• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.21-28
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• 1986

Conversion of anaerobic mesophilic digestion to thermophilic range has been investigated using a synthetic sludge. When temperature was raised at a rate of 2, 1, and $0.5^{\circ}C$ per day with continuous feeding, a lower reaction rate was observed with a high rate of temperature change. Although methane fermentation ceased completely for an digesters at thermophilic temperature, acid fermentation continued. Methane fermentation was never achieved even with neutralization during 6 months of resting. The methane formers were completely inactivated by the temperature shock and accumulation of volatile acids due to continuous feeding, while the acid formers lost biological activity quickly, but gradually acclimated to a high temperature. When temperature was raised without feeding, successful thermophilic digestion was achieved with 1 day of resting at thermophilic temperature at a rate of $1^{\circ}C$ per day, and also achieved with 20 days of resting at a direct increase. Conversion to a thermophilic range is easily achieved with resting. A short period of resting is required at a low rate of temperature increase, while a long period of resting enough to balance methane formers with acid fermers makes a conversion possile when temperature is raised at a high rate. Soured thermophilic digesters were recovered after seeding of mesophilic sludges, and sludge seeding could be a good method of start-up, conversion, or recovery of a thermophilic digester. Significant amount of thermophiles seemed to be present in the mesophilic digesters.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 2022

In this study we evaluated biohydrogen production potential as operational parameters (substrate, salt concentration, and temperature) using eight inoculum sources. While the volumetric biohydrogen production rate was significantly affected by temperature and inoculum sources, substrate and salt concentration did not have a significant effect on the biohydrogen production. Mesophilic temperature (37℃) was also found more appropriate for the hydrogen production than thermophilic temperature (50℃). Rate, while the eight inoculum sources, anaerobic digestion sludge exhibited the fastest biohydrogen production. The maximum production rate from anaerobic digestion sludge was 2,729 and 1,385 ml-H₂·l^-1·d^-1 at mesophilic and thermophilic temperature, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.21-24
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• 2012

In this study, Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor(AnMBR) treating food waste leachate was operated to investigate treatment efficiency of anaerobic process, operational parameters and production of biogas. AnMBR was operated under the condition of filtration type of inside-out mode. AnMBR was operated under the condition that range of permeate flux was from 15 to 20 LMH and range of transmembrane pressure was from 1 to $3 kgf/cm^2$. It was not good that AnMBR was performed under direct connection between anaerobic reactor and external UF module. so, this connection method changed to indirect connection using buffer tank was placed between anaerobic reactor and UF external module. TCOD and SCOD values were that influent were about 113 g/L, 62 g/L and effluent were 25 g/L, 12 g/L, respectively. also TCOD and SCOD removal efficiency were 77% and 81%, respectively. but after added UF process, COD and SCOD removal efficiency was increased to 93% and 86%, respectively.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.290-308
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• 1999

In this study a system for the treatment or recyling of organic wastes from both urban and rural area was recommended. It was developed based on the resource recovery system regarding human being by four tectnologies; forage, methane production, high-grade composting and complete decomposition. High quality compost can be produced by combining several kind of wastes produced from urban and agricultural areas. High quality compost must possess not only general characteristics of ordinary compost, but also a superior ability to improve the soil properties and must contain more nutrients for plant. Cedar chips were recommended as the main bulking agent to adjust moisture contents and air permeability. Charcoal and zeolite can be used not only as the second bulking agent but also as fertilizer for improve the soil amendment. Complete decomposition of organic wastes is defined by organic matter being completely converted to $CO_2$ and water. All the input water was evaporated by the heat produced through the oxidation of organic matter, In the present study, the complete treatments were successfully achieved for Shochu wastewater, swine wastes, thickened excess sewage sludge, wastes produced by Chinese restaurant and anaerobic digested sludge. First of all, recycling center of organic wastes should be established for the protect the environments and effective recovery of organic resources. This may means the way to derive the recovery of human value.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.2197-2204
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• 2000

Lignin is a major component of wastewater generated in the chemical processing of wood. Because it is recalcitrant, it inhibits biological treatment of wastewater of pulp manufacturing, especially high concentration of lignin may inhibit the anaerobic digestion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of high molecular hardwood lignin (lignosulfonate, MW $\geq$ 20,000) on aceticlastic methanogens in the batch reactors at different temperatures with different sludge concentrations, using anaerobic serum bottles. The hardwood lignin was found to inhibit anaerobic conversion of acetate to methane and carbon dioxide, shown with a long lag-phase before methanogenesis started. The methanogens assumed not to be able to acclimate to the lignin were found to be acclimated slowly in the batch experiments, finally reaching non-toxic levels in which methane production could start. The hardwood lignin was found not to be bacteriocidal but bacteriostatic to aceticlastic methanogens. Hardwood lignin(lignosulfonate) at 1.3, 2.6, and 3.9%(w/w) inhibited the acetateutilizing methanogens of anaerobic digester sludge by 14.5, 17.8, 21.1 days(in noninhibitory condition it took 10 days) to produce the same amount of methane. The inhibitory effect of lignin was examined at temperature ranges of $30^{\circ}C$ to $50^{\circ}C$. When 2.6% of lignin was contained in wastewater, methane production was highest at $30^{\circ}C$ during initial 8 days. At $4^{\circ}C$, methane production rapidly increased after 12 days of digestion, the value became higher than that at $30^{\circ}C$ after 14 days. However, the methane production was completely inhibited during whole digestion period at $50^{\circ}C$. High ratio of lignin concentration to initial anaerobic sludge concentration gave tolerance to the inhibition. In this experiment, high molecular hardwood lignin was not degraded and decolorized.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.77-85
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performances of the ASBR under critical conditions of solid-liquid separation, caused by extremely high solids concentration, for wider application of the ASBR to various wastes. The ASBRs and completely-mixed daily-fed control runs were operated using a municipal mixed sludge at 35$^{\circ}C$ and 55$^{\circ}C$. Conversion of completely-mixed daily-fed reactor to sequencing batch mode and changes in HRT of all ASBRs were easily achieved without adverse effect, regardless of digestion temperature. Solids accumulation was remarkable in the ASBRs, and directly affected by settleable solids concentration of the feed sludge. Noticeable difference in solids-liquid separation was that flotation thickening occurred in the mesophilic ASBRs, while gravity thickening was a predominant solid-liquid separation process in the thermophilic ASBRS. Solids profiles at the end of thickening step dramatically changed at solid-liquid interface, and slight difference in solids concentrations was observed within thickened sludge bed. Organics removals based on subnatant or supernatant after thickening always exceeded 80% in all reactors. Thickened sludge volume and gas production of the ASBRs affected mutually. Gas production increased as thickened sludge accumulated, and continuous gas evolution during thickening could cause thickened sludge to expand or resuspend. Thickened sludge volume exceeding a predetermined withdrawal level resulted in loss of organic solids as well as biomass during withdrawal step, leading to decrease in gas production ind SRT. Such an adverse mutual effect was significant in gravity thickening, while it was not sensitive in flotation thickening. Changes in organic loading had no significant effect on organic removals and gas production after build-up of solids in the ASBRs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.321-334
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• 2017

Process surveillance within agricultural biogas plants (BGPs) was concurrently studied by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and an optimized quantitative microscopic fingerprinting (QMF) technique. In contrast to 16S rRNA gene amplicons, digitalized microscopy is a rapid and cost-effective method that facilitates enumeration and morphological differentiation of the most significant groups of methanogens regarding their shape and characteristic autofluorescent factor 420. Moreover, the fluorescence signal mirrors cell vitality. In this study, four different BGPs were investigated. The results indicated stable process performance in the mesophilic BGPs and in the thermophilic reactor. Bacterial subcommunity characterization revealed significant differences between the four BGPs. Most remarkably, the genera Defluviitoga and Halocella dominated the thermophilic bacterial subcommunity, whereas members of another taxon, Syntrophaceticus, were found to be abundant in the mesophilic BGP. The domain Archaea was dominated by the genus Methanoculleus in all four BGPs, followed by Methanosaeta in BGP1 and BGP3. In contrast, Methanothermobacter members were highly abundant in the thermophilic BGP4. Furthermore, a high consistency between the sequencing approach and the QMF method was shown, especially for the thermophilic BGP. The differences elucidated that using this biphasic approach for mesophilic BGPs provided novel insights regarding disaggregated single cells of Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta species. Both dominated the archaeal subcommunity and replaced coccoid Methanoculleus members belonging to the same group of Methanomicrobiales that have been frequently observed in similar BGPs. This work demonstrates that combining QMF and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing is a complementary strategy to describe archaeal community structures within biogas processes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.613-619
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• 2018

In this study, various influent sludge pre-treatment methods and the internal recirculation of thickened sludge from effluents using a liquid/solid separation unit were adopted to investigate their effects on the sludge digestion and methane production in a combined mesophilic anaerobic and thermophilic aerobic sludge digestion process. A lab-scale combined sludge digestion process was operated during 5 phases using different feed sludge pre-treatment strategies. In phase 1, the feed sludge was pre-treated with a thermal-alkaline method. In contrast, in phases 2, 3 and 4, the internal recirculation of thickened sludge from the effluent and thermal-alkaline, thermal, and alkaline pre-treatment (7 days) were applied to the combined process. In phase 5, the raw sludge without any pre-treatment was used to the combined process. With the feed sludge pre-treatment and internal recirculation, the experimental results indicated that the volatile suspended solid (VSS) removal was drastically increased from phases 1 to 4. Also, the methane production rate with the thermal-alkaline pre-treatment and internal recirculation was significantly improved, showing an increment to 285 mL/L/day in phase 2. Meanwhile, the VSS removal and methane production in phase 5 were greatly decreased when the raw sludge without any pre-treatment was applied to the combined process. Considering all together, it was concluded that the combined process with the thickened sludge recirculation and thermal-alkaline pre-treatment can be successfully employed for the highly efficient sewage sludge reduction and methane gas production.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.997-1006
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• 2009

Organic removal efficiency and methane production rate, a feasibility of power generation from biogas, and the optimum conditions for membrane operation were evaluated for the pilot scale (5 tons/day) two-phase anaerobic digestion coupled with ultra filtration (TPADUF) system fed with garbage leachate. The TPADUF system is consisted of a thermophilic acidogenic reactor, a mesophilic methanogenic reactor, and an UF membrane. When garbage leachate with 150 g/L of TCOD was fed to the TPADUF up to organic loading rate (OLR) of 11.1 g COD/L/d, the effluent TCOD was lower than 6 g/L and the average removal efficiencies of TCOD and SCOD were higher than 95%. The methane composition of the gas was 65%, and the methane yield was 39 $m^3/m^3$ garbage leachatefed, 260 $m^3$/tons $COD_{added}$, or 270 $m^3$/tons $COD_{removed}$, even there was some gas leak. The power production per consumed gas was 0.96 kWh/$m^3$ gas or 1.49 kWh/$m^3$ methane. This lower power production efficiency mainly due to the small capacity of gas engine (15 kW class). The membrane was operated at the average flux of 10 L/$m^2$/hr. When the flux decreased, washing with water and chemical (NaOCl) was conducted to restore the flux. In the TPADUF system, optimum pH could be maintained without alkali addition by recycling the membrane concentrate or mixed liquor of the methanogenic digester to the acidogenic reactor. Also, partial production of methane in the acidogenic reactor had a positive effect on lowering the OLR of the methanogenic reactor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2012

Several acidogenesis batch tests, and BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) with food waste leachate was tested at various organic loading rates (OLRs) on the mesophilic ($35^{\circ}C$) and thermophilic ($55^{\circ}C$) conditions. In acidogenesis batch test, VS removal efficiencies were 27.3% and 30.6% at $35^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. Removal efficiency of VS at $55^{\circ}C$ was higher than that at $35^{\circ}C$. With decrease in VS, SCOD increased as reaction time increased. Solubilization efficiency of VS were 27.4% and 33.4% at each reaction temperature within 4 days acid fermentation. Methane yield were 461 and 413 $mLCH_4/gVS$ at mesophilic and thermophilic BMP test, respectively. SCOD solubilizations in the themophilic acid fermenter showed 8~17% higher than those in the mesophilic fermenter. COD removal efficiency showed higher in the mesophilic acid fermenter at low organic loading rate. While at high organic loading rate, it was higher in the thermophilic acid fermenter. VS removal efficiency was higher at the mesophilic temperature, however, it decreased at OLR higher than 6 kg $COD/m^3{\cdot}day$. On the contrary, VS removal efficiency did not decrease but maintain at thermophilic temperature. The amount of methane gas generated from mesophilic methanogenesis digester was 12.6, 21.6, 27.4 L/day at OLR of 4, 5, 6 $COD/m^3{\cdot}day$, respectively. The amount of methane gas generated from themophilic methanogenesis digester was 14.3, 20.6, 25.2 L/day at each OLR, respectively, which is about 15~20 L/day lower than those generated at mesophilic digester.