Cellulose nanofibers from microfibril cellulose (MFC) was prepared by hydrobromic acid (HBr) treatment at different concentrations. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films at various loading level of nanofibers were manufactured by a film casting method. The analysis of degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity (Xc) and molecular weight (Mw) of cellulose after acid treatment was conducted. The mechanical and thermal properties of the cellulose nanofibers reinforced PVA films were characterized using tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DP and Mw of MFC by HBr hydrolysis considerably decreased, but Xc showed no significant change. After acid hydrolysis, the diameter of cellulose nanofibers was in the range of 100 to 200 nm. The thermal stability of the films was steadily improved with the increase of nanofiber loading. There was a significant increase in the tensile strength of PVA composite films with the increase in MFC loading. Finally, 5 wt.% nanofiber loading exhibited the highest tensile strength and thermal stability of PVA composite films.

Immobilized nitrifier bead in airlift bioreactor were used to remove high levels of ammonia nitrogen from synthetic wastewater. Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) bead for immmobilization of nitrifier consortium were prepared by PVA-boric acid method by varying concentration of PVA and nitrifier consortium. By determining viscosity, sphercity and tailing, the characteristics of prepared beads were investigated and the continous immobilization process was developed. Synthetic wastewater containg 25g/㎥ of ammonia nitrogen could be treated within 0.5 hour and the highest removal rate of ammonia nitrogen was 934.2g/㎥ ·day.