• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.279-285
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• 1993

It is important to understand the interrelationship between adsorption, equilibrium and mass transport in efficient design and operation of the granular activated carbon(GAC) adsorption systems. In this study, the micro-diameter-depth adsorption system(MIDDAS) technique was developed to estimate equilibrium and mass transport parameters, which were utilized to simulate adsorption and mass transport phenomena dynamically and mathematically. The homogeneous surface diffusion model(HSDM) utilizing the estimated equilibrium and mass transport parameters including the film transfer coefficients and surface diffusivities from the MIDDAS technique, successfully predicted competitive adsorption, desorption and chromatographic displacement effects. In the binary solute system of p-chlorophenol(PCP) and p-nitrophenol(PNP), PCP was displaced by PNP and the HSDM could predict successfully. While the HSDM described the desorption breakthrough curves for PCP, PNP and PTS well when complete reversible adsorption was assumed, the desorption breakthrough curves for DBS could be predicted after subsequent incorporation of the degree of irreversibility into the model simulations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1123-1128
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• 2005

NIB(methylisoborneol) is an earthy/musty odor compound produced as a second metabolite by cyanobacteria and actinomycetes. MIB is not removed by conventional water treatment(coagulation, sedimentation, filtration) and its presence in tap water, even at low ng/L levels, can result in consumer complaints. PAC(powdered activated carbon) can effectively remove MIB when the correct dose is applied. But, since most operators in water treatment plants apply a PAC dose and then adjust that dose depending on direct observation (odor detection) after treatment, the result is often under-dose or eve,-dose. In this study, kinetic and isotherm tests using $^{14}C$-radiolabeled MIB were performed to determine coefficients for the HSDM(homogeneous surface diffusion model), including liquid film mass transfer coefficient($K_f$) and surface diffusion coefficient ($D_s$). The HSDM gave a reasonable fit and allowed prediction with the experimental data. Base on the HSDM, the authors developed an optimum PAC dose prediction program using the Excel spreadsheet. When the developed program was applied at two water treatment plants, the PAC dose based on the experience of operators in the water treatment plant was significantly different from that recommended by the newly developed program. If operators are willing to use the optimum PAC dose prediction program, it should solve dosing problems.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2018

To abate the problem of odor from restaurants, a hybrid adsorbent consisting of organic and inorganic materials was developed and evaluated using acetaldehyde as a model compound was deveioped and evaluated. Powders of activated carbon, bentonite, and calcium hydroxide were mixed and calcinated to form adsorbent structure. The surface area of the hybrid adsorbent was smaller than that of high-quality activated carbon, but its microscopic image showed that contours and pores were developed on its surface. To determine its adsorption capacity, both batch isotherm and continuous flow column experiments were performed, and these results were compared with those using commercially available activated carbon. The isotherm tests showed that the hybrid adsorbent had a capacity 40 times higher than that of the activated carbon. In addition, the column experiments revealed that breakthrough time of the hybrid adsorbent was 2.5 times longer than that of the activated carbon. These experimental results were fitted to numerical simulations by using a homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM); the model estimated that the hybrid adsorbent might be able to remove acetaldehyde at a concentration of 40 ppm for a 5-month period. Since various odor compounds are commonly emitted as a mixture when meat is barbecued, it is necessary to conduct a series of experiments and HSDM simulations under various conditions to obtain design parameters for a full-scale device using the hybrid adsorbent.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2018

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from printing industries were analyzed, and an inorganic adsorbent, ${\gamma}-alumina$, was selected for the effective control of the VOC emissions. Printing processes commonly require inks, thinners, and cleaners, and they were mixed organic solvents containing aromatic compounds, ketones, and alcohols. Therefore, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were selected as model compounds for this study. The adsorptive properties using ${\gamma}-alumina$ were determined for the model compounds. Both batch isotherm and continuous flow column tests demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of MEK and IPA was 3~4 times higher than that of toluene. The column test performed at an inlet toluene concentration of 100 ppm showed that an 80% breakthrough for toluene was observed after 3 hours, but both MEK and IPA were continuously adsorbed during the same time period. A numerical model simulated that the ${\gamma}-alumina$ could remove toluene at a loading rate of 0.4 mg/min only for a 4-hour period, which might be too short of a duration for real applications. Consequently, lifetime enhancement for ${\gamma}-alumina$ must be implemented, and ozone oxidation and regeneration would be feasible options.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.936-941
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate formaldehyde removals by silver nano-particles attached on the surface of granular activated carbon (Ag-AC) and to compare the results to those obtained with ordinary activated carbon (AC). The BET analysis showed that the overall surface area and the fraction of micropores (less than $20{\AA}$ diameter) of the Ag-AC were significantly decreased because the silver particles blocked the small pores on the surface of the Ag-AC. The formaldehyde removal capacity of the Ag-AC determined using the Freundlich isotherm was higher than that of AC. Despite the decreased BET surface area and micropore volume, the Ag-AC had the increased removal capacity for formaldehyde, presumably due to catalytic oxidation by silver nano-particles. In contrast, the adsorption intensity of the Ag-AC, estimated by 1/n in the Freundlich isotherm equation, was similar to that of the ordinary AC, indicating that the surface modification using silver nano-particles did not affect the adsorption characteristics of AC. In a column experiment, the Ag-AC also showed a longer breakthrough time than that of the AC. Simulation results using the homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM) were well fitted to the breakthrough curve of formaldehyde for the ordinary AC, but the predictions showed substantial deviations from the experimental data for the Ag-AC. The discrepancy was due to the catalytic oxidation of silver nano-particles that was not incorporated in the HSDM. Consequently, a new numerical model that takes the catalytic oxidation into accounts needs to be developed to predict the combined oxidation and adsorption process more accurately.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.636-645
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the adsorption characteristics of methyl orange (MO), an anionic dye, on ginkgo shell-based activated carbon (AC). For this purpose, ACs (GS-1, GS-2, and GS-4) with different textural properties were prepared using ginkgo shells and potassium hydroxide (KOH), a representative chemical activating agent. The correlation between the textural characteristics of AC prepared and the mixing ratio of KOH was investigated using nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The MO adsorption equilibrium experiment on the prepared ACs was conducted under different pH (pH 3~11) and temperature (298~318 K) conditions, and the results were investigated by Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and temperature-dependent Sips equations. The feasibility of the MO adsorption treatment process of the prepared AC was also investigated using the dimensionless Langmuir separation factor. The heterogeneous adsorption properties of MO for the prepared AC examined using the adsorption energy distribution function (AED) were closely related to the system temperature and textural characteristics of AC. The kinetic results of the batch adsorption performed at different temperatures can be satisfactorily explained by the homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM), which takes into account the external mass transfer, intraparticle diffusion, and active site adsorption. The relationship between the activation energy value obtained by the Arrhenius plot and the adsorption energy distribution function value was also investigated. In addition, the adsorption process mechanism of MO on the prepared AC was evaluated using Biot number.