• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.201-212
• /
• 2002

The objective of this study was to investigate the treatment efficiency, kinetics, and morphological characteristics of biofilm in upflow $Biobead^{(R)}$ process, a kind of biological aerated filter(BAF). The $Biobead^{(R)}$ system showed high removal rates of $COD_{Mn}$(76~83%), $BOD_5$(67~88%) and SS(71~91%) for food wastewater with high salt concentration ($>4,000mg/{\ell}$) under short reaction times(2~3hrs). Even at aerobic condition, the system had high treatment efficiency for both T-N (51~63%) and T-P(62~81%). The removal kinetics of $COD_{Mn}$, $BOD_5$, T-N, T-P, and $Cl^-$ in the $Biobead^{(R)}$ system showed a plug-flow pattern with reaction rate constants($hr^{-1}$) of 0.58, 0.63, 0,30, 0.48, and 0.38 respectively. A backwashing process to remove excess biomass and filtered solids was needed at least once during 22-hour operation at $0.5kg\;BOD\;m^{-3}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ loading. At the higher loading($1.0kg\;BOD\;m^{-3}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) the backwashing interval was shorten by 8 hours. The COD, BOD, T-N, and T-P were removed from 43 to 66% only by aerobic biodegradation. The SS was removed over 70% by the filtering of $Biobead^{(R)}$ media in the treatment system. The first one of three serial Biobead reactors showed the highest removal values for $COD_{\alpha}$(52.3%), $COD_{Mn}$(38.8%), BOD(62.5%), and T-N(40.0%). The SS and T-P had the highest removal values(47.5% and 29.2%) at the second one of the serial reactors. The biofilm had non-homogeneous spatial distribution and the colonies were embedded in the sunk area of the Biobead. The thickness of the biofilm was very thin ($5.0{\sim}29.4{\mu}m$) compared to the biofilm thickness($200{\sim}300{\mu}m$) used in other BAF systems.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.399-404
• /
• 2021

From 1 January 2020, the limit for Sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas will be reduced to 0.5 %. This regulation by international maritime organization (IMO) is able to significantly reduce the amount of Sulphur oxides (SOx) discharging from ships and should have environmental advantages and health for all over the world. To meet the regulation, in these days, wet scrubber system is being actively developed. However, this process leads to make washing wastewater. In this study, we evaluated ion exchange resin system in accordance with scrubber wastewater discharge regulation by IMO. Theoretical wastewater used as feed solution of lab scale water treatment systems. The results revealed that nitrate ion was removed selectively in spite of high TDS wash wastewater solution depending on ion exchange resin property. Moreover, it was possible to improve efficiency of the system by optimizing operating conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.10
• /
• pp.960-968
• /
• 2021

Since microalgae research started on late 18 century, they have been recognized as one of the most important bioresources used in bioindustry. Owing to the large efforts paid to industrial application of this microorganisms, their importance on food/feed and bioactive compounds has been further extending into the environmental research areas including alternative energy resources, mitigation of the carbon emission, and waste-water treatment. However, despite the importance on their industrial application, the fundamental research field related to the long-term preservation of microalgae culture has not received much attention. However, a less labor intensive and cost-efficient preservation technology enabling biologically active and stable microalgae-culture provides a key success factor in the biotechnological application. Therefore, this study investigated various cutting-edge microalgae cryopreservation technologies currently developed so far, mainly targeting Chlorophyta, which occupies the largest taxon in the classification system of microalgae. In addition, for the development of successful cryopreservation technique, the key factors such as temperature control effect and preservative effect during cryopreservation of microalgae culture were investigated. In addition, the problems with current preservation technology that is being used in Korean domestic biological resource banks and the international microalgal resource banks are described. According to our investigation, currently no standard method for long-term preservation of microalgae is available due to their various morphological and physiological characteristics. To overcome such issues, much more efforts on fundamental research area on the identification of specific biomarker used for microalgae taxonomical classification and further systemic approaches based on strain-specific cryopreservation methods needed.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.44-51
• /
• 2022

In this study, TOPSIS(Techniques for Order Performance by Similarity to Ieal Solution) was used to evaluate the installation points of water quality monitoring networks in 34 streams of the Nakdong River watershed. The Nakdong River System has been measuring water quality and flow in 195 local streams since 2011. In particular, the 34 key management points are areas with many pollutants and poor water quality, requiring continuous water quality management. For the selection of points requiring management, 10 indicators were selected for evaluation, and the selected indicators were standardized and weighted using the entropy method. As a result of weight calculation, the presence or absence of a nearby measuring network received the greatest weight, and the average water quality and presence of an industrial complex obtained the highest weight. The evaluated data are judged to be the research results necessary for the establishment of a new water quality measurement network in the Nakdong River system and continuous water quality management in tributaries.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2023

Wastewater purification is one of the most important techniques for controlling environmental pollution and fulfilling the demand for freshwater supply. Various technologies, such as different types of distillations and reverse osmosis processes, need higher energy input. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative method in which power consumption is deficient and works on the supercapacitor principle. Research is going on to improve the electrode materials to improve the efficiency of the process. A reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the most commonly used desalination technology and osmotic power generator. Among many studies conducted to enhance the efficiency of RED, MXene, as an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and 2D nanofluidic channels in IEM, is rising as a promising way to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of RED. It is used alone and other polymeric materials are mixed with MXene to enhance the performance of the membrane further. The maximum desalination performances of MXene with preconditioning, Ti₃C₂T_x, Nafion, and hetero-structures were respectively measured, proving the potential of MXene for a promising material in the desalination industry. In terms of osmotic power generating via RED, adopting MXene as asymmetric nanofluidic ion channels in IEM significantly improved the maximum osmotic output power density, most of them surpassing the commercialization benchmark, 5 Wm^-2. By connecting the number of unit cells, the output voltage reaches the point where it can directly power the electronic devices without any intermediate aid. The studies around MXene have significantly increased in recent years, yet there is more to be revealed about the application of MXene in the membrane and osmotic power-generating industry. This review discusses the electrodialysis process based on MXene composite membrane.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2023

Increased nitrogen in the water system has become an important environmental problem around the world, as it causes eutrophication, algae bloom, and red tide, destroys the water system, and undermines water's self-purification. The most common form of nitrogen in the water system is ammonium ion (NH₄⁺), and the largest portion of ammonium ions comes from wastewater. NH₄⁺ is a major contributor to eutrophication, which calls for appropriate treatment and measures for ammonium removal. This study produced biochar by applying Sorghum × drummondii, a type of biomass with a great growth profile, analyzed the adsorption capacity of Sorghum × drummondii biochar produced from the changing carbonization temperature condition of 200 to 400℃ in the ammonium ion range of 10 to 100 ppm, and used the results to evaluate its potential as an adsorbent. Carbonization decomposed the chemical structure of Sorghum × drummondii and increased the content of carbon and fixed carbon in the biochar. The biochar's pH and electrical conductivity showed high adsorption potential for cations due to electrical conductivity as its pH and electrical conductivity increased along with higher carbonization temperature. Based on the results of an adsorption experiment, the biochar showed 54.5% and 17.4% in the maximum and minimum NH₄-N removal efficiency as the concentration of NH₄-N increased, and higher carbonization temperature facilitated the adsorption of pollutants due to the biochar's increased pores and specific surface area and subsequently improved NH₄-N removal efficiency. FT-IR analysis showed that the overall surface functional groups decreased due to high temperature from carbonization.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2020.06a
• /
• pp.252-252
• /
• 2020

대하천 주변 광역상수도 공급지역은 가뭄 발생시에도 안정적으로 물이용이 가능하나, 중소하천을 수원으로 하는 하천의 상류지역은 가뭄시 물공급 안정성이 취약하다. 따라서 중소하천을 대상으로 가뭄시 물 공급시설의 효율적 운영, 물부족 위험도 평가, 가용 수자원의 최적이용 등 종합적인 대책 마련을 위해서는 신뢰성 높은 수문량(하천유출량 및 수자원가용량) 예측이 필요하다. 기존의 가뭄시 하천유출량 예측정확도 평가는 통계적 회귀분석을 통한 가뭄지수 기반의 가뭄상황의 예측에 치중하여 불확실성이 크며 국내 유역의 복잡한 물이용체계를 고려하지 않아 시·공간적인 규모에 따라 상이한 결과를 나타내며 실측자료 기반의 하천유출량과 비교하면 정확도가 대부분 60% 이하로 나타난다(이상은 등, 2015). 본 연구에서는 상세 물이용체계를 고려한 정도높은 수자원가용량의 평가를 위하여 한강권역 내의 한탄강댐 상류 유역을 테스트베드로 선정하였다. 한탄강댐 상류유역은 다수의 복잡한 농업용 수리시설 운영에 따른 수자원가용량 예측정확도가 매우 낮은 지역으로 본 연구를 통해 정도 높은 수자원가용량 예측정확도를 확보하기에 적정한 유역이라 판단하였다. 수자원가용량을 평가하기 위한 모형은 한국건설기술연구원에서 개발된 CAT3.1(Catchment hydrologic cycle Assessment Tool 3.1)을 이용하였다. CAT 3.1은 중소하천 유역내의 인위적인 물이용체계(광역급수, 재이용, 지하수 취수, 하천수 취·배수 등)를 반영한 수문량(하천유출량 및 수자원가용량) 평가 및 예측이 가능한 모형으로 기존 개념적 매개변수 기반의 집중형 수문모형과 물리적 매개변수 기반의 분포형 수문모형의 장점을 최대한 집약하여 개발되었다. 한탄강댐 상류유역의 물리적 매개변수는 최대한 기 구축된 GIS 자료를 활용하여 추출하였다. 토지이용현황은 산림과 농업지역이 대부분을 차지하여 농업용수 공급이 대부분인 물이용체계를 가지고 있다. 따라서 한국농어촌공사에서 관리하는 11개 농업용 저수지에 대한 취수현황 및 제원, 국가지하수센터의 유역내 지하수사용량, 하폐수처리량을 기본 입력 자료로 사용하였다. 특히 농업용 저수지의 경우에는 저수지출구점을 기준으로 저수지 상류유역 및 한국농어촌공사에서 기 구축된 관개면적 공간자료를 기본으로 수혜구역을 세분화하여 모형을 적용하였다.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 2008

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants in aquatic environmental samples. Therefore, it required rapidly and certainly analytical method for pharmaceuticals which are existed in environment. In this study, Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) was used to measure the concentrations of 7 pharmaceuticals (quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, diclofenac-Na, naproxen, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, talniflumate) from environmental water or aquatic samples simultaneously. Effective sample clean-up by solid-phase extraction (SPE) prior to LC-MS/MS analysis is necessary. For further purification, Mixed Cation eXchange (MCX) and Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were used to eliminate the remaining interferences. LODs (Limits of Detection) and MDLs (Method Detection Limits) for the spiked sample in fresh water were in the range of 0.05~1.50 pg/mL and 0.17~4.90 pg/mL, respectively. The absolute recovery in the concentration of 1.0 ng/mL were between 81.9 and 116.3%. The acidic pharmaceuticals were detected in concentrations of 0.018~16.925 ng/mL in aquatic environmental samples.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.38-49
• /
• 2024

Wastewater treatment using membrane bioreactors has been extensively used to alleviate water shortage and pollution by improving the quality of the treated water discharged into the environment. However, membrane biofouling persistently holds back an MBR process by reducing the process efficiency. Herein, we synthesized carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with many hydrophilic oxygen groups and utilized them as an additive to prepare high-performance ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with hydrophilicity and porous pore structure. CNSs were found to form crescent-shaped pores on the membrane surface, increasing the mean surface pore size by about 40% without causing significant defects larger than bubble points, as the CNS content increased by 4.6 wt%. In addition, the porous pore structure of CNS composite membranes was also attributable to the CNS's isotropic morphologies and relatively low particle number density because the aforementioned properties contributed to preventing the polymer solution viscosity from soaring with the loading of CNS. However, too porous structure compromised the mechanical properties, such that CNS2.3 was the best from a comprehensive consideration including the pore structure and mechanical properties. As a result, CNS2.3 showed not only 2 times higher water permeability than CNS0 but also 5 times longer operation duration until membrane cleaning was required.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.72-84
• /
• 2024

Recently, the vulnerability of water resources has been increasing owing to climate change, highlighting the importance of groundwater. In particular, the Nakdong River Basin, located in the southern part of Korea, experiences frequent water scarcity phenomena, such as droughts. This study analyzed the hydrogeological characteristics of the study area by examining groundwater and stream water in the Gwangrye Stream, downstream of the Nakdong River Basin, in August and October 2023. Therefore, we collected samples from 54 groundwater wells and five streams for water quality analysis. The results of the field tests indicated an increasing trend in electrical conductivity from upstream to downstream in the study area. Laboratory analyses confirmed that the concentration of Na increased from upstream to downstream more than that of Ca. In conclusion, both stream water and groundwater were influenced by anthropogenic contamination. These changes were closely related to land use in the study area. The upstream areas are primarily composed of forests, whereas the downstream areas are composed of industrial complexes, wastewater treatment facilities, and agricultural areas, which are likely to affect both stream water and groundwater.