• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.489-495
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• 2015

A fundamental mathematical model for mass transfer processes has been used to understand the air pollution control process in biotrickling filtration and to evaluate the mass transfer coefficients of gas/liquid (trickling liquid), gas/solid (biomass) and liquid/solid based upon experimental results and mathematical model calculations for selected operating conditions. The mass transfer models for the utilization of the steady-state mass balance for gas/liquid, and dynamic mass balance model for gas/solid & liquid/solid in biotrickling filters were established and discussed. The mass transfer model considered the reactor to comprise finite sections, for each of which dynamic mass balances for gas/solid and liquid/solid system were solved by numerical analysis code (numerical iteration). To determine the mass transfer coefficients ($K_La$) of gas/liquid, gas/solid & liquid/solid in a biotrickling filter, the calculation results based upon mass balance equation was optimized to coincide with the experimental results for the selected operating conditions. Finally, this study contributed the development of experimental methods and discussed the mathematical model to determine the mass transfer coefficients in a biotrickling filtration for air pollution control.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.605-617
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• 2015

The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a botanical biofiltration system that combines a green interior, biofiltering, and automatic irrigation to purify indoor air pollutants according to indoor space and the size of biofilter. This study was performed to compare the stability of air flow characteristics and removal efficiency (RE) of fine dust within a wall-typed (vertical) botanical biofilter depending on humidifying cycle and to investigate RE of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the biofilter. The biofilter used in this experiment was designed as an integral form of water metering pump, water tank, blower, humidifier, and multi-level planting space in order to be suitable for indoor space utilization. As a result, relative humidity, air temperature, and soil moisture content (SMC) within the biofilter showed stable values regardless of three different humidifying cycles operated by the metering pump. In particular, SMCs were consistently maintained in the range of 27.1-29.7% during all humidifying cycles; moreover, a humidifying cycle of operating for 15 min and pausing for 45 min showed the best horizontal linear regression (y = 0.0008x + 29.09) on SMC ($29.0{\pm}0.2%$) during 120 hour. REs for number of fine dust (PM10) and ultra-fine dust (PM2.5) particles passed through the biofilter were in the range of 82.7-89.7% and 65.4-73.0%, respectively. RE for weight of PM10 passed through the biofilter was in the range of 58.1-78.9%, depending on humidifying cycle. REs of xylene, ethyl benzene, total VOCs (TVOCs), and toluene passed through the biofilter were in the range of 71.3-75.5%, while REs of benzene and formaldehyde (HCHO) passed through the biofilter were 39.7% and 44.9%, respectively. Hence, it was confirmed that the wall-typed botanical biofilter suitable for indoor plants was very effective for indoor air purification.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4B
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• pp.441-447
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• 2008

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from various industrial sources commonly consist of biodegradable chemicals and recalcitrant compounds. Therefore, it is not effective to employ a single method to treat such mixtures. In this study, a novel hybrid system coupled with a ultraviolet (UV) photolysis reactor and a biofilter in a series was developed and evaluated using toluene and TCE as model VOCs. When only TCE was applied to the UV reactor, greater than 99% of TCE was degraded and the concentration of soluble byproducts from photo-oxidation reaction increased significantly. However, the toluene and TCE mixture was not effectively degraded by the UV photo-oxidation standalone process. The hybrid system showed high toluene removal efficiencies, and TCE degradation at a low toluene/TCE ratio was improved by UV pretreatment. These findings indicated that the UV photo-oxidation were effective for TCE degradation when the concentration of toluene in the mixture was relatively low. A restively high toluene content in the mixture resulted in an inhibition of TCE degradation. Thus, chemical interactions in both photo-oxidation and biodegradation need to be carefully considered to enhance overall performance of the hybrid system.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2012

To determine whether the seaweed Saccharina japonica can effectively utilize dissolved nutrients from Sebastes schlegeli fish cultures, a laboratory experiment was conducted in a static system for 7 days at ESFRI, NFRDI in Korea. The experiment included an S. schlegeli monoculture system and an S. schlegeli-S. japonica IMTA system. Saccharina schlegeli density ($415{\pm}24g$; mean${\pm}$SE) remained the same in all treatments, whereas seaweed density varied across treatments of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kg (control and T1-T4, respectively). During the experiment, nutrient ($NH_4^+$ and $PO_4^{3-}$) concentrations were measured at 24-h intervals. $NH_4^+$ concentration of the control group increased from $0.117{\pm}0.021mg/L$ at the start of experiment to $5.836{\pm}0.904mg/L$ at the end of experiment. $NH_4^+$ concentrations of each treatment were $3.004{\pm}0.040$, $2.086{\pm}0.133$, $1.642{\pm}0.121$ and $0.775{\pm}0.007mg/L$ in T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively, at the end of experiment. The concentration of $PO_4^{3-}$ exhibited a similar trend to $NH_4^+$ concentration. $NH_4^+$ and $PO_4^{3-}$ concentrations significantly decreased with increased S. japonica thallus density each day (P<0.05). The nutrient removal efficiency (NRE) and nutrient uptake rate (NUR) showed different relationships with changes in thallus density; NRE increased but NUR decreased as thallus density increased. Based on measured concentrations of $NH_4^+$ and S. japonica weight, regression analysis defined the relationship between as an exponential function, $Y=3.8165e^{-0.505X}$ ($R^2$ = 0.9552). Our results demonstrated that S. japonica can function as an efficient component in IMTA with environmental and potentially economic benefits for fish hatcheries.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.886-891
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• 2005

In this study, a novel bioreactor system using a submerged hollow fiber membrane module (so called hollow fiber membrane bioreactor, HFMB) was applied to investigate feasibility and biodegradation capacity of the system for the treatment of gaseous toluene. First an abiotic test was conducted to determine the mass transfer coefficient, showing the value was similar to that obtained from a diffuser system using fine bubbles. Second, in the presence of toluene-degrading microorganisms, the HFMB was operated at different inlet toluene loading rates of 50, 100, $500\;g/m^3/hr$, and overall removal efficiencies were maintained in the range of $70{\sim}80%$. In addition, elimination capacities(EC) were increased up to $800\;g/m^3/hr$, which was substantially higher than maximum ECs for toluene reported in the biofiltration literature. Consequently, the HFMB was considered as an alternative method over other conventional VOC-treating technologies.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.779-786
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• 2012

Many farmers have been seeking alternatives to chemical fertilizer for successful organic fruit production. This experiment was carried out to investigate the replaceability of chemical fertilizer by cover crop and slurry composting biofiltration (SCB) liquid manure (LM) application in pear orchard. Three treatments were contained in this experiment; cover crop only and cover crop + LM treatment, and control (chemical fertilizer application). Dry weight and mineral contents of gramineous cover crops were significantly increased in LM-combined treatments than that of leguminous species. Bulk density of soil was decreased in rye + LM and hairy vetch + LM treatments, compared with each cover crop treatment. Soil pH was lowest in fertilizer treatment and soil nitrate content became similar between treatments after rainy season. Available soil phosphate was lower in cover crop and cover crop + LM treatmemts than control, but exchangeable Mg was higher. The mineral content and net assimilation rate of leaves showed no difference between the treatments. As a result, it is suggested that the application of SCB liquid manure in pear orchard managed by cover crops is desirable to maintain the productivity by improving soil physical properties and potential nutrient recovery.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2009

In regional nutrient quota system, livestock manure was applied as liquid fertilizer after slurry composting and biofiltration (SCB) process. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCB liquid fertilizer on turfgrass growth in golf course during 6 month period from May to October in 2008. Fertilizer treatment was designed as follows; non-fertilizer (NF), control (CF; compound fertilizer), S-1 (1L SCB${\cdot}m^{-2}$) and S-2 (2L SCB${\cdot}m^{-2}$). Every treatment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In creeping bentgrass, turf color index, chlorophyll content, and dry weight were measured. Results were as follows; A seasonal change pattern of turf grass quality in all treatment increased in April $\sim$ June and September $\sim$ October, whereas it decreased in July $\sim$ August. As compared with NF, turf color index of CF, S-1 and S-2 increased by 1.8%, 1.8%, and 3.3%, respectively and chlorophyll content by 13%, 14%, and 20%, respectively. Dry weight of CF, S-1, and S-2 was higher than that of NFl by 7.7%, 18.2%, and 18.1%, respectively. For turf color index, chlorophyll content, and dry weigh, S-2 showed the best effect, followed by S-1 and CF in creeping bentgrass. These results indicated that the SCB application improves turf growth and quality.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 2000

This study was initiated to investigate the influence of biophysical condition on the composting characteristics, and conducted to develop technology for using recycled compost as a bulking agent cost to reduce operating cost. To methods of aeration, continuous aeration (CA: run No. I) and intermittent aeration (IA: run No. 2) were performed with three 12.3 liter laboratory scale vessels for ten days. Manure and rice hulls were mixed for thirst trial (I), rice hulls and recycled compost after first trial were mixed for second trial (II), dairy manure and only recycled compost after second trial were mixed for third trial (III). During the composting process, temperatures of the compost mass and ammonia emissions were measured. The quality and maturity of compost were ascertained by examining the characteristics and composition of the compost. Also, loss of mass was determined by measuring the mass of materials in the vessels before and after composting. The results in this study are as follows: 1. The periods of optimum temperature ($>55^{\circ}C$) to kill pathogens were maintained from 38 to 78 hours for CA and from 60 to 98 hours for IA. 2. The more recycled compost mixed, the more ammonia emitted. The maximum ammonia emissions were 287 ppm at CA and 420 ppm at IA. 3. Biofiltration system was required for the compo sting system using only recycled compost as an amendment, because the ammonia emissions was produced above 100 ppm at the end of composting process. 4. The quality and maturity of compost: - Fresh compost, were required drying, because moisture contents of the compost were approximately 70% in all tests. - The pH values were observed to rise smoothly, from 7.9 to 8.3 at CA and from 8.4 to 8.6 at IA. The CfN ratios of the fresh compost were ranged form 21.05 to 16.42 for CA and from 22.81 to 14.75 for IA. The final C/N ratios for test II and III were below 20.were below 20.