• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.663-668
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• 2012

The feasibility of enhancing biological nutrient removal from an industrial wastewater was tested with food waste leachate and sugar liquid waste as external carbon sources. Long term influences of adding external carbon sources were investigated to see how the biological nutrient removal process worked in terms of the removal efficiency. The addition of the external carbons led to a significant improvement in the removal efficiency of nutrients: from 49% to approximately 76% for nitrogen and from 64% to around 80% for phosphorus. Approximately, 20% of the removal nitrogen was synthesized into biomass, while the remaining 80% was denitrified. Though the addition of external carbon sources improved nutrient removal, it also increased the waste sludge production substantially. The optimal observed BOD/TN ratio, based on nitrogen removal and sludge production, was around 4.0 in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.147-158
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• 2008

In this study, fermentation characteristics of waste agricultural and forest biomass for production of heat energy were focused to be used in agricultural farm households. The purpose of this study was focused on seeking practical utilization of agricultural and forest biomass wastes in agricultural farm households in the form of thermal energy by means of simple fermentation process. Fermentation process was performed in terms of different raw-materials and their mixture with different ratios. Urea, lime, and bioaids were added as fermenting aids. Moisture contents of fermenting substrates were adjusted to 55~65%. In order to optimize the fermentation process various factors, such as raw-materials, moisture contents, amount of fermenting aids, and practical measurement of hot-water temperature during fermentation were carefully investigated. The optimum condition of fermenting process were obtained from hardwood only and hardwood: softwood (50 : 50) beds. In case of hardwood only the highest temperature was recorded between 60 to $90^{\circ}C$ the lowest temperature was determined to more or less $40^{\circ}C$ and the average temperature was ranged to $50{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and this temperature ranges were maintained up to 20~30 days. The optimum amount of additives were estimated to ca. 15 kg of urea, 20 kg of bioaids, and 10 kg of lime for 1 ton of substrate. To reach the highest temperature the optimum moisture content of fermenting substrate was proved to 55% among three moisture content treatments of 45%, 55% and 65%. The temperature of hot-water tank installed in fermenting bed of hardwood : grass (50 : 50) showed very different patterns according to measuring positions. In general, temperatures in the mid- and upper-parts of substrate piling were relative higher than lower and surface parts during 45-day fermentation process. The maximum temperature of fermenting stage was determined to $65^{\circ}C$, minimum temperature, more or less $40^{\circ}C$, and average temperature was $60^{\circ}C$. The water temperature of tank exit was ranged to $33{\sim}48^{\circ}C$ during whole measuring periods. It could be concluded that fermentation process of waste agricultural and forest biomass produces a considerable amounts of heat, averaging about $50{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ for maximum 3 months by using the heat exchanger (HX-helical type).

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2023

In this study, coffee waste was recycled into nitrogen-doped porous carbon fibers as an active material for high-energy EDLC (Electric Double Layer Capacitors). The coffee waste was mixed with polyvinylpyrrolidone and dissolved into dimethylformamide. The mixture was then electrospun to fabricate coffee waste-derived nanofibers (Bare-CWNF), and carbonization process was followed under a nitrogen atmosphere at 900℃. Similar to Bare-CWNF, the as-synthesized carbonized coffee waste-derived nanofibers (Carbonized-CWNF) maintained its fibrous form while preserving the composition of nitrogen. The electrochemical performance was analyzed for carbonized coffee waste (Carbonized-CW)-, carbonized PAN-derived nanofibers (Carbonized-PNF)-, and Carbonized-CWNF-based electrodes in the operating voltage window of -1.0-0.0V, Among the electrodes, Carbonized-CWNF-based electrodes exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 123.8F g^-1 at 1A g^-1 owing to presence of nitrogen and porous structure. As a result, nitrogen-contained porous carbon fibers synthesized from coffee waste showed excellent electrochemical performance as electrodes for high-energy EDLC. The experimental designed in this study successfully demonstrated the recycling of the coffee waste, one of the plant-based biomass that causes the environmental pollution into high-energy materials, also, attaining the ecofriendliness.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2010

Four activated carbons were produced by two-stage process as followings; semi-carbonization of indigenous biomass waste, i.e. cotton stalks, followed by chemical activation with KOH under various activation temperatures and chemical ratios of KOH to semi-carbonized cotton stalks (CCS). The surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter were evaluated by $N_2$-adsorption at 77 K. The surface morphology and oxygen functional groups were determined by SEM and FTIR, respectively. Batch equilibrium and kinetic studies were carried out by using a basic dye, methylene blue as a probe molecule to evaluate the adsorption capacity and mechanism over the produced carbons. The obtained activated carbon (CCS-1K800) exhibited highly microporous structure with high surface area of 950 $m^2/g$, total pore volume of 0.423 $cm^3/g$ and average pore diameter of 17.8 ${\AA}$. The isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm with monolayer adsorption capacity of 222 mg/g for CCS-1K800. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations. The pseudo-second-order model fitted better for kinetic removal of MB dye. The results indicate that such laboratory carbons could be employed as low cost alternative to commercial carbons in wastewater treatment.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.112-121
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• 2018

The hydrothermal carbonization method has received great attention because of the conversion process from biomass. The reaction produces various products in hydrochar, bio-liquid, and gas. Even though its yield cannot be ignored in amount, it is difficult to find research papers on bio-liquid generated from the hydrothermal carbonization reaction of biomass. In particular, the heterogeneity of feedstock composition may make the characterization of bio-liquid different and difficult. In this study, bio-liquid from the hydrothermal carbonization reaction of food wastes at $230^{\circ}C$ for 4 h was investigated. Among various products, fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed using two different extraction methods: liquid-liquid extraction and column chromatography. Different elutions with various solvents enabled us to categorize the various components. The eluents and fractions obtained from two different extraction methods were analyzed by gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The composition of the bio-liquid in each fraction was characterized, and seven fatty acid methyl esters were identified using the library installed in GC/MS device.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 1994

Microalga, Spirulina platensis has been cultivated in a pilot scale photo-bioreactor to treat wastewater and to produce high protein feedstocks from swine waste containing medium. 0.31(1/day) of specific growth rate and 0.170 of bioenergeric yield were obtanined from batch cultivation in 30% waster containing medium, compared to 0.71(1/day) and 0.545 from clean culture. An optimal dilution concentration was decided as 20% of working volume, based upon the cell growth and biomass productivity. The removal rate of nitrates in the wastewater was decreased as the adding concentration of wastewater was increased while the decrease of total phosphates was reversed, showing 0.33(1/day) and 0.30(1/day) of rate constants for nitrate removal in 10% addition and for phosphate removal in 30% addition, respectively. The chemical composition and amino acid profile of the biomass were superior to those of commerically available health food product, Spirulina sp.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.482-491
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• 2006

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) from substrates with various $NO_2-N$ and $NH_4-N$ concentationes, which were generated from piggery waste was accomplished by using anaerobic granular sludge as seeding sludge. As the result of operation, when $NO_2-N/NH_4-N$ ratios of ANAMMOX influent were 0.6~1.5, $NO_2-N/NH_4-N$ removal ratios were exhibited 1.19~2.07 (average 1.63). The higher influent $NO_2-N/NH_4-N$ ratios resulted in higher $NO_2-N/NH_4-N$ removal ratios by ANAMMOX. It means that $NO_2-N$ concentration is very important factor in ANAMMOX. Specific ammonium removal rate was constantly as $0.03{\sim}0.04gNH_4-N/g$ VSS-day at $35^{\circ}C$ while it was $0.01gNH_4-N/g$ VSS-day at $20{\sim}30^{\circ}C$. Thus, in order to reduce the effluent N concentration, either an increase of ANAMMOX reactor HRT or more biomass accumulation at the optimal temperature can be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.80-85
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• 2021

The gasification of coffee leaves, which are a type of biomass waste, was conducted on a pilot of a downdraft fixed gasification system to investigate the gasification characteristics. The experiment was performed using a coffee leaf pellet size and a batch-type gasification system consisting of a gasifier, cooling cyclone, scrubber, and bag filter. It was found that the air-to-fuel ratio was 2.32 Nm³/kg·h and the reaction temperature was 700 ℃-900 ℃. However, the air flow rate changed to 0.45 Nm³/min, which was lower than the initial starting value depending on the temperature change during the gasification process. It was concluded that coffee leaves can be converted from biomass waste into useful synthetic gas as an alternative energy source.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.704-710
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• 2014

Biomass is considered an alternative energy which can solve an greenhouse gas problem like $CO_2$ which is a major contributor to global warming. The biomass can be converted to various energy sources through thermochemical conversion. In this study, a continuous gasifier was engineered for a wood biomass gasification. The biomass was used a waste wood. The experiments of $CO_2$ gasification were achieved as the gasification temperature, moisture content and input $CO_2$ concentration. The results showed that the yield of producer gas increased with an increasing the gasification temperature. The amount of the light tar increased due to the decomposition of gravimetric tar by the thermal cracking, and the char was confirmed pore development through the SEM analysis. The CO concentration was increased with an increased input $CO_2$ concentration from Boudouard reaction. Through the parametric screening studies, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide concentration were 32.91% and 48.33% at the optimal conditions of this test rig.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.651-665
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• 2020

Hydrolysis of biomass for the production of fermentable sugar can be improved by the addition of surfactants. In pulp and paper mills, lignin, which is a by-product of the pulping process, can be utilized as a fine chemical. In the hydrolysis process, lignin is one of the major inhibitors of the enzymatic breakdown cellulose into sugar monomer. Therefore, the conversion of lignin into a biosurfactant offers the opportunity to solve the waste problem and improve hydrolysis efficiency. In this study, lignin derivatives, a biosurfactant, was applied to enzymatic hydrolysis of various lignocellulosic biomass. This Biosurfactant can be prepared by reacting lignin with a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethylene glycol diglycidylethers (PEDGE). In this study, the effect of biosurfactants on the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB), oil palm empty fruit bunch, and sugarcane trash with different lignin contents was investigated. The results show that lignin derivatives improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated biomass with low lignin content, however, it has less influence on the enzymatic hydrolysis of other pretreated biomass with lignin content higher than 10% (w/w). The use of biosurfactant on SSB kraft pulp can increase the sugar yield from 45.57% to 81.49%.