• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1174-1179
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• 2005

Up-flow sludge blanket(USB) reactors were used to investigate the effects of N/C(${NO_3}^--N/COD$) ratio on simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis processes. Without nitrate feeding, 84% of the influent COD was converted into methane. With the increase of N/C ratio, nitrogen gas increased while methane production decreased and stopped finally at the N/C ratio over 0.20. Influent nitrate was completely denitrified into nitrogen gas while nitrate removal efficiency dropped below 40% at N/C ratio of 0.40 because of deficiency in organic carbon. Fraction of COD utilized by denitrification increased at higher N/C ratios. Methanogenesis started to be effected at N/C ratio of 0.05, which could explain the competition for organic carbon between these microorganisms such as denitrifiers and methanogens, rather than inhibitory effect of nitrate and its intermediates. Critical N/C ratio for simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis was found to be 0.20. Influent COD was removed over 92% by denitrification, methanogenesis and other biochemical reactions including cell growth at these N/C ratios.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.410-414
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• 2000

The effect of the COD/N ratio on denitrification characteristics was evaluated for the development of a denitrification process. Activated sludge, acclimated to an anoxic condition, was used as the denitrifier consortium (mixture of denitrifying organisms) for enhanced nitrogen removal in a recirculating aquarium system. Synthetic wastewater containing nitrate was used as the influent solution and glucose was used as the carbon source for denitrification. The COD/N ratio varied within a range of 1.5-7.2. The denitrification efficiency was higher than 97% even at a COD/N ratio of 1.5. Under a theoretical COD/N ratio of 3.0, nitrite was detected, however, the amount was less than 1% of the total influent nitrogen. The number of both nitrate-reducing bacteria and denitrifying bacteria reached $3.5{\times}10^5/ml$ with a COD/N ratio of 1.5 after 45 days of operation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.196-206
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• 2000

Methanogenesis and denitrification in an upflow sludge baffled filter (UBF) reactor were studied using glucose as a fermentative substrate. Experiments were carried out to investigate how to reduce ammonification by changing alkalinity and $COD/NO_3-N$ ratio. Characteristics of granular sludges were examined by specifics methanogenic activity(SMA) and specific denitrification rate(SDR) tests. Microstructures of granules were examined using a scanning electron microscopy(SEM). It was found that COD was removed efficiently owing to the diverse microorganisms. In nitrate conversion, not only $COD/NO_3-N$ ratio but also influent alkalinity played important role in the ratio of denitrification and ammonification of nitrate. This reactor achieved over 95% COD and 99% nitrate removal efficiencies when influent contained 4000 mgCOD/L and $700mgNO_3-N/L$ at the hydraulic retention time of 24 hours. As $COD/NO_3-N$ ratio decreased, granular methanogenic activities using acetate and butyrate as substrates increased while activities using propionate and glucose decreased. There were three types in granules according to the surface color; gray, yellowish gray, and black. Gray or yellowish gray-colored granules were composed two layers, which were composed of black inner side and gray or yellowish gray surface substances. SEM illustrated that both were rod-type and cocci-type microorganisms resembling Methanothrix sp. and Methanococci sp. This study showed that by controlling the influent alkalinity and $COD/NO_3-N$ ratio, ammonification and denitrification could be manipulated.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 2006

A continuous feed and cyclic draw SBR process was developed to overcome flow rate fluctuation and to maximize organic matters utilization efficiency for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The developed SBR process was operated with two parallel reactors. Influent was supplied to one reactor which was not obligately aerated. At the same time, the other reactor was just aerated without supplying influent. In addition this mode was changed periodically. Cycle time was 6hr and aeration time ratio($t_{aer}/t_{total}$) was 0.33, respectively. $COD_{cr}$ and SS removal efficiencies of 95% or higher were achieved. Nitrogen removal was so greatly influenced by influent $COD_{cr}/T-N$ ratio. At influent $COD_{cr}/T-N$ ratio of 5.7, removal efficiencies of ammonia-N, T-N and T-P were 96%, 78% and 55%, respectively. Influent $COD_{cr}/T-N$ of 4 or higher ratio was necessary to achieve 60% or higher nitrogen removal. Organic matters of influent was efficiently utilized in denitrification reaction and consumed COD has a good correlation with removed T-N(about 6.5 mgCOD/mgTN). Continuous feed and cyclic draw SBR process could be one of alternative processes for the removal of nutrients in rural area where $COD_{cr}/T-N$ ratio was low and fluctuation of flow rate was severe.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.739-745
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• 2005

Simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis at various influent COD/Nitrate-N(below C/N) ratio was investigated with two different anaerobic sludges of which one was inoculated with glucose only and the other was inoculated with glucose and nitrate. Three different C/N ratios of 30, 20, and 10 were applied with each anaerobic sludge in serum bottles agitated in a rotary shaker to monitor the time related changes of amount of gas production and gas composition. Glucose was used as a single carbon source, which was adjusted to 1,000 mg/L as COD and potassium nitrate was used as a nitrogen source to adjust the each C/N ratio. COD removal by methanogenesis was dominant at higher C/N ratios, while COD removal by denitrification was dominant at lower C/N ratios. With the sludges cultured at C/N ratios below 10, SMA and SDNR rising different carbon substrates were investigated. The most efficient carbon substrate was acetate and the highest SMA and SDNR were 0.76 g COD/g VSS day with pure anaerobic sludge and 1.38 g ${NO_3}^--N/g$ VSS day with sludge cultured at C/N ratio of 5, respectively.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.263-276
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• 2015

This paper deals with the influence of chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen ratio ((COD/N) ratio) on the performance of an membrane bioreactor. We aim at establishing relations between COD/N ratio, organisms' distribution and sludge properties (specific resistance to filtration (SRF) and membrane fouling). It is also essential to define new criteria to characterize the autotrophic microorganisms, as the measurements of apparent removal rates of ammonium seem irrelevant to characterize their specific activity. Two experiments (A and B) have been carried on a 30 L lab scale membrane bioreactor with low COD/N ratio (2.3 and 1.5). The obtained results clearly indicate the role of the COD/N ratio on the biomass distribution and performance of the membrane bioreactor. New specific criteria for characterising the autotrophic microorganisms activity, is also defined as the ratio of maximum ammonium rate to the specific oxygen uptake rate in the endogenous state for autotrophic bacteria which seem to be constant whatever the operating conditions are. They are about 24.5 to 23.8 $gN-NH_4{^+}/gO_2$, for run A and B, respectively. Moreover, the filterability of the biological suspension appear significantly lower, specific resistance to filtration and membrane fouling rate are less than $10^{14}m^{-2}$ and $0.07\;10^{12}m^{-1}.d^{-1}$ respectively, than in conventional MBR confirming the adv < antage of the membrane bioreactor functioning under low COD/N ratio.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.63-68
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• 1996

This study was to discuss limiting factors influenced on the removal efficiencies of nitrogenous compounds investigated using the polypropyrene media which was to attach microorganism in order to apply the fixed-biofilm process. The main limiting factors are the hydraulic retention time (HRT), C/N ratio, $COD/NO_{3}-N$ ratio and temperature. The hydraulic retention time HRT were 6, 8, 10, 12 hrs and the C/N ratio range was 2.5-9.5. The $COD/NO_{3}-N$ ratio range was 3.2-21.9 and the temperature were 15, 20, 25, 30, $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The results of this study are summerized as follows. 1. Hydraulic retention time (HRT) to obtain removal efficiencies of T-N higher than 85% had to be 10 hrs above. 2. The removal efficiencies of T-N decreased at C/N ratio from 6.2 to 4.8 in this anoxic-contact aeration system. 3. Denitrification rate decreased at $COD/NO$_{3}$-N$ ratio from 8.0 to 5.0 4. As temperature increased, removal efficiencies of T-N increased.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2014

Food waste leachate (FWL) is a serious pollutant waste coming from the food waste recycling facilities in Korea. FWL has a high organic matter content and high COD to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio, which can disturb efficient methane production in the anaerobic digestion of FWL. In the present study a microalga, Clorella vulgaris (C.V), was used as co-substrate for the FWL anaerobic digestion in order to supply nutrients, decrease the COD/N ratio and increase its methane yield. Different co-digestion mixtures (COD/N ratios) were studied by using biochemical methane potential test and modified Gompertz equation for kinetic study. Mixed substrate of FWL and C. vulgaris in the co-digestion clearly showed more the biomethane yield than the sole substrates. The maximum methane production, 827.7 mL-$CH_4$/g-VS added, was obtained for COD/N ratio of 24/1, whereas the highest improvement of methane yield was found for COD/N ratio of 15/1.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1994

This study was conducted to develop a new RBC process available for the effective removal of organic matters and nitrogen in sewage. The RBC process for the oxidation organic compounds and nitrification was designed to occur at the 1st-stage and next-stage RBC respectively. Then nitrified water was recycled to the denitrifying RBC located at the lower part of the 1st-stage RBC. Some results were summarized as follows. 1. The loading limitation was represented as $60g{\cdot}COD/gm^2/day$ in experiment of simultaneous removal of organic matter and nitrogen. The maxmum COD % removal was 85% at the load $35g{\cdot}COD/m^2/day$. 2. The $NO_3-N$ % removal was approximately 80% at the load $60g{\cdot}COD/m^2/day$ and the maximum $NO_3-N$ remaval rate was $3.9g{\cdot}COD/m^2/day$ and the overall C/N ratio of 11.0 as required to achive 80% of $NO_3-N$% removal. 3.$NO_3-N$ removal rate was rapidly decreased above the load $7g{\cdot}NH_4{^+}-N/m^2/day$ and the maximum $NO_3-N$ removal rate was $3.7g{\cdot}NO_3-N/m^2/day$. 4. Irrespective of the recycle ratio, the COD % removal at the system of 2-stage RBC unit was nearly constant as 89% while the maximum one in the 1st-stage unit was 77% in the case of 50% recycle. 5. The maximum COD % removal in the 3-stage RBC system was 93% while 1st-stage one being 80%, under the $NH_4{^+}-N$ load of $7.4g/m^2{\cdot}d$. Also maximum percentage of nitrification and denitrification was 69% and 41% respectively, under the same $NH_4{^+}-N$ load.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2001

To treat piggery wastewater containing refractory compounds including nitrogen, physical treatments using zeolite and biological processes were investigated. In biogical treatment, the removal efficiencies of organics and nitrogen in bioreador using BACC (Biological Activated Carbon Cartridge) media filled with granule activated carbon were examined. The best removal efficiencies achieved for TKN and COD(sub)cr were 82% and 53% respectively, when zeolite dosage was 300 g/L. Specific nitrogen removal ability was 3.2 mg/g at a zeolite dosage of 50 g/L, whereas specific nitrogen removal ability was 1.8 mg/g at a zeolite dosage of 300 g/L. The increased of C/N ratio resulting from the removal of nitrogen using zeolite led to an increase in removal efficiency of organics. As C/N ratio was increased to 2.0, 2.44 and 6.58 at a HRT of 48 hours in a BACC bioreactor, removal efficiencies of COD(sub)cr were increased to 53.5%, 57.4% and 80.6%. The removal efficiency of wastewater using a zeolite dosage of 399 g/L was increased by 27.1% compared to that of control treatment.