• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.364-367
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• 2003

In this paper, we have examined the MTBE cometabolic degradation by pure culture, which is isolated gasoline contaminated aquifer. Propane was more effectively utilized as a growth substrate to oxidize MTBE. Specific substrate degradation rate was Increased with increasing initial propane amount. Respiking propane was enhanced and continued MTBE degradation and TBA observation was supported MTBE degradation. The mass balance of MTBE and TBA indicated that MTBE was oxidized to TBA as well as further oxidation of TBA.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2010

In this study, we have isolated MTBE utilizing bacteria at the gasoline contaminated soil and also MTBE degradation patterns were characterized. The 18 bacterial mono-cultures isolated from enrichment cultures were screened for MTBE degradation. Of the 18 strains, the 3 strains (Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter) have shown effective MTBE degradation. Experimental parameters affecting the growth conditions (such as temperature, pH, initial cell mass) were optimized. Experimental parameters such as temperature $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, and initial cell mass 0.6 g/mL in optimal growth conditions for MTBE degradation. The optimal growth conditions of the isolated stains were temperature $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, and initial cell mass 0.6 g/mL in our experiment, respectively. The first order degradation coefficients of Achromobacter, Mixed culture, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium were 0.072, 0.066, 0.047, and $0.032hr^{-1}$, respectively. and also, it could be expressed as a degradation rate considering cell mass (1.302, 1.019, 0.523, and 0.352 mg/TSS g/hr for each microorganism). Although Achromobacter has shown highest MTBE degradation rate, degradation rate for BTEX was relatively lower than other strains. and Mixed culture and Flavobacterium have shown similar degradation pattern for MTBE and BTEX biodegradation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.136-139
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• 2001

In this study, we have examined potential degradation of MTBE (methy1 tert-butyl ether) by pure culture ENV425 and mixed culture isolated from gasoline contaminated soil using n-butane as the sources of carbon and energy. The results described in this study suggest that MTBE is degraded cometabolically by ENV425 and mixed culture grown n-butane, and the disappearance of TBA after complete degradation of MTBE suggest the further degradation of TBA. Butane and MTBE degradation was completely inhibited by acetylene, which indicated that both substrates were degraded by butane-utilizing bacteria. MTBE was degraded ENV425 and mixed culture grown n-butane, and TBA (tert-butyl alcohol) was produced as product of MTBE oxidation. TBA production was accounted 54.7% and 58.6% for MTBE oxidation by ENV425 and mixed culture, respectively. The observed maximal transformation yield (T$_{y}$) were 44.7 and 34.0 (nmol MTRE degraded/$\mu$mol n-butane Utilized) by ENV425 and mixed culture, respectively.y.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.747-753
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• 2010

A series of experiments with a laboratory scale ultrasound treatment system for MTBE polluted groundwater was performed to increase the efficiency of MTBE degradation in groundwater. This study evaluated several factors to increase the efficiency of MTBE treatment for artificial and natural groundwater. The treated volume of groundwater, ultrasound frequency and power, and pollutant concentrations have been changed to evaluate its effects on the degradation efficiency of MTBE in batch and continuous flow reactor. For the specific experimental conditions on this paper, MTBE degradations are more efficient at 580 kHz than those at 1 MHz. The efficiency of MTBE degradation is proportional to the intensity of ultrasound power per unit volume of MTBE polluted groundwater. The concentration of ions in groundwater does not much affect the efficiency of MTBE degradation. The $1^{st}$ order degradation constant of MTBE for different power per unit volume at 580 kHz shows linear relationship at same concentration. The $1^{st}$ order degradation constant for 0.1 mM MTBE solution is higher than that for 1 mM MTBE solution. These experimental results could be helpful to seek optimal conditions for relatively large volume of polluted groundwater treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.522-529
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• 2009

To supply safe drinking water to areas lacking in water supply and drainage system, such as rural area and military bases in proximity to Demilitarized Zone, effective method for treating organic contaminants such as MTBE is required. This study focuses on seeking optimal conditions for effective degradation of MTBE using a bath type ultrasound reactor. Effectiveness of MTBE degradation by ultrasound is dependent on the frequency, power, temperature, treatment volume, initial concentration, catalyst, etc. In this study the degradation rate of MTBE by ultrasound was proportional to power/unit volume ratio and removal is relatively more efficient for 0.1 mM than for 1 mM of MTBE solution. Efficiency of ultrasound treatment for 1 mM MTBE solution was enhanced under bath temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ compared to $4^{\circ}C$, but the temperature effect was negligible for 0.1 mM MTBE solution. Also for 0.1 mM MTBE solution, effect of catalyst such as $TiO_2$ and $Fe^0$ on treatment speed was negligible, and zeolite even increases the time taken for the degradation. Under these specific experimental conditions of this study, the most determinant factor for degradation rate of MTBE in solution was frequency and power of ultrasound. The results have shown that a continuous ultrasound reactor system can be used for small scale remediation of organically polluted groundwater, under optimal conditions.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2003

A gas-substrate degrading bacterium, Nocardia SW3, was isolated from the gasoline contaminated aquifer using propane and butane as carbon and energy sources. We have examined the effects of substrate concentration, temperature and pH on the gas substrate degradation as well as MTBE cometabolic degradation. The result for the effect of substrate concentration showed that the maximum degradation rates of propane and butane were 30.6 and 25.4 (n㏖/min/mg protein) at 70 $\mu$㏖, respectively. The optimum temperature and pH for the degradation of gas substrate were $30^{\circ}C$ and 7, respectively. Substrate degradation activity, however, was still active in broad range of pH from 5 to 8 and temperature between $15^{\circ}C$and$35^{\circ}C$. The degradation activity of Nocardia SW3 for the MTBE was similar to the both substrates. The observed maximal transformation yields ($T_y$) were 46.7 and 35.0 (n㏖ MTBE degraded $\mu$㏖ substrate utilized), and the maximal transformation capacities ($T_c$) were 320 and 280 (n㏖MTBE degraded/mg biomass used) for propane and butane oxidizing activity on MTBE, respectively. And also, TBA was detected as by-product of MTBE and it was continuously degraded further.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Cometabolic air sparging (CAS) is a new and innovative technology that uses air sparging principles but attempts to optimize in situ contaminant degradation by adding a growth substrate to saturated zone. CAS relies on the degradation of the primary growth substrate and cometabolic substrate transformation in the saturated zone and in the vadose zone for volatilized contaminants. In this study, we have investigated to determine MTBE degradation pattern and microbial activity variation if using propane as a primary substrate at the condition of considering air injection rate and air injection pattern. Laboratory-scale two-dimentional aquifer physical model studies were used and the experimental results were represented that the optimal conditions were as air injection rate of 1,000 mL/min and pulsed air injection pattern (15 min on/off). Over 1,000 mL/min air injection rate and continuous air injection pattern was no affected to increase DO concentration. On the other hand, Injection of propane and propane-utilizing bacteria degraded MTBE partially. And also, injection of propane- and MTBE-utilizing bacteria effectively degraded MTBE and TBA production was observed.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2001

This study contains the photocatalytic degradation of methyl-tert-butyl ether(MTBE), one of water-contaminating substances, into $CO_2$. Herein was investigated factors, kinetics, and reaction pathways related with MTBE degradation. This works is possible to be applied in the field of environmental remediation such as undergroundwater purification with optimized system configuration in the near future.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.757-766
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• 2016

MTBE and other gasoline additives contained in gasoline are known to be a refractory substance resistant to biodegradation. As a method of removing these substances, a research of method using native microbes of polluted soil was progressed and among these, bio-degradation possibility under aerobic condition was evaluated. All of the experiments were progressed based on batch experiment of lab scale and analyzed by GC-FID using HS-SPME technique. The result of bio-degradation experiment based on MTBE and other additives(ETBE, TAME) was observed below 1 mg/L, which initial concentration were 100 mg/L for each method. And through production of by-product and CO2, partial mineralization was confirmed. Degradation velocity of each additive was promptly represented in the order of TBA>ETBE>MTBE>TAME. Through this study, bio-degradation possibility of native microbes of oil polluted soil, MTBE and other gasoline additives was confirmed and it was considered that the result could be used for basic experiment data in removing oil pollutants of soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2003

In this study, potential degradation of MTBE and other gasoline oxygenates by pure culture ENV425 and mixed culture isolated from gasoline contaminated soil using butane as the sources of carbon and energy was examined and compared. Butane monooxygenases(BMO) of butane-grown ENV425 and mixed culture generated 1-butanol as a major metabolite of butane oxidation and addition of acetylene, specific inhibitor of monooxygenase, inhibited both butane oxidation and 1-butanol production. The results described in this study suggest that alkanes including propane, pentane, and butane are effectively utilized as a growth substrate to oxidize MTBE cometabolically. And also BTEX compounds could be the potential substrate of the MTBE cometabolism. Cell density also affected on the MTBE degradation and transformation capacity(Tc). Increasing cell density caused increasing MTBE degradation but decreased transformation capacity. Other result demonstrated that MTBE and other gasoline oxygenates, ETBE and TAME, were degraded by butane-grown microorganism.