This study evaluated the potential of two unmodified seaweeds, Sargassum fulvellumand Ishige okamurae, as low-cost adsorbents for aqueous phosphate removal under low phosphorus conditions. Batch tests (25±1°C; initial phosphorus concentration, approximately 0.67 mg/L) were performed for up to 72 h at adsorbent doses of 1.0, 5.0. and 10.0 g/L, and time-series concentration profiles showed a rapid decrease within the first 12-24 h, followed by an approach to equilibrium. The removal efficiency increased with the seaweed dose; after 72 h, the maxima were approximately 12.0% for I. okamuraeand 12.4% for S. fulvellum, the mass-specific adsorption capacity (q) was relatively higher for I. okamuraeat the lowest dose. The adsorption data were obtained at a single initial concentration, equilibrium isotherm analysis was performed on an exploratory basis. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms yielded low coefficients of determination, establishing the basic performance of unmodified seaweeds at low phosphate levels. Overall, these results indicate the need forkinetic analysis using time-dependent models, together with material optimization (i.e., surface modification), to enhance the capacity and practical applicability of seaweeds for phosphorus adsorption.

생태계에서 인산염은 중요한 영양물질이지만, 일정 농도 이상일 경우 부영양화의 원인이 된다. 본 연구는 수중 인산염의 제거효율 향상을 위해 Cu(Ⅱ)용액을 이용하여 분말활성탄의 표면개질을 진행하였으며, 회분식 실험을 통해 인산염의 흡착 특성을 분석하였다. SEM 분석을 통해 PAC-Cu 표면에 구리 기반의 결정을 보았고, 용출실험 결과 구리가 정량적으로 24 mg/g 용출된 것을 제시하였다. BET 분석결과 개질 후 비표면적과 기공 부피가 각각 7.53%, 8.66%로 유사하게 감소하였다. 제거 효율 실험에서 PAC-Cu는 PAC대비, 중성인 pH조건에서 최대 3.46배 높은 인산염 흡착능을 보였다. pH 실험에서 PAC의 경우 pH 6에서 최대 효율을 나타내고 있으나, PAC-Cu는 넓은 pH 범위(pH 5~8)에서 일정한 제거효율을 보였다. 등온흡착 모델링 결과, Langmuir와 Sip모델 적용했을 때 최대흡착량은 각각 52.3 mg/g과 126 mg/g으로 PAC의 9.48 mg/g과 31.6 mg/g보다 높은 값을 나타내고 있다. 반응속도실험의 경우, PAC-Cu와 PAC모두에서 30분 이내에서 모두 평형에 도달하였으나, PAC-Cu가 PFO 및 PSO 모델 적용시 높은 k값을 가진다.

후쿠시마 원자력 발전소 사고 이후 3.3 × 1016 Bq의 세슘(Cs)이 환경에 노출되면서, 수원으로부터 방사성 세슘 (Cs)을 제거하는 것에 대한 관심이 증대되었다. 지속 가능한 개발과 환경 안전 측면에서 오염된 환경을 복원하는 것은 매우 중요한 이슈이다. 유해 오염물질을 효과적으로 제거하기 위해 분리막 기반의 분리/정제 기술은 매우 각광받는 기술 중 하나 이다. 특히 막 흡착(membrane adsorber) 기술은 흡착과 막 분리를 결합할 수 있는 기술로 수용액에서 오염물질을 제거하는 데 매우 유용한 기술이다. 특히 전기방사 분리막은 높은 기공률, 다양한 고분자 활용가능 그리고 다양한 응용 분야 등의 특징 으로 지난 수십 년 동안 많은 연구가 수행되어 왔다. 본 리뷰 논문은 오염된 물에서 세슘을 제거하기 위한 프러시안 블루 (Prussian blue)가 포함된 전기방사 기반 막 흡착 소재 제조에 대한 다양한 기술을 리뷰하였다.

In this study, the removal efficiency of PFCs(perfluorinated compounds) in the GAC(granule activated carbon) process based on the superheated steam automatic regeneration system was investigated in laboratory scale and pilot-scale reactor. Among PFCs, PFHxS(perfluorohexyl sulfonate) was most effectively removed. The removal efficiency of PFCs was found to be closely related to the EBCT, and the removal efficiencies of PFOA(perfluorooctanoic acid), PFOS(perfluorooctyl sulfonate), and PFHxS were 43.7, 75, and 100%, respectively, under the condition of EBCT of 6 min. Afterward, PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS exhibited the earlier breakthrough time in the order. After that, GAC was regenerated, and the removal efficiency of the PFCs before and after regeneration was compared. As a result, it was shown that the PFCs removal efficiency in the regenerated GAC process were higher, and that of PFOA was improved to 75%. The findings of this study indicate the feasibility of the superheated steam automatic regeneration system for the stable removal of the PFCs, and it was verified that this technology can be applied stably enough even in field conditions.

본 연구에서는 바이오매스 폐기물인 Corynebacterium glutamium을 Alg를 이용한 고정화와 PEI 표면개질 과정을 통하여 유해 미세조류인 Microcystis aeruginosa를 제거할 수 있는 흡착소재인 PEI-AlgBF를 개발하였다. 녹조의 발생단계에 상관없이 PEI-AlgBF는 수계로부터 M. aeruginosa를 성공적으로 제거할 수 있었으며 유해조류 제거과정에서 M. aeruginosa 세포의 파괴를 유발하지 않았다. 흡착소재의 표면적은 M. aeruginosa의 제거효율에 매우 큰 영향을 주는 주요인자로 확인할 수 있었다. PEI-AlgBF를 사용한 M. aeruginosa 흡착/제거 방식은 기존 기술에 비하여 환경영 향성이 낮기 때문에 보다 안전하고 안정적인 유해조류의 제어 방식이 될 것이다.

The Odor-causing compounds from grilled meat restaurants are mainly ammonia, aldehydes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Acetaldehyde is known to have the greatest odor contribution. This study examines the application of silica gel for acetaldehyde in gas stream. Heat-pretreated silica gel showed relatively good adsorption performance and at 150oC, its breakthrough capacity reached up to 51 mg/g. By using Thomas' dynamic model, which well estimated the adsorption performance in this study, the effects of inlet concentration and retention time on adsorption capacity were evaluated. The adsorbent saturated with acetaldehyde was regenerated by reducing the pressure, which was controlled by the vacuum pump. The design factors were found to be 10 sec−1 of space velocity, -184 kPa·hr of desorption condition, and 10 to 1 of the ratio of cross sectional area to the height for the fixed-bed. The cyclic operation of adsorption and desorption step in the fixed bed packed with silica gel appeared to have 7.0-8.8 mg/g of acetaldehyde removal capacity and 99% of regeneration.

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from printing industries were analyzed, and an inorganic adsorbent, γ-alumina, was selected for the effective control of the VOC emissions. Printing processes commonly require inks, thinners, and cleaners, and they were mixed organic solvents containing aromatic compounds, ketones, and alcohols. Therefore, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were selected as model compounds for this study. The adsorptive properties using γ-alumina were determined for the model compounds. Both batch isotherm and continuous flow column tests demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of MEK and IPA was 3~4 times higher than that of toluene. The column test performed at an inlet toluene concentration of 100 ppm showed that an 80% breakthrough for toluene was observed after 3 hours, but both MEK and IPA were continuously adsorbed during the same time period. A numerical model simulated that the γ-alumina could remove toluene at a loading rate of 0.4 mg/min only for a 4-hour period, which might be too short of a duration for real applications. Consequently, lifetime enhancement for γ-alumina must be implemented, and ozone oxidation and regeneration would be feasible options.

To abate the problem of odor from restaurants, a hybrid adsorbent consisting of organic and inorganic materials was developed and evaluated using acetaldehyde as a model compound was deveioped and evaluated. Powders of activated carbon, bentonite, and calcium hydroxide were mixed and calcinated to form adsorbent structure. The surface area of the hybrid adsorbent was smaller than that of high-quality activated carbon, but its microscopic image showed that contours and pores were developed on its surface. To determine its adsorption capacity, both batch isotherm and continuous flow column experiments were performed, and these results were compared with those using commercially available activated carbon. The isotherm tests showed that the hybrid adsorbent had a capacity 40 times higher than that of the activated carbon. In addition, the column experiments revealed that breakthrough time of the hybrid adsorbent was 2.5 times longer than that of the activated carbon. These experimental results were fitted to numerical simulations by using a homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM); the model estimated that the hybrid adsorbent might be able to remove acetaldehyde at a concentration of 40 ppm for a 5-month period. Since various odor compounds are commonly emitted as a mixture when meat is barbecued, it is necessary to conduct a series of experiments and HSDM simulations under various conditions to obtain design parameters for a full-scale device using the hybrid adsorbent.

Mill scale, an iron waste, was used to separate magnetite particles for the adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution. Mill scale has a layered structure composed of wustite (FeO), magnetite (Fe3O4), and hematite (Fe2O3). Because magnetite shows the highest magnetic property among these iron oxides, it can be easily separated from the crushed mill scale particles. Several techniques were employed to characterize the separated particles. Mill scale-derived magnetite particles exhibited a strong uptake affinity to phosphate in a wide pH range of 3-7, with the maximum adsorptive removal of 100%, at the dosage of 1 g/L, pH 3-5. Langmuir isotherm model well described the equilibrium data, exhibiting maximum adsorption capacities for phosphate up to 4.95 and 8.79 mg/g at 298 and 308 K, respectively. From continuous operation of the packed-bed column reactor operated with different EBCT (empty bed contact time) and adsorbent particle size, the breakthrough of phosphate started after 8-22 days of operation. After regeneration of the column reactor with 0.1N NaOH solution, 95-98% of adsorbed phosphate could be detached from the column reactor.

One of the issues currently facing nuclear power plants is how to store spent nuclear waste materials which are contaminated with radionuclides such as 134Cs, 135Cs, and 137Cs. Bioremediation processes may offer a potent method of cleaning up radioactive cesium. However, there have only been limited reports on Cs+ tolerant bacteria. In this study, we report the isolation and identification of Cs+ tolerant bacteria in environmental soil and sediment. The resistant Cs+ isolates were screened from enrichment cultures in R2A medium supplemented with 100 mM CsCl for 72 h, followed by microbial community analysis based on sequencing analysis from 16S rRNA gene clone libraries (NCBI’s BlastN). The dominant Bacillus anthracis Roh-1 and B. cereus Roh-2 were successfully isolated from the cesium enrichment culture. Importantly, B. cereus Roh- 2 is resistant to 30% more Cs+ than is B. anthracis Roh-1 when treated with 50 mM CsCl. Growth experiments clearly demonstrated that the isolate had a higher tolerance to Cs+. In addition, we investigated the adsorption of 0.2 mg L-1 Cs+ using B. anthracis Roh-1. The maximum Cs+ biosorption capacity of B. anthracis Roh-1 was 2.01 mg g-1 at pH 10. Thus, we show that Cs+ tolerant bacterial isolates could be used for bioremediation of contaminated environments.