• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2008

In this study, we tried to solve membrane fouling with membranes made by fine nano-particle in MBR process. And we confirmed good fouling resistance in pilot test. In this test, we confirmed our membrane with titania out-standing quality by testing in the pilot long-term test by comparing to other company product. Our membrane keep up steadily $20{\sim}25 L/m^2{\cdot}hr$ high flux in $7,000{\sim}13,000mg/L$ MLSS high sludge concentration. In addition to this quality, we studied membrane flux character related membrane arrangement, membrane-air line arrangement, air-line hole size, cleaning solution concentration, treatment method, etc. Using the optimization of this additional parameter, we tried to search method of maximizing membrane quality.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2014

In order to remove both nitrate and sulfate present in the concentrate of RO(reverse osmosis) process, a combined bio-regeneration and ion-exchange(IX) system was studied. For this purpose, both denitrifying bacteria(DNB) and sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB) were simultaneously cultivated in a bio-reactor under anaerobic conditions. When the IX column containing a nitrate-selective A520E resin was fully exhausted by nitrate and sulfate, the IX column was bio-regenerated by pumping the supernatant of the bio-reactor, which contains MLSS concentration of $125{\pm}25mg/L$, at the flowrate of 360 BV/hr. Even though the nitrate-selective A520E resin was used, the breakthrough curves of ionic species showed that sulfate was exhausted earlier than nitrate. The reason for this result is due to the fact that the concentration of sulfate in RO concentrate was 36 to 48 times higher than nitrate. The bio-reactor was successfully operated at a volumetric loading rate of 0.6 g $COD/l{\cdot}d$, nitrate-N loading rate of 0.13 g $NO_3{^-}-N/l{\cdot}d$, and sulfate loading rate of 0.08 g $SO_4{^{2-}}/l{\cdot}d$. The removal rate of SCOD, nitrate-N, sulfate was 90, 100, and 85%, respectively. When the virgin resin was fully exhausted and consecutively bio-regenerated for 2 days, 81% of nitrate and 93% of sulfate were reduced. When the virgin resin was repeatedly used up to 4 cycles of service and bio-regeneration, the ion-exchange capacity of bio-regenerated resin decreased to 95, 91, 88, and 81% of virgin resin.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2011

Even though MBR processes have many advantages such as high quality effluents, a small footprint and convenience for operation compared to conventional activated sludge processes, there are some shortcomings in terms of the cost and potential fouling incident that keeps MBR (Membrane bioreactor) processes from being widely applied. To reduce these problems, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) flat sheet membranes that have excellent permeability and durability were tested instead of PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) membrane which is being used widely in water treatment. Low concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was also added into the membrane modules in order to prevent the membrane fouling as well as to provide the alkalinity. With conditions mentioned above, a pilot-scale MBR system based on the MLE (Modified Ludzack Ettinger) process was operated at flux of 40 $L/m^{2}/hr$ and over 15,000 mg/L MLSS concentration for about 8 months. And coagulant(alum) was added into the membrane tank to remove phosphorus. Although the more coagulant is added the more effectively phosphorus is removed, that can lead to fouling for a long operation(Ronseca et al.,2009). By the way there is a research that fouling grow up after stopping injection of coagulant(Holbrook, 2004). Stable operation of MBR systems was achieved without major chemical cleaning and the effluent quality was found to be good enough to comply with the treated waste water quality regulations of the Korea.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2011

This study was carried out on 4 batch reactors to determine the specific ammonium oxidizing rate (SAOR), specific nitrate forming rate (SNFR) and inhibitory degree of nitrifying activities with saline concentrations. Under salt free condition ammonia was consumed during the reaction period within 200 min. When the salt level increased to 10, 20 and 30 g $NaClL^{-1}$ in reactor, ammonia depletion took 250, 300 and above 350 min, respectively. During concentration above 10 g $NaClL^{-1}$, there was nitrite accumulation. Also, at 30 g $NaClL^{-1}$ ammonia did not depleted and $NO_2{^-}$-N accumulated until the final reaction. Nitrate formation rates decreased with increasing salt concentration. SAOR and SNFR showed a decreasing trend as salinity concentrations were increased. The SAOR was reduced from 0.2 to 0.08 mg $NH_4{^+}$-N $g^{-1}VSS\;day^{-1}$ as the salt concentration increased from 0 to 30 g $NaClL^{-1}$. Similarly, the SNFR decreased from 0.26 kg $NO_3{^-}$-N $kg^{-1}VSS\;day^{-1}$ at saline free to 0.1 kg $NO_3{^-}$-N $kg^{-1}VSS\;day^{-1}$ at saline 30 g L-1. A severe inhibition of nitrifiers activity was observed at increased salt concentrations. The inhibition ratio of specific ammonium oxidation rates were 17, 47 and 60% on the reactor of 10, 20 and 30 g $NaClL^{-1}$ added, respectively. The inhibition ratio of specific nitrate forming rates also were inhibited 30, 53 and 62% on the reactor of 10, 20 and 30 g $NaClL^{-1}$ added, respectively. As the salinity concentrations increased from 0 to 30 mg $NaClL^{-1}$, the average MLSS concentration increased from 1,245 to 1,735 $mgL^{-1}$. The SS concentration of supernatant in reactor which settled about 30 minutes was not severely difference between concentration of salt free reactor and one of those high salt contained reactors.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.451-457
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• 2007

Four parallel $A^2/O$ systems maintaining an MLSS of 3,000 mg/L were operated to investigate the effects of varying an HRT of anoxic reactors and packing Bio contact media (BCM, fixed beds) in aerobic reactors on organic matter removal and nitrification/denitrification efficiencies. All systems were operated under conditions that the external recycle ratio was kept 0.5 Q while the internal recycle ratio was changed 1.0 Q to 1.5 Q with that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed was increased to 40 mg/L by adding $NH_4Cl$. In terms of TSS and TCODcr removal efficiency, both systems with BCM and a system without BCM, respectively, had a similar level of the removal efficiency under varied HRTs of anoxic reactors (0.6 hr, 1.3 hr, 2 hr, 2 hr; control, without BC M) showing that varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the removal efficiency. While SCODcr removal efficiency of systems with BCM was improved approximately 4~5% at the same HRT of anoxic reactor, the removal efficiency of system with BCM was slightly decreased by reducing an HRT of anoxic reactor. The nitrification efficiency for both systems with BCM and a system without BCM was above 94% showing that packing BCM in aerobic reactors and varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the efficiency significantly despite of increasing $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed. The denitrification efficiency increased from 81.4% to 85.4% at system with BCM while the efficiency decreased when a shorter HRT of anoxic reactors was kept. The excellent effluent quality for $NO_3-N$ concentration was observed although the $NO_3-N$ concentration increased in anoxic reactors that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed sufficiently converted into nitrate through nitrification. As a result, packing 20% BCM to an aerobic reactor with HRT of 1.3 hr of anoxic reactor in $A^2/O$ system can achieve a similar level of nitrogen removal efficiency in $A^2/O$ system which the aerobic reactor had no BCM and HRT of 2 hr for anoxic reactor is maintained.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2023

Due to water shortages caused by water pollution and climate change, total organic carbon (TOC) standards have been implemented for wastewater discharged from public sewage treatment facilities. Furthermore, there is a growing interest and body of research pertaining to the reuse of sewage treatment water as a secure alternative water resource. The membrane bio-reactor (MBR) method is commonly used for advanced wastewater treatment because it can remove organic and inorganic ions and it does not require or emit any chemicals. However, the MBR process uses a separation membrane (MF), which requires frequent film cleaning due to fouling caused by a high concentration of mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS). In this study, process improvement and microbubble cleaning efficiency were evaluated to improve the differential pressure, water flow, and MF fouling, which are the biggest disadvantages of operating the MF. The existing MBR method was improved by installing a precipitation tank between the air tank and the MBR tank in which raw water was introduced. Microbubbles were injected into a separation membrane tank into which the supernatant water from the precipitation tank was introduced. The microbubble generator was operated with a 15 day on, 15 day off cycle for 5 months to collect discharged water samples (4L) and measure TOC. As the supernatant water from the precipitation tank flowed into the separation membrane tank, about 95% of the supernatant water MLSS was removed so the MF fouling from biological contamination was prevented. Due to the application of microbubbles to supernatant water from the precipitation tank, the differential pressure of the separation membrane tank decreased by 1.6 to 2.3 times and the water flow increased by 1.4 times. Applying microbubbles increased the TOC removal rate by more than 58%. This study showed that separately operating the air tank and the separation membrane tank can reduce fouling, and suggested that applying additional microbubbles could improve the differential pressure, water flow, and fouling to provide a more efficient advanced treatment method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.705-714
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• 2008

Three Mesh Screenning Reactors (MSRs) were operated in three different modes to investigate the effect of the mesh opening size and the filtrate flux on the removal of particulate matters and the production of soluble organic matters. The mesh opening size was $82{\mu}m$ (Mode 1), $61{\mu}m$ (Mode 2) and $38{\mu}m$ (Mode 3), respectively, and each mode has three different filtrate flux; $0.47m^3/m^2/d$, $0.95m^3/m^2/d$ and $1.42m^3/m^2/d$, respectively. TSS removal efficiency of mode 1, 2, and 3 fed with 191 mgTSS/L was 27%, 36%, and 60%, respectively. The SCOD concentration of 91mg/L in influent for the mode 1, 2, and 3 increased to 117 mg/L, 127 mg/L, and 155 mg/L, respectively. For the all MSRs, there was no significant effect of filtrate flux on the removal of particulate matters and the production of soluble organic matters. However, the mesh opening size greatly affected the removal of particulate matters and the production of soluble organic matters in wastewater. Three parallel A2O processes consisting of anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic reactors maintaining mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of 3,000 mg/L were operated to investigate the effectiveness of MSR on the removal efficiencies of the organic matters, nitrogen, and phosphorus; MSR influent was introduced to System 1 (183 mgTSS/L, 324 mgTCOD/L, 87 mgSCOD/L, 45.2 mgTKN/L, and 6.6 mgTP/L) and MSR efluent was introduced to System 2 and 3(72 mgTSS/L, 289 mgTCOD/L, 141 mgSCOD/L, 40.2 mgTKN/L, and 4.2 mgTP/L). HRTs of the anaerobic reactors in systems 1, 2 and 3 were 1 h, 1 h and 0.6 h, respectively and anoxic reactors were 2 h in all systems. HRTs of the aerobic reactors in systems 1, 2 and 3 were 5 h, 3 h and 3 h, respectively. TSS concentration in effluent of both system 2 and 3 is about 8 mg/L and lower than that of system 1 effluent. Despite higher TCOD loading and SCOD loading, both Systems 2 and 3 had a greater TCOD and SCOD removal efficiency at 91% and 92% than System 1 was at 88% and 82%, respectively. The nitrification efficiency for system 2 was greater than observed for System 1 (99% verses 97%). The denitrification efficiency for systems 1, 2 and 3 was 78%, 88% and 87%, respectively. System 2 and 3 showed about 12% higher TN removal efficiency than system 1 (85% verses 73%). The effluent TP concentration for system 2 was less than observed for system 1 and 3.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this experiment was to illuminate the relationship between the phosphorus removal rate of unit operation and the phosphorus removal rate of phosphorus volume loading in the Ferrous Nutrient Removal process, which consists of an anoxic basin, oxic basin, and iron precipitation apparatus. Methods: This study was conducted in order to improve the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus removal in domestic wastewater using the FNR (Ferrous Nutrient Removal) process which features an iron precipitation reactor in anoxic and oxic basins. The average concentration of TN and TP was analyzed in a pilot plant ($50m^3/day$). Results: The removal rate of T-N and T-P were 66.5% and 92.8%, respectively. The $NH_3-N$ concentration of effluent was 2.62 mg/l with nitrification in the oxic basin even though the influent was 17.7 mg/l. The $NO_3$-N concentration of effluent was 5.83 mg/l through nitrification in oxic basin even though the influent and anoxic basin were 0.82 mg/l and 1.00 mg/l, respectively. The specific nitrification of the oxic basin ($mg.NH_3$-Nremoved/gMLVSSd) was 16.5 and specific de-nitrification ($mg.NO_3$-Nremoved/gMLVSSd) was 90.8. The T-P removal rate was higher in the oxic basin as T-P of influent was consumed at a rate of 56.3% in the anoxic basin but at 90.3% in the oxic basin. The TP removal rate (mg.TP/g.MLSS.d) ranged from 2.01 to 4.67 (3.06) as the volume loading of T-P was increased, Conclusions: The test results showed that the electrolysis of iron is an effective method of phosphorus removal. Regardless of the temperature and organic matter content of the influent, the quality of phosphorus in the treated water was both relatively stable and high due to the high removal efficiency. Nitrogen removal efficiency was 66.5% because organic matter from the influent serves as a carbon source in the anoxic basin.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.441-448
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• 2000

Experimental work was carried out on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from real wastewater using a bench-scale SBR process. The phosphorus removal was stable and the phosphorus concentration remaining in the reactor was maintained within 1.5ppm, regardless of the addition of an external carbon source. In the case of nitrogen, an external carbon source was necessary for denitrification. The effect on denitrification with the addition of various carbon sources, such as glucose, methanol, acetate, and propionate, was also investigated. Acetate was found to be the most effective among those tested in this study. When 100ppm (theoretical oxygen demand) of sodium acetate was added, the average rate of denitrifiaction was 2.73mg NO$_3$-N (g MLSS)(sup)-1 h(sup)-1, which was ca. 4 times higher than that with the addition of 200 ppm of methanol. The phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were both maintained within 1.5ppm by the addition of an appropriate amount of a carbon source during a long-term operation of the SBR. The mathematical modeling was performed using Monod kinetics, other microbial kinetics, mass balances, and stoichiometry. The modeling was found to be useful for predicting the SBR operation and optimizing the HRT.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.323-329
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• 2000

The coupling of an activated sludge reactor with a membrane unit, i.e., Membrane Coupled Activated Sludge (MCAS) system offers several advantages over conventional process. But the major hurdle in the extensive use of this process is the continuous reduction of permeation flux caused by membrane fouling. The aim of this study is to investigate membrane fouling characteristics in the MCAS process. During crossflow ultrafiltration(CFUF) of activated sludge, floc size decreased abruptly at the beginning of operation and thereafter decreased continuously and gradually. The floc size changed from 100~200 to $6{\sim}8{\mu}m$ depending on recirculation velocity. This floc breakage played a key role in rapid increase of $R_c$(cake layer resistance), which led to flux decline. The floc breakage stimulated biomass to release EPS(Extracellular Polymeric Substance) which has been known to be one of the major membrane foul-ants. The amounts of EPS before and after CFUF were 266 and 405(VS mg/MLSS g), respectively. The rise up of EPS concentration was another factor affecting flux decline in MCAS system.