosphate concentrations in the SW1 tank increase highly with time compared to those in the other SW tanks. Removal rates of Cu, Cd, and As in supematent waters of the FW5&6 tanks are most slow in the FW tanks, while the rates in SW1&2 are most fast in the SW tanks. The rate for Pb in the SW1&2 tanks is most fast in the SW tanks, and the rate for Hg in the FW5&6 tanks is most slow in the FW tanks. Cr concentrations decrease generally with time in the FW tanks. In the SW tanks, however, the Cr concentrations decrease rapidly at first, then increase, and then remain nearly constant. These results imply that labile organic materials are depleted in the FW5&6 tanks compared to the FW1&2 and FW3&4 tanks. Removal of Cu, Cd, As from the supernatent waters as well as slow removal rates of the elements (including Hg) are likely due to the combining of the elements with organic ligands on the suspended particles and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Fast removal rates of the metal ions (Cu, Cd, As) and rapid increase of phosphate concentrations in the SW1&2 tanks are possibly due to the relatively porous anoxic sediments in the SW1&2 tanks compared to those in the SW3&4 tanks, efficient supply of phosphate and hydrogen sulfide ions in pore wates to the upper water body, complexing of the metal ions with the sulfide ions, and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Organic materials on the particles and sulfide ions from the pore waters are the major factors constraining the behaviors of organic/inorganic elements in the supernatent waters of the experimental tanks. This study needs more consideration on more diverse organic and inorganic elements and experimental conditions such as tidal action, temperature variation, activities of benthic animals, etc.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2007

Two phase UASB reactors for treating wastewater with sulfate were operated to assess the performance and competition of organics between sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB) and methane producing bacteria(MPB), and the change of characteristics of microorganisms. The reactors were fed in parallel with a synthetic wastewater of 4,000-5,000 mgCOD/L and sulfate concentration of $800-1,000\;mgSO_4/L$. In the MPR(methane producing reactor) and CR(control reactor), COD removal efficiencies were 90% and 60%, respectively, at the OLR(organic loading rate) of 6 gCOD/L, while the amount of biogas and methane content were 6.5 L/day and 80%, and 3 L/day and 50%, respectively. However, the portion of electron flow used by SRB at the OLR of 6 gCOD/L day in MPR and CR was 3% and 26%, respectively. This indicated that the increase of OLR of wastewater containing high sulfate like CR resulted in activity decrease and cell decay of MPB, while SRB was adapted immediately to new environment. The MPB activities in MPR and CR were 2 and $0.38\;kgCH_4-COD$/gVSS day at the OLR of 6 gCOD/L. This indicated hat SRB dominated gradually over MPB during long-term operation with wastewater containing sulfate as a consequence of outcompeting of SRB over MPB. In addition, the solution within AFR was maintained around pH 5.0, the MPB such as Methanothrix spp. which was very important to formation of granules was detached from the surface of granules due to the decrease of activity by limitation of substrate transportation into MPB. Therefore, a significant amount of sludge was washed out from the reactor.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.269-275
• /
• 1993

The performance of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket(UASB) reactor for treatment of corn starch wastewater was investigated using continuous and batch experiment. Results showed that the corn starch wastewater had different characteristics in terms of biodegradability and methane potential, depending on the manufacturing precess. COD removal efficiencies were maintained over 70% up to the loading rate of 3.2 kg $COD/m^3{\cdot}day$ and the maximum gas production rate was about 55 l/day, equivalent to 3.5 l/day per liter of reactor volume, at the loading rate of 8.4 kg $COD/m^3{\cdot}day$. In the anaerobic serum bottle test(SBT) carried out along with continuous operation, the sludge activity was found to increase from 0.03 to 0.53 g $COD-CH_4/g\;VSS{\cdot}day$ as granular sludges were developed in 130 days operation. SBT gave valuable informations on the characteristics of wastewaters to be treated as well as on the sludge activity. The overall morphological characteristics of granular sludges cultivated on corn starch wastewaters were similar to those cultivated on various organic industrial wastewaters such as distillery and sugar.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.303-313
• /
• 2007

Various commercial catalysts used in chemical related applications have been disposed as an industrial waste when the catalytic activity of catalysts is not good enough to achieve an optimum yield. In addition, the amount of disposed three way catalysts (TWC) has been continuously increased. Considering the physicochemical, environmental, and economical characteristics, the deactivated spent catalysts can be treated in several alternative ways such as regeneration, recycling, and disposal. In view of the environmental and economical matters, the spent catalyst should be regenerated and used for the various purposes, although its activity is not as good as a fresh catalyst. On the other hand, spent catalysts containing noble and metal oxides can be applicable for the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by applying the proper treatment method. Therefore in this review the quantity of the spent catalysts and the available regeneration methods for the spent catalysts are briefly summarized and especially the proper regeneration method for applying the catalytic oxidation of VOCs and its results are introduced.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2010

To understand the initial changes in the microbial activities of wetland soil after construction, dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and denitrification potential (DNP) of soil from 1 natural wetland and 2 newly constructed wetlands were monitored. Soil samples were collected from the Daepyung marsh as a natural wetland, a treatment wetland in the West Nakdong River, and an experimental wetland in the Pukyong National University, Busan. The results showed that the DHA of the natural wetland soil was 6.1 times higher than that of the experimental wetland and similar to that of the treatment wetland 6 months after wetland construction (fall). Few differences were observed in the DNP between the soil samples from the natural wetland and 2 constructed wetlands four months after wetland construction (summer). However, 6 months after the construction (fall), the DNP of the soil samples from the natural wetland was 12.9 times and 1.8 times higher than that of the experimental wetland and the treatment wetland, respectively. These results suggested that the presence of organic matter as a carbon source in the wetland soil affects the DHA of wetland soil. Seasonal variation of wetland environment, acclimation time under anaerobic or anoxic wetland conditions, and the presence of carbon source also affect the DNP of the wetland soil. The results imply that the newly constructed wetland requires some period of time for having the better contaminant removal performance through biogeochemical processes. Therefore, those microbial activities and related indicators could be considered for wetland management such as operation and performance monitoring of wetlands.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.87 no.2
• /
• pp.270-275
• /
• 1998

The management of pine-mushroom forest means the environmental control for fairy ring of Tricholoma matsutake. Thus, the management demands intensive study for keeping healthy condition of the fairy ring, and that for the measurement of active portion of the soil ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of T. matsutake fungus on the soil physicochemical properties and dehydrogenase activity by dividing the fairy ring into 3 regions such as 'zone of decayed mycorrhizae', 'zone of physiologically active mycorrhizae', and 'in front of fairy ring'. The passing of T. matsutake did not result in significant changes in canon contents of soils, but available phosphorus, carbon, and nitrogen contents were different between the soils of active mycorrhizal zone and that in front of fairy ring. The dehydrogenase activity around the fairy ring of T. matsutake was quite lower than that in general forest soils, which indicated that the fairy ring of T. matsutake was built up in the relatively immature soils which contain little organic matter. Thus, the dehydrogenase activity of soil was thought to be used as an index for the management of pine-mushroom forest with considering that the management practically means the environmental control for keeping good conditions for the development of fairy ring of T. matsutake. Especially, the dehydrogenase activity measurement can be recommended as a tool for time-decision of litter removal by floor raking since the activity is a good index of litter decomposition.