Jung-Hui Woo

Effect of Epoxy Mixed with Nafion Solution as an Anode Binder on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell

The composite anodes of exfoliated graphite (EG) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were fabricated by using the binders with different content of epoxy in Nafion solution. The influence of the epoxy content in the anode binder on the performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) was examined in a batch reactor. With the increase in the epoxy content in the anode binder, increase in physical binding force was observed, but at the same time an increase in the internal resistance of MFC was also observed. This was due to the increase in activation and ohmic resistance. For the anode binder without epoxy, the maximum power density was 1,892 mW/m, but a decrease in maximum power density was observed with the increase in the epoxy content in the anode binder. With the epoxy content of 50% in the anode binder, a decrease in the maximum power density to 1,425 mW/m was observed, which about 75.3% of the anode binder without epoxy is. However, the material consisting of the same amount of epoxy and Nafion solution is a good alternative for anode binder in terms of durability and economics of MFC.

Influence of applied voltage and COD on the bioelectrochemical degradation of organic matter

AbstractOrganic matter degradation was examined in an air cathode bioelectrochemical system (BES) operated in a fed-batch mode operation. The organic matter degradation rate in the air cathode BES was significantly affected by the initial concentration of organic matter with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranging from 25 to 600 mg/L, and by the applied voltage of 100 and 300 mV. When the initial COD concentration was less than 100 mg/L, the substrate affinity to bacteria at an applied voltage of 300 mV was slightly higher than that at 100 mV, but the substrate degradation potential that was evaluated by the ratio of maximum substrate degradation rate to saturation constant did not vary at 100 and 300 mV applied voltages. For initial COD concentrations higher than 300 mg/L, the substrate degradation potential at an applied voltage of 100 mV was higher than that at 300 mV. The anode and cathode potentials in the BES were affected by both the applied voltage and initial COD concentration, but the effect of a...

Release of Heavy Metals into Water from the Resuspension of Coastal Sediment

The study investigated the physicochemical characteristics and the ecological risk of the Northport sediment in B city and the releasing properties of heavy metals into seawater during the resuspension also studied. The major components of the sediment are fine silt and clay which contains high organic matter and AVS (Acid volatile sulfide) and the ecological risk of the heavy metals in sediment also very high. The release rate of heavy metals into seawater was in order of Pb>>Cu>Cr>>Zn>Cd during the resuspension in a batch experiment, and the heavy metal release mainly attributed to the oxidation of metal sulfides. Heavy metals which came from easily oxidisable metal sulfides rapidly contaminated seawater within about 1.0 h of the sediment resuspension. The sulfide oxidation during the resuspension increased the residual fraction of heavy metals in the sediment, decreased the organic bound fraction, and changed the other fractions of heavy metals in the sediment. The release of heavy metals from the sediment during resuspension was affected by the resuspension time, the oxidation rate of metal sulfides and resuspended concentration of the sediment particle.

Study on the elution of biostimulant for in-situ bioremediation of contaminated coastal sediment

A study on the elution characteristics of biostimulating agents (sulfate and nitrate) from biostimulants which are used for in-situ bioremediation for the coastal sediment contaminated with organic matter was performed. The biostimulating agents were mixed with the coastal sediment, and then massed the mixture into ball. Two kinds of ball type biostimulant were prepared by coating the ball surface with two different polymers, cellulose acetate and polysulfone. A granular type biostimulant (GTB) was also prepared by impregnating a granular activated carbon in the biostimulating agent solution. The image of scanning electron microscopy for the biostimulant coated with cellulose acetate (CAB) showed that the inner side of the coating layer consisted of irregular and bigger size of pores, and the surface layer had tight structure like beehive. For the biostimulant coated with polyfulfone (PSB), the whole coating layer had a fine structure without pore. The elution rate of the biostimulating agents for the CAB was higher than that for the PSB, and the elution rate for the GTB was considerably higher than that for the PSB in distilled water as well as in sea water. The elution rate of the biostimulating agents in turbulent water flow was about 3 times higher than that in standing water, and the elution rate of nitrate was higher than that of sulfate from the stimulating agents.

Effect of External Resistance on Electrical Properties of Two-Chamber type Microbial Fuel Cells

The Effects of external resistance on electrical properties such as current density, power density and coulombic efficiency were investigated in two-chamber type MFCs using a ferricyanide as reducing agent. A stable electricity was produced when a constant time elapsed after innoculation of mixed cultures into the anode compartment; voltages from 0.13 to 0.16 V was measured at 50 Ω of external resistance. When the external resistance was increased, the current density decreased and the power density rapidly increased and then slowly decreased. Big variation of electrical properties was observed in high-current density region due to the concentration loss related with substrate consumption in repeated experiments changing the external resistance. The maximum power density (175.8 mW/m) and coulombic efficiency (46.1%) were obtained at 100 Ω of the external resistance which is nearest with the internal resistance (134 Ω) of MFC system.

A Pilot Scale Biostimulation Study for In-situ Remediation of Organic Pollutants and PAHs contained in Coastal Sediment

연안오염퇴적물에 함유된 유기물질과 PAHs의 현장정화를 위한 생물활성촉진제의 효능을 파일럿 규모의 현장실험을 통하여 1년간평가하였다. 실험 해역의 수온은 계절적인 요인으로 인해 16.5℃에서 21℃까지 변화가 있었으나, 파일럿 반응조의 오염퇴적물의 pH는 8.4-8.5로서 비교적 일정하였다. 파일럿 실험종료 후 바탕시험구와 초산, 황산이온, 질산이온을...

Modification of Anode Surface with Hydrogel and Multiwall Carbon Nanotube for High Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells

The surface of graphite fiber fabric anode was modified with a hydrogel and a mixture of hydrogel and multiwall carbon nanotube, and their effectiveness were compared to the unmodified anodes in a batch microbial fuel cell (microbial fuel cells). The maximum power density of the MFC was determined by both performance of the anode and cathode. The maximum power density for the MFC with the anode modified with the mixture of hydrogel and multiwall carbon nanotube was 1,162 mW/m which was 27.7% higher than that with the unmodified graphite fiber fabric anode. “The mixture of hydrogel and multiwall carbon nanotube is a good surface modifier for anode with high biological affinity and low activation losses.”

Solvent Extraction of Organotin from Ship Wash Wastewater

A lab-scale fundamental study to develop the solvent extraction process of ship wash wastewater containing TBT was carried out. For various solvents, including diesels for car and ship, bunker B, thinner, toluene, and ether, the extraction efficiencies of TBT from synthetic ship wash wastewater were compared The effect of extraction conditions, such as solvent amount, time and intensity of agitation, and pH, on the extraction efficiency of TBT was evaluated Diesel for ship showed better extraction efficiency of TBT than those of other tested solvents, and the proper amount of the extraction solvent for 1L of the wastewater was l0mL. When the agitation intensity was increased from 50rpm to 250rpm, the TBT remained in the wastewater after the extraction was decreased from around 120ppb to 2.8ppb. The remaining TBT in the wastewater was sharply decreased from 1hr of the extraction time, but was slightly increased again after 5hrs of the extraction time. The efficiency of TBT extraction was good in the weak acid range of pH, but was not significant as much as the others.

Pyrolysis Treatment for TBT Paint Waste from Ship

Bans on TBT based antifouling paints have been drafted since 1998 by meetings 42, 43, 45 and 46 for the MEPC(Marine Environmental Protection Committee) of the international Maritime Organization, and decided finally at a Diplomatic Conference of the IMO in October 2001. It was a key issue that there should be a global prohibition on the presence of organo-tin compounds in ships by 1 Jan. 2008. TBT Paint Wastes from ship have been produced by vast quantity since 2003. This paper suggests a method to design Treatment System for TBT Paint Waste from Ship. The organotion compound was dissolved by heating, and the organic matters was oxidized and turned into inorganotins, then they were stabilized in the end. At , the organotin compound which heated for one hour was removed by 58%, and in the organotin compound was treated by 99.9% after and hour of heating treatment.