• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 2023

Sewage sludge has been widely used as an organic fertilizer in agriculture. However, sewage sludge can cause serious malodor problems resulting from the decomposition of organic compounds in anaerobic conditions. The malodor of sewage sludge mainly occurs due to a low carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), high moisture, and low temperature, which are ideal conditions for ammonia emissions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the reduction of the odor-causing ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) in sewage sludge by co-application of microbes and methanol (MeOH). The physico-chemical properties of the municipal sewage sludge showed that the odor was mainly caused by a higher NH₃-N content (2932.2 mg L^-1). Supplementation with MeOH (20%) as a carbon source in the sewage sludge significantly reduced the NH₃-N up to 34.2% by increasing C/N ratio. Furthermore, the sewage sludge was treated with the NH₃-N reducing and plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria Stenotrophomonas rhizophila SRCM 116907. The treatment with S. rhizophila SRCM 116907 significantly increased the seedling vigor index of Lolium perenne (10.3%) and Chrysanthemum burbankii (42.4%). The findings demonstrate that supplementing sewage sludge with methanol significantly reduces ammonia emissions, thereby mitigating malodor problems. Overall, the study highlights the potential of using a microbial and methanol approach to improve the quality of sewage sludge as an organic fertilizer and promote sustainable agriculture.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.242-250
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• 2016

Although rice has been cultivated as a major food crop for approximately 5,000 years, the interest of customers in 'scented rice' is a recent trend in the Korean market. As a part of developing a germinated scented rice variety, the newly bred scented rice variety 'Cheonjihyang-1 se' was germinated for 24 h, and changes in profiles of flavor-related volatiles, lipophilic phytonutrients, and fatty acids were investigated. The profiling of volatile compounds by using a headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) revealed a total of 56 odor-active flavoring compounds; 52 at the pre-germination stage, 51 at the post-germination stage, and 47 common at both stages. The major flavoring compounds were nonanol and benzene, which constituted 11.5% and 6.6%, respectively, of the total peak area in pre-germinated rice, and 19.4% and 6.5%, respectively, in post-germinated rice. Germination induced an increase in 13 flavoring compounds, including 3,3,5-trimethylheptane and 1-pentadecene, which increased by 763 and 513%, respectively by germination. However, we observed a germination-induced decrease in most of the other flavoring compounds. Especially, the most important scented rice-specific popcorn-flavoring compound, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, showed 89% decrease due to germination. Furthermore, the germination of scented rice induced a decrease in the content of various phytonutrients. For example, the total contents of phytosterols, squalene, and tocols decreased from 207.97, 31.74, and $25.32{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ at pre-germination stage down to 136.66, 25.12, and $17.76{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$, respectively at post-germination stage. The fatty acid compositions were also affected by germination. The composition of three major fatty acids, linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids, increased from 36.6, 34.2, and 24.4%, respectively, at the pre-germination stage to 37.9, 36.9, and 20.7%, respectively, at the post-germination stage. All these results suggested significant changes in the flavor-related compounds and phytonutrients of the scented rice variety 'Cheonjihyang-1 se' during the process of germination, and subsequently the need for developing a more precise process of germination to enhance the flavor and nutritional quality of the germinated scented rice products.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.80-86
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• 2019

In Korea, a total of 556 chemical accidents occurred from 2012 to 2018 caused by adverse reactions of two or more chemicals, which required significant amounts of time to identify the causative chemicals. Rapid analysis is required for effective incident response and probing. In this study, a quantum transition time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used to identify the causative agents of chemical accidents caused by adverse reactions. The analyzer enabled fast real-time analysis without the need for sample collection and pretreatment. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of most volatile organic compounds with high hydrogen affinity was performed to investigate the cause of the chemical accidents. In fact, in the month of 201◯, methanol and toluene were detected as causative agents of the accident using a quantum transition time mass spectrometer, and were also the cause of the reported odor.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.7-25
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• 1991

Until now, pure drinking water grnerally menas the water without taste, odor, general bacteria, coliform, and other exotic substance. Such a definition has been changing recently due to the finding of numerous other inorganic and organic substances unknown to us. 10 years ago, major causes of death were infectious agents and parasites contained in water, but recently, it has become apparent that some substances contained in drinking water cause cancer and heart diseases. We must drink about 2L of water everyday in order to maintain healthy condition. Waters used for drinking include tap water, well water, spring water, filtered water, etc., but the quality of drinking water has more polluted due to the industrial development and population increase. For example, industrial waste waters from industrial plants pollute the water supply sources ; toxic substances contained in the waste waters pollute the ground water sources by penetrating the geological strata, and municipal, livestock, public building waste waters also pollute the water supply sources. Sometimes, the polluted surface waters were announced to be polluted by various kinds of orgainc substance, and it is reported that the pollution of ground water by orga nic substances has few in number but high in its concectration comparing with those of surface water. As the water quality pollution level increases, so the amount of disinfectant also increase. For example, chlorine solution, one of widely used disinfectants, creates trihalomethane(THM), a carcinogen, and halogen compounds. According to Oliver, through chlorine disinfection process, humine substance and chlorine create bolatile organic halide and nonvolatile organic halide by chemical reaction. There are tens or hundreds filtering devices, but filtering principles and maintenance metjhods are different, so their efficiency tests are needed. According to Smith, the effeciency tests aginst over 30 Ameican filtering devices show that 10 devices can remove 85% of volatile organics and further studies on filtered waters are underway. In consideration of important impacts of polluted drinking water on national health, authors studied the state of water quality pollution against tap water used as drinking water, filtration device passed water, ground water, and conserved drinking water ; tested the efficiency of filtration devices for tap water ; tried to sep up the detection method by using ion chromatography based on negative ion and positive ion by using single column, and attemped the simple filtration method for general households.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2009

We have isolated Chondromyces crocatus KYC2823 in pure culture and five other strains in mixed culture with companion bacteria from Korean soil samples. The strain KYC2823, which was isolated from the soil sample collected in Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, showed typical characteristics of C. crocatus, including the shape of fruiting bodies and production of a peculiar odor. In addition, the 16S rDNA sequence was 99.8% identical to that of the strain Cm c5, the proposed neotype strain of C. crocatus. Cloning and sequence analysis of the polyketide biosynthetic genes from KYC2823 by performing PCR have revealed that this strain has biosynthetic gene clusters for ajudazols (inhibitors of electron transport systems) and chondramides (substances affecting the function of the actin cytoskeleton), and biosynthetic genes for other polyketide compounds that have not been cloned yet.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.528-534
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• 2005

Ozone, a powerful oxidant, is widely used to remove microorganisms, pesticides, taste and odor compounds effectively. Dissolved air flotation (OAF) has been known as an economical process for treating algae and low turbid water quality. An ozoflotation system, combining ozone and OAF processes, has a merit which can operate the ozonation and flotation process simultaneously in a single compartment. This study investigated the application of the ozoflotation process for advanced water treatment by carrying out the pilot-plant experiment. During the test, ozone microbubbles were generated through a OAF pump and many kinds of parameters were evaluated under several conditions, such as raw water flow rate and ozone dose. As a result of the test, the optimum operating conditions of ozoflotation were decided to be 1.2 mg/L ozone dose and about 34 minute Hydraulic retention time (HRT). Finally, it could be demonstrated that the ozoflotation system can effectively improve the drinking water quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.470-477
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• 2007

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of moisture content on direct landfilling prohibition of organic sludge. Organic sludges with moisture content (Me) of 75 and 85% were filled in two lysimeters. The lysimeters were named as Exp.75 and Exp.85, respectively. LFG of 2,064 l was generated greatly for Exp.85, compared to 1,500 l for Exp.75. LFG generations in Exp.75 and Exp.85 were 64.1 l/kg and 157.1 l/kg as dry TS basis, and 113.6 l/kg and 266.2 l/kg as dry VS basis. Total $CH_4$ generation in LFG for Exp.85 was 1,238 l, while 1,050 l for Exp.75. $H_2S$ of $3{\sim}150$ ppmv was generated from Exp.85, which was 5 times higher than $2{\sim}30$ppmv from Exp.75. Leachate was not generated from Exp.75 during operation time. However, 420 ml of leachate was generated from Exp.85. From the results of gas generation, composition, odorous compounds, and leachate generation, landfilling of organic sludge with high MC was more harmful to the environment in spite of great LFG generation. However, direct landfilling of organic sludges without great difference of MC made a severe odor problem. Therefore, it was thought that current direct landfilling prohibition law for all organic sludge was appropriate.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-222
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• 2006

Odor problems brought about by deteriorating air quality occur in areas surrounding landfills because VOCs emissions from landfills are exhausted through surface soil and gas vents. Due to these factors, monitoring of VOCs emissions from landfills are essential. However, only a few studies have been carried out to assess VOCs emissions from landfills. A comprehensive approach to this problem is definitely warranted. In this study, we estimated BTEX emissions from 7 landfill sites in Korea using field experiments and LandGEM(Landfill Gas Emission Model), which is the USA EPA(Environmental Protection Agency)-recommended model for landfill gas emission estimation. For this purpose, we suitably modified the model's major input parameters $L_0$ and k according to 3 classes based on landfill scale after considering the characteristics of field experiments and LandGEM data. Consequently, we estimated VOCs emissions from landfills for cities, provinces and all of Korea alter modifying $L_0$ & k using LandGEM. Through the results of this study, we obtained essential basic data with respect to present conditions which will help us understand VOCs emissions from landfills in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2015

Recently, the production of taste and odor (T&O) compounds is a common problem in water industry. Geosmin is one of the T&O components in drinking water. However, geosmin is hardly eliminated through the conventional water treatment systems. Among various advanced processes capable of removing geosmin, adsorption process using granular activated carbon (GAC) is the most commonly used process. As time passes, however GAC process changes into biological activated carbon (BAC) process. There is little information on the BAC process in the literature. In this study, we isolated and identified microorganisms existing within various BAC processes. The microbial concentrations of BAC processes examined were $3.5{\times}10^5$ colony forming units (CFU/g), $2.2{\times}10^6CFU/g$ and $7.0{\times}10^5CFU/g$ in the Seongnam plant, Goyang plant and Goryeong pilot plant, respectively. The dominant bacterial species were found to be Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Novosphingobium rosa and Afipia broomeae in each plants. Removal efficiencies of $3{\mu}g/L$ geosmin by the dominant species were 36.1%, 36.5% and 34.3% in mineral salts medium(MSM) where geosmin was a sole carbon source.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 2012

In this study, rejection behavior of 2-MIB (methylisoborneal) and geosmin which are known as taste-and-odor (T & O) causing micropollutants in drinking water source was investigated using hydrophobic polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration "loose" membrane (MWCO : 400 Da). It was found that the rejection of the geosmin was higher than that of the 2-MIB in all experimental conditions tested. This study also showed that the rejections of 2-MIB and geosmin were increased by increasing solution pH due to enhancing electrostatic repulsions between micropollutants and membrane surface. The presence of natural organic matter led to increase the rejection of the hydrophobic 2-MIB and geosmin and the effectiveness was more pronounced at higher solution pH. Increasing hydrophilicity of the hydrophobic membrane surface by coating with $TiO_2$ particles resulted in the significant increase in the rejection of 2-MIB and geosmin. In addition to the charge repulsion, this result suggests that hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction should be one of main rejection mechanisms of T & O compounds by NF membrane.