Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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Removal of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Wastewater by Nitrifying Sludge

질산화 슬러지에 의한 폐수 중의 내분비계 장애물질 제거

  • Lim, Kyoung Jo (School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Ulsan) ;
  • Hong, Soon Ho (School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Ulsan) ;
  • Chung, Jin Suk (School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Ulsan) ;
  • Yoo, Ik-Keun (School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Ulsan)
  • 임경조 (울산대학교 생명화학공학부) ;
  • 홍순호 (울산대학교 생명화학공학부) ;
  • 정진석 (울산대학교 생명화학공학부) ;
  • 유익근 (울산대학교 생명화학공학부)
  • Received : 2009.08.06
  • Accepted : 2009.09.02
  • Published : 2009.12.31
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Abstract

The efficacy of nitrifying sludge existed in biological nutrient removal process was examined for possible removal of endocrine disrupting chemical(EDC) in the effluent of wastewater treatment plant. Some of ammonia oxidizing bacteria causes ammonia oxidation mediated by ammonia monooxygenase(AMO) activity, which has low substrate specificity resulting in cometablic degradation of several chemicals. In this study, the removal of three model EDCs such as bisphenol A(BPA), nonylphenol(NP) and dibutyl phthalate(DBP) was studied in batch cultures using nitrifying sludge, BOD-oxidizing sludge with low nitrifying activity, and sterilized sludge. Nitrifying sludge showed higher initial removal rates in all batches of three EDCs when it was fed with ammonium as an energy source. The acclimation time was required for the removal of EDCs in batches using BOD-oxidizing sludge or nitritefed nitrifying sludge. That retardation seemed to attribute to the slow growth of cells using the EDCs while ammonium-fed nitrifying sludge could degrade EDCs through simultaneous cooxidation with ammonia oxidation. Sterilized sludge was also tested under the same conditions in order to find the contribution of physical adsorption to the removal of EDCs. About 10~20% of initial EDCs dose was removed when using sterilized sludge. Thus the biological activity is likely to play major role for the degradation of BPA, NP, and DBP rather than the physical adsorption from wastewater.

폐수 방류수 중에 포함될 수 있는 내분비계 장애물질의 제거를 위해 생물학적 영양소 제거 공정에 존재하는 질산화 슬러지의 효용성을 탐색하여 보았다. 질산화 슬러지에 포함된 암모니아 산화균은 ammonia monooxygenase(AMO) 활성에 의해 암모니아 산화를 유발하는데, AMO의 기질 특이성이 낮아 암모니아 산화와 동시에 다양한 화합물이 공산화된다고 알려져 왔다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 공산화 활성이 내분비계 장애물질의 제거에 효과적인지 판단하기 위해, 질산화 슬러지, 유기물산화 슬러지, 멸균 슬러지를 각각 이용하여 3가지의 모델물질(bisphenol A(BPA), nonylphenol(NP), dibutyl phthalate(DBP))에 대한 제거 효율을 비교하였다. 질산화 슬러지에 의한 분해에서는 3가지 모델물질 모두, 배지 중에 질소원으로 아질산염보다 암모늄염을 이용했을 때의 초기 분해속도가 빠르게 나타나서 암모니아 산화 활성과 모델 물질의 분해가 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 반면에 아질산염을 공급한 질산화슬러지에서나 혹은 질산화 활성이 낮은 유기물산화 슬러지를 이용한 경우는 일정한 적응 시간이 지난 이후에 모델 물질들의 분해가 시작되었다. 이는 모델 물질을 탄소원으로 이용하는 균주의 성장 및 활성이 일정한 적응 시간 이후에 나타난 것으로 보인다. 모델 물질의 제거에 슬러지에 의한 물리적 흡착이 어느 정도 기여하는지 확인하기 위해서 멸균 슬러지를 이용한 흡착 제거를 시도하였다. 초기 투입량의 10~20% 내외가 흡착에 의해 상등액에서 제거되었는데, 이를 통해 폐수 슬러지를 이용한 BPA, NP, DBP의 제거에는 물리적 흡착보다는 생물학적 분해 기작이 더 중요한 것으로 보인다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 울산대학교

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