본 연구에서는 액상당밀을 외부탄소원으로 이용하는 탈질미생물 Pseudomonas sp. KY1의 탈질능력을 확인하고 최적의 C/N 비율을 도출하였다. 회분식 실험 결과, C/N 비율 3/1에서 $0.0263hr^{-1}$의 유사1차반응상수가 도출되었고, 이 비율에서 100 mg-N/L의 초기 질산성질소는 실험시작 후 약 100시간 이내에 약 80%의 제거율을 보였다. C/N 비율 3/1의 컬럼 실험에서 초기 질산성질소 농도 100 mg-N/L의 오염수(유속 0.3 mL/min)는 실험시작 후 172시간(35 PV) 이후부터 실험 종료 시(62 PV)까지 최대 95%의 탈질효율을 보였고, 이 비율에서 2차 오염원으로 작용할 수 있는 잔류당밀의 농도를 최소화(125~180 mg-COD/L) 할 수 있었다.
This study was conducted to identify an optimal ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio) for denitrification of nitrate using molasses as an external carbon source. A series of batch and column tests was conducted using an indigenous bacterium Pseudomonas sp. KY1 isolated from a nitrate-contaminated soil. For the initial nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L, batch test results indicated that C/N ratio of 3/1 was the optimal ratio with a relatively high pseudo-first-order reaction constant of $0.0263hr^{-1}$. At C/N ratio of 3/1, more than 80% of nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L was removed in 100 hrs. Results of column tests with a flow velocity of 0.3 mL/min also indicated that the C/N ratio of 3/1 was optimal for denitrification with minimizing remaining molasses concentrations. After 172 hrs of column operation (35 pore volumes) with an influent nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L, the effluent met the drinking water standard (i.e., 10 mg $NO_3$-N/L).
