Recently EC-MBR (Elctrocoagulation - Membrane Bio Reactor) has been suggested as one of alternative processes to overcome membrane fouling problems. Most important operational parameters in the EC-MBR are known to current density and contact time. Their effect on membrane filtration performances has been reported well, however, quantitative interrelationship between both parameters not been investigated yet. The purpose of this study is to give a kinetic model suggesting the current density and the contact time required to reduce the membrane fouling. The 4 different set of current densities (2.5, 6, 12 and 24 A/m2) and contact times (0, 2, 6 and 12 hr) were selected as operational parameters. After each electro-coagulation under the 16 different conditions, a series of membrane filtration was carried out. The membrane fouling decreased as the current density and contact time increased, Total fouling resistances under different conditions, Rt(=Rc+Rf) were calculated and compared to those of the controls (R0), which were calculated from the data of experiments without electro-coagulation. A kinetic approach for the fouling reduction rate (Rt / R0) was carried out and the equation ρi0.46t=7.0 was obtained, which means that the product of current density and the contact time needed to reduce the fouling in certain amounts (in this study, 10% of fouling reduction) is always constant.

Although microalgae are considered as a promising feedstock for biofuels, cost-efficient harvesting of microalgae needs to be significantly improved. In this study, the use of electro coagulation as a more rapid flocculation method for harvesting a freshwater (Scenedesmus dimorphus) microalgae species was evaluated. The results showed that, electro coagulation was shown to be more efficient using an aluminum anode than using an iron anode. And optimum conditions of electro coagulation for harvesting Scenedesmus dimorphus were found. The optimum stirring speed was 100 rpm and optimum pH was 5. Furthermore, the current density which the fastest and highest recovery efficiency is achieved at 30 A/m2, while the highest energy efficiency was achieved at 10 A/m2. A the rapid and high recovery efficiency indicate that electro coagulation is a particularly attractive technology for harvesting microalgae.

Microalgae is known as one alternative energy source of the fossil fuel with the small size of 5 ~ 50 µm and negative charge. Currently, the cost of microalgae recovery process take a large part, about 20 - 30% of total operating cost. Thus, the microalgae recovery method with low cost is needed. In this study, the optimum current for Scenedesmus dimorphus recovery process using electrocoagulation techniques was investigated. Under the electrical current, Al metal in anode electrode is oxidized to oxidation state of Al3+. In the cathode electrode, the water electrolysis generated OH- which combine with Al3+ to produce Al(OH)3. This hydroxide acts as a coagulant to harvest microalgae.Before applying in 1.5 L capacity electrocoagulation reactor, Scenedesmus dimorphus was cultured in 20 L cylindrical reactor to concentration of 1 OD.The microalgae recovery efficiency of electrocoagulation reactor was evaluated under different current conditions from 0.1 ~ 0.3 A. The results show that, the fastest and highest recovery efficiency were achieved at the current or 0.3 A, which the highest energy efficiency was achieved at 0.15 A.

There is a need for a method that can effectively remove wastewater containing small-sized particles such as TiO2. In this study, we attempted to remove TiO2 wastewater using electrocoagulation-electroflotation two-step separation. The TiO2 wastewater was effectively removed via batch electrocoagulation-electroflotation separation. However, in the batch process, the simultaneous operation of electrocoagulation and electoflotation was challenging due to the high residual turbidity. In the continuous operation, electrocoagulation and electoflotation reactors were kept separate. The turbidity removal in continuous operation was similar to that in the batch process, nevertheless, the residual Al concentration was high, leading to the conclusion that counterterm ensures against residual Al were necessary.

In the industrial wastewater that occupies a large proportion of river pollution, the wastewater generated in textile, leather, and plating industries is hardly decomposable. Though dyeing wastewater has generally been treated using chemical and biological methods, its characteristics cause treatment efficiencies such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS) to be reduced only in the activated sludge method. Currently, advanced oxidation technology for the treatment of dyeing wastewater is being developed worldwide. Electro-coagulation is highly adapted to industrial wastewater treatment because it has a high removal efficiency and a short processing time regardless of the biodegradable nature of the contaminant. In this study, the effects of the current density and the electrolyte condition on the COD removal efficiency in dyeing wastewater treatment by using electro-coagulation were tested with an aluminum anode and a stainless steel cathode. The results are as follows: ① When the current density was adjusted to 20 A/m2, 40 A/m2, and 60 A/m2 under the condition without electrolyte, the COD removal efficiency at 60 min was 62.3%, 72.3%, and 81.0%, respectively. ② The removal efficiency with NaCl addition was 7.9% higher on average than that with non-addition at all current densities. ③ The removal efficiency with Na2SO4 addition was 4.7% higher on average than that with non-addition at all current densities.

The use of Soluble Cutting Fluids (SCF) is essential in the development of industrial technology. However, it is difficult to decompose biologically due to its high concentrations of organic substances and nitrogen compounds, which interfere with microbial growth. Recently, Advanced Oxidation Processes are being studied both domestically and internationally. Electrolysis is highly adaptable industrial wastewater treatment because it has high removal efficiency and short processing time, regardless of the contaminant’s biodegradable nature. Accordingly, this study shows the characteristics of total nitrogen removal in SCF on the operating time, current density, and electrolytes when using aluminum in a batch-type reactor. The results are as follows: ① Under the condition of without the electrolyte when the current density was adjusted to 40 A/m2, 60 A/m2, or 80 A/m2, the respective T-N removal efficiencies were 71.7%, 80.6%, and 87.2% at 60 min. ② In the comparison for the condition of whether NaCl was added, the removal efficiency of adding NaCl (5 ~ 10 mM) was higher than non-addition at 60 min for all current densities. ③ In the comparison for the condition of whether Na2SO4 (5 ~ 10 mM) was added, the removal efficiency when adding Na2SO4 showed no significant difference compared to non-addition at 60 min for all current densities.

The Electrocoagulation-Flotation (ECF) process has great potential in wastewater treatment. ECF technology is effective in the removal of colloidal particles, oil-water emulsion, organic pollutants such as microalgae, and heavy metals. Numerous studies have been conducted on ECF; however, many of them used a conventional plate-type aluminum anode. In this study, we determined the effect of changing operational parameters such as power supply time, applied current, NaCl concentration, and pH on the turbidity removal efficiency of kaoline. We also determined the effects of different electrolyte types (NaCl, MgSO4, CaCl2, Na2SO4, and tap water), as well as the differences caused by using a plate-type and mesh-type aluminum anode, on the turbidity removal efficiency. The results showed that the optimal values of ECF time, applied current, NaCl concentration, and pH were 5 min, 0.35 A, 0.4 g/L NaCl in distilled water, and pH 7, respectively. The results also revealed that the turbidity removal efficiency of kaoline in different electrolytes decreased in the following sequence, given the same conductivity: tap water > CaCl2 > MgSO4 > NaCl > Na2SO4. The turbidity removal efficiency of the mesh-type aluminum anode was significantly greater than the plate-type aluminum anode.

최근 전 세계적으로 자원 고갈의 문제에 대비한 신재생에너지 개발 및 자원순환에 대한 관심이 커지고 있다. 특히 수자원은 인간과 생태계에 밀접한 관련이 있는 자원중 하나로 수자원 순환에 대한 다양한 정책이 시행되고 있다. 그중 하수 재이용 정책으로 인해 다양한 처리법이 연구되고 있고, 전기응집 공법 또한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 전기응집은 전극에 일정전압이 가해지면 금속이 용해되어 수산화물을 생성하고 이것이 폐수 중콜로이드성 물질과 응집하여 침전되면서 오염물질을 제거한다. 전기응집은 시스템의 구성이 간단하여 조작이 쉽고, 온도나 pH에 거의 영향을 받지 않아 경제적인 장점이 있다. 하지만 전기응집 공법은 응집으로 인한 플럭을 제거해야 하며, 이는 여과로 빠르게 분리가 가능해 간단하게 처리할 수 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 전기응집 처리수에서 발생된 플럭을 제올라이트 여과를 이용해 처리하고자 하였다. 제올라이트를 이용하여 전기응집 플럭이 제거 가능한지 알아보기 위해 탁도를 측정하여 확인한 후, 오염물질 제거에 큰 영향을 미치는 여과유량을 설정하기 위해 EBCT 변화에 따른 실험을 진행하였다. 이때 탁도 뿐만 아니라 CODcr농도와 총인농도, pH를 측정하여 최적 EBCT를 판단하고 재이용수의 수질기준에 만족하는지에 대해 알아보고자 하였다.

우리나라는 지형 특성상 효율적인 수자원 확보가 어려운 실정이기 때문에 안정적이고 지속적인 수자원 공급을 위해 수자원 개발의 필요성이 대두되고 있다. 우리나라의 기존 수자원확보는 대형 댐이나 저수지 형태가 대부분이지만 이는 축조로 인해 대규모 생태계 훼손의 우려가 있어 최근 정부는 해수의 담수화 시스템 개발, 일회성 용수 재사용, 하수 재이용 등 새로운 정책을 시도하고 있다. 우리나라의 하수 재이용율은 매년 꾸준히 증가하는 추세이며 막 분리법, 이온교환 처리법 등 다양한 재이용수 개발공법에 대한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 하지만 막 여과는 막의 수명이 비교적 짧고 막 교환비용이 높은 특성을 가지며, 이온교환 공정은 유지관리가 어렵고 용량에 비해 처리 비용이 고가인 단점이 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이러한 처리법 외에 전기화학적 처리방법인 전기응집에 대한 연구를 시도하였다. 전기응집 공법은 유입 원수에 큰 영향을 받지 않아 폐수성상을 가리지 않고 오염물질을 효과적으로 처리할 수 있으며, 다른 공정과 비교했을 때 설치면적 당 처리 용량이 커서 경제적이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 전기응집 공법에서 영향인자로 알려진 전류밀도, 전극 간격, 교반속도와 시간에 따른 제거효율을 Jar-test를 통해 확인하고 최적조건을 도출하였다. 또한 도출해낸 최적조건에서 전기응집을 이용해 하수처리수의 재이용수로 이용 가능성에 대해 판단하고자 하였다. 전류밀도는 0.036A/cm², 전극간격은 0.3cm, 교반속도와 시간은 100rpm, 5분에서 가장 높은 제거효율을 보여 이를 최적조건으로 결정하였다.

현대축산업에서 발생되는 수질오염 물질은 축사에서 배출되는 축산분뇨가 대부분을 차지하고 있다. 소규모 축산 농가는 대규모 축산 농가와 달리 정확한 배출현황의 파악이 어려운 비점오염원으로써 관리와 통제가 어렵고 잘 이뤄지지 않고 있다. 이에 따라 다량의 유기, 무기 오염물질들과, 특히 부영양화, 녹조, 수화현상을 발생시키는 인과 질소 중 용존물질인 인산염, 질산성질소, 아질산성질소, 암모니아성질소의 처리가 시급하다. 현재의 처리방법은 가격이 저렴하고 간편한 화학적 처리방법을 이용하고 있다. 하지만 이는 슬러지의 양을 증대시키고 화학응집제에 의한 이차적인 문제를 야기한다. 따라서 이런 문제를 해결할 방안 중 하나로 전기분해와 응집을 통한 축산폐수 처리가 모색하고 있다. 하지만 소규모 축산농가는 대체로 도서 산간지역에 있어 전기분해와 전기응집에 필요한 전기를 얻기 위해 송전탑과 배전설비를 설치하는 것은 매우 비효율적이다. 이를 개선하기 위해 태양광설비를 이용하여 소규모 축산농가에서 자체적으로 전력을 확보, 전기분해와 응집을 진행하려 한다. 생산된 전기는 플랜트의 전력수급 뿐만 아니라 잉여전력은 생활전력으로 활용하여 환경적 이점과 경제적 이익을 동시에 취할 수 있게 될 것이다. 따라서 위와 같이 소규모 축산농가에서 환경적, 경제적 두가지 장점을 모두 취할 수 있는 플랜트를 개발･제시하는 것이 이 연구의 핵심이라 할 수 있다. 따라서 소규모 축산농가 폐수처리를 위해 태양광설비를 이용하여 전력을 자체적으로 수급하여 전기분해와 응집을 통해 질소와 인의 농도를 줄이고, 독자적인 처리 플랜트를 개발･발전시키는 것이 이 연구의 핵심이라 할 수 있다. 본 연구는 실험실 규모의 장치를 이용하여 항온 70℃를 유지하며, anode(+)에 Fe, Cathode(-) 316-SUS, 전극간격은 10mm를 유지하여, 1A CC(Constant Current)조건으로 시간에 따른 인산염(PO43-), 질산성질소(NO3-), 아질산성 질소(NO2-), 암모니아성 질소(NH4+)의 농도를 측정하였다. 자외선 원자흡광광도계(UV spectro photometer)를 이용하여 분석 한 결과 인은 초기 30분 이내에 초기농도 1000ppm에서 280ppm 감소한 720ppm으로 약 28%대의 저감효율을 가지는 것으로 나타났으며 질소는 초기 2시간 이내에 초기농도 6000ppm에서 2280ppm 감소한 3720ppm으로 약 38%대의 저감효율을 가지는 것으로 나타났다.

The separation of TiO2 wastewater carried out by an electrocoagulation/flotation process, which had various operating parameters. The effect of electrode material (aluminum and four dimensionally stable electrode), applied current (0.07∼0.5 A), electrolyte concentration (0∼1 g/L), solution pH (3∼11), initial turbidity (1000∼20000 NTU) and suspended solid concentration (5000∼25000 mg/L) were evaluated. Turbidity removal efficiency of the soluble anode (aluminum), which could produce metal ions, was higher than that of the dimensionally stable electrode. Considering operation time, turbidity removal and electric power, optimum current was 0.19 A. The more NaCl dosage was high, the less electric power was required. However, optimum NaCl concentration was 0.125 g/L considered removal efficiency, operation time and cost. Initial TiO2 concentration did not affected turbidity removal on the electrocoagulation/ flotation operation. The electrocoagulation/flotation process was proved to be a very effective separation method in the removal of TiO2 from wastewater.