• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2008

To explore the optimal conditions for the removal of $H_{2}S$ gas by biofiltration, various conditions, including inlet $H_{2}S$ concentration, flow rate, moisture, and cell number, were examined. Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the compost of the animal excreta. A strain that effectively removed $H_{2}S$ was selected and identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous B261 by analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence. A cell number of $10^{7}\;cfu/g^{-}compost$ was sufficient to dominate the microbiota, and an effective removal was observed at $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations below 220 mg/L. The moisture content of 33-38% was suitable for activation of the microbial activity and delaying the desiccation. Higher flow rates resulted in lower removal rates of the $H_{2}S$ gas. Under the conditions of $10^7\;cfu/g^{-}compost$, $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 220 mg/L, and moisture content of 33-38%, the inlet $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 120 and 400 mg/L were completely removed for 34 and 12 days, respectively. The amount of sulfur removed was $2.99{\times}10^{-9}H_{2}S-S/cell$, which was suggested as the amount of sulfur removed by a single cell. The biofilter consisting of the compost and R. rhodochrous B261 could be suitable for a long-term biofilteration for the removal of $H_{2}S$ and other malodorous compounds.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.10
• /
• pp.3065-3072
• /
• 2013

Direct synthesis of $H_2O_2$ and in situ oxidative desulfurization of model fuel over Au/Ti-HMS and Au/TS-1 catalysts has been comparatively investigated in water or methanol. Maximum amount (82%) of active $Au^0$ species for $H_2O_2$ synthesis was obtained. Au/Ti-HMS and Au/TS-1 exhibited the contrary performances in $H_2O_2$ synthesis as $CH_3OH/H_2O$ ratio of solvent changed. $H_2O_2$ decomposition and hydrogenation in water was inhibited by the introduction of methanol. Effect of $O_2/H_2$ ratio on $H_2O_2$ concentration, $H_2$ conversion and $H_2O_2$ selectivity revealed a relationship between $H_2O_2$ generation and $H_2$ consumption. The highest dibenzothiophene removal rate (83.2%) was obtained over Au/Ti-HMS in methanol at 1.5 of $O_2/H_2$ ratio and $60^{\circ}C$. But removal of thiophene over Au/TS-1 should be performed in water without heating to obtain a high removal rate (61.3%). Meanwhile, $H_2$ conversion and oxidative desulfurization selectivity of $H_2$ were presented.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.408-412
• /
• 2005

In a previous research, it has been found that it could be possible to increase the partial pressure of hydrogen and hydrogen yield by scavenging the $CO_2$ from the heads pace of reactor. In this research, the positive and negative effects of the $CO_2$ scavenging especially on the fate of by-products were investigated by a batch experiment. Production and conversion of by-products had critical relationships with hydrogen evolution and consumption. The maximum hydrogen fraction in the headspace was increased from 66.4 to 91.2% by removing the $CO_2$ in the headspace and the degradation rate of glucose was also enhanced. The removal of $CO_2$ effectively hindered the homoacetogenesis but caused several negative phenomena. The degradation of ethanol, one of the main products, was inhibited by the high partial pressure of hydrogen and/or the absence of $CO_2$. Also it was observed that other by-products such as propionate, propanol, acetone, etc. could not be degraded further after produced from glucose. On the other hand, solventogenesis was not observed in spite of the high hydrogen partial pressure apart from previous researches and it might hinder the excess production of acetate, which could cause overall inhibition. From this research, it could be implicated that the $CO_2$ scavenging method could be recommended if the fermentation was purposed to produce hydrogen and ethanol.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2023

This study examined the effect of input substrate concentration on hydrogen production of microbial electrolysis cells. To compare the performance of MEC according to the input substrate concentration, six laboratory-scale MEC reactors were operated by sequentially increasing the input substrate concentration from 2 g/L of sodium acetate, to 4 g/L, and 6 g/L. The current density, hydrogen production, and SCOD removal rate were analyzed, and energy efficiency and cathodic hydrogen recovery were calculated to compare the performance of MEC. The maximum volumetric current density was obtained at 4 g/L condition (76.3 A/m³) and it decreased to 19.0 A/m³, when the input concentration was increased to 6 g/L, which was a 75% decrease compared to the 4 g/L input condition. Maximum hydrogen production was obtained also at 4 g/L condition (47.3 ± 16.8 mL), but maximum hydrogen yield was obtained at 2 g/L input condition (1.1 L H₂/g COD_in). Energy efficiencies were also highest in 2 g/L condition; the lowest result was observed at 6 g/L condition. Maximum electrical energy efficiency was 76.4%, and the maximum overall energy efficiency was 39.7% at 2 g/L condition. However, when the substrate concentration increased to 6 g/L, the performance was drastically decreased. Cathodic hydrogen recovery also showed a similar tendency with energy efficiency, with the lowest concentration condition showing the best performance. It can be concluded that operating at low input substrate concentration might be better when considering not only hydrogen yield but also energy efficiency.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2005

Characteristics of phenanthrene removal in the Electrokinetic (EK)-Fenton process were investigated in a 2-dimensional test cell in a viewpoint of the effect of gravity and electrosmotic flow (EOF). When the constant voltage of 100 V was applied to this system, the current decreased from 1,000 to 290 mA after 28 days, because soil resistance increased due to the exhaustion of ions in soil by electroosmosis and electromigration. Accumulated EOF in two cathode reservoirs was 10.3 L and the EOF rate was kept constant for 28 days. At the end of operation, the concentration of phenanthrene was observed to be very low near the anode and increased in the cathode region because hydrogen peroxide was supplied from anode to cathode region following the direction of EOP. Additionally, the concentration of phenanthrene decreased at the bottom of the test cell because the electrolyte solution containing hydrogen peroxide was largely transported toward the bottom due to a low capillary action in the soil with high porosity. Average removal efficiency of phenanthrene by EK-Fenton process was 81.4% for 28 days. In-situ EK-Fenton process would overcome the limitations of conventional remediation technologies and effectively remediate the contaminated sites.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.1670-1679
• /
• 2015

Two hollow fiber membrane biofilm reactors (HF-MBfRs) were operated for autotrophic nitrification and hydrogenotrophic denitrification for over 300 days. Oxygen and hydrogen were supplied through the hollow fiber membrane for nitrification and denitrification, respectively. During the period, the nitrogen was removed with the efficiency of 82-97% for ammonium and 87-97% for nitrate and with the nitrogen removal load of 0.09-0.26 kg NH₄⁺-N/m³/d and 0.10-0.21 kg NO₃^--N/m³/d, depending on hydraulic retention time variation by the two HF-MBfRs for autotrophic nitrification and hydrogenotrophic denitrification, respectively. Biofilms were collected from diverse topological positions in the reactors, each at different nitrogen loading rates, and the microbial communities were analyzed with partial 16S rRNA gene sequences in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Detected DGGE band sequences in the reactors were correlated with nitrification or denitrification. The profile of the DGGE bands depended on the NH₄⁺ or NO₃^- loading rate, but it was hard to find a major strain affecting the nitrogen removal efficiency. Nitrospira-related phylum was detected in all biofilm samples from the nitrification reactors. Paracoccus sp. and Aquaspirillum sp., which are an autohydrogenotrophic bacterium and an oligotrophic denitrifier, respectively, were observed in the denitrification reactors. The distribution of microbial communities was relatively stable at different nitrogen loading rates, and DGGE analysis based on 16S rRNA (341f /534r) could successfully detect nitrate-oxidizing and hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria but not ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in the HF-MBfRs.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.328-333
• /
• 2004

To treat a waste gas containing a high strength H2S, the two-stages microbial desulfurization process that conof a bioreactor immobilized with Acidithiobacillusferrooxidans and a chemical absorption scrubber has was proposed. After 4 times repeat of batch cultures, the immobilized bioreactor has been stabilized and the rate of iron oxidation reached 0.89 kg . $m^{-3}{\cdot}m^{-1}$ at steady state. The two-stages microbial desulfurization prowas able to be operated for a long term over 54 days. The removal efficiencies of H2S were 97-99% at a space velocity of 70 h-I and a inlet concentration of 37,000 ppmv. The maximum elimination capacity of H2S was approximately 3.3 kg S . $m^{-3}{\cdot}m^{-1}$. In the bioractor, the concentrations of the $Fe^{3+}$ and the immobilzed cell were constantly maintained during the desulfurization.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.76-83
• /
• 2013

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are regarded as a promising alternative to replace the existing automotive power sources. To get high performance and long-term durability for PEMFC systems, novel water management is essential. To this end, a comprehensive understanding of dynamics of the liquid water droplets within an operating PEMFC plays an important role. In this work, direct visualization of dynamic behaviors of the water droplet in the ex situ unit flow channel of a PEMFC including gas diffusion layer (GDL) is carried out as one of the fundamental studies for novel water management. Water droplet dynamics such as the movement and growth of liquid water droplets are mainly presented. Effects of GDL characteristics and inlet air flow rate on the water droplet transport and its removal from the flow channel are also discussed. The data obtained in this study can contribute to build up the fundamental operating strategy including balanced water removal capacity for automotive PEMFC systems.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of methane fermentation from effluent of hydrogen fermentation reactor in anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR). Two reactors were operated at organic loading rate of $1.0kg\;COD/m^3{\cdot}d$ and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20 day. Methane production rates of ABR and ASBR for start-up periods were 0.04 L/L/d and 0.19 L/L/d, respectively, whereas maximum methane production rates of ABR and ASBR were 0.25 L/L/d and 0.31 L/L/d, respectively. Removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in ABR and ASBR for start-up periods were 89% and 92%, respectively. After startup periods, removal rates of COD and volatile solids (VS) in ABR and ASBR were maintained over 90%. The specific methanogenic activity (SMA) increased as microorganism acclimated to the substrate.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2000

Effects of carbon dioxide partial pressure(PCO2) on bacterial population, methane production rate and matter degradation in anaerobic digestion were investigated by using anaerobic chemostat type reactors at 35$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, at the HRT of 7 days. At PCO2 of 0.5 atm, the specific methane production rate and specific substrate removal rate reached the maximum rates. The methane production rates in the reactors fed by mixed substrate were 26% higher than those obtained under the controlled condition. The number of acetate consuming methanogenic bacteria enumerated by the MPN(most probable number) method, decreased when PCO2 exceeded 0.7 atm. Hydrogen consuming methanogenic bacteria and homoacetogenic bacteria increased as PCO2 increased from 0.1 to 0.6 atm, however, decreased slightly at PCO2 above 0.7 atm. The number of hydrolytic bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and H2-producing acetogenic bacterial were not much influenced by the change of PCO2. The potential methanogenic activity reached the maximum at PCO2 0.5 atm, however, decreased significantly when PCO2 exceeded 0.7 atm, would depend on free PCO2 concentration in solution.