The emergence of micropollutants in natural water sources due to the overuse of anthropogenic chemicals in industry and households has threatened the production of clean and safe tap water in drinking water treatment plants. Conventional physicochemical processes such as coagulation/flocculation followed by sand filtration are not effective for the control of micropollutants, whereas chemical oxidation processes (applying chlorine, permanganate, ozone, etc.) are known to be promising alternatives. Determining the optimum oxidant dose is important issue related to the production of disinfection by-products as well as unnecessary operating cost, and is made possible by simulations of target-micropollutant abatement based on kinetic model equation consisting of second-order rate constant (between the oxidant and the target) and oxidant exposure. However, the difficulty in determining oxidant exposure as a function of complex water quality parameters limits the field application of kinetic model equation. With respect to representative oxidants used in drinking water treatment plants, this article reviews two main approaches for determining oxidant exposure: i) direct measurement in situ and ii) prediction by empirical models based on key water quality parameters. In addition, we discussed research requirements to improve the predictive accuracy of the empirical models for oxidant exposure and to develop a rational algorithm to determine optimal oxidant dose by considering the priority of the target pollutants to be treated.

자기공명영상장치(magnetic resonance, MR)/양전자 방출 단층촬영 장치(positron emission tomography, PET)는 두 가지 의료장치가 결합한 하이브리드 시스템으로써 MR의 해부학적 정보와 PET의 기능적 정보를 동시에 획득할 수 있는 최신 의료장치이다. 일반적으로 MR/PET의 우수한 팬텀 영상의 질 획득과 평가를 위하여 팬텀 내에 전기전도도가 낮은 액체 물질과 방사성동위원소를 주입하고, UTE MR 펄스 시퀀스를 적용한 감쇠 보정된 PET 영상을 획득한다. 본 연구의 목적은 MR/PET 전용 팬텀에서 물 대체물질로써 NaCl과 NaCl+NiSO4 물질에 따른 UTE MR 펄스 시퀀스를 획득하고, 감쇠 보정된 PET 영상의 질을 평가하고자 한다. 정량적 분석을 위하여 대조도 회복비(contrast recovery, CR), 신호대잡 음비(signal to noise ratio, SNR), 변동 계수(coefficient of variation, COV)를 적용하였다. NaCl 물질 기반 UTE MR 펄스 시퀀스를 적용한 PET 영상의 질이 CR은 1.38배, SNR은 1.18배가 증가하였고, COV는 1.18배 감소함을 확인할 수 있었다. 결론적으로, MR/PET 전용 팬텀을 활용한 신호의 획득 가능성을 확인하였고, UTE MR 펄스 시퀀스는 해부학 적 정보와 PET 영상의 질 향상에 필수적임을 확인할 수 있었다.

Application of the membrane process to wastewater treatment and reuse has been increasing due to water shortage, water pollution and an increase in water demand. Membrane fouling including biofouling should be controlled to extend its application. In this study, modulation of diffusible signal factor (DSF) system, the quorum sensing (QS) system that regulates EPS formation by microorganisms, was considered as a promising option to manage biofouling. Among many DSF compounds, cis -2-Decenoic acids (CDA) was selected. The experimental results showed that, as the CDA concentration increased, the density and number of stained cells decreased. The lowest density was observed when the CDA concentration of 300 nM was applied. The EPS on membrane surface decreased with increasing concentration of CDA. The CDA dosing also affected the EPS composition. At the 300 nM CDA dose, the total EPS reduced by up to 57% and the protein fraction by 35%. This study revealed the biofilm reduction effect of CDA under various conditions for MBR sludge. The application of CDA can be adapted to control biofouling in the MBR process.

There is growing concern over the effects of global warning. In response, the power generation sector must consider a wider range of systems and fuels to generate power. One of the classes of solid fuels that is being increasingly developed is biomass. However, one of the most serious problems that biomass plants face is severe corrosion. To mitigate the problem, various approaches have been proposed in terms of additive utilization. This study is based on the results obtained during the co-combustion of wood chip and waste wood in a circulating fluidized bed boiler (CFBC boiler). The KCl concentration was reduced from 59.9 ppm to 3.9 ppm during the injection of ammonium sulfate, and NOx was reduced by 25.5 ppm from 30.6 ppm to 5.1 ppm. However, SOx increased by 110.2 ppm from 33.2 ppm to 143.4 ppm, and HCl increased by 71.5 ppm from 340.5 ppm to 412.0 ppm. Thus, we confirmed that the attitude of the superheater tube was reduced by 87 ~ 93%, and the injection of ammonium sulfate was effective in preventing high-temperature corrosion.

This study was performed to determine the optimum coagulant dosing amount for effective treatment of raw water. The removal rate of turbidity and the variations of water qualities according to various dosage of coagulants such as Alum, PAC and PACS were investigated. The optimum coagulant dosing amount to make the lowest turbidity of water were 35㎎/ℓ of Alum, 30㎎/ℓ of PAC and l0㎎/ℓ of PACS in case of 5 NTU of raw water turbidity, and 30㎎/ℓ of Alum, 25㎎/ℓ of PAC and l0㎎/ℓ of PACS in case of 10 NTU of that, respectively. The removal rates of turbidity at 4 min. and 8 min. of settling time were 10 and 72% of Alum, 44 and 62% of PAC and 25 and 55% of PACS in case of 5 NTU, and 52 and 70% of Alum, 90 and 95% of PAC and 10 and 28% of PACS in case of 10 NTU, respectively. Judging from the settling capability of floc., the reaction time of floc. formation and removal efficiency of turbidity, PAC was evaluated as more effective coagulant than Alum and PACS. Also PAC was regarded as the most effective coagulant when the water supply was changed sharply and the fluctuation of the surface loading occured with wide and sharp in seettling basin. pH and alkalinity of the water were decreased with increasing coagulants dosage. But pH and alkalinity were not decreased below 5.8 which is the standard for drinking water quality, and l0㎎/ℓ which is the limit concentration of floc. breakage, respectively. Residual Al of the treated water was decreased with increasing coagulants dosage in case of 5 and 10NTU of raw water turbidity. KMnO_4 consumption of the water was decreased with increasing coagulants dosage. The reduction rate of KMnO_4 consumption at the optimum coagulants dosage were 39% of Alum, 18% of PAC and 11% of PACS in case of 5 NTU of raw water turbidity, and 42% of Alum, 27% of PAC and 36% of PACS in case of 10 NTU of that, respectively. Any relationship was not found between the removal rate of turbidity and KMnO_4 consumption. TOC of the water was a bit decreased with increasing coagulants dosage up to 30㎎/ℓ but not changed above 30㎎/ℓ of coagulants dosage. The degree of TOC reduction was increased in the order of Alum, PAC and PACS treatment. Zeta potential of the colloidal floc. at the optimum coagulants dosage was in the range of -20∼-15mV in case of 5 NTU of raw water turbidity and 0∼0.5mV in case of 10 NTU of that, respectively. Although the kinds and dosages of coagulants were different, zeta potential range were fixed under the conditions of the best coagulation efficiency.