• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2022

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO)/iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) magnetic microgels were prepared using a microfluidic approach and the dye adsorption capacity of the microgels was confirmed. The adsorption capacity (q_e) of the gels was evaluated by varying the dye concentration, pH, and contact time with the microgels. The dyes used in this work were methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG), and microgels showed the highest adsorption capacity (191.1 mg/g) in methylene blue. The microgels exhibited the highest adsorption capacity in the dye aqueous solution at pH 10 due to the presence of atomic nitrogen ions (N⁺) on the dye molecules. The adsorption isotherm studies revealed that the Langmuir isotherm is the best fit isotherm model for the dye adsorption on the microgels, indicative of monolayer adsorption. The kinetic analysis exhibited that the pseudo-second order model fits better than the pseudo-first order model, confirming that the adsorption process is chemisorption. In addition, the magnetic microgels showed good reusability and recovery efficiency. It was confirmed that the adsorption capacity of the gels maintains more than 70% of the initial capacity after 5 times of cycle experiments.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.633-640
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• 2012

White light and compound light were found to be the ideal light sources for improving the functionality and ornamental value of indoor plants and reducing the cost of maintenance, but because compound light hinders people from recognizing the original color of plants and makes their eyes easily tired, white light was considered the optimal light satisfying all of the ornamental value, economic efficiency and functionality resulting from plant growth. On the other hand, in the results of examining physiological changes before and after treatment on fine dust PM10 and carbon dioxide removal capacity in a closed chamber under an artificial light source, the patterns of carbon dioxide and fine dust removal were similar among the treatment groups according to light condition, but according to plant type, the removal rate per unit leaf area was highest in $Spathiphyllum$ and lowest in $Dieffenbachia$. In the experiment on dust and carbon dioxide removal, the photosynthetic rate was over 2 times higher after the treatment, and the rate increased particularly markedly under compound light and white light, suggesting that the photosynthetic rate of plants increases differently according to light quality. These results show that light quality has a significant effect on the photosynthetic rate of plants, and suggests that plants with a high photosynthetic rate also have a high carbon dioxide and dust removal capacity. In conclusion, the photosynthetic rate of foliage plants increased under white and blue light that affect photosynthesis and the increased photosynthetic rate reduced carbon dioxide and fine dust, and therefore white and compound light were found to be the optimal light sources most functional and economically efficient in improving ornamental value and indoor air quality.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.561-567
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• 1987

The purpose of this study was to find out the removal capacity of harmful ammonia by different filter media in the submerged biological filters in a given space of chamber. Four materials, pile cloth, corrugated skylight roofing plate, embossed plastic plate, and gravel, were used as the experimental filter media. Each filter medium was placed in two aquariums, each aquarium measuring $90cm\times60cm\times60cm\;(depth)$. Under the normal operating condition, the average of mean ammonia removal rates during the first and second functioning periods by each filter material which occupied tile space in the filter chamber (aquarium) was as follows: 1. Pile cloth: $8.381\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ 2. Corrugated skylight roofing plate: $7.834\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ 3. Embossed plastic plate: $7.797\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ 4. Gravel: $7.051\;g{\cdot}m^{-3}.\;day^{-1}$ Thus, there were no significant differences between the media, but at the time of practical application of these materials, some other factors such as investment cost, easiness for the removal of excess detritus accumulated in tile interstices of filter media, etc. should be fallen into consideration. When large units are required, in particular, removal of excess detritus from tile gravel bed is extremely difficult, and in case of pile cloth filters the installation work is much complicated and a problem in supporting the structure when drained also exists. In these respects, corrugated skylight roofing plate and embossed plastic plate seem to be more optimal, but again in practice the local situation for the availability and the price of the materials should be rechecked and the fitness of tile materials in the particular filter chambers under use or under consideration for construction must be taken into account.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.569-574
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• 2005

In this study, alginic acid that had an high affinity for a heavy metal and was noted for biological adsorbent was modified by an oxidizer, $KMnO_4$. Chemical modification changed hydroxyl of the alginic acid into carboxyl and compare with alginic acid, modified alginic acid exhibited a characteristics that carboxyl groups are comparatively high. For the use of them as an adsorbent, beads were prepared by dropping alginic acid and modified alginic acid solution in dilute 2 wt% $CaCl_2$ solution for non water soluble. The amount of removed $Cu^{2+}$ and $Pb^{2+}$ by modified alginic acid beads showed 84.7 mg and 90.9 mg per gram of beads, respectively. And it showed the amount of adsorbed heavy metal ions 10~20% higher than that of alginic acid beads in range of pH 4~7. In particular, modified alginic acid have a good adsorption capacity for $Cu^{2+}$ and $Pb^{2+}$ by Freundlich adsorption isotherm. According to this study, it is verified that alginic acid that is a nature high molecular substance improved capacity for actual application by increased heavy metal adsorption capacity by chemical modification.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.426-431
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the virus removal from artificial groundwater using Mg-Fe layered double hydroxide (LDH). Batch experiments were conducted under various experimental conditions to examine bacteriophage T7 removal with Mg-Fe LDH. Results showed that the removal of T7 by Mg-Fe LDH was a fast process, reaching equilibrium within 2~3 hrs. Mg-Fe LDH had the virus removal capacity of $1.57{\times}10^8pfu/g$ with a removal percent of 96%. Results also showed that the effect of solution pH on T7 removal was minimal between pH 6.2 and 9.1. The influence of anions ($SO_4^{2-}$, $CO_3^{2-}$, $HPO_4^{2-}$) on T7 removal was significant due to their competition with bacteriophage at the sorption sites on LDH, while the effect of $NO_3^-$ was negligible. This study demonstrated that Mg-Fe LDH could be applied as adsorbents for virus removal in water treatment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.673-680
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• 2013

Phosphorus accumulating microorganisms (PAOs) are influenced by various environmental factors and heavy metals. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of the selected heavy metals on the growth and phosphorus removal capacity of Bacillus sp. 3434 BRRJ, Pseudomonas aerunogisa, and Bacillus Subtilis, well known as PAOs. The heavy metals used in this study included Cu, Cd, As, and Zn. The $IC_{50}$ (median inhibition concentration) values of Bacillus sp. 3434 BRRJ for the Cu, Cd, As, and Zn were 8.07 mg $L^{-1}$, 0.18 mg $L^{-1}$, 73.62 mg $L^{-1}$ and 0.25 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ values of Pseudomonas aerunogisa for the Cu, Cd, As, and Zn were 4.45 mg $L^{-1}$, 0.16 mg $L^{-1}$, 18.51 mg $L^{-1}$ and 2.34 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ values of Bacillus Subtilis for the Cu, Cd, As, and Zn were 3.81 mg $L^{-1}$, 0.18 mg $L^{-1}$, 11.31 mg $L^{-1}$ and 0.47 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. The phosphorus removal efficiencies of the three bacteria, Bacillus sp. 3434 BRRJ, Pseudomonas aerunogisa, and Bacillus subtilis were 93.12%, 71.81%, and 65.31%, respectively. Based on the results of the three PAOs obtained from the study, it appears that Bacillus sp. 3434BRRJ may have the best results in terms of their growth rate and P removal efficiencies.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.399-409
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• 1999

The three domestic natural zeolites(Yong dong-ri (Y), Daesin-ri (D), Seogdong-ri (S)) harvested in Kyeongju-shi and Pohang-shi, Kyungsangbug-Do, were pretreatd with each of the NaOH, $Ca(OH)_2$ and NaOH following HCl solutions, and the removal performances of divalent haevy metals(Cu, Mn, Pb, and Sr) for natural and pretreated zeolites were investigated and compared in the single and mixed solutions. The natural zeolite-heavy metal system attained the final equilibrium plateau within 20 min, irrespective of initial heavy metal concentration. The heavy metal uptakes increased with increasing initial heavy metal concentration and pH. The heavy metal uptakes for natural zeolites decreased in the following sequences : D>Y>S among the natural zeolites; Pb>Cu>Sr>Mn among the heavy metals. The pretreated zeolites showed higher heavy metal removal performances than natural zeolites and decreased in the order of NaOH, NaOH following HCl, $Ca(OH)_2$ treatment among the pretreatment methods. The heavy metal ion exchange capacity by natural and pretreated zeolites was described either by Freundlich equation or Langmuir equation, but it followed the former better than the latter. The heavy metal uptakes for natural zeolites decreased in the mixed solution, in comparing with those in the single solution and especially, the manganese uptake decreased greatly in the mixed solution. The pretreated zeolites showed the improved removal performances of heavy metals in the mixed solution than in the single solution and the heavy metal uptakes by those in the mixed solution showed the same trends in the single solution among the chemical treatment methods and heavy metals.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2008

Simultaneous removal of ternary gases of $NH_3$, $H_2S$ and toluene in a contaminated air stream was investigated over 180 days in a biofilter. A commercially available inorganic/polymeric composite chip with a large void volume (bed porosity > 0.80) was used as a microbial support. Multiple microorganisms including Nitrosomonas and Nitrobactor for nitrogen removal, Thiobacillus thioparus (ATCC 23645) for $H_2S$ removal and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15692), Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17484) and Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 23973) for toluene removal were used simultaneously. The empty bed residence time (EBRT) ranged from 60 - 120 seconds and the inlet feed concentration was $0.0325\;g/m^3-0.0651\;g/m^3$ for $NH_3$, $0.0636\;g/m^3-0.141\;g/m^3$ for $H_2S$, and $0.0918\;g/m^3-0.383\;g/m^3$ for toluene, respectively. The observed removal efficiency was 2% - 98% for $NH_3$, 2% - 100% for $H^2S$, and 2% - 80% for toluene, respectively. Maximum elimination capacity was about $2.7\;g/m^3$/hr for $NH_3$, > $6.4\;g/m^3$/hr for $H_2S$ and $4.0\;g/m^3$/hr for toluene, respectively. The inorganic/polymeric composite carrier required 40 - 80 days of wetting time for biofilm formation due to the hydrophobic nature of the carrier. Once the surface of the carrier was completely wetted, the microbial activity became stable. During the long-term operation, pressure drop was negligible because the void volume of the carrier was two times higher than the conventional packing materials.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the removal of high odor concentration from swine wastewater treatment facility by full scale biofilter using liquid with deodorant mixed with earthworm cast and distillery sludge. Methods: The supply of the culture liquid to the microorganism on the media in the biofilter increases the activity and growth of biomass. The experimental equipment was biofilter tower with treatment capacity of 90 m 3/min. The experimental conditions included gas flow of $60m^3/min$, retention time of 20 sec, and gas/liquid ratio of 67. Results: With changing season from winter to summer, the inlet odor concentration of ammonia increased from 2.5 ppm to 29 ppm, and of hydrogen sulfide from 21 ppm to 91 ppm, respectively. The odor treatment system with biofilter using the culture liquid was stable when the high loading rate increased and showed excellent removal grade with an average of 96.7% for ammonia, and an average of 93.7% for hydrogen sulfide. The pH and SCOD in the recirculating culture liquid near the bottom of the biofilter tower decreased with operation time, but its influence on the odor removal rate was negligible, because the organic matter (SCOD) was replaced by some culture liquid supplied 2-4 times per day. Conclusions: The biofilter using culture liquid could successfully remove high odor concentration which was generated from swine wastewater treatment facility.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.685-690
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• 2017

Ammonia is a useful substance which is widely used in various industries. It is generally released by the decomposition of agricultural wastes and known to have toxic effects on human beings. Due to the common usage, it is possible to cause water pollution through either direct or indirect leakage. Such cases, it is preferable to use the adsorption capacity of zeolite to rapidly remove ammonium ions, but it is not sufficiently removed by the adsorption only. In this paper, the removal efficiency of ammonium ion through both the adsorption capacities of commercial synthetic zeolites and the biological mechanism of microorganisms were compared. In addition, microorganisms were immobilized on the zeolite in order to enhance the removal efficiency by applying a chemo-biological process. As a result, the standard commercial zeolite showed 67~81% of the removal efficiency in 2~4 hours at a 100 ppm concentration of ammonium, whereas the selected microorganism Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. Pneumoniae showed up to 97% within 8 hours. When the microorganism was immobilized on the zeolite, the highest removal efficiency of approximately 98.5% were observed within 8 hours.