• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2001

We have previously developed three stage methane fermentation system capable of digesting food wastes effectively and then releasing high organic wastewater as a final product. In this study, we tried to devise an ecological water treatment system, which can efficiently remove the nitrogen and phosphorus contained in the organic wastewater. The system was made of microbiological filters, algae, and waterfleas. Of two species of alga tested, Selenastrum capricornutum showed higher growth rate and more efficiently removed the nitrogen from the wastewater than by Chlorella sp. In addition, the highest growth rate and the nitrogen removal efficiency could be obtained when high concentrations of $Mg^{2+}\; and\; Ca^{2+}$ were added to the diluted wastewater and the molar ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus was adjusted to 10 : 1. In this study the population relationship between alga and water flea was also examined in a test tube. The initial number of algal cells decreased as the waterflea population increased. However, the number of algal cells gradually increased again when waterflea population decreased partly due to the environmental resistance. From these results, it was believed that the ecological water treatment system could be used for removing the nitrogen and phosphorus from organic wastewater very effectively. Moreover, the waterflea cultured by this system as a final predator could be used as a good foodstuff for fishes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2017

In the coagulation/sedimentation (C/S) process of the water treatment process, the inflow of massive algal bloom causes many problems including fouling of filter media. This study was conducted to find out the way to remove the algae's harmful effects by addition of pre-treatment prior to C/S process. Many Jar-tests were conducted such as (1) ACF (Algae Coagulation Flotation) process using natural algae coagulant (Water $Health^{(R)}$), (2) ACF + C/S process and (3) C/S process with a variety of conditions using cultured algae. The average values of turbidity were (1) 0.42 NTU for ACF process, (2) 0.13 NTU for ACF + C/S process and (3) 0.25 NTU for C/S process. It was shown that the treatment efficiency of ACF process could get low turbidity results, and ACF + C/S process could achieve more efficient results than those of C/S process. Any negative effects of ACF process to the efficiency of C/S process were not observed in ACF + C/S process. In order to reduce the unfavorable effects of algae, it was found out that the introduction of ACF process in the forms of (1) ACF or (2) ACF + C/S could be one of the effective and alternative solutions.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2000

Large quantitive of polllutants are washed into reservoirs during storm events. These polllutants contribute to eutrophication, such as algal blooms and fish kills. This study was conducted for the purpose of assessing the pollutant removal possibilities of sedimentation pool formed by deep dredging of a reservoir inlet. Water quality data were collected in the Masan reservoir, whose inlet has been dredged deep like sedimentation pool. The average concentration of chemical oxygen demand(COD) , toatal nitrogen(T-N) and total phosphrous(T-P) in the deep dredged area were 8.7 ~20.5mg/ι (T-N), 0.17~0.84mg/ι(T-P), which were 4.9%(COD), 29.0%(T-N) and 44.8%(T-P) higher than those of middle part of the reservior. The texture of sediment in the dredged area was silty loam, while that of the middle part was sandy clay loam. Organic matter contents, T-N and T-P of the bottom soil in the dredge area showed higher values than the middle part of the reservoirs. From these results, it was considered thedeep dredged area in the inlet of reservoir might play a key role to settle pollutant particulate. Based on the result of water quality analysis, deep dredging of the reservoir inlet could be assessed to reduce T-N and T-P of the reservoir about 6.5% , 8.3%, respectively. However, the effect of the sedimentation pool would be raised if the settled particles were taken into account in assessing water quality improvement for the reservoir. Accordingly, dredging of a reservoir inlet to make a shape of sedimentation pool is recommended for water quality improvement of reservoir in the stage of dredging plan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.503-510
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• 2016

The accumulation (internal and superficial distribution) of magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) by the green freshwater microalga Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) was investigated under autotrophic culture in a stirred photobioreactor. The concentrations of the three forms of Mg²⁺ (dissolved, extracellular, and intracellular) were determined with atomic absorption spectroscopy during the course of C. vulgaris growth. The proportions of adsorbed (extracellular) and absorbed (intracellular) Mg²⁺ were quantified. The concentration of the most important pigment in algal cells, chlorophyll a, increased over time in proportion to the increase in the biomass concentration, indicating a constant chlorophyll/biomass ratio during the linear growth phase. The mean-average rate of Mg²⁺ uptake by C. vulgaris grown in a culture medium starting with 16 mg/l of Mg²⁺ concentration was measured. A clear relationship between the biomass concentration and the proportion of the Mg²⁺ removal from the medium was observed. Of the total Mg²⁺ present in the culture medium, 18% was adsorbed on the cell wall and 51% was absorbed by the biomass by the end of the experiment (765 h). Overall, 69% of the initial Mg²⁺ were found to be removed from the medium. This study supported the kinetic model based on a reversible first-order reaction for Mg²⁺ bioaccumulation in C. vulgaris, which was consistent with the experimental data.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2116-2124
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• 2015

To understand the effects of physicochemical factors on nitrite transformation by microalgae, a lipid-rich Chlorella with high nitrite tolerance was cultured with 8 mmol/l sodium nitrite as sole nitrogen source under different conditions. The results showed that nitrite transformation was mainly dependent on the metabolic activities of algal cells rather than oxidation of nitrite by dissolved oxygen. Light intensity, temperature, pH, NaHCO₃ concentrations, and initial cell densities had significant effects on the rate of nitrite transformation. Single-factor experiments revealed that the optimum conditions for nitrite transformation were light intensity: 300 μmol/m²/s; temperature: 30℃ pH: 7-8; NaHCO₃ concentration: 2.0 g/l; and initial cell density: 0.15 g/l; and the highest nitrite transformation rate of 1.36 mmol/l/d was achieved. There was a positive correlation between nitrite transformation rate and the growth of Chlorella. The relationship between nitrite transformation rate (mg/l/d) and biomass productivity (g/l/d) could be described by the regression equation y = 61.3x (R² = 0.9665), meaning that 61.3 mg N element was assimilated by 1.0 g dry biomass on average, which indicated that the nitrite transformation is a process of consuming nitrite as nitrogen source by Chlorella. The results demonstrated that the Chlorella suspension was able to assimilate nitrite efficiently, which implied the feasibility of using flue gas for mass production of Chlorella without preliminary removal of NO_X.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.67-79
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• 2016

Cyanotoxins in aquatic ecosystems have been investigated by many researchers worldwide. Cyanotoxins can be classified according to toxicity as neurotoxins (anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(s), saxitoxins) or hepatotoxins (microcystins, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin). Microcystins are generally present within cyanobacterial cells and are released by damage to the cell membrane. Cyanotoxins have been reported to cause adverse effects and to accumulate in aquatic organisms in lakes, rivers and oceans. Possible pathways of microcystins in Lake Suwa, Japan, have been investigated from five perspectives: production, adsorption, physiochemical decomposition, bioaccumulation and biodegradation. In this study, temporal variability in microcystins in Lake Suwa were investigated over 25 years (1991~2015). In nature, microcystins are removed by biodegradation of microorganisms and/or feeding of predators. However, during water treatment, the use of copper sulfate to remove algal cells causes extraction of a mess of microcystins. Cyanotoxins are removed by physical, chemical and biological methods, and the reduction of nutrients inflow is a basic method to prevent cyanobacterial bloom formation. However, this method is not effective for eutrophic lakes because nutrients are already present. The presence of a cyanotoxins can be a potential threat and therefore must be considered during water treatment. A complete understanding of the mechanism of cyanotoxins degradation in the ecosystem requires more intensive study, including a quantitative enumeration of cyanotoxin degrading microbes. This should be done in conjunction with an investigation of the microbial ecological mechanism of cyanobacteria degradation.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.475-483
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• 2017

Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) produced by cyanobacteria during algal blooming in surface water are the major taste-and-odor-causing compounds in drinking water and need to be removed. Activated carbon is often used in treatment plants for the mitigation of odor problem. However, there is a lack of information on the effect of pore size distribution and particle size of activated carbon for adsorption of both odor compounds. Therefore, we studied the effect of pore size distribution and particle size of activated carbon on the adsorption of geosmin and 2-MIB. When comparing the adsorption of geosmin and 2-MIB between activated carbon fiber (ACF), powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC), the order of removal efficiency was PAC > ACF > GAC. As a result of comparing PACs with various pore distribution characteristics, well-developed micropores on activated carbon were found to be favorable for adsorption of geosmin and 2-MIB. For particle size, smaller was more effective for adsorption of geosmin and 2-MIB.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2018

Media (bio-stone), aquatic macrophytes (Oenanthe javanica) and herbivorous cladoceran (Daphnia similoides) have been used in artificial floating island (AFI) systems for water pollution control. Efficiency in chl-a concentration controlling of AFI was tested using different combinations of each device: G-BD-mixture bio-stone and Daphnia similoides, G-OB-mixture Oenanthe javanica and bio-stone, G-BOD-mixture bio-stone, Oenanthe javanica and Daphnia similoides, and the out-put water quality improvement was compared with G-C-control (no device was applied). We analyzed removal efficiency of chl-a concentration and nutrient concentrations in the artificially eutrophic water in the laboratory experimental facility. The results showed average removal rates of Chlorophyll a, TN and TP for different four groups: 69.24%, 16.61%, -0.61%; 68.39%, 14.11%, 10.52%; 78.30%, 6.69%, 25.09%; 35.42%, -3.47%, -25.18%, respectively. The results have suggested that the mixture of media, plants and zooplankton is the most efficient combination for Chlorophyll a control, while the mixture of macrophytes and bio-stone have better efficiency nutrient control.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.221-230
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• 2016

Multi-functional floating wetland island (mFWI) was developed in order to prevent algal bloom and to improve water quality through several unit purification processes. A test bed was applied in the stagnant watershed in an urban area, from the summer to the winter season. For the advanced treatment, an artificial phosphorus adsorption/filtration medium was applied with micro-bubble generation, as well as water plants for nutrient removal. It appeared that the efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphorus (T-P) removal was higher in the warmer season (40.9%, 45.7%) than in the winter (15.9%, 20.0%), and the removal performance (suspended solid, chlorophyll a) in each process differs according to seasonal variation; micro-bubble performed better (33.1%, 39.2%) in the summer, and the P adsorption/filtration and water plants performed better (76.5%, 59.5%) in the winter season. From the results, it was understood that the mFWI performance was dependent upon the pollutant loads in different seasons and unit processes, and thus it requires continuous monitoring under various conditions to evaluate the functions. In addition, micro-bubbles helped prevent the formation of anaerobic zones in the lower part of the floating wetland. This resulted in the water circulation to form a new healthy aquatic ecosystem in the surrounding environment, which confirmed the positive influence of mFWI.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2014

The outdoor mass cultivation is not possible for microalgae in Korea all year round, due to cold winter season. It is not easy to maintain proper level of productivity of microalgae even in winter. To prevent a drastic decrease of temperature in a greenhouse, two layers were covered additionally, inside the original plastic layer of the greenhouse. The middle layer was made up of plastic and the inner layer, of non-woven fabric. Acrylic transparent bioreactors were constructed to get more sunlight, not only from the upper side but also from the lateral and bottom directions. In winter at freezing temperatures, six different culture conditions were compared in the triply covered, insulated greenhouse. Wastewater after anaerobic digestion was used for the cultivation of microalgae to minimize the production cost. Water temperature in the bioreactors remained above $10^{\circ}C$ on average, even without any external heating system, proving that the triple-layered greenhouse is effective in keeping heat. Algal biomass reached to 0.37g $L^{-1}$ with the highest temperature, in the experimental group of light-reflection board at the bottom, with nitrogen and phosphorus removal rate of 92% and 99%, respectively. When fatty acid composition was analyzed using gas-chromatography, linoleate (C18 : 3n3) occupied the highest proportion up to 61%, in the all experiment groups. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), however, did not decrease during the cultivation, but rather increased. Although the algal biomass productivity was not comparable to warm seasons, it was possible to maintain water temperature for algae cultivation even in the coldest season, at the minimum cost.