• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2012

This study investigated the water quality of effluents from the wastewater treatment plants, located at the Gumi Complex 4, Gumi, and Wonpyong, in Gumi. DOC accounted for higher than 70% of TOC, and oxidation efficiencies, calculated from carbon, were 13~43% for BOD and 37~73% for CODMn, respectively. Based on the biological decomposition experiments, R-DOC account for higher than 70% of DOC, mostly being occupied by refractory organic matters. This indicated that the biodegradable organics occupied more proportions of organic loadings than the refractory organics. The effect of the organics from a discharge of a sewage treatment plant on rivers, Gumi industrial Complex 4, Gumi, and Wonpyong on lower streams of the Nakdong River were found to be 15%, 6% and 16% respectively. The ratio of 15% suggests that comparatively, no large portions of TOC loadings are occupied, but the problem is that the biodegradable organic matters occupy a lot more proportions than that of the refractory organic matters. Thus, it is highly estimated that the refractory organics can gradually increase the pollution level of organics and precursors of disinfection by-products to the down-stream water treatment plants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

Perchlorate ($ClO_4^-$) is a contaminant found in surface water and soil/ground water. Autotrophic perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB) use hydrogen gas ($H_2$) as an electron donor to remove perchlorate. Since iron corrosion can produce $H_2$, feasibility of autotrophic perchlorate-removal using zero-valent iron (ZVI) was examined in this study using activated sludge that is easily available from a wastewater treatment plant. Batch test showed that activated sludge microorganisms could successfully degrade perchlorate in the presence of ZVI. The perchlorate biodegradation was confirmed by molar yield of $Cl^-$ as perchlorate was degraded. Scanning electron microscope revealed that rod-shaped microorganisms on the surface of iron particles used for the autotrophic perchlorate-removal, suggesting that iron particles could serve as supporting media for the formation of biofilm as well. DGGE analyses revealed that microbial profile of the inoculum (activated sludge) was different from that of biofilm sample obtained from the ZVI-added enrichment culture used for $ClO_4^-$-degradation. A major band of the biofilm sample was most closely related to the class Clostridia.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.816-821
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• 2017

An integrated slow mixing/sedimentation and net fit fiber filtration system has been developed to reduce the high concentrations of suspended solid (SS) and total phosphorus (T-P) in the reject water from sewage/wastewater. A filtration device used in this experiment consists of coagulation, in-line mixing, air injection, slow mixing/sedimentation, and filtration processes. The performance test using this device was carried out with six operational modes for reject water from sewage treatment plant. Experimental conditions used were 16.7, 33.3, 41.7 and 50.0 ton/day of flow rate and 2~4 of Al/P molar ratio. By injection of coagulant in each operational mode, the high removal efficiencies of SS and T-P were obtained, but continuous operation time was decreased to 7.8~11.4 min in most modes. However, when the Mode 5 of the developed filtration device was applied, the continuous operation time was maintained up to 88.2 min. Also, it was found that the continuous operation time in the Mode 5 using the developed system was increased from 8 to 11.3 times longer than those in other modes. Backwashing flow rate was also very low at 5.4% of total filtered water. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Mode 5 of the developed filtration system was the most efficient treatment method for the removal of high concentrations of SS and T-P.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2012

The performance and removal efficiencies of a pilot scale biofilter were estimated by using ammonia and hydrogen sulfide as the odorous gases. Expanded polyurethane foam coated with powdered activated carbon and zeolite was used as a biofilm supporting medium in the biofilter. Odorous gases from the sludge thickener of a municipal wastewater treatment plant were treated in the biofilter for 10 months and the inlet ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were 0.1-1.5 and 2-20 ppmv, respectively. The removal efficiencies reached about 100% at the empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 3.6-5 seconds except for the adaptation periods. The pressure drop of the biofilter caused by the gas flow was also low that the maximum attained was 31 mm $H_2O$ during the operation. Its stability was confirmed in the long term due to the fact that the biofilter and the polyurethane medium had a minimum plugging and compression. The microbial community on the medium is critical for the performance of the biofilter especially the distribution of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB). The distribution of Nitrosomonas sp. (AOB) and Thiobacillus ferroxidans (SOB) was confirmed by FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) analysis. The longer the operation time, the more microbial population observed. Also, the medium close to the gas inlet had more microbial population than the medium at the gas outlet of the biofilter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.676-681
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• 2013

Perchlorate (${ClO_4}^-$) is an emerging contaminant found in surface water and soil/groundwater. Microbial removal of perchlorate is the method of choice since perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB) can reduce perchlorate to harmless end-products. A previous study [3] showed experimental evidence of autotrophic perchlorate removal using elemental sulfur granules and activated sludge. The granular sulfur is a relatively inexpensive electron donor, and activated sludge is easily available from a wastewater treatment plant. A batch test was performed in this study to further investigate the effect of various environmental parameters on the perchlorate degradation by sludge microorganisms when elemental sulfur was used as electron donor. Results of the batch test suggest optimum conditions for autotrophic perchlorate degradation by sludge microorganisms. The results also show that sulfur-oxidizing PRB enriched from activated sludge removed perchlorate better than activated sludge. Taken together, this study suggests that autotrophic perchlorate removal using elemental sulfur and activated sludge can be improved by employing optimized environmental conditions and enrichment culture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2015

PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ehters) are rarely dissolved in water due to their strong hydrophobicity and large molecular mass so not many researches were done in aqueous environment compared to other environmental compartments. However, the mass loading from wastewater treatment plant into aquatic environment, re-suspension from bottom sediment and partitioning from floating particles and colloids may not be negligible. It is, therefore, important but also difficult to investigate PBDEs in water environment. Recent overcoming resolution towards this barrier to monitor hydrophobic organic compounds in aquatic environment is using passive sampling technique like semipermeable membrane device. By using passive sampling, it might be possible to obtain long-term reproducible monitoring result and detect the trace amounts of PBDEs, with controlling fluctuation of surrounding environmental factors during the sampling event. So therefore, this study is purposed to confirm the possibility of using SPMD (semi-permeable membrane device) as water monitoring tool. Grab samples, composite samples and SPMDs were applied in river bank to evaluate the concentration difference and temporal fluctuation by various water sampling method, and to assess the water concentration prediction capability of SPMD for the PBDEs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.105-126
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• 2003

In Korea most of annual rainfall is concentrated in several episodic heavy rains during the season of summer monsoon and typhoon. Because of uneven rainfall distribution many dams have been constructed in order to secure water supply in dry seasons. The Han River system has the most dams among Korean rivers, and the river is a series of dams now. Reservoirs need different strategy of water quality control from river water. Autochthonous organic matter and phosphorus should be the major target to be controlled in lakes. In this Paper some problems are discussed that makes efforts of water quality improvement ineffective in lakes of Korea, even after the substantial investment to wastewater treatment facilities.1) Phosphorus is the key factor controlling eutrophication of lakes and the reduction ofphosphors should be the major target of water treatment. However, water quality management strategy in Korea is still stream-oriented, and focused on BOD removal from sewage. Phosphorus removal efficiency remains as low as 10-30%, because biological treatment is adopted for both secondary treatment and advanced treatment. The standard for TP concentration of the sewage treatment plant effluent is 6 mgP/l in most of regions, and 2 mg/l in enforced region near metropolitan water intake point. TP in the effluents of sewage treatment plants are usually 1-2 mg/1, and most of plants meet the effluent regulation without a further phosphorus removal process. The generous TP standard for effluents discourages further efforts to improve phosphorus removal efficiency of sewage treatment. Considering that TP standard for the effluent is below 0.1 mg/l in some countries, it should be amended to below 0.1 mg/l in Korea, especially in the watershed of large lakes.2) Urban runoff and combined sewer overflow are not treated, even though their total loading into lakes can be comparable to municipal sewage discharges on dry days. Chemical coagulation and rapid settling might be the solution to urban runoff in regard of intermittent operation on only rainy days.3) Aggregated precipitation in Korea that is concentrated on several episodic heavyrains per year causes a large amount of nonpoint source pollution loading into lakes. It makes the treatment of nonpoint source discharge by methods of other countries of even rain pattern, such as retention pond or artificial wetland, impractical in Korea.4) The application rate of fertilizers in Korea is ten times as high as the average ofOECD countries. The total manure discharge from animal farming is thought to be over the capacity of soil treatment in Korea. Even though large portion of manure is composted for organic fertilizer, a lot of nutrients and organic matter emanates from organic compost. The reduction of application rate and discharge rate of phosphorus from agricultural fields should be encouraged by incentives and regulations.5) There is a lot of vegetable fields with high slopes in the upstream region of the HanRiver. Soil erosion is severe due to high slopes, and fertilizer is discharged in the form of adsorbed phosphorus on clay surface. The reduction of soil erosion in the upland area should be the major preventive policy for eutrophication. Uplands of high slope must be recovered to forest, and eroded gullies should be reformed into grass-buffered natural streams which are wider and resistant to bank erosion.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2002

The monthly water quality data measured at 19 stations located in the Sapkyo reservoir watershed were clustered into 2 to 7 clusters and factor analysis was conducted to characterize the water quality, using the information obtained from cluster analysis. The result of cluster analysis shows that Sapkyo reservoir and each stream (Sapkyo stream, Muhan stream and Kokkyo stream) in Sapkyo reservoir watershed hove their own water quality characteristics. The result of water quality analysis indicates that the concentration of suspended solids from Sapkyo reservoir is much higher than those of other streams, and which is probably because of increment of phytoplankton biomass with rich nutrient flowing Into Sapkyo reservoir from the upper stream of watershed. Furthermore, the concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were 3.5 to 4.8 times and 1.7 to 2.5 times those of other streams, respectively. The overall water quality of Sapkyo reservoir watershed was considered to exceed eutrophic condition. Based on factor analysis, the water quality characteristics of Sapkyo stream and Muhan stream were closely related with farm land and residence. The water quality of Kokkyo stream was influenced by superabundant organic matter flowing from Chonan city and district wastewater treatment plant located in the upper stream of Kokkyo stream. The water quality factor influencing Sapkyo reservoir was closely related with water quality factors of other three streams.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.1706-1709
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• 2010

Sewerage Treatment Plants(STPs) are complexes systems in which a range of physical, chemical and biological processes occur. Since Activated Sludge Model(ASM) No.1 was published, a number of new mathematical models for simulating biological processes have been developed. However, these models have disadvantages in cost and simplicity due to the laboriousness and tediousness of their procedures. One of the major difficulties of these mathematical model based tools is that the field-operators mostly don't have the time or the computer-science skills to handle there models, so it mainly remains on experts or special engineers. In order to solve these situations and help the field-operators, the $KM^2BM$(K-water & More-M Mass Balance Model) based on the dynamic-mass balance model was developed. This paper presents $KM^2BM$ as a simulation tools for STPs design and optimization. This model considers the most important microbial behavioral processes taking place in a STPs to maximize potential applicability without increasing neither model parameter estimation nor wastewater characterization efforts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.519-522
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• 2007

China infrastructure construction market has huge potential for increased use of PPP/BOT mode and one of the most attractive markets of doing business. However, there are still a multitude of challenges for overseas EPC contractor to enter into the China PPP/BOT market both internally and externally. Especially, the construction legal system and relevant policies are considered at present the biggest barriers in accessing China construction market. Therefore, the main purpose of the paper is to identify the impact of the construction laws, regulations and BOT-related policies on the viability of foreign contractor-led BOT project in China. To the satisfaction of the purpose, this paper will first analyze China construction laws based on the key issues that must be tackled by foreign EPC contractor before they enter into China. This summary gives the possible contract scheme for a BOT project of interest in which foreign contractors could define the scope of works and measure the viability of the project. Finally, a case study of wastewater treatment plant BOT project in China subsequently illustrates some of the lessons learned from the foreign contractor's perspectives for successfully participating in future environmental market in China.