• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2000

Being autotrophic, algae occupy a trategic place in the biosphere. They produce oxygen both directly and indirectly through the chloroplasts of all green plants. The chloroplasts are believed to have originated from archaic prokaryotic algae through endosymbiosis with primitive eukaryotic cells. Phytoplankton and other algae regulate the global environment not only by releasing oxygen but also by fixing carbon dioxide. They affect water quality, help in the treatment of sewage, and produce biomass. They can be used to produce hydrogen which is a clean fuel, and biodiesel, and fix $N_2$ for use as a biofertilizer. Some other services of algae to the environment include restoration of metal damaged ecosystems, reducing the atmospheric $CO_2$ load and citigating global warming, reclamation of saline-alkaline unfertile lands, and production of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) involved in the regulation of UV radiation. ozone concentration, and global warming. Algae can be valuable in understanding and resolving certain environmental issues.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2011

Biological nitrogen removal, using a continuous flow packed-bed reactor (CPBR) in a consecutive nitrification and denitrification process, was evaluated. An apparent decline in the nitrification efficiency coincided with the steady increase in $NH_4{^+}$-N load. Sustained nitrification efficiency was found to be higher at longer empty bed contact times (EBCTs). The relationship between the rate of alkalinity consumption and $NH_4{^+}$-N utilization ratio followed zero-order reaction kinetics. The heterotrophic denitrification rate at a carbon-tonitrogen (C/N) ratio of >4 was found to be >74%. This rate was higher by a factor of 8.5 or 8.9 for $NO_3{^-}$-N/volatile solids (VS)/day or $NO_3{^-}-N/m^3$ ceramic media/day, respectively, relative to the rates measured at a C/N ratio of 1.1. Autotrophic denitrification efficiencies were 80-90%. It corresponds to an average denitrification rate of 0.96 kg $NO_3{^-}-N/m^3$ ceramic media/day and a relevant average denitrification rate of 0.28 g $NO_3{^-}$-N/g VS/day, were also obtained. Results presented here also constitute the usability of an innovative porous sulfur ceramic media. This enhanced the dissolution rate of elemental sulfur via a higher contact surface area.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2000

In order to understand the role of heterotrophic protists in the coastal waters off Inchon, abiotic and biotic factors were measured from January 1992 to February 1993. Microbial carbon biomass (mean212.9$^{\pm}$119.1 $^{\mu}$gC/1) was composed of 4.2% bacteria, 0.3% cyanobacteria, 12.l% autotrophic nanoflagellates, 6.6% heterotrophic nanoflagellates, 5.8 heterotrophic ciliates and 71.0% diatom and Mesodinium spp. The carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists (heterotrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates) was highest in October 1992 (mean 37.8$^{\pm}$22.5 $^{\mu}$gC/1), and was low in August 1992 (mean 21.2$^{\pm}$10.8 $^{\mu}$gC/1) and in February 1993 (mean 19.5$^{\pm}$6.4 $^{\mu}$gC/1). However, the contribution of heterotrophic protists to total microbial carbon biomass was higher in January 1992 and February 1993 (about 21%) when the phytoplankton was dominated by nanoplankton than in August and October (about 9%) when large diatoms occurred in large numbers. This study suggests that in Kyeonggi Bay heterotrophic protists might play a more important role as prey for zooplankton and as consumers of bacteria & small phytoplankton in less productive seasons (especially winter) than in productive seasons (autumn), and that the classic trophic pathway from diatoms through copepods to fish might be dominant nearly every season.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the reaction characteristics of piggery wastewater for biological nutrient removal. The reaction characteristics were discussed the fraction of organics, the behavior of nitrogen, nitrification, denitrification, and the behavior of phosphorus. The fraction of readily biodegradable soluble COD was 11-12 percent. The ammonia nitrogen was removed via stripping, nitrification, autotrophic cell synthesis, and heterotrophic cell synthesis. The removal percents by each step were 12.1%, 68.9%, 15.0%, and 4.0%, respectively. Nitrification inhibition of piggery wastewater was found to occur at an influent volumetric loading rate over 0.2 NH$_{3}$-N kg/m$^{3}$/d. Denitrification rates were the highest in the raw wastewater and the lowest in the anaerobic effluent. The denitritation of piggery wastewater came out to be possible, and the rate of organic carbon consumption decreased about 10 percent. The phosphorus removed was released in the form of ortho-p in the aerobic fixed biofilm reactor, it was caused by autooxidation. The synthesis and release of phosphorus were related to the ORP and the boundary value for the phase change was about 170mV. In the synthesis phase, the phosphorus removal rate per COD removed was 0.023mgP$_{syn}$/mgCOD$_{rem}$. The phosphorus contents of the microorganism were 4.3-6.0% on a dry weight basis.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.469-476
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• 2014

The focus of this study was to observe the growth of Chlorella sp., Nannochloris sp., and Botryococcus braunii under mixotrophic conditions (i.e., added glycerol) with the aim of increasing the growth of biomass and algae oil content. A significant growth of biomass was obtained when grown in glycerol rich environment comparing to autotrophic conditions. 5 g/L glycerol yielded the highest biomass concentration for these strains. Mixotrophic conditions improved both the growth of the microalgae and the accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs). The maximum amount of TAG in Botryococcus braunii was reached in the growth medium with 10 g/L glycerol and Chlorella sp., Nannochloris sp. with 2 g/L glycerol. The content of saturated fatty acids of Chlorella sp., Nannochloris sp., and Botryococcus braunii was found to be 34.94, 14.23 and 13.39%, and the amount of unsaturated fatty acids was 65.06, 85.78 and 86.61% of total fatty acids, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of the oil for the culture possibility met the necessary requirements and are, therefore, promising resource for biofuel production.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2013

The growth and removal capacity of nitrogen and phosphorus of Chlorella vulgaris were evaluated in artificial wastewater with different nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations as element growing components for microalgae growth. The nitrogen concentration was varied in 9, 15, 30 and 60 mg-N/L with fixed phosphorus concentration of 3 mg-P/L. The growth and phosphorus removal capacity of C. vulgaris were high at initial nitrogen concentration of 15 and 30 mg-N/L, and the corresponding N/P ratios calculated were 5 and 10. In the case of varying in 1.5, 3, 6 and 10 mg-P/L of phosphorus concentration with fixed nitrogen concentration of 30 mg-N/L, the growth and removal capacity of nitrogen and phosphorus were excellent with phosphorus concentration of 3 and 6 mg-P/L. The corresponding N/P ratios were shown as 10 and 5. Therefore, the appropriate N/P ratio was concluded between 5 and 10 for wastewater treatment using C. vulgaris.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 2014

A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated to obtain thiosulfate-utilizing denitrifier cultivated with two types of electron accepter (nitrate and nitrite). Using the microbial biomass obtained from the SBR, batch tests were conducted with different nitrite concentrations (50 and 100 mg-N/L) at pH 7.0, 7.5 and 7.9 to see how free nitrous acid (FNA) negatively works on the thiosulfate-utilizing denitrification of nitrate. The specific denitrification rate (SDR) of nitrate was significantly influenced by pH and FNA. The presence of nitrite caused a remarked decrease of the SDR under low pH conditions, because of the microbiological inhibitory effect of FNA. The minimum SDR was observed when initial nitrite concentration was 100 mg-N/L at pH 7.0. Moreover. the SDR was influenced by the type of electron acceptor used during the SBR operation. Thiosulfate-utilizing denitrifier cultivated with nitrite showed smaller SDR on the thiosulfate-utilizing denitrification of nitrate than those cultivated with nitrate.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.40-46
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• 2009

The applicability of a well-type autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing reactive barrier (L $\times$ W $\times$ D = $3m\;{\times}\;4\;m\;{\times}\;2\;m$) as a long-term treatment option for nitrate removal in groundwater was evaluated. Pilot-scale (L $\times$ W $\times$ D = $8m\;{\times}\;4\;m\;{\times}\;2\;m$) flow-tank experiments were conducted to examine remedial efficacy of the well-type reactive barrier. A total of 80 kg sulfur granules as an electron donor and Thiobacillus denitrificans as an active bacterial species were prepared. Thiobacillus denitrificans was successfully colonized on the surface of the sulfur granules and the microflora transformed nitrate with removal efficiency of ~12% (0.07 mM) for 11 days, ~24% (1.3 mM) for 18 days, ~45% (2.4 mM) for 32 days, and ~52% (2.8 mM) for 60 days. Sulfur granules attached to Thiobacillus denitrificans were used to construct the well-type reactive barrier comprising three discrete barriers installed at 1-m interval downstream. Average initial nitrate concentrations were 181 mg/L for the first 28 days and 281 mg/L for the next 14 days. For the 181 mg/L (2.9 mM) plume, nitrate concentrations decreased by ~2% (0.06 mM), ~9% (0.27 mM), and ~15% (0.44 mM) after $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, and $3^{rd}$ barriers, respectively. For the 281 mg/L (4.5 mM) plume, nitrate concentrations decreased by ~1% (0.02 mM), ~6% (0.27 mM), and ~8% (0.37 mM) after $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, and $3^{rd}$ barriers, respectively. Nitrate plume was flowed through the flow-tank for 49 days by supplying $1.24\;m^3/d$ of nitrate solution. During nitrate treatment, flow velocity (0.44 m/d), pH (6.7 to 8.3), and DO (0.9~2.8 mg/L) showed little variations. Incomplete destruction of nitrate plume was attributed to the lack of retention time, rarely transverse dispersion, and inhibiting the activity of denitrification enzymes caused by relatively high DO concentrations. For field applications, it should be considered increments of retention time, modification of well placements, and intrinsic DO concentration.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.338-348
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• 2003

In the past decade, considerable progress has been made in developing the appropriate biotechnology for microalgal mass cultivation aimed at establishing a new agro-industry. This review points out the main biological constraints affecting algal biotechnology outdoors and the requirements for making this biotechnology economically viable. One of them is the availability of a wide variety of algal species and improved strains that favorably respond to varying environmental conditions existing outdoors. It is thus just a matter of time and effort before a new methodology like genetic engineering can and will be applied in this field as well. The study of stress physiology and adaptation of microalgae has also an important application in further development of the biotechnology for mass culturing of microalgae. In outdoor cultures, cells are exposed to severe changes in light and temperature much faster than the time scale re-quired for the cells to acclimate. A better understanding of those parameters and the ability to rapidly monitor those conditions will provide the growers with a better knowledge on how to optimize growth and productivity. Induction of accumulation of high value products is associated with stress conditions. Understanding the physiological response may help in providing a better production system for the desired product and, at a later stage, give an insight of the potential for genetic modification of desired strains. The potential use of microalgae as part of a biological system for bioremediation/detoxification and wastewater treatment is also associated with growing the cells under stress conditions. Important developments in monitoring and feedback control of the culture behavior through application of on-line chlorophyll fluorescence technique are in progress. Understanding the process associated with those unique environmental conditions may help in choosing the right culture conditions as well as selecting strains in order to improve the efficiency of the biological process.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2015

We have investigated the productivity of microalgae, Nannochloropsis sp., using highly efficient vertical photobioreactor which has been developed by the company IMBiz. This experiment was performed in the field for one month with 2 sets of 2 tons of media under autotrophic cultural mode. In the culture with 0.1% of $CO_2$, the average daily productivity was shown to be up to 0.953g per liter, and 0.574g per liter in the culture with only ambient air. The temperature ranged from $20^{\circ}C$ to $31^{\circ}C$, and it didn't make any differences on the productivity. The light intensity ranged from 5,000 Lux to 40,000 Lux. The light has been appeared to have a very close relationship with the productivity of microalgae. Meanwhile, the harvesting method of pressurefloating attempted in this photobioreactor was found to be very effective.