• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2019

Livestock manure is a significant source for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and a huge amount of GHG emission is generated during its storage. In the present work, lowering temperature was attempted to mitigate methane ($CH_4$) emission from cattle manure (CM) with high solid content. CM was stored for 60 d at $15-35^{\circ}C$ ($5^{\circ}C$ interval). $CH_4$ emission reached $63.6{\pm}3.6kg\;CO_2\;eq./ton\;CM$ at $35^{\circ}C$, which was reduced to $51.6{\pm}1.8$, $24.1{\pm}4.4$, $14.9{\pm}0.5$, and $3.7{\pm}0.1kg\;CO_2\;eq./ton\;CM$ at 30, 25, 20, and $15^{\circ}C$, respectively. After storage, 30% of COD reduction was observed in the CM stored at $35^{\circ}C$, while the COD removal decreased to only 6% at $15^{\circ}C$. It was found that only 3-11% of COD removal was done by anaerobic process, while the rest of COD removal was done by aerobic biological process. Methanobrevibacter and Methanolobus were found to be the dominant species in the CM, and the dominance of Methanolobus psychrophilus increased at lower storage temperature. Specific methanogenic activity test results showed that the inhibition by low temperature was temporal.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.894-898
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• 2016

Solution plasma is a unique method which provides a direct discharge in solutions. It is one of the promising techniques for various applications including the synthesis of metallic/non-metallic nanomaterials, decomposition of organic compounds, and the removal of microorganism. In the context of nanomaterial syntheses, solution plasma has been utilized to produce carbon nanoparticles and metallic-carbon nanoparticle systems. The main purpose of this study was to synthesize nickel nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of carbon particles by solution plasma in one-step using waste vegetable oil as the carbon source. The experimental setup was done by simply connecting a bipolar pulsed power generator to nickel electrodes, which were submerged in the waste vegetable oil. Black powders of the nickel nanoparticles-embedded carbon (NiNPs/Carbon) particles were successfully obtained after discharging for 90 min. The morphology of the synthesized NiNPs/Carbon was investigated by a scanning electron microscope, which revealed a good dispersion of NiNPs in the carbon-particle matrix. The X-ray diffraction of NiNPs/Carbon clearly showed the co-existence of crystalline Ni nanostructures and amorphous carbon. The crystallite size of NiNPs (through the Ni (111) diffraction plane), as calculated by the Scherrer equation was found to be 64 nm. In addition, the catalytic activity of NiNPs/Carbon was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry in an acid solution. It was found that NiNPs/Carbon did not show a significant catalytic activity in the acid solution. Although this work might not be helpful in enhancing the activity of the fuel cell catalysts, it is expected to find application in other processes such as the CO conversion (by oxidation) and cyclization of organic compounds.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 1999

To develop bioflocculant for wastewater treatment, about 60 type culture strains and 450 strains isolated from natural sources were examined for screening their ability to flocculate the swine wastewater. Among them, YWO-5 showed the highest activity for NTU removal efficiency and was identified as Bacillus megaterium according to the cultural, morphological and physiological properties. The maximum production of the flocculant was achieved in culture medium containing 2% glucose, 0.05% soytone, 0.01% $CaCl_2$, 0.05% $KH_2PO_4$, and 0.05% yeast extract with initial pH 6.5 when cultured with rotary shaker controlled at 20$^{\circ}C$ and 150 rpm. With jar fermentor, the maximum production was reached to NTU removal efficiency of 93% after 3 days under the optimal conditions. The bioflocculant produced by Bacillus megaterium YWO-5 was effective on various suspended solids and organic wastewaters.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.471-484
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• 2023

Compost is widely used as an organic additive to improve the bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soil. In this study, the effects of compost amendment on the remediation performance, functional genes, and bacterial community are evaluated during the bioremediation of diesel-contaminated soils with various ratios of compost (0-20%, w/w). The study reveals that the diesel removal efficiency, soil enzyme (dehydrogenase and urease) activity, soil CH₄ oxidation potential, and soil N₂O reduction potential have a positive correlation with the compost amendment (p < 0.05). The ratios of denitrifying genes (nosZI, cnorB and qnorB) to 16S rRNA genes each show a positive correlation with compost amendment, whereas the ratio of the CH₄-oxidizing gene (pmoA) to the 16S rRNA genes shows a negative correlation. Interestingly, the genera Acidibacter, Blastochloris, Erythrobacter, Hyphomicrobium, Marinobacter, Parvibaculum, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Terrimonas are strongly associated with diesel degradation, and have a strong positive correlation with soil CH₄ oxidation potential. Meanwhile, the genera Atopostipes, Bacillus, Halomonas, Oblitimonas, Pusillimonas, Truepera, and Wenahouziangella are found to be strongly associated with soil N₂O reduction potential. These results provide useful data for developing technologies that improve diesel removal efficiency while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions in the bioremediation process of diesel-contaminated soil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.318-324
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• 2017

We evaluated geosmin and MIB biodegradation and adsorption mechanism of biological activated carbon (BAC) and anthracite biofilter. In steady state of BAC process, the geosmin and MIB were completely removed at the 30 min empty bed contact time (EBCT) even though low water temperature ($9^{\circ}C$) in which the activity of attached bacteria decreased. When the water temperature was $26^{\circ}C$, the microbial biomass and activity were higher at the upper layer of the biofilm than at $9^{\circ}C$, and the microbial biomass and activity decreased as the depth was deeper. This is because when the water temperature is high, the biodegradable organic matter (BOM) removal rate in the upper layer is high and the BOM amount that can't be supplied to the lower layer. The Removal rate of geosmin and MIB by BAC process did not show a significant difference compare to activity-inhibited BAC by treated with azide and the biofilter also removed the geosmin and MIB by biological action. It means geosmin and MIB could be removed by competitive relationship between adsorption and biodegradation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2009

During the past few years, titanium salts were investigated as alternative coagulants for the removal of organic matter of different molecular sizes in contaminated water. The flocculation efficiency of Ti-salt was comparable to those of $FeCl_3$ and $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ salts, commonly used coagulants. Incinerated sludge-$TiO_2$ showed higher surface area and photocatalytic activity than commercially available $TiO_2$. Metal-doped forms were produced by adding coagulant aids such as iron (Fe-), aluminium (Al-) and (Ca-) calcium salts during Ti-salt flocculation to increase pH. Ca- and Al- doped $TiO_2$ showed very high photocatalytic activity compared to Fe-doped $TiO_2$. When tested in a pilot scale plant for treatment of dye wastewater to check practical feasibility of the novel process, the removal ratio of the chemical oxygen demand was comparable to those of commonly used coagulants but the settling of sludge was faster. The $TiO_2$ generated after sludge incineration showed a high photocatalytic activity for degradation of volatile organic compounds and increased the rate of hydrogen production by water photosplitting. $TiCl_4$ coagulant and $TiO_2$ produced from different water sources with different concentrations had low acute toxicity compared to heavy metals and commercial $TiO_2$ when examined based on D. Magna mortality. This paper presents the production, characterisation and the photoactivity of $TiO_2$ produced from Ti-salt flocculated sludge. Different case studies are discussed to highlighted recent advances in this field.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.78-85
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• 2000

Leachate from acidogenic fermentation of food waste was effectively treated by the UASB reactor at $37^{\circ}C$. The efficiency of COD removal was consistently over 96% up to the loading rates of $15.8g\;COD/{\ell}{\cdot}d$. The methane production rate increased to $5.5{\ell}/{\ell}{\cdot}d$. Of all the COD removed, 92% was converted to methane and the rest presumably to biomass. At loading rates over $18.7g\;COD/{\ell}{\cdot}d$, the efficiency of COD removal decreased due to the sludge flotation and washout in the reactor, which resulted from short HRT of less than 10.6 hr. The SMA(specific methanogenic activity) analysis showed that the VFA-degrading activity of granule was the highest for butyrate, and the lowest for propionate. This result was consistent with the observation that the residual propionate concentration was the highest among the VFAs in the effluent. Typical granules were found to be mainly composed of microcolonies of Methanosaeta. Though the original seed sludge contained 64.3% of particles smaller than 1.4mm, the sludge particles had been growing during the fermentation, and at the final step of this study, 75.1% of the particles were found to be larger than 1.4 mm in the UASB reactor.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1061-1066
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• 2014

This study has cross checked the change of internal sludge-recycle in Anaerobic-Digestion, and researched about not only the improvement of Bio-gas production from the digested sludge but also the efficient method of sludge minimization. Ultimate object of the study is to reduce the amount of sludge by the improved efficiency of contact with the organic-matter and the microbes in Anaerobic-Digestion. The sludge-recycle fluidized sludge layer and raised the activity of the sludge, the optimal sludge-recycle ratio, VS and COD removal ratio were 1,000%, 28.2% and 27.7%, respectively. Through these results of this study, it may be of use to treat waste sludge by the sludge-recycle ratio in terms of minimization and circulation of resources.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 1996

Effects of temperature on the efficiency of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket(UASB) process for treatment of wastewater from a starch and related products manufacturing industry were investigated using laboratory scale reactors equipped with two types of Gas-Solid Separator(GSS). Both fresh digested sludge and granular sludge stored nearly for one year at room temperature were good as a seeding material. The reactors seeded with aged granular sludge showed slow start-up, however, lowered activity at the initial period was recovered gradually. The GSS with an inner cylinder was proved to be effective in liquid-solid separation compared to the conventional type. Although the rate of organic removal and gas production per unit volatile suspended solids in the reactor reduced significantly as the temperature varied from 35 to $20^{\circ}C$, possibility of operation at low temperatures was shown as a result of gradual buildup of volatile suspended solids in the bed. Stable operation with a reduced efficiency was possible at a COD loading of $5-8kg/m^3/day$ at a temperature as low as $20^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2009

Biofilters use porous solid media to support microorganisms and allow access to the contaminants in the airflow. The characteristics of media used in biofilters vary greatly, and therefore it is important to select the appropriate media in order to obtain a large enough surface attachment area and uniform pore. This study was performed to compare hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) removal efficiencies of three biofilter media; coconut fiber, ceramic, and polyurethane. The biofilter packed with coconut fiber showed stable removal activity when inlet loading was changeable, and was restored rapidly when the moisture content decreased. However, the coconut fiber suffered from low durability. To cope with this problem a media of fibrinous polypropylene was developed to strengthen the durability of the coconut fiber. Biofilter column experiments using the fibrinous polypropylene media demonstrated over 99% of removal efficiencies at pH as low as 3 and 6 seconds of EBRT (empty bed gas residence time). Due to its superior physical characteristics, it is expected that the $H_2S$ treatment performance will increase when the new fibrinous polypropylne media is applied in commercial biofilter systems.