• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.783-789
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• 2011

Recently, auto-thermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) has a great attention for destruction of wasted sludge biomass in wastewater treatment plant. Reduction of sludge concentration has been successfully achieved with pilot scale ATAD and ceramic filtration process in field condition. However, high concentration of COD, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) was observed in filtrate, which should be treated before recirculation of filtrate to biological wastewater treatment plant. This study was focused on removal of nitrogen and phosphorus contained in the filtrate of ATAD, using struvite crystallization method. The effect of operational and environmental parameters (such as, N, P and Mg ion concentration and molar ratio, pH, reaction time, agitation strength, seed dosage, and reaction temperature) on the treatment of TN and TP with struvite crystallization were evaluated. Magnesium (as $MgCl_26H_2O$) and phosphorus (as $K_2HPO_4$) ions were, if necessary, added to increase nitrogen removal efficiency by the crystal formation. Average concentration of $NH_4^+-N$ and $PO_4^{3-}-P$ of the filtrate were 1716.5 mg/L and 325.5 mg/L, respectively. Relationship between removal efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus and molar ratios of $Mg^{2+}$ and $PO_4^{3-}-P$ to $NH_4^+-N$ was examined. Crystal formation and nitrogen removal efficiencies were significantly increased as increasing molar ratios of magnesium and phosphorus to nitrogen. As molar ratio of $Mg^{2+}:PO_4^{3-}-P:NH_4^+-N$ were maintained to 2 : 1 : 1 and 2 : 2 : 1, removal efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus were 71.6% and 99.9%, and 93.8% and 98.6%, respectively. However, the effect of reaction time, mixing intensity, seed dose and temperature on the struvite crystallization reaction was not significant, comparing to those of molar ratios. Settled sludge volume after struvite crystallization was observed to be reduced with increase of seed dose and to be increased at high temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2011

NO oxidation is an important prerequisite step to assist the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) at low temperatures ($<200^{\circ}C$). Therefore, we conducted the lab- and bench-scales experiments appling the sodium chlorite powder ($NaClO_2(s)$) for the oxidation of NO to $NO_2$ and the carbon-based catalyst for the reduction of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$; the lab- and bench-scales experiments were conducted in laboratory and iron-ore sintering plant, respectively. In the lab-scale experiment, known concentrations of $NO_x$ (200 ppm), $SO_2$ (75 ppm), $H_2O$ (10%) and $NH_3$ (400 ppm) in 2.6 L/min were introduced into a packed-bed reactor containing $NaClO_2(s)$, then gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were fed into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $2,000hr^{-1}$) at $130^{\circ}C$. In the bench-scale experiment, flue gases of $50Nm^3/hr$ containing 120 ppm NO and 150 ppm $SO_2$ were taken out from the duct of iron-ore sintering plant, then introduced into the flow reactor; $NaClO_2(s)$ were injected into the flow reactor using a screw feeder. Gases produced by the reaction with $NaClO_2(s)$ were introduced into the carbon-based catalyst (space velocity = $1,000hr^{-1}$). Results have shown that, in both lab- and bench-scales experiments, NO was oxidized to $NO_2$ by $NaClO_2(s)$. In addition, above 90% of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ removal were obtained at the carbon-based catalyst. These results lead us to suggest that the combination of $NaClO_2(s)$ with the carbon-based catalyst has the potential to achieve the simultaneous removal of $NO_x$ and $SO_2$ at low temperature ($<200^{\circ}C$).

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.590-596
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• 2012

Enhanced coagulation is best available technologies to treat NOM in water to produce clean drinking water. In this research, the comparison experiments between conventional coagulation (CC) and enhanced coagulation (EC) using 4 type coagulants i.e., ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate (alum), poly aluminium sulphate organic magnesium (PSOM) and poly aluminium chloride (PACl) were performed in terms of surrogate parameters such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), haloacetic acid formation potential (HAAFP) and zeta potential variation in order to find out the most effective coagulant and conditions to fit Nakdong River water. When applied to EC process, the turbidity removal efficiency did not increased gradually compared to the CC process when adding coagulants. Furthermore, the removal efficiency of turbidity became decreased much more as coagulants were added increasingly whereas the removal efficiency of DOC, THMFP and HAAFP became increased by 13~18%, 9~18% and 9~18% respectively compared to the CC process. The characteristics of turbidity removal showed relatively high removal efficiency considering the pH variation in entire pH range when using $FeCl_3$ and PACl. Additionally, in case of alum and PSOM steady removal efficiency was shown between pH 5 and pH 8. In terms of DOC surrogate the coagulants including 4 type coagulants indicated high removal efficiency between pH 5 and pH 7. The removal efficiency of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in EC between less than 1 kDa and more than 10 kDa augmented by 11~21% and 16% respectively compared to the CC process. The removal efficiency of hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic matter proved to be increased by 27~38% and 11~15% respectively. In conclusion, the most effective coagulant relating to EC for Nakdong River water was proved to be $FeCl_3$ followed by PSOM, PAC and alum in order.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.916-927
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• 2010

In general water treatment process, the disinfection process by chlorine is used to prevent water borne disease and microbial regrowth in water distribution system. Because chlorines were reacted with organic matter, carcinogens such as disinfection by-products (DBPs) were produced in drinking water. Therefore, a suitable injection of chlorine is need to decrease DBPs. Rechlorination in water pipelines or reservoirs are recently increased to secure the residual chlorine in the end of water pipelines. EPANET 2.0 developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is used to compute the optimal chlorine injection in water treatment plant and to predict the dosage of rechlorination into water distribution system. The bulk decay constant ($k_{bulk}$) was drawn by bottle test and the wall decay constant ($k_{wall}$) was derived from using systermatic analysis method for water quality modeling in target region. In order to predict water quality based on hydraulic analysis model, residual chlorine concentration was forecasted in water distribution system. The formation of DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs) was verified with chlorine dosage in lab-scale test. The bulk decay constant ($k_{bulk}$) was rapidly decreased with increasing temperature in the early time. In the case of 25 degrees celsius, the bulk decay constant ($k_{bulk}$) decreased over half after 25 hours later. In this study, there were able to calculate about optimal rechlorine dosage and select on profitable sites in the network map.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.491-498
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• 2009

We studied to develop high-efficiency removal system of odor and VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) from environmental infrastructure facilities and oil refineries, painting facilities and so on. It can replace RTO and RCO. We tried an removal experiment for VOCs (toluene, xylene, benzene, MEK(methyl ethyl ketone), ethanol, formalin etc. and odor compounds (hydrogen sulfide, etc.). In process, as pre-treatment we used the scrubber with vortex flow (Multi-scrone) to remove the hydrophilic VOCs and as post-treatment, used fibrous bio-filter to remove the hydrophobic VOCs. This hybrid system remove with high efficiency both the hydrophilic VOCs and hydrophobic VOCs. And we tried to make this system to be compact. In experiment using Multi-scrone, contact time is 2~3 seconds and absorption scrubbing water is diaphragm-type electrolysis water. hydrophilic VOCs like ethanol and relatively hydrophilic odor compounds like hydrogen sulfide is excellent, these substances has been removed almost completely, respectively 95~99%, 93~97%. And for MEK, formalin also Showed a high removal efficiency, respectively 78~90%, 72~85%. But in experiment using Multi-scrone, the hydrophobic VOCs like BTX showed a low removal efficiency, respectively 16~22%, 12~18%, 8~16%. In hydrophobic VOCs, toluene removal experiment using fibrous bio-filter, early efficiency was low but after 10days, adaptation period showed high efficiency 85~95%. but in the mixed phase, toluene and MEK efficiency reduced 5~10%. this show microorganism treat first MEK easy to remove. The removal efficiency for MEK using the fibrous biofilter was stable, 80~92%. This hybrid system is also high economical efficiency for RTO. This system reduce more than 50% the cost of equipment and maintenance. As a result, we expect this technology is in the limelight as high efficiency treatment of VOCs in mid-low price.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2010

The spatial variability in the food chain structure of an estuarine environment(Nanakita estuarine, Japan) was investigated using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope. Potential organic matter sources(TP:Terrstrial Plant, MPOM:Marine particulate organic matter, BMA:Benthic microalgae, EPOM:Estuarine particulate organic matter), sedimentary organic matter and benthic invertebrates(Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae) were sampled at four locations with different tidal flat types(e.g. sanddy, sanddy-muddy and muddy). The main objective of the present study was to determine food sources of Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae along with small-scale spatial variability within the community of benthic invertebrates. TP(${\delta}^{13}C=-26.6{\pm}0.76$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=2.7{\pm}0.31$) and EPOM(${\delta}^{13}C=-25.5{\pm}0.13$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=5.2{\pm}0.46$) were isotopically distinct from BMA(${\delta}^{13}C=-16.3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=6.2$) and MPOM(${\delta}^{13}C=-19.6{\pm}0.08$ and ${\delta}^{15}N=8.9{\pm}1.70$). ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of sedimentary organic matter showed a distinct gradient in the range of -27.4 to -22.8‰ with a declining trend from the upstream to the downstream stations. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of benthic invertebrates in the study site was -22.8 to -18.4‰ for ${\delta}^{16}C$ and 8.1 to 11.9‰ or ${\delta}^{15}N$, respectively. Mixing model(Isosource) calculations based on stable isotope measurements showed that benthic invertebrates of Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae were found to be dominated by MPOM and BMA in stations. Whereas, TP and EPOM showed little influence to benthic invertebrates. The current result suggests that the different contribution for benthic invertebrates should be affected by both seasonal variation and physical factor among stations.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2010

In order to understand the biological environmental characteristics with temporal variations of the physico-chemical factors in 2012 Yeosu Expo site of Korea, we investigated at one station, once per week, from April 2006 to December 2007. The surface water temperature ranged from 6.8 to $27.8^{\circ}C$ and the bottom water temperature ranged from 6.3 to 25.9 $25.9^{\circ}C$. The salinity varied from 12.8 to 33.0 psu in the surface water and from 25.2 to 33.6 psu in the bottom water. A strong halocline was observed between the surface and bottom layers in the summer when a rapid decrease of salinity coincided with heavy rainfall. The DIN concentration ranged from 1.36 to $82.7{\mu}M$ in the surface water and from 0.82 to $25.2{\mu}M$ in the bottom water. Phosphate concentration varied from 0.06 to $2.13{\mu}M$ in the surface water and from 0.07 to $1.38{\mu}M$ in the bottom water. Silicate was $1.68-52.0{\mu}M$ in the surface water and $1.37-30.7{\mu}M$ in the bottom water. The nutrient concentrations were generally high during heavy rainfalls and low water temperature periods, and considerably decreased in spring and autumn. The N/P ratio ranged from 4.43 to 325 in the surface water and from 3.8 to 321 in the bottom water. It increased rapidly during the heavy rainfall season and remained at a value of approximately 16 in other periods. The chlorophyll a concentration ranged from 0.46 to $65.0{\mu}g$ $L^{-1}$ in the surface water and from 0.71 to $15.0{\mu}g$ $L^{-1}$ in the bottom water. $Chl-{\alpha}$ concentration remained low in periods of low water temperature, however rapidly increased in periods of high water temperature. From the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis (MRA), we conclude that temporal variations of physico-chemical and biological factors were greatly affected by the influx of fresh water, and that nutrients were well controlled by their uptake and assimilation by phytoplankton. Also, during the low water temperature periods, environmental structure in this study site was affected by recycled nutrients through nutrient cycling and mineralization.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2010

Offshore subsurface storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising options to response severe climate change. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources, to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the offshore subsurface geological structure such as the depleted gas reservoir and deep sea saline aquifer. Since 2005, we have developed relevant technologies for marine geological storage of $CO_2$. Those technologies include possible storage site surveys and basic designs for $CO_2$ transport and storage processes. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, we devised a hypothetical scenario and used a numerical simulation tool to study its detailed processes. The process of transport $CO_2$ from the onshore capture sites to the offshore storage sites can be simulated with a thermodynamic equation of state. Before going to main calculation of process design, we compared and analyzed the relevant equation of states. To evaluate the predictive accuracies of the examined equation of states, we compare the results of numerical calculations with experimental reference data. Up to now, process design for this $CO_2$ marine geological storage has been carried out mainly on pure $CO_2$. Unfortunately the captured $CO_2$ mixture contains many impurities such as $N_2$, $O_2$, Ar, $H_{2}O$, $SO_{\chi}$, $H_{2}S$. A small amount of impurities can change the thermodynamic properties and then significantly affect the compression, purification and transport processes. This paper analyzes the major design parameters that are useful for constructing onshore and offshore $CO_2$ transport systems. On the basis of a parametric study of the hypothetical scenario, we suggest relevant variation ranges for the design parameters, particularly the flow rate, diameter, temperature, and pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2007

In order to understand the water mass properties in the southern location of the East Sea in the Korean coasts, the vertical distributions (down to 2,000 m deep) of water temperature, salinity, and dissolved inorganic nutrients were determined in April of 2005. The water mass of the surveyed location showed distinct vertical layers; highly saline surface, surface mixing layer, and thermocline of low temperature and salinity. The water layer below 300 m was characterized by water temperature lower than $1^{\circ}C$ and salinity 34.06, showing a representative water mass of the East Sea. The inorganic nutrients rapidly increased from 200m in the northern and southern parts around Ulleung Basin. A marked environmental difference was found between two layers separated by thermocline. The upper layer of the thermocline was oligotrophic and the vertical distribution of nutrient was very stable. In the water layer between 100 and 200m the nutrients slightly increased but remained still stable. From southern coasts to northeastern Ulleung, the water mass properties were site specific; the thickness of the surface mixed layer and nutricline showed a trend diminishing toward the northern locations probably due to diminished influence of Tsushima water. Redfield ratio (N:P=16:1) based on the ratio of chemical composition in organism revealed that nitrogen value continuously decreased to less than 16 with the water depth down to loom from the thermocline. The value in the water layer deeper than 100 to 200 m, thereafter, showed an increasing trend (over 16). This result was further supported by the finding of lower chlrophyll a content in the layer.