• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2017

Multiwalled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNT) and micro-structured carbon, such as biochar or activated carbon (AC), have been seen to significantly increase the growth indices of certain plant species such as maize (Zea mays L.). Seed imbibition is the stage where environmental factors that affect water transport across the seed coat barrier, make a large impact. This work explores the effect on water imbibition by maize seeds when the aqueous environment surrounding the seed is diluted by small concentrations (10 and 20 mg/l) of pristine MWCNT (p-MWCNT), carboxylate functionalized MWCNT (COO-MWCNT) and AC. The degree of sensitivity of the process to (i) large structural changes is seen by utilizing the nano (the MWCNT) and the micro (the AC) allotropic forms of carbon; (ii) to small changes in the purity and morphology of the p-MWCNT by utilizing 95% pure and 99% pure p-MWCNTs of slightly differing morphologies; and (iii) to MWCNT functionalization by using highly pure (97%) COO-MWCNT. Water imbibition was monitored over a 15 hour period by Near Infrared Thermography (NIRT) and also by seed weighing. Seed surface topography was seen by SEM imaging. Analysis of the NIRT images suggests rapid seed surface topological changes with the quantity of water imbibed. While further work is necessary to arrive at a conclusive answer, this work shows that the imbibition phase of the maize seed is sensitive to the presence of MWCNT even to small differences in the purity of the p-MWCNT and to small differences in the physicochemical properties of the medium caused by the hydrophilic COO-MWCNT.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of activated carbon (AC) on growth, ruminal charateristics, blood profiles and feed digestibility in sheep, using roughage-based or concentrate-based diets. Twelve Suffolk breed of sheep of similar age and weight were distributed into 4 groups in a $2{\times}2$ factorial design. Two groups were fed a roughage-based diet with (R + AC) and without AC (R - AC), while the other two were fed a concentrate-based diet with (C + AC) and without AC (C - AC), respectively. The addition of 0.3% AC was based on dry matter of feed offered to animals. The incorporation of AC in roughage and concentrate based diets had no marked effects on feed intake, daily gain and feed conversion of the animals within experimental diets. The results obtained might be due to the low level of AC added in the diet. The animal on both concentrate-based diets were higher than the roughage-based diets in terms of daily gain and feed conversion ratio. However, it was observed that the animals provided with AC in the concentrate-based diet did not suffer from diarrhea and easily adjusted to high concentrate feeding. Further, the pH value for all diets before feeding was noted to be similar. After feeding, however, pH was shown to be higher in R + AC (p < 0.05) than in C + AC diet. Rumen protozoa number was decreased after feeding for both + AC diets, but in C - AC diet it was higher than in the roughage-based diets. For ammonia-nitrogen, C - AC was found to be higher than C + AC diet and the roughage-based diets before feeding. Total volatile fatty acid concentration, propionate and valerate molar ratios for both diets and time of collection were not affected. However, acetate, butyrate and valerate molar ratios were observed to be affected by diets and time of collections. The diets with AC increased (p < 0.05) before feeding for acetate molar ratio, but not different within diet, however, the roughage diets were found to be higher (p < 0.05) in acetate than the concentrate diet. In the blood parameters, the glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), red and white blood cell (RBC, WBC) counts and packed cell volume (PCV) did not differ within and among the diets. Likewise, the WBC differential count in both diets with either - AC or + AC were similar in trend. However, lymphocyte count was noted to be increased in R + AC than the R - AC diet. The addition of AC in both diets did not affect nutrient digestibilities within diets.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.63-71
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• 2017

In this study, washing parameters such as washing time, agitation velocity, and cycles were optimized for high surface area of the activated carbon (AC) by KOH activation. Even though AC with high surface area showed at higher washing efficiency, over 90% on washing efficiency was regulated by the intra-particle diffusion due to high tortuosity of the pore structures on AC. In addition, we can obtain $K_2CO_3$ through the evaporation from the wastewater and use it for chemical activation of AC. The AC with $K_2CO_3$ activation has specific surface area values of $2,219m^2/g$ equally that of KOH activation. Considering that $K_2CO_3$ is an effective alternative as a KOH, our results demonstrated that the process by recycling wastewater on AC production could be applicable for near-zero wastes.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.458-464
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• 2020

Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZICs) have recently been spotlighted as energy storage devices due to their high energy and high power densities. However, despite these merits, ZICs face many challenges related to their cathode materials, activated carbon (AC). AC as a cathode material has restrictive electrical conductivity, which leads to low capacity and lifetime at high current densities. To overcome this demerit, a novel boron (B) doped AC is suggested herein with improved electrical conductivity thanks to B-doping effect. Especially, in order to optimize B-doped AC, amounts of precursors are regulated. The optimized B-doped AC electrode shows a good charge-transfer process and superior electrochemical performance, including high specific capacity of 157.4 mAh g^-1 at current density of 0.5 A g^-1, high-rate performance with 66.6 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 10 A g^-1, and remarkable, ultrafast cycling stability (90.7 % after 10,000 cycles at a current density of 5 A g^-1). The superior energy storage performance is attributed to the B-doping effect, which leads to an excellent charge-transfer process of the AC cathode. Thus, our strategy can provide a rational design for ultrafast cycling stability of next-generation supercapacitors in the near future.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2014

In this study, synthetic viscose rayon fabric has been used for preparing activated carbon fabric (ACF), impregnated with different concentrations of $H_3PO_4$. The effect of $H_3PO_4$ impregnation on the weight yield, surface area, pore volume, chemical composition and morphology of ACF were studied. Experimental results revealed that both Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and micropore volume increased with increasing $H_3PO_4$ concentration; however, the weight yield and microporosity (%) decreased. It was observed that samples impregnated at $70^{\circ}C$ (AC-70) give higher yield and higher microporosity as compared to $30^{\circ}C$ (AC-30). The average pore size of the ACF also gradually increases from 18.2 to 19 and 16.7 to $20.4{\AA}$ for $30^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$, respectively. The pore size distribution of ACF was also studied. It is also concluded that the final ACF strength is dependent on the concentration of impregnant.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2010

In this work, an intention to synthesize the carbon molecular sieve (CMS) with ideal sieving properties from palm shell has been attempted. The process includes three main stages: carbonization, carbon dioxide activation and polymer deposition using polyfurfuryl alcohols. Palm shell based activated carbon (AC) produced by carbon dioxide activation was used as raw material in synthesis of CMS. After preparing palm shell based AC, optimum concentration ratio of furfuryl alcohols and formaldehyde to AC for CMS synthesis was obtained in this study. Deposition of polyfurfuryl alcohols on the palm shell based AC was then carried out prior to carbonization. These polymer deposited AC was subjected to carbonization at $700-900^{\circ}C$ under inert condition. All the microporous materials were analyzed using micromeritics ASAP/2020. The results show that optimum concentration ratio of furfuryl alcohol and formaldehyde to AC is 1:2.5. The micropore with pore width less than 7 ${\AA}$ was formed on the polymer deposited AC at $700^{\circ}C$, $800^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$ for 1.5 hours. Carbonization temperature at $900^{\circ}C$ for 1.5 hours was found to be optimum for CMS synthesis. The CMS produced under this condition has pore width of 5.884 ${\AA}$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.426-433
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• 2023

Capacitor performance was considered using coffee grounds-based activated carbon produced through oil extraction and KOH activation to increase the utilization of boiwaste. Oil extraction from coffee grounds was performed by solvent extraction using n-Hexane and isopropyl alcohol solvents. The AC_CG-Hexane/IPA produced by KOH activation after oil extraction increased the specific surface area by up to 16% and the average pore size by up to 2.54 nm compared to AC_CG produced only by KOH activation without oil extraction. In addition, the pyrrolic/pyridinic N functional group of the prepared activated carbon increased with the extraction of oil from coffee grounds. In the cyclic voltage-current method measurement experiment, the specific capacitance of AC_CG-Hexane/IPA at a voltage scanning speed of 10 mV/s is 133 F/g, which is 33% improved compared to the amorphous capacity of AC_CG (100 F/g). The results show improved electrochemical properties by improving the size and specific surface area of the mesopores of activated carbon by removing components from coffee grounds oil and synergistic effects by increasing electrical conductivity with pyrrolic/pyridinic N functional groups. In this study, the recycling method and application of coffee grounds, a bio-waste, is presented, and it is considered to be one of the efficient methods that can be utilized as an electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.429-433
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• 2010

In this study, activated carbon (AC) as a carbon source was modified with different concentrations of cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$) to prepare a Co-AC composite, and it was used for the preparation of Co-AC/$TiO_2$ composites with titanium oxysulfate (TOS) as the titanium precursor. The physicochemical properties of the prepared Co-AC/$TiO_2$ composites were characterized by $N_2$ adsorption at 77 K, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The photocatalytic treatments of organic dyes were examined under an irradiation of visible light with different irradiation times. $N_2$ adsorption data showed that the composites had decreased surface area compared with the pristine AC, which was $389\;m^2/g$. From the XRD results, the Co-AC/$TiO_2$ composites contained a mixturephase structuresof anatase and rutile, but a cobalt oxide phase was not detected in the XRD pattern. The EDX results of the Co-AC/$TiO_2$ composites confirmed the presence of various elements, namely, C, O, Ti, and Co. Subsequently, the decomposition of methylene orange (MO, $C_{14}H_{14}N_3NaO_3S$) and rhodamine B (Rh.B, $C_{28}H_{31}ClN_2O_3$) in an aqueous solution, respectively, showed the combined effects of an adsorption effect by AC and the photo degradation effect by $TiO_2$. Especially, the Co particles in the Co-AC/$TiO_2$ composites could enhance the photo degradation behaviors of $TiO_2$ under visible light.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 2021

Effects of nitric acid treatment of an activated carbon and impregnation of metal chlorides on the activated carbon were investigated to improve ammonia adsorption performance. It was confirmed that functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups were introduced onto a surface of the activated carbon with nitric acid treatment. Then, each metal chloride (NiCl₂, MgCl₂, CuCl₂, MnCl₂ or CoCl₂) was impregnated onto the surface-modified activated carbon using an ultrasonic impregnation method. The physicochemical properties and ammonia adsorption performance of various impregnated activated carbons were observed. Metal chlorides were well dispersed by sonication and evenly distributed on the surface of the activated carbon. Despite the reduced specific surface area and pore volume, the surface-modified activated carbon impregnated with metal chlorides exhibited excellent ammonia adsorption performance. In particular, HNO₃-NiCl₂ AC prepared by impregnating NiCl₂ showed the best ammonia adsorption capacity of 3.736 mmol·g^-1, which was improved by about 57 times compared to that of an untreated activated carbon (0.066 mmol·g^-1).

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.72-79
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• 2012

$Li_2MnSiO_4$ was synthesized using the solid-state method under an Ar atmosphere at three different calcination temperatures (900, 950, and $1000^{\circ}C$). The optimization of the carbon coating was also carried out using various molar concentrations of adipic acid as the carbon source. The XRD pattern confirmed that the resulting $Li_2MnSiO_4$ particles exhibited an orthorhombic structure with a $Pmn2_1$ space group. Cyclic voltammetry was utilized to investigate the capacitive behavior of $Li_2MnSiO_4$ along with activated carbon (AC) in a hybrid supercapacitor with a two-electrode cell configuration. The $Li_2MnSiO_4$/AC cell exhibited a high discharge capacitance and energy density of $43.2Fg^{-1}$ and $54Whkg^{-1}$, respectively, at $1.0mAcm^{-2}$. The $Li_2MnSiO_4$/AC hybrid supercapacitor exhibited an excellent cycling stability over 1000 measured cycles with coulombic efficiency over > 99 %. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was conducted to corroborate the results that were obtained and described.