• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.464-468
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• 1999

The effectiveness of current biodegradation test methods for degradable polymers under controlled composting conditions was studied in regards to the test temperature and compost condition. When biodegradability tests for the natural (starch, cellulose, PHB/HV) and synthetic (PCL, SG, PLA) polymers were conducted at temperature levels of 35 and $55^{\circ}C$ with compost cured at ambient temperature, the degradations of cellulose and starch were higher at $35^{\circ}C$ because of the priming effect. On the other hand, degradations of other polymers were higher at $55^{\circ}C$. In the biodegradation test at $55^{\circ}C$, compost harvested right after the thermophilic degradation stage showed higher biodegradation activities than the cured compost for both the synthetic aliphatic polyester (SG) and a natural polymer, cellulose. These results suggest that the biodegradation test conducted at $55^{\circ}C$ with the compost, harvested right after the thermophilic degradation stage during composting, showed the highest biodegradation activity under controlled composting conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.784-788
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• 1999

The effects of pH, moisture content, and the relative amount of a polymer sample on the biodegradation of degradable polymers in soil were studied using various polymer materials such as cellulose, poly-(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (SG) polycaprolactone (PCL), a blend of PCL and starch (PCL-starch), and a poly-lactic acid (PLA). As with other materials, the polymers degraded faster at a neutral pH than at either acidic or basic conditions. Moisture contents of 60 and 100% water holding capacity exhibited a similar biodegradability for various polymers, although the effects differed depending on the polymer. For synthetic polymers, biodegradation was faster at 60%, while the natural polymer (cellulose) degraded faster at 100%. Fungal hypae was observed at a 60% water holding capacity which may have affected the biodegradation of the polymers. A polymer amount of 0.25% to soil revealed the highest biodegradability among the ratios of 0.25, 0.5, and 1%. With a higher sample amount, the residual polymer could be recovered after the biodegradation test. It was confirmed that a test for general biodegradation condition can be applied to plastic biodegradation in soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.171-176
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• 2000

Bioremediation of hazardous hydrophobic organic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is a major environmental concern due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. Due to their hydrophobicity, the hydrophobic organic compounds are mainly associated with the soil organic matter or nonaqueous-phase liquids. A major question concerns the relationships between biodegradation and sorption. This work develops and utilizes a non- steady state model for evaluating the interactions between sorption and biodegradation of phenanthrene, a 3-ring PAH compound, in soil-slurry systems. The model includes sorption/desorption of a target compound, its utilization by microorganisms as a primary substrate existing in the dissolved phase and/or the sorbed phase in biomass and soil, oxygen transfer, and oxygen utilization as an electron acceptor. Biodegradation tests with phenanthrene were conducted in liquid and soil-slurry systems. The soil-slurry tests were performed with very different mass transfer rate: fast mass transfer in a flask test at 150 rpm, and slow mass transfer in a roller-bottle test at 2 rpm. In the slurry tests, phenanthrene was degraded more rapidly than in liquid tests, but with a similar rate in both slurry systems. Modeling analyses with several hypotheses indicate that a model without biodegradation of compound sorbed to the soil was not able to account for the rapid degradation of phenanthrene, particularly in the roller bottle slurry test. Reduced mass-transfer resistance to bacteria attached to the soil is the most likely phenomenon accounting for rapid sorbed-phase biodegradation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.4 s.75
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• pp.348-353
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• 1995

Biodegradability of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) by Penicillium pinophilum was investigated by the modified Sturm Test. The biodegradability measurement by this method was more reproducible than other conventional activated sludge methods. Optimum inoculum size for the PHB biodegradation was 1% (v/v). The degradation appeared to occur not only on the sample surface but also inside the sample because the biodegradation did not increase quite proportionally with the sample surface area. The biodegradation rate increased to an asymptotic value as the nitrogen content in the test medium increased, indicating the nitrogen source was needed for the synthesis of the PHB depolymerase.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1992

This study is on the biodegradability of the activated sludge, which used to biodegrade Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate(LAS), synthetic detergents and sufactants. The activated sludge in waste water treatment plant is used to the test of biodegradation of anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants, but it have the periodic change of the biological propety to the lapse of the time. For the puropse of controlling and adjusting of the activated sludge in biodegradation test, we collected microorganisms from the sewage plant and the soil, and then, made the activated sludge in semicontinuous aeration chamber. From determined biodegradation data, and the degree of biodegradability to the LAS, we confirmd the standardized synthetic activated sludge which have more stable biodegradability than the sewage activated sludge. In continuous biodegradation test, LAS(dodecene-1) was biodegraded more than 99%, In 7days by the standardized activated sludge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.163-166
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to evaluate substrate interactions of BTEX for multicomponent. Although BTEX compounds have similar chemical structures, biodegradation of individual BTEX is different with the present of certain BTEX compounds. The biodegradation rate is order to Benzene=Toluene>Ethylbenzene> m, p-Xylene>o-Xylene. Xylenes is stimulated when benzene or toluene is present. Especially o-xylene Inhibit other BTEX compounds.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.605-611
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• 2014

This research was carried out to examine the concentration and fate of dissolved organic matter due to the increased detention time in middle and down stream of the Nakdong River. Aldo the characteristics of biodegradation of DOM were investigated according to the various water sources. The approaches used to characterize DOM biodegradability include the changes in DOC concentration and DOM fraction. Long-term biodegradation test for each organic source was also conducted. As the result, maximum 50% of DOC was reduced during the first 30 days of biodegradation tests. After 30 days, biodegradation of organic matter was continuously progressed, as showing continuous reduction of DOC. While DOC concentration was reduced, SUVA values for the organic matters were increased. Properties of dissolved organic matter by water sources also showed decreasing hydrophilic components while showing increased hydrophobic components. The more rapid reduction of the hydrophilic components than hydrophobic components might be due to the preferential degradation of the hydrophilic components by microorganisms during biodegradation process.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.364-369
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• 1993

The biodegradability of some anionic surfactants were investigated using biological oxygen consumption measurement at different temperatures. As test surfactants, soap, alkyl sulfate (AS), alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS), alkyl polyoxyethylene sulfate (AES), linear alkylbezene sulfonate(LAS), microbial surfactants such as sophorose lipid (sopholipid) and spiculisporic acid (S-acid), were used. The test solution were incubated at $5^{\circ}C$, $18^{\circ}C$ and $32^{\circ}C$, respectively. The comparative rates of biodegradation were in accordance with the results obtained from the surface tension measurement and methylene blue method. The results of comparative blodegradabilities of the surfactants were as follows; soap, AS>AES>AOS>LAS at $18^{\circ}C$ and $32^{\circ}C$. However, at$ 5^{\circ}C$, the biodegradation rate of soap was better than other surfactants. Considering the actual environment of the river, it was concluded that the biological oxygen consumption rate method at lower temperature was more practical than the current method such as methylene blue assay with adapted shaking flask culture at $25^{\circ}C$

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.379-380
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• 2002

Biodegradable polymers have been regarded as a good alternative to solve the plastic waste problems caused by nondegradable synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene. In the soil environment, plastics are mainly being used as a mulching film for agricultural purposes. In this research, the miscibility, tensile properties and biodegradation effect of poly-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone(PCL) with polyvinyl chloride(PVC) have been studied. After 8 weeks of biodegradation, PCL/PVC(9/91) blend surface showed newly formed many holes. Consequently, the antiplasticization phenomenon and biodegradation were observed in the PCL/PVC blends. It was confirmed that a test for general biodegradation condition can be applied to plastic biodegradation in soil.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.36-43
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• 1999

The present study was performed to investigate biodegradation rate of dichlorvos and methidathion. In the biodegradation test of two pesticides by the modified river die-away method from June 17 to August 22, 1998, the biodegradation rate constants and half-life were determined in Nakdong(A) and Kumho River(B). Biodegradation rate of dichlorvos was 4.51% in A sampling point, 6.88% in B sampling point after 7 days. Biodegradation rate constants and half-life of dichlorvos were 0.0066 and 105 days in A sampling point, 0.0102 and 67.9 days in B sampling point, respectively. Biodegradation rate of methidathion was 23% in A sampling point, 36% in B sampling point after 7 days. Biodegradation rate constants and half-life of methidathion were 0.0377 and 18.4 days in A sampling point, 0.0641 and 10.8 days in B sampling point, respectively. Biodegradation rate of methidathion was faster than that of dichlorvos. This suggested that the difference in biodegradation of pesticides was due to difference in the water quality and standard plate counts in the Nackdong and Kumho Rivers. The result of correlation analysis between biodegradation rate constants of the pesticides and water quality(DO, BOD, SS, ABS, NH$_3$-N, and NO$_3$-N) showed significant correlation with BOD, SS and NH$_3$-N at the 5% significant level. A significant linear equation was obtained from regression analysis at the 5% significant level, whereas, dependent variables were BOD, SS and NH$_3$-N, and the biodegradation rate constant was independent variable. It is suggested that dichlorvos will be mainly degraded by hydrolysis, and for methidathion was both hydrolysis and biodegradation. A significant QSAR equation was obtained from regression analysis at the 10% significant level, whereas, dependent variable is biodegradation rate constants of BPMC, chlorothalonil, dichlorvos and methidathion, vapor pressures, partition coefficients and water solubilities of the pesticides are independent variables. Also, a significant linear equation was obtained from regression analysis at the 1% significant level, whereas, dependent variable is biodegradation rate constants of BPMC, chlorothalonil, dichlorvos and methidathion, hydrolysis rate constants of the pesticides are independent variables. It is suggested that the pesticides will be degraded by main degradation factor when the pesticides was affected both hydrolysis and biodegradation.