• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2006

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread soil contaminants and major environmental concerns. PAHs have extremely low water solubility and are strongly sorbed to soil. A potential technology for remediation of PAHcontaminated soils is a soil washing with surfactant solutions. While the use of surfactants significantly enhances the performance of soil remediation, operation costs are increased. Selective adsorption of PAHs by activated carbons is proposed to reuse the surfactants in the soil-washing process. The adsorption isotherms of pure chemicals (Triton X-100 and phenanthrene) onto three granular activated carbons were obtained. The selective adsorption of phenanthrene in mixed solution was examined at various concentrations of phenanthrene and Triton X-100. The selectivity results were discussed with pore size distribution of activated carbons and molecular sizes of phenanthrene and the Triton X-100 monomer. The selectivity for phenanthrene was much larger than 1 regardless of the particle size of activated carbons. The selective adsorption using activated carbons with proper pore size distribution would greatly reduce the material cost for the soil washing process by the reuse of the surfactants.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2019

In this study an optimization of the preparation conditions of activated carbon with a ternary metal ion material to treat $H_2S$, which is classified as a representative odor substance, was carried out. For a metal ion material for enhancing the adsorption performance of hydrogen sulfide, performance enhancement was confirmed by combining Li and Fe or a ternary combination (K, Li, Fe) based on KI, which is a substance promoting hydrogen sulfide adsorption performance. Also, it was determined by XRD analysis that the reaction of each active substance with $H_2S$ was because of binding. The adsorption performance increased more than 3 times with heat treatment of the adsorbent with nitrogen compared with heat treatment with air. The maximum adsorption constant ($q_m$) value of the optimum adsorbent was 97.07, which is 6 times higher than that of the existing K-based impregnated activated carbon. It was confirmed that the objective adsorption amount ($0.3g\;g^{-1}$) was secured by an equilibrium between the mass transfer rate and adsorption rate. From the results, it was confirmed that the performance improvement was noticeable even when activated carbon with a reagent grade activated carbon particle size was modified. It was confirmed that the adsorption performance exists at high relative humidity levels of 60 and 100%, and the optimized preparation can be applied to a wet process such as a scrubber downstream.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.400-407
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• 2003

In microbial coal desulfurization process (MCDP) by using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, the effect of process variables on pyritic sulfur removal efficiency has been investigated. The inhibitory effect of toxic materials contained in coal matrix on the activity of desulfurizing bacteria have been evaluated in coal extracts, and the results showed that the method was useful to evaluate the applicability of a coal which is to be desulfurization to MCDP. The removal efficiency increased with decreasing particle size and decreases with increasing pulp density, but has no significant influence of particle size and pup densities at high pulp densities over 20 wt%. The mass transfers of gaseous nutrients such as oxygen and carbon dioxide into coal slurry with various pulp densities and coal particle size has been studied in an airlift bioreactor. Mass transfer coefficient was independent of pulp density in coal slurry with fine particle below 175 $\mu\textrm{m}$, but significantly decreased with increasing pulp density over 225 $\mu\textrm{m}$. The coal particles over 575 $\mu\textrm{m}$ were significantly settled to the bottom of bioreactor resulting in poor mixing. Considering mass transfer, pulp density and coal mixing, an optimal size of coal particle for the microbial coal desulfurization process seems to be about 500 $\mu\textrm{m}$.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

A model describing the distributions of surfactants and HOCs (hydrophobic organic chemicals) in surfactant/HOC/activated carbon systems for surfactant reuse in soil washing process was developed. The model simulation was conducted for the evaluation of the effect of concentrations of surfactant, HOC, or activated carbons. Phenanthrene as a target HOC, Triton X-100 as surfactant and three granular activated carbons with different particle sizes (4-12, 12-20, and 20-40 mesh) were used in the model simulation. The distributions of HOC were significantly affected by surfactant dosages, especially at around the CMC(s). The results of selectivities for phenanthrene were much larger than 1 at various concentrations of surfactants, phenanthrene and activated carbons, which mean that the selective adsorption of phenanthrene by activated carbons is a proper separation method from surfactant solution. The model can be applied for the design of the surfactant reuse process using activated carbons without extra experimental efforts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.259-260
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• 2012

산업화가 발달됨에 따라 대기 오염 물질은 점차 증가하고 있는 추세에 있고 특히 기름 및 석탄 연소 보일러, 자동차, 제철, 시멘트 플렌트, 소각로 등은 미세 분진을 발생시키는 주원인이 되어 왔다. 최근 대기환경법은 오염 분진의 중량 규제로부터 $10{\mu}m$ 미만의 PM10에서 $2.5{\mu}m$ 미만의 PM2.5의 미세 분진에 대한 규제로 점차 심화되고 있으나, 이러한 미세분진은 고전적인 제거 방법으로는 매우 어려우며 고가의 HEPA 필터를 사용하여야 한다. 한편 코로나 방전을 이용하는 전기 집진은 미세 먼지 제거에 매우 효율적이어서 $1{\mu}m$ 미만의 미세 분지도 99%까지 제거가 가능하다는 장점이 있지만 입자크기가 클 경우에는 효율이 떨어지는 단점이 있다. 한편 사이클론 집진기는 매우 오래전부터 개발되어 사용되어 왔는데 가격이 저렴하고 운영비가 적게 들며 $10{\mu}m$ 이상의 먼지는 99% 이상 제거가 가능하여 산업현장에서 오랜 기간 사용되어 왔지만 입자크기가 $10{\mu}m$ 미만으로 가면 집진율이 급격히 떨어지는 단점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존의 사이클론 집진기의 구조를 기본으로하여 사이클론 집진기 내부에 플라즈마 방전을 설치하여 원심력에 의한 집진과 코로나 방전에 의한 전기 집진을 동시에 수행할 수 있도록 하이브리드 사이클론 집진기를 제작하였다. 제작된 사이클론 집진기는 직경 30 cm 높이 120 cm의 사이클론 구조를 가지고 있으며 1 hp의 터보송풍기를 장착하여 $20m^3$/min 이상의 유량을 처리할 수 있도록 설계 제작되었다. 제작된 하이브리드 사이클론 집진기의 성능을 평가하기 위하여 $10m^3$의 체적을 가지는 테스트 챔버 내부에 사이클론 집진기를 설치하고 향을 태워 미세 먼지를 발생시킨 후 다양한 조건에서 집진 성능을 측정하여 보았다. 미세 먼지의 경우 사이클론을 작동시키지 않아도 테스트 챔버 벽면에 흡착되어 초기에는 급격히 감소하는 경향을 보여주나 일정 시간이 경과한 후에는 매우 느리게 감소하는 현상이 관찰 되었다. 코로나 방전을 하지 않고 오존 파괴기에 활성탄만 충진한 상태에서 사이크론을 작동시킬 경우 지속적으로 천천히 감소하는 경향을 보여주었으며, 코로나 플라즈마를 방전시킨 경우 미세 먼지는 HEPA filter를 장착한 것보다도 조금 빠르게 미세먼지를 제거하였다. 챔버 내부의 미세먼지가 초기 값의 1/10에 도달하는 시간은 코로나 방전 전류가 증가할수록 짧아지는 경향을 보여주었으며 최적 조건에서 100초 이내에 90% 이상 제거가 가능하였다. 하이브리드 사이클론 집진기는 집진 뿐 만 아리라 VOC 성분도 분해가 가능하여 유해물질을 제거하는 능력이 있다. 유해 가스 제거 능력을 실험하기 위하여 분진제거 실험에 사용된 챔버 안에 아세톤을 증발시켜 50 ppm이 되도록 한 후 다양한 조건에서 유해물질 제거 실험을 수행하였다. 미세먼지와는 달리 장비를 작동하지 않을 경우 매우 느리게 아세톤 농도가 감소하였다. 이는 미세 먼지와는 달리 흡착이 발생하지 않고, 측정 챔버 자체가 완전한 밀폐가 이루어지지 않아 자연적으로 조금씩 외부로 누출되기 때문으로 판단된다. 코로나 플라즈마만 방전시켰을 경우 초기 농도의 80%가 제거되는데 걸리는 시간은 약 28분 정도로 코로나 플라즈마가 VOC 제거에 효과가 있음은 확인하였으나 제거율이 그리 높지 않음을 알 수 있었다. 한편 오존 파괴를 위해 활성탄으로 충진 된 오존파괴기를 통과시킨 경우는 약 12분 경과 후 80%가 제거됨을 확인할 수 있었으나 그 이후에는 VOC의 감소가 매우 느리게 진행됨을 알 수 있었다. 한편 활성탄 대신 $MnO_2$ 복합촉매로 충진 된 오존파괴기를 통과한 경우 약 3분 정도 경과 후 80%의 아세톤이 제거됨을 관찰할 수 있었으며 코로나 플라즈마를 작동시키면서 $MnO_2$ 복합촉매로 충진 된 오존파괴기를 통과시킨 경우 약 2분 정도 경과 80% 이상의 아세톤이 제거되어 코로나 플라즈마와 복합촉매를 사용할 경우 VOC 성분이 효과적으로 제거됨을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.879-886
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• 2000

$H_2S$ adsorption characteristics of activated carbon adsorbent impregnated with NaOH were investigated. The concentrations of NaOH reagent were 1~8N and the particle size of activated carbon was $8{\times}30$ mesh. The experimental results showed that the BET surface area decreases from $1050m^2/g$ to $783m^2/g$ and acidity of activated carbon decreases from 0.541 meq/g-AC to 0 meq/g-AC, while pH increases from 9.56 to 10.86 when the impregnation ratio increases from 0.87% to 5.8%. It was also found that the $H_2S$ adsorption equilibrium capacity of activated carbon impregnated with NaOH increases with increasing temperature and $H_2S$ concentration and varies in the range of 17.87~30.34 mg/g-AC at adsorption temperature of $45^{\circ}C$, which is 2~3 times larger than that of pure activated carbon.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2018

Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of operating parameters such as the temperature, initial concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption of antibiotics amoxicillin (AMX) by waste citrus peel based activated carbon (WCAC). 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 AMX by WCAC calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model was 125 mg/g. The adsorption of AMX by WCAC shows that the film diffusion (external mass transfer) and the intraparticle diffusion occur simultaneously during the adsorption process. The adsorption rate is more influenced by the intraparticle diffusion than that of the external mass transfer as the particle size of WCAC increases, and the intraparticle diffusion is the rate controlling step. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption reaction of AMX by WCAC was an endothermic and spontaneous process.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 2012

In this study, the four different filter media (sponge, volcanic stone, activated carbon and magnesium hydroxide) were tested for the removal of algae and phosphorus in the two eutrophic water samples (natural water and artificial algal culture with BG-11 medium). These filter media were used in the column device as single or combined applications. The effect of the $Mg(OH)_2$ on phosphorus removal was examined using different particle sizes (<2 mm and >2 mm) and concentrations (0, 10, 50 and 100 g $L^{-1}$) of magnesium hydroxide. The removal efficiency of phosphate by magnesium hydroxide was increased with longer experimental time and higher concentration. However, there was no significant difference in the degree of phosphorus removal between any two particle sizes (1 mg P $L^{-1}$: F=0.109, P=0.685; 10 mg P $L^{-1}$: F=1.542, P=0.355). Among the four media, activated carbon showed the most potent effect on the removal of both algae and phosphorus. The highest removal efficiency of algae and phosphorus was obtained by combining four columns of each filter medium. Interestingly, integration of four filter columns showed higher removal efficiency than activated carbon alone. The highest removal efficiency by integrated filter columns seemed to be caused by a synergistic effect of combined activated carbon and magnesium hydroxide.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 1984

The effect of particle size on adsorption of trihalomethane have been studied. Using mean particle sizes ranging from 0.73 to 2.03 mm, physical properties of carbon and trihalomethane adsorption characteristics have been investigated experimentally. With increasing particle size specific surface area and pore volume decreased, and the mean pore radius increased significantly. Large pores were dominant in large particles, while small particles were composed of small pores. Isotherm studies were conducted using static bottle point technique and the results were well described by the Freundlich isotherm equations. The adsorption capacity increased significantly with decreased particle size. Additionally micro-column tests were carried out, and the results were compared with the model simulation. From the micro-column studies it was found out that the film transfer coefficient were almost constant, and the differences in the trihalomethane removal efficiency was mainly due to the differences in the adsorption capacity of the particles of different size.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2013

From the cooked-rice as a raw material, activated carbons throughout a hydrothermal synthesis and vacuum soak of KOH for chemical activation were obtained. Activated carbon electrodes for electric double layer supercapacitors were prepared and electrochemical characteristics were examined. Including the specific surface area by BET method and pore size distribution by NLDFT method, physical properties of activated carbons were investigated by means of SEM, EDS, XRD, and TG analyses. Cycle voltammetry and AC-impedance measurements were conducted to confirm the electrochemical characteristics for the electrodes. From hydrothermal synthesis, $5{\sim}7{\mu}m$ diameters of spherical carbons were obtained. After the activation at $800^{\circ}C$, it was notable for the activated carbon to be the specific surface $1631.8cm^2/g$, pore size distribution in 0.9~2.1 nm, and micro-pore volume $0.6154cm^3/g$. As electrochemical characteristics of the activated carbon electrode in 6M KOH electrolyte, it was confirmed that the specific capacitances of 236, 194, and 137 F/g at the scan rate of 5, 100, and 500 mV/s respectively were exhibited and 91.2% of initial capacitance after 100,000 cycles at 200 mV/s was maintained.