• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2016

First of all, Fe or/and Mn immobilized granular activated carbons (Fe-GAC, Mn-GAC, (Fe, Mn)-GAC) were synthesized and tested to remove arsenate (As(V)). The results in batch test indicated that Fe-GAC removed As(V) effectively, even though the surface area of Fe-GAC was reduced largely. Moreover, adsorption isotherm test indicated that the experimental data fit well with Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacity ($q_{max}$) of Fe-GAC for As(V) was $3.49mg\;g^{-1}$, which was higher than GAC ($2.24mg\;g^{-1}$). In column test, the simulated water, which consisted of As(V), Fe(III), Mn(II) and Ca(II) in tap water, was used. Fe-GAC column with 1 hr of pre-washing time treated As(V) effectively while GAC column removed Fe(III) better than Fe-GAC column. Moreover, the increasing pre-washing time from 1 to 9 hour in Fe-GAC column enhanced Fe(III) removal with little negative impact of As(V) removal. Mostly, the column filled with Fe-GAC and GAC (i.e. the mass ratio of Fe-GAC:GAC = 2:8) showed the higher treatability of both As(V) and Fe(III), even it operated with 1 hr pre-washing time.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.177-186
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• 2023

Perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) was one of widely used per- and poly substances(PFAS) in the industrial field and its concentration in the surface and groundwater was found with relatively high concentration compared to other PFAS. Since various processes have been introduced to remove the PFOA, adsorption using GAC is well known as a useful and effective process in water and wastewater treatment. Surface modification for GAC was carried out using Cu and Fe to enhance the adsorption capacity and four different adsorbents, such as GAC-Cu, GAC-Fe, GAC-Cu(OH)₂, GAC-Fe(OH)₃ were prepared and compared with GAC. According to SEM-EDS, the increase of Cu or Fe was confirmed after surface modification and higher weight was observed for Cu and Fe hydroxide(GAC-Cu(OH)₂ and GAC-Fe(OH)₃, respectively). BET analysis showed that the surface modification reduced specific surface area and total pore volumes. The highest removal efficiency(71.4%) was obtained in GAC-Cu which is improved by 17.9% whereas the use of Fe showed lower removal efficiency compared to GAC. PFOA removal was decreased with increase of solution pH indicating electrostatic interaction governs at low pH and its effect was decreased when the point of zero charges(pzc) was negatively increased with an increase of pH. The enhanced removal of PFOA was clearly observed in solution pH 7, confirming the Cu in the surface of GAC plays a role on the PFOA adsorption. The maximum uptake was calculated as 257 and 345 ㎍/g for GAC and GAC-Cu using Langmuir isotherm. 40% and 80% of removal were accomplished within 1 h and 48 h. According to R², only the linear pseudo-second-order(pso) kinetic model showed 0.98 whereas the others obtained less than 0.870.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.589-601
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• 2010

Recently it has been frequently reported arsenic contamination of geologic origin in groundwater. The iron-impregnated ranular activated carbon (Fe-GAC) was developed for effective removal of arsenic from groundwater n the study. Fe-GACs were prepared by impregnating iron compounds into a supporting medium (GAC) with 0.05 M iron nitrate solution. The materials were used in arsenic adsorption isotherm tests to know the effect of iron impregnation time, batch kinetic tests to understand the influence of pH, and column tests to evaluate for the preliminary operation of water treatment system. The results showed that the minimum twelve hours of impregnation time were required for making the Fe-GAC with sufficient iron content for arsenic removal, confirmed by a high arsenic adsorption capacity evaluated in the isotherm tests. Most of the impregnated iron compounds were iron hydroxynitrate $Fe_4(OH)_{11}NO_3{\cdot}2H_2O$ but a mall quantity of hematite was also identified in X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis. The batch isotherms of Fe-GAC for arsenic adsorption were well explained by Langmuir than Freundlich model and the iron contents of Fe-GAC have positive linear correlations on logarithmic plots with Freundlich distribution coefficients ($K_F$ and Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities ($Q_m$. The results of kinetic experiments suggested hat Fe-GAC had he excellent arsenic adsorption capacities regardless of all pH conditions except for pH 11 and could be used a promising adsorbents for groundwater arsenic removal considering the general groundwater pH range of 6-8. The pseudo-second order model, based on the assumption that the ate-limiting step might be chemisorption, provided the best correlation of the kinetic experimental data and explained the arsenic adsorption system f Fe-GAC. The column test was conducted to valuate the feasibility of Fe-GAC use and the operation parameters in arsenic groundwater treatment system. The parameters obtained from the column test were the retardation actor of 482.4 and the distribution coefficient of 581.1 L/mg which were similar values of 511.5-592.5 L/mg acquired from Freundlich batch isotherm model. The results of this study suggested that Fe-GAC could be used as promising adsorbent of arsenic removal in a small groundwater supply system with water treatment facility.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2012

The present study investigates treatment methods for removal of arsenic from wastewater. The granular activated carbon (GAC) with the coating of iron chloride ($FeCl_3$) was used for the treatment of a low concentration of arsenic from wastewater. Batch experiments were performed to investigate the synthesis of Fe-GAC (Iron coated granular activated carbon), effects of pH, adsorption kinetics and the Langmuir model. The synthesized Fe-GAC with 0.1 M $FeCl_3$ shows best removal efficiency. Adsorption studies were carried out in the optimum pH range of 4-6 for arsenic removal. The Fe-GAC showed promising results by removing 99.4% of arsenic. In the adsorption isotherm studies, the observed data fitted well with the Langmuir models. In continuous column study showed that As(V) could be removed to below 0.25 mg/L within 1,020 pore volume. Our results suggest that the surface modified granular activated carbon treated with $FeCl_3$ for effective removal of arsenic from wastewater.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.449-458
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• 2023

As an adsorption technology for dissolved organic matter, the adsorption capacity of granular activated carbon, GAC, can be applied, but activated carbon whose adsorption capacity is significantly reduced by use is inevitably replaced or regenerated. However, due to the economics of replacement cost, thermal regeneration method is used commercially, but high energy cost and loss of activated carbon occur under high temperature conditions above 800℃. In this study, the Sono-Fenton method, a multi-oxidation technology that combines Fenton oxidation and ultrasonic oxidation, was applied to improve the regeneration efficiency of spent GAC used to treat dissolved organic matter in combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and the regeneration efficiency of spent GAC by oxidant and ultrasonic frequency was investigated. In the applied Sono-Fenton treatment, the highest regeneration efficiency of 68.5% was obtained under the regeneration conditions of Fe²⁺ 10 mmol/L, H₂O₂ concentration 1,000 mmol/L, ultrasonic treatment time of 120 min, and ultrasonic frequency of 40 kHz. And similar efficiency was also obtained at 750 kHz, while ultrasonic waves of other frequencies had poor regeneration efficiency, and the magnitude of frequency and GAC regeneration efficiency did not show a linear relationship. In the case of continuous operation of the GAC adsorption tower with CSOs prepared by diluting raw sewage, about 700 hours of operation without regeneration was possible, and as a result of applying one Sono-Fenton treatment, 40-70% COD_cr removal efficiency was obtained during a total of 1,000 hours of GAC adsorption operation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.521-527
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• 2016

Nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) has been intensively studied for the treatment of a plethora of pollutants through reductive reaction, however, the nano size should be of concern when nZVI is considered for water treatment, due to difficulties in recovery. The loss of nZVI causes not only economical loss, but also potential risk to human health and environment. Thus, the immobilization onto coarse or structured support is essential. In this study, two representative processes for nZVI immobilization on granular activated carbon (GAC) were evaluated, and optimized conditions for synthesizing Fe/GAC composite were suggested. Both total iron content and $Fe_0$ content can be significantly affected by preparation processes, therefore, it was important to avoid oxidation during preparation to achieve higher reduction capacity. Synthesis conditions such as reduction time and existence of intermediate drying step were investigated to improve $Fe_0$ content of Fe/GAC composites. The optimal condition was two hours of $NaBH_4$ reduction without intermediate drying process. The prepared Fe/GAC composite showed synergistic effect of the adsorption capability of the GAC and the degradation capability of the nZVI, which make this composite a very effective material for environmental remediation.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.11-31
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• 1999

Removal of hexavalent chromium from artificial groundwater (AGW) by granular activated carbon (GAC) was investigated in batch and continuous-flow column studies. Experimental parameters that were examined included solution pH, presence of dissolved oxygen (DO), and GAC pretreatment with Fe(II). As the solution pH increased from 4 to 7.5, the amount of Cr(VI) removed by both GACs decreased significantly. Exclusion of DO from the experimental systems resulted in greater removal of Cr(VI) from solution, possibly as a result of reduction to Cr(III). However, pretreatment of the GAC with a reductant (Fe(II)) did not improve Cr(VI) removal. Equilibration With 0.01 M $K_2$$HPO_4$[to extract adsorbed Cr(VI)] followed by a wash with 0.02 N $K_2$$HPO_4$[to remove precipitated/sorbed Cr(III)] proved to be a viable approach for the regeneration of carbons whose Cr(VI) removal capacities had been exhausted. The performance of the regenerated carbons exceeded that of the virgin carbons, primarily because of the favorable adsorption of Cr(VI) at lower pH values and the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), The presence of Cr(III) in acid wash solutions provides direct evidence that Cr(VI) is reduced to Cr(III) in GAC systems under relatively acidic conditions. GAC performance over five complete cycles was consistently high, which suggests that such a system will be able to function over many operation cycles without deleterious effects.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.474-483
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• 2019

In this study, iron (Fe) impregnated granular activated carbon (Fe-GAC) has been synthesized and characterized for various properties. Comparative studies have been performed for use of Fe-GAC as an adsorbent as well as a catalyst during catalytic oxidation of hydroquinone (HQ). In the batch adsorption study, effect of process parameter like initial HQ concentration ($C_o=25-1,000mg/L$), pH (2-10), contact time (t: 0-24 h), temperature (T: $15-45^{\circ}C$) and adsorbent dose (w: 5-50 g/L) have been studied. Maximum HQ adsorption efficiency of 75% was obtained at optimum parametric condition of: pH = 4, w = 40 g/L and t = 14 h. Pseudo-second order model best-fitted the HQ adsorption kinetics whereas Langmuir model best-represented the isothermal equilibrium behavior. During oxidation studies, effect of various process parameters like initial HQ concentration ($C_o:20-100mg/L$), pH (4-8), oxidant dose ($C_{H2O2}:0.4-1.6mL/L$) and catalyst dose (m: 0.5-1.5 g/L) have been optimized using Taguchi experimental design matrix. Maximum HQ removal efficiency of 83.56% was obtained at optimum condition of $C_o=100mg/L$, pH = 6, $C_{H2O2}=0.4mL/L,$ and m = 1 g/L. Overall use of Fe-GAC during catalytic oxidation seems to be a better as compared to its use an adsorbent for treatment of HQ bearing wastewater.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.40-40
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• 2017

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.619-626
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Fe and Mn oxides coated granular activated carbons (FMOCGs) for the removal of arsenite and arsenate by oxidation and adsorption mechanisms using surface characterization and batch adsorption experiments. Within four manufactured adsorbents, Fe and Mn contents of FMOCG-1 was the highest (178.12 mg Fe/g and 11.25 mg Mn/g). In kinetic results, As(III) was removed by oxidation and adsorption with FMOCGs. Removal of arsenic by FMOCGs increased as pH value of the solution decreased. The adsorption isotherm results were well fitted with Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption amount of As(V) onto FMOCGs was higher than that of As(III) and the maximum adsorption capacities of FMOCGs for As(III) and As(V) were 1.38~8.44 mg/g and 2.91~9.63 mg/g, respectively.