Nak-Chang Sung

Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas otitidis WL-13 and its capacity to decolorize triphenylmethane dyes

Pseudomonas otitidis WL-13, which has a high capacity to decolorize triphenylmethane dyes, was isolated from activated sludge obtained from a wastewater treatment plant of a dyeing industry. This strain exhibited a remarkable color-removal capability when tested against several triphenylmethane dyes under both shaking and static conditions at high concentrations of dyes. More than 95% of Malachite Green and Brilliant Green was removed within 12 h at 500 micromol/L dye concentration under shaking conditions. Crystal Violet lost about 13% of its color under the same conditions tested. The rate of decolorization increased when the M9 medium was supplemented with yeast extract. The optimum pH and temperature for color removal were 7-9 and 35-40 degrees C, respectively. The observed changes in the visible spectra and the inspection of bacterial growth indicated the color-removal by the adsorption of dye to the cells during incubation with strains.

Characterization of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation by a Sphingomonas sp. 3Y Isolated from a Diesel-Contaminated Site.

Bacterial stain 3Y was isolated from a site that was contaminated with diesel for more than 15 years. The strain could grow on various petroleum using hydrocarbons as the sole carbon source. The strain grew not only on aliphatic hydrocarbons but also on aromatic hydrocarbons. 3Y grew on aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons hexane or hexadecane, and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons BTEX, phenol, biphenyl, or phenanthrene. The strain showed aromatic ring dioxygenase and meta-cleavage dioxygenase activities as determined by tests using indole and catechol. Aromatic ring dioxygenase is involved in the initial step of biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons while meta-cleavage dioxygenase catalyzes the cleavage of the benzene ring. Based on a nucleotide sequence analysis of its 16S rRNA gene, 3Y belongs to the genus Sphingomonas. A phylogenetic tress was constructed based on the nucleotide sequences of closest relatives of 3Y and petroleum hydrocarbon degrading sphingomonads. 3Y was in a cluster that was different from the cluster that contained well-known sphingomonads. The results of this study suggest that 3Y has the potential to cleanup oil-contaminated sites. Further investigation is warranted to optimize conditions to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons by the strain to develop a better bioremediation strategy.

Estimation of Kinetic Parameters for Biomass Growth Using Micro-nano Bubbles Reactor

The objectives of this research are to evaluate and compare the oxygen transfer coefficients(KLa) in both a general bubbles reactor and a micro-nano bubbles reactor for effective operation in sewage treatment plants, and to understand the effect on microbial kinetic parameters of biomass growth for optimal biological treatment in sewage treatment plants when the micro-nano bubbles reactor is applied. Oxygen transfer coefficients(KLa) of tap water and effluent of primary clarifier were determined. The oxygen transfer coefficients of the tap water for the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor were found to be 0.28 hr -1 and 2.50 hr -1 , respectively. The oxygen transfer coefficients of the effluent of the primary clarifier for the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor were found be to 0.15 hr -1 and 0.91 hr -1 , respectively. In order to figure out kinetic parameters of biomass growth for the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor, oxygen uptake rates(OURs) in the saturated effluent of the primary clarifier were measured with the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor. The OURs of in the saturated effluent of the primary clarifier with the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor were 0.0294 mg O2/L․hr and 0.0465 mg O2/L․hr, respectively. The higher micro-nano bubbles reactors oxygen transfer coefficient increases the OURs. In addition, the maximum readily biodegradable substrate utilization rates(Kms) for the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor were 3.41 mg COD utilized/mg active VSS․day and 7.07 mg COD utilized/mg active VSS․day, respectively. The maximum specific biomass growth rates for heterotrophic biomass(μmax) were calculated by both values of yield for heterotrophic biomass(YH) and the maximum readily biodegradable substrate utilization rates(Kms). The values of μmax for the general bubbles reactor and micro-nano bubbles reactor were 1.62 day -1 and 3.36 day -1 , respectively. The reported results show that the micro-nano bubbles reactor increased air-liquid contact area. This method could remove dissolved organic matters and nutrients efficiently and effectively.

Removal Characteristics of TPHs and Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soil with Ultrasonic Washing

The removal characteristics of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and heavy metals in contaminated soils with ultrasonic washing have been studied. The ultrasonic washing was evaluated on a laboratory scale. In this investigation, the effects of factors such as ultrasonic frequency, power intensity, duration of irradiation, contents of the TPHs and heavy metals and mixing ratios between the contaminated soils and water, were considered. Experimental results suggested that the rates for contaminant extraction of the TPHs and heavy metals in the contaminated soil increased considerably with the ultrasonic washing. Therefore, the ultrasonic washing has previously been to be an effective method to remediate the contaminated soils with the TPHs and heavy metals.

Analysis of a Sulfur-oxidizing Perchlorate-degrading Microbial Community

/l. Genomic DNA was isolated from the en-riched culture and its inoculum (activated sludge), and used for PCR-DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes. Microbial compositions of the enrichment culture and the activated sludge were different, as determined by their different DGGE profiles. The difference in DGGE banding patterns suggests that environmental conditions of the enrichment culture caused a change in the microbial community com-position of the inoculated activated sludge. Dominant DGGE bands in the enrichment culture sample were affiliated with the classes

Reclamation of Effluent Textile Wastewater Using Micro/nano Bubbles-Dissolved Ozone Flotation Process

The main objectives of this research are to investigate characteristics of ozone solubility due to low solubility of conven- tional bubbles-ozone generators, evaluate the treatment characteristics of reclaiming textile wastewater for industrial water by means of micro/nano bubbles-dissolved ozone flotation(MNB-DOF) process. The textile wastewater used in this research was obtained from final effluent of the textile wastewater in B city. There is a 400L reactor which consists of a micro-nano bubble system and a ozone generator for experiments. As a result of generating micro-nano bubbles (below 0.5 ㎛) by using of MNB-DOF process, it improved ozone solubility due to higher ozone transfer rates. Consequently, the shorter ozonation time clearly indicates the lower power costs. The reported results clearly indicated that MNB-DOF process can be effectively and inexpensively. Results of the experiments through MNB-DOF process in this study satisfy all reclaiming standards as in- dustrial water: pH 6.5~8.5, SS 10 mg/L or below, BOD5 6 mg/L or below, turbidity 10 NTU or below, Coliforms 1,000/100 mL or below. Therefore there is a possibility of the reclaiming of the textile wastewater as industrial water.

Pretreatment Characteristics and Specific Methanogenic Activity of Municipal Sewage Sludge by Dual Frequency Sonication

The objectives of this study have been carried out to investigate the solubilization of municipal sewage sludge by single and dual frequency ultrasonic pretreatment, and the methane production characteristics of pretreated sewage sludge by specific methanogenic activity test for sewage sludge reduction. The waste activated sludge was collected from thickened tank of Suyoung sewage treatment plant in Busan city, and its concentration was adjusted to 1.0% total solids. Ultrasonic frequency was varied 15, 20, 15+20 kHz, and acoustic density was used a maximum 176W/L. The dual frequency ultrasonic pretreatment was found to be more effective than single frequency ultrasonic in the solubilization rate and methane production. The , rate were 15.2%, 13.9%, 17.0% with single frequency of 15 kH2, 20 kHz, dual frequency of 15+20 kHz, respectively. The application of dual frequency ultrasound for sewage sludge pretreatment can be interest for sewage treatment plants having problems in sludge treatment and disposal.

The Numerical Analysis of Extrusion Forming on the Manufactured Artificial Lightweight Aggregate Made of Incinerated Sewage Sludge Ash by a Finite Element Method

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of process variables which were forming ability, flow displacement, effective stress, effective strain, fluid vector and products defects on manufactured artificial lightweight aggregate made of both incinerated sewage sludge ash and clay by means of the numerical analysis of a rigid-plastic finite element method. CATIA (3D CAD program) was used for an extrusion metal mold design that was widely used in designing aircraft, automobile and metallic molds. A metal forming analysis program (ATES Co.) had a function of a rigid-plastic finite element method was used to analyze the program. The result of extrusion forming analysis indicated clearly that a shape retention of the manufactured artificial light-weight aggregate could be maintained by increasing the extrusion ratio (increasing compressive strength inside of extrusion die) and decreasing the die angle. The stress concentration of metal mold was increased by increasing an extrusion ratio, and it was higher in a junction of punch and materials, friction parts between a bottom of the punch and inside of a container, a place of die angle and a place of die of metal mold. Therefore, a heat treatment as well as a rounding treatment for stress distribution in the higher stress concentration regions were necessary to extend a lifetime of the metallic mold. A deformity of the products could have made from several factors which were a surface crack, a lack of the shape retention and a crack of inside of the products. Specially, the surface crack in the products was the most notably affected by the extrusion ratio.