• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2017

New technologies or improvement of the existing technologies are required to enhance the efficiency of removal of pollutants from wastewater. In this study we attempted to produce and test the activated carbon produced from the refused tea waste for the removal of dyes from wastewater. The objectives of this investigation were to produce activated carbon from refused tea waste by chemical activation, evaluate its performance for the removal of color produced from Acid Yellow 36, and the modeling of its dye removal with the kinetic study. The activation was performed in two steps namely carbonization at $375{\pm}25^{\circ}C$ and chemical activation with HCl at $800^{\circ}C$ under the absence of Oxygen. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies were performed with a textile dye, Acid Yellow 36, at different concentrations (20-80 mg/L). The maximum dye removal (~90%) observed at 80 mg/L dye concentration and it reduced at low dye concentrations. Maximum adsorption (71.97 mg/g) was recorded at 96 h at $29{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. Low pH increased the dye adsorption (pH=2; 78.27 mg/g) while adsorption reduced at high pH levels indicating that the competition occurs in between OH- ions and AY36 molecules for the adsorption sites in RTAC. The Langmuir isotherm model clearly explained the dye adsorption, favorably, by RTAC. Moreover, kinetic studied performed showed that the pseudo second order kinetic model clearly describes the dye adsorption. Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that RTAC can be used for the removal of textile dyes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2022

To identify the effect and mechanism of carbon monoxide (CO) on delayed rectifier K⁺ currents (I_K) of human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), we used the wholecell mode patch-clamp technique. Application of CO delivered by carbon monoxidereleasing molecule-3 (CORM3) increased the amplitude of outward K⁺ currents, and diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 (a specific I_K blocker) inhibited the currents. CORM3-induced augmentation was blocked by pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase blockers (L-NG-monomethyl arginine citrate and L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester). Pretreatment with KT5823 (a protein kinas G blocker), 1H-[1,-2,-4] oxadiazolo-[4,-3-a] quinoxalin-1-on (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase blocker), KT5720 (a protein kinase A blocker), and SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase blocker) blocked the CORM3 stimulating effect on I_K. In addition, pretreatment with SB239063 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] blocker) and PD98059 (a p44/42 MAPK blocker) also blocked the CORM3's effect on the currents. When testing the involvement of S-nitrosylation, pretreatment of N-ethylmaleimide (a thiol-alkylating reagent) blocked CO-induced I_K activation and DL-dithiothreitol (a reducing agent) reversed this effect. Pretreatment with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-21H,23H porphyrin manganese (III) pentachloride and manganese (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (superoxide dismutase mimetics), diphenyleneiodonium chloride (an NADPH oxidase blocker), or allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase blocker) also inhibited CO-induced I_K activation. These results suggest that CO enhances I_K in HCFs through the nitric oxide, phosphorylation by protein kinase G, protein kinase A, and MAPK, S-nitrosylation and reduction/oxidation (redox) signaling pathways.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

Recently, there has been growing interest in the study of removal of harmful and hazardous pollutants emitted by industrial activities. In this study, we have developed porous activated carbon fibers prepared by a water vapor activation method and analyzed the adsorptions of the harmful gases with electrochemical responses of activated carbon fibers. To control the uniformity of pore structures, active reaction areas, and active sites, the reaction conditions of activation temperatures were varied from 750 to 850 ℃ with the predetermined reaction time intervals (30 to 240 min). The SO₂ and NO gas adsorptions of activated carbon fibers prepared by various reaction conditions were analyzed and monitored by electrochemical sensor responses. In particular, the activated carbon fibers prepared at the reaction temperature of 850 ℃ and time of 45 min showed the highest specific surface area (1,041.9 ㎡/g) and pore characteristics (0.42 ㎤/g), and excellent adsorption capabilities of SO₂ (1.061 mg/g) and NO (1.210 mg/g) gases, respectively.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.274-280
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• 1998

Order of reaction, rate constant, activation energy for vulcanization reaction, crosslinking density, and elastic constant of the network produced by sulfur curing were investigated on the SBR/BR blends containing silica and carbon black under same cure system. The reaction order was shown to be first order regardless of filler types. The carbon black filled rubber compounds showed higher rate constant compared to silica filled compounds. But activation energy appeared to be same regardless of filler type and rubber blend ratio. The crosslinking density and elastic constant is higher in the carbon black filled compound compared to silica filled compounds because of strong interaction between rubber and carbon black. On the other hand, crosslinking density and elastic constant were decreased with increasing the butadine rubber content in rubber blends. From the comparison of combined sulfur content in the vulcanized rubber, sulfur content in the silica filled compound become constant 20min later after reaction initiates but sulfur content in the carbon black filled compound become constant 10min later after reaction starts. The silica compound has a longer induction time ($t_2$) and optimum cure time($t_{90}$) compared to those of the carbon black filled compound.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.623-630
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• 2019

Because of their excellent stability and highly specific surface area, carbon based materials have received attention as electrode materials of electrical double-layer capacitors(EDLCs). Biomass based carbon materials have been studied for electrode materials of EDLCs; these materials have low capacitance and high-rate performance. We fabricated tofu based porous activated carbon by polymer dissolution reaction and KOH activation. The activated porous carbon(APC-15), which has an optimum condition of 15 wt%, has a high specific surface area($1,296.1m^2\;g^{-1}$), an increased average pore diameter(2.3194 nm), and a high mesopore distribution(32.4 %), as well as increased surface functional groups. In addition, APC has a high specific capacitance($195F\;g^{-1}$) at low current density of $0.1A\;g^{-1}$ and excellent specific capacitance($164F\;g^{-1}$) at high current density of $2.0A\;g^{-1}$. Due to the increased specific surface area, volume ratio of mesopores, and surface functional groups, the specific capacitance and high-rate performance increased. Consequently, the tofu based activated porous carbon can be proposed as an electrode material for high-performance EDLCs.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2011

Pt deposited porous carbon nanofibers was prepared as a highly sensitive material of hydrogen gas sensor operating at room temperature. Nanofibers was obtained by electrospinning method using polyacrylonitrile as a carbon precursor and then thermally treated for carbon nanofibers. Chemical activation of carbon nanofibers was carried out to enlarge specific surface area up to $2093m^2/g$. Sputtered Pt layer was uniformly distributed keeping the original shape of carbon nanofibers. The hydrogen gas sensing time and sensitivity were improved based on effects of high specific surface area, micropore structure and deposited Pt catalyst.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2016

The neutron activation inventories in reactor vessel and its internals, and bio-shield of a PWR nuclear power plant were calculated to evaluate the effect of impurity elements contained in the structural materials on the activation inventory. Carbon steel is, in this work, used as the reactor vessel material, stainless steel as the reactor vessel internals, and ordinary concrete as the bio-shield. For stainless steel and carbon steel, one kind of impurity concentration was employed, and for ordinary concrete five kinds were employed in this study using MCNP5 and FISPACT for the calculation of neutron flux and activation inventory, respectively. As the results, specific activities for the cases with impurity elements were calculated to be more than twice than those for the cases without impurity elements in stainless and carbon steel. Especially, the specific activity for the concrete material with impurity elements was calculated to be 30 times higher than that without impurity. Neutron induced reactions and activation inventories in each material were also investigated, and it is noted that major radioactive nuclide in steel material is Co-60 from cobalt impurity element, and, in concrete material, Co-60 and Eu-152 from cobalt and europium impurity elements, respectively. The results of this study can be used for nuclear decommissioning plan during activation inventory assessment and regulation, and it is expected to be used as a reference in the design phase of nuclear power plant, considering the decommissioning of nuclear power plants or nuclear facilities.

• Carbon letters
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• v.1 no.3_4
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• pp.154-157
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• 2001

Composite adsorbents were prepared by mixing water plant sludge with phenolic resin having the ratio of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 3 respectively, curing from $100^{\circ}C$ to $170^{\circ}C$ under $N_2$ atmosphere, and then activating with $N_2$ at $700^{\circ}C$. Thermal property, specific surface area and morphology of the composite adsorbents as well as their precursors were measured by TGA, BET and SEM respectively. Removal efficiency of the composite adsorbents to ${NH_4}^+$ and TOC was compared with those of commercial zeolite and activated carbon. The adsorbents presented very promising TOC removal efficiency of 98%, which was identical level to that of commercial activated carbon while they displayed removal efficiency, only 32%, of ${NH_4}^+$. Therefore, this composite adsorbent considered as the alternative material of commercial activated carbon, used as an expensive removal agent of organic substances and THM in water treatment plant and it also suggested a possibility of practical application in other processes.

• Carbon letters
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2000

The present research was undertaken to evaluate the possibility of water purification filter with activated carbon fibers (ACFs) using a very low cost precursor consisting of phenolic resin coated on glass fibers. The simplified procedure involving coating, curing and activation and a very low cost glass fiber as a raw material were adopted in order to reduce manufacturing cost. The breakthrough curves of the manufactured ACFs and the commercial activated carbon (AC, Calgon F-200) were investigated in the initial concentration range from 19 to 49 ppm for benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene. From breakthrough profiles, the manufactured ACFs had significantly faster adsorption kinetics than the AC. Especially the benzene breakthrough curves, the manufactured ACF (13 g of ACF with 32% of carbon on the glass) was over the limited level (5 ppb) after flowing of 32 l at initial concentration of 15 ppm, while the commercial AC was shown about 3 ppm in initial adsorption.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.214-224
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• 2007

The field of photocatalysis is one of the fastest growing areas both in research and commercial fields. Titanium dioxide is the most investigated semi-conductor material for the photocatalysis applications. Research to achieve $TiO_2$ visible light activation has drawn enormous attentions because of its potential to use solar light. This paper reviews the attempts made to extend its visible photocatalytic activity by carbon doping. Various approaches adopted to incorporate carbon to $TiO_2$ are summarized highlighting the major developments in this active research field. Theoretical features on carbon doping are also presented. Future scenario in the rapidly developing and exciting area is outlined for practical applications with solar light.