Seung-Koo Song

Influence of nutritional conditions on the mycelial growth and exopolysaccharide production in Paecilomyces sinclairii

Aims:u2002The objective of the study was to optimize the submerged culture conditions for the production of exopolysaccharide from Paecilomyces sinclairii.

Production of high-content inulo-oligosaccharides from inulin by a purified endoinulinase

Inulo-oligosaccharides were produced from inulin with high yield by using a purified endoinulinase from a commercial inulinase preparation. The maximum yield of oligosaccharide achieved was around 96% irrespective of substrate concentrations ranged from 50 to 150 g inulin/l. A wide range of degradation products from inulin, varying in their DP (degree of polymerization) 2 to 6, were obtained where the major oligosaccharides were DP3 and 4. The reaction pH gave rise to a significant difference in yield and sugar composition of inulo-oligosaccharides.

Photocatalytic decolorization of rhodamine B by immobilized TiO2/UV in a fluidized-bed reactor

The photocatalytic oxidation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was studied by using a newly developed immobilized photocatalyst (TiO2 immobilized by support consisting of a perlite and silicone sealant) and a fluidized-bed reactor. Three 8W germicidal lamps were used as the light source and the reactor volume was 2.8l. When this photocatalyst was employed in a batch process, a total decolorization of the RhB in reaction times lower than 60 min was observed. The optimum dosage of photocatalyst was 33.8 g/l. The initial RhB decolorization rate of the immobilized TiO2 was higher than that of the suspended TiO2 and this did not agree with pseudo first-order kinetics because of the adsorption onto the surface of the immobilized TiO2. This result indicated that the adsorption capacity of the immobilized photocatalyst is very important in photocatalysis.

Photocatalytic decolorization of rhodamine B by fluidized bed reactor with hollow ceramic ball photocatalyst

Photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater by TiO2 has been introduced in both bench and pilot-scale applications in suspended state or immobilized state on supporting material. TiO2 in suspended state gave less activity due to its coagency between particles. Recent advances in environmental photocatalysis have focused on enhancing the catalytic activity and improving the performance of photocatalytic reactors. This paper reports a preliminary design of a new immobilized TiO2 photocatalyst and its photocatalytic fluidized bed reactor (PFBR) to apply photochemical degradation of a dye, Rhodamine B (RhB). But it was not easy to make a cost-effective and well activated immobilized TiO2 particles. A kind of photocatalyst (named Photomedium), consisting of hollow ceramic balls coated with TiO2-sol, which was capable of effective photodegradation of the dye, has been presented in this study. The photocatalytic oxidation of RhB was investigated by changing Photomedia concentrations, initial RhB concentrations, and UV intensity in PFBR

Solubilization and micellarenhanced ultrafiltration ofo-cresol by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Micelles

The solubilization and the micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) of o-cresol were investigated by using an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In order to study the solubilization behaviour of the solute, the semiequilibrium dialysis (SED) method was employed and stirred-cell ultrafiltration experiments were performed for the test of MEUF. The analysis of the results supported that approximately two surfactant molecules provide a location for the solubilized solute within micelle. In the removal of o-cresol by MEUF, as long as high SDS concentrations in the retentate (>0.2 M) are avoided, relatively good rejection of o-cresol (85 %) could be obtained under the conditions used (initial concentration ratio:[o-cresol]/[SDS]=0.2 and 0.6). Furthermore, the ultrafiltration processes were nearly at equilibrium, so that the permeate concentrations of o-cresol could be predicted from the SED results. The separation efficiency was greater at lower o-cresol concentrations when the SDS concentrations were fixed in the feed, while the rejection increased with increasing the SDS concentrations at constant intramicellar mole fraction of the solute Xc. In addition, as the o-cresol loading of retentate increased, the less SDS in the retentate permeated through ultrafiltration membranes. On the other hand, the higher o-cresol loadings reduced the fluxes of MEUF runs.

Color removal of real textile wastewater by sequential anaerobic and aerobic reactors

Textile wastewater from the Pusan Dyeing Industrial Complex (PDIC) was treated utilizing a two-stage continuous system, composed of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and an activated sludge reactor. The effects of color and organic loading rates were studied by varying the hydraulic retention time and influent glucose concentration. The maximum color load to satisfy the legal discharge limit of color intensity in Korea (400 ADMI, unit of the American Dye Manufacturers Institute) was estimated to be 2,700 ADMI·L−1 day−1. This study indicates that the two-stage anaerobic/aerobic reaction system is potentially useful in the treatment of textile wastewater.

Tensile strength and morphological investigation of SiC-coated carbon fibers

SiC-coated film onto carbon fibers as a barrier of oxidation resistance and reaction between carbon fibers and metals was investigated. The chemical vapor deposition of silicon carbide onto carbon fibers was performed at various temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000°C using triisopropylsilane vapor carried by hydrogen gas. The strength of the SiC-coated carbon fibers was decreased due to deterioration of fibers and chemical attack of hydrogen on the surface of carbon fibers during the coating process. The oxidation and the thermal resistance of the SiC-coated carbon fibers compared to the uncoated carbon fibers were improved at temperature range of 600–800°C and 1000–1200°C, respectively. Morphological change by air oxidation at temperature range of 500–800‡C was also investigated for the SiC-coated and the uncoated carbon fibers, respectively. The SiC-coated film between carbon fiber and aluminum was sufficient as a barrier of reaction on carbon fiber reinforced aluminum at temperature of above 1000°C.

Adsorption Affected by Relationship Between Pore Sizes of Activated Carbons and Physical Properties of Adsorbates

In this study, the relationship between the pore size distribution and the adsorption amount of adsorbates is investigated in detail. Adsorption amounts of non-polar adsorbates were greater than those of polar adsorbates because of slight negative charge on surfaces of adsorbents. The adsorption of benzene on the surface of absorbents was largely influenced by the specific pore size of times of benzene diameter. But in case of toluene, the adsorption of toluene was affected by pore sizes of times as well as times of the diameter of toluene. Both acetone and MEK were examined by the same method. The adsorption of acetone was influenced by pore sizes of times of the diameter of acetone. But acetone does not look to be built up multi-layer on those pore sizes. Since acetone molecule is small and its mobility is so fast, it is assumed that the adsorption and desorption of acetone is simultaneously occurred at the same time even at room temperature. In case of MEK, MEK was effected by pore sizes of times of the diameter of MEK.