• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2020

Metal-impregnated activated carbons were prepared via ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method for regeneration and low ammonia concentration. Magnesium and copper were selected as metals, while chloride (Cl^-) and nitrate (NO₃^-) precursors were used to impregnate the surface of activated carbon. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared adsorbents were characterized by TGA, BET, and NH₃-TPD. The ammonia breakthrough test was carried out using a fixed bed and flowing ammonia gas (1000 mg L^-1 NH₃, balanced N₂) at 100 mL min^-1, under conditions of temperature swing adsorption (TSA) and pressure swing adsorption (PSA, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 Mpa). The adsorption and desorption performance of ammonia were in the order of AC-Mg(Cl) > AC-Cu(Cl) > AC-Mg(N) > AC-Cu(N) > AC through NH₃-TPD and TSA and PSA processes. AC-Mg(Cl) using MgCl₂ showed the average adsorption amount of 2.138 mmol/g at TSA process. Also, AC-Mg(Cl) showed the highest initial adsorption amount of 3.848 mmol/g at PSA 0.9 Mpa. When metal impregnated the surface of the activated carbon, it was confirmed that not only physical adsorption, but also chemical adsorption increased, making enhancement in adsorption and desorption performances possible. Also, the prepared adsorbents showed stable adsorption and desorption performances despite repeated processes, confirming their applicability in the TSA and PSA processes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.723-730
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• 2017

The batch experiments by response surface methodology (RSM) have been applied to investigate the influences of operating parameters such as temperature, initial concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage on 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) adsorption with an activated carbon prepared from waste citrus peel (WCAC). Regression equation formulated for the 2,4-DCP adsorption was represented as a function of response variables. Adequacy of the model was tested by the correlation between experimental and predicted values of the response. A fairly high value of $R^2$ (0.9921) indicated that most of the data variation was explained by the regression model. The significance of independent variables and their interactions were tested by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test statistics. These results showed that the model used to fit response variables was significant and adequate to represent the relationship between the response and the independent variables. The kinetics and isotherm experiment data can be well described with the pseudo-second order model and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of 2,4-DCP on WCAC calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model was 345.49 mg/g. The rate controlling mechanism study revealed that film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion were simultaneously occurring during the adsorption process. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption reaction of 2,4-DCP on WCAC was an endothermic and spontaneous process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1025-1032
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• 2009

This study investigated a possibility to develop an adsorption process for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the solvent emitted during dry cleaning. Pitch activated carbon fiber (ACF) was chosen as an adsorbent of VOCs, and an electric swing adsorption process was utilized for the reproduction of the adsorbent after the completion of VOCs adsorption. Effects of ACF types and several solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene were examined on breakthrough curves and amounts of adsorbed VOCs. ACF was pretreated under various conditions in order to enhance the amounts of the adsorbed VOCs. Temperatures and voltages were measured for the reproduction of the ACF after full adsorption. ACF having micropores exhibited high adsorption of TCE, and high surface area of ACF could increase the adsorption property of toluene. In general, ACF could adsorb 41~54% TCE of the adsorbent weight. The increase of inlet VOCs concentration significantly decreased the breakthrough time and slightly lowered the amounts of adsorbed VOCs. Thus, ACF could effectively adsorb VOCs in low concentration in the feed stream. ACF pretreated by heat under vacuum showed excellent toluene adsorption with controlling oxygen functional groups on the ACF surface, which revealed that vacant carbon site could be the adsorption point of toluene. Most adsorbed toluene was desorbed at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.288-302
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• 2017

Accurate measurement of benthic nutrient fluxes (BNF) is a prerequisite for evaluating the effect of sediments on nutrient cycle in the surface water. The intact sediment cores were collected in July 2015 at the midstream of Nakdong River. We identified pre-incubation time (6, 12, 24 hr), dissolved oxygen concentration (90, 70, 50% saturation), diffusive boundary layer thickness (0, 0.6-0.8, 1.2-1.4 mm), and incubation temperature (10, 17, 20, $25^{\circ}C$) as the most important control factors, and measured the BNF fluctuation with the variation of these factors using the laboratory sediment core incubation method. Since the chemical composition, redox condition, hydrodynamic regimes and microbial activities at the sediment-water interface were changed as a result of the alteration of control factors, sediment core incubation should be conducted under as close to the natural conditions of study site as possible, in order to produce the results similar to actual values. Relative percentage differences between two replicates were below 20% in most control factors, which showed satisfactory precision for strict compliance with the experimental conditions and procedures. In the further studies, we will compare the results of core incubation with those of in situ measurements to confirm the accuracy of the sediment core incubation method.