• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2013

The effect of pH on the citrate leaching behavior of heavy metal ion was investigated to develop an eco-friendly process for removing heavy metals from soil contaminated with copper, zinc, and lead. The leaching tests were performed using citrate solution with pH adjusted by mixing citric acid and sodium citrate under the following leaching conditions: particle size, under $75{\mu}m$; temperature, $50^{\circ}C$; citrate concentration, $1kmol/m^3$; pulp density, 5%; shaking speed, 100 rpm; leaching time, 1 hour. The difference of pH before and after the leaching test was not observed, and this result indicates the direct effect of hydrogen ion concentration on the leaching of metals was insignificant. The removal ratios of copper, zinc, and lead from the contaminated soil decreased with increasing pH. The thermodynamic calculation suggests that the leaching behaviors of metal ions were determined by two reactions; one is the reaction to form complex ions between heavy metal ions and citrate ion species, and the other is the reaction to form metal hydroxide between heavy metal ions and hydroxide ion.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2008

There have been great attentions on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) due to their advantageous characteristics such as zero emission of hazardous pollutant and high energy density. In this work, we evaluated degradation phenomena and stability of single cell performance via one dimensional single cell modeling. Here, CO poisoning on anode on anode was considered for cell performance degradation. Modeling results showed that the performance and stability were highly degraded with CO concentration in fuel gas. In addition, cell performance was reduced by slow oxygen reduction on cathode in long term operation. In order to overcome, it is required to increase ratio o#hydrogen in the fuel gas of anode and high Pt loading contained in the cathodic catalyst layer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.29-34
• /
• 2009

This study was performed under four operational conditions for nitrogen removal in metal finishing wastewater. The conditions include electrode gap, reducing agent, the recycling of treated wastewater in 1st step and the simultaneous treatment of nitrate and other materials. Result showed that the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ was highest at the electrode gap of 10 mm. As the electrode gap was shorter than 10 mm, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ decreased due to increasing in concentration polarization on electrode. And, in case that the electrode gap was longer than 10 mm, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ increased with an increase in energy consumption. Because hydrogen ions are consumed when nitrate is reduced, reducing reaction of nitrate was effected more in acid solution. As 1.2 excess amount of zinc was injected, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ increased due to increasing in amount of reaction with nitrate. As the effluent from 1st step in the reactor was recycled into the 1st step, the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ increased. Because the zinc were detached from the cathode and concentration-polarization was decreased due to formation of turbulence in the reactor. The presence of $NH_4{^+}-N$ did not affect the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ but the addition of heavy metal decreased the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$. As chlorine is enough in wastewater, the simultaneous treatment of nitrate and ammonia nitrogen may be possible. The problem that heavy metal decrease the removal efficiency of $NO_3{^-}-N$ may be solved by increasing current density or using front step of electrochemical process for heavy metal removal.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.14 no.6 s.68
• /
• pp.28-36
• /
• 2005

A hydrometallurgical process to leach cobalt from the waste cathodic active material, $LiCoO_{2}$, and subsequently to separate it by solvent extraction was developed. The optimum leaching conditions for high recovery of colbalt and lithium were obtained: 2.0 M sulfuric acid, 5 $vol.\%$ hydrogen peroxide, $75^{\circ}C$ leaching temperature, 30 minutes leaching time and an initial pulp density of 100 g/L. The respective leaching efficiencies for Co and Li were $93\%$ and $94.5\%$. About $85\%$ Co was extracted from the sulfuric acid leach liquor containing 44.72 g/L Co and 5.43 g/L Li, using 1.5 M Cyanex272 as an extractant at the initial pH 5.0 and in organic to aqueous phase ratio of 1.6:1 under the single stage extraction conditions. The Co in the raraffinate was completely extracted by 0.5 M Na-Cyanex272 at the inital pH 5.0, and an organic to aqueous phase ratio of 1;1. The cobalt sulfate solution of higher than $99.99\%$ purity could be recovered from waste $LiCoO_{2}$, using a series of hydrometallurgical processes: sulfuric acid leaching of waste $LiCoO_{2}$- solvent extraction of Co by Na-Cyanex 271 - scrubbing of Li by sodium carbonate solution - stripping of Co by sulfuric acid solution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2010.02a
• /
• pp.362-362
• /
• 2010

Today, vast attention has been paid to periodic arrays of nanostructures due to their potential for applications such as memory with huge storage density. Such application requires large-scale fabrication of well ordered nano-sized structures. One of the most widely used methods for the ordered nanostructures is lithography. This top-down process, however, has the limit to reduce size. Here the promising alternative is the self-organization of ordered nano-sized structures such as large scale 2d carbon-induced reconstructions on W(110). In the present study, we report on the first well-resolved atomic resolution STM studies of the well-known R($15{\times}3$) and R($15{\times}12$) carbon induced reconstruction of the W(110). From the atomic image of R($15{\times}3$) for different values of tunneling gap resistance, we can tell there are no missing atoms in unit cells of R($15{\times}3$) and some atomic displacements are substantial from the clean W(110), even though not all the imaged position of atoms correspond to tungsten, but may include those of carbon. We are considering two cases; First case is related to lattice deformation, or top layer of W(110) is deformed in the process of relief of strain caused by random inserting of carbon atoms possibly in the interstitial position. In the second case, R($15{\times}3$) unit cell results from a coincidence lattice between clean W(110) substrate and tungsten carbide overlayer which has rectangular atomic arrangement and giving R($15{\times}3$) coincidence lattice. beta-W2C showing rectangular unit cell should be a candidate. Further, we report on new reconstructions. Unlike the well-known R($15{\times}12$) consisting of two parts, two inner structures between two "Backbone" structures. The new reconstruction, which we found for the first time, contains more parts between the "Backbone"s. Sometimes we can observe the reconstruction consists of only inner parts without "Backbone" parts. Thus, the observed reconstruction can be built by constructing of two types of "Lego"-like block. Moreover, the rectangle shape of "Backbone" transform to parallelogram-like shape over time, the so-called wavy-R($15{\times}12$). Adsorption of hydrogen can be the reason for this transformation.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.282-291
• /
• 2018

The pristine fluorine-doped $SnO_2$ (abbreviated as FTO) inverse opal (IO) was developed using a 410 nm polystyrene bead template. The nanolayered copper tungsten oxide ($CuWO_4$) was decorated on the FTO IO film using a facile electrochemical deposition, subsequently followed by annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ for 90 min. The morphologies, crystalline structure, optical properties and photoelectrochemical characteristics of the FTO and $CuWO_4$-decorated FTO (briefly denoted as $FTO/CuWO_4$) IO film were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, showing FTO IO in the hexagonally closed-pack arrangement with a pore diameter and wall thickness of about 300 nm and 20 nm, respectively. Above this film, the $CuWO_4$ was electrodeposited by controlling the cycling number in cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that the $CuWO_4$ formed during 4 cycles (abbreviated as $CuWO_4$(4 cycles)) on FTO IO film exhibited partial distribution of $CuWO_4$ nanoparticles. Additional distribution of $CuWO_4$ nanoparticles was observed in the case of $FTO/CuWO_4$(8 cycles) IO film. The $CuWO_4$ layer exhibits triclinic structure with an indirect band gap of approximately 2.5 eV and shows the enhanced visible light absorption. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior was evaluated in the 0.5 M $Na_2SO_4$ solution under solar illumination, suggesting that the $FTO/CuWO_4$(4 cycles) IO films exhibit a photocurrent density ($J_{sc}$) of $0.42mA/cm^2$ at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE, denoted as $V_{RHE}$), while the FTO IO and $FTO/CuWO_4$(8 cycles) IO films exhibited a $J_{sc}$ of 0.14 and $0.24mA/cm^2$ at $1.23V_{RHE}$, respectively. This difference can be explained by the increased visible light absorption by the $CuWO_4$ layer and the favorable charge separation/transfer event in the cascading band alignment between FTO and $CuWO_4$ layer, enhancing the overall PEC performance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.251-255
• /
• 2021

a-Si is commonly considered as a primary candidate for the formation of passivation layer in heterojunction (HIT) solar cells. However, there are some problems when using this material such as significant losses due to recombination and parasitic absorption. To reduce these problems, a wide bandgap material is needed. A wide bandgap has a positive influence on effective transmittance, reduction of the parasitic absorption, and prevention of unnecessary epitaxial growth. In this paper, the adoption of a-SiO_x:H as the intrinsic layer was discussed. To increase lifetime and conductivity, oxygen concentration control is crucial because it is correlated with the thickness, bonding defect, interface density (D_it), and band offset. A thick oxygen-rich layer causes the lifetime and the implied open-circuit voltage to drop. Furthermore the thicker the layer gets, the more free hydrogen atoms are etched in thin films, which worsens the passivation quality and the efficiency of solar cells. Previous studies revealed that the lifetime and the implied voltage decreased when the a-SiOx thickness went beyond around 9 nm. In addition to this, oxygen acted as a defect in the intrinsic layer. The D_it increased up to an oxygen rate on the order of 8%. Beyond 8%, the D_it was constant. By controlling the oxygen concentration properly and achieving a thin layer, high-efficiency HIT solar cells can be fabricated.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.202-207
• /
• 2022

The study on electrode degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was mainly studied on the particle growth and active area reduction of Pt on the electrode. The degradation of the electrode catalyst Pt in contact with the membrane affects the deterioration of the polymer membrane, but there are not many studies related to this. In this study, the phenomenon of the deposition of deteriorated Pt inside the polymer membrane during the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test and its effects were studied. The voltage change (0.6 V ↔ 0.9 V) was repeated up to 30,000 cycles to accelerate the platinum degradation rate. When the voltage change cycle was repeated while oxygen was introduced into the cathode, the amount of Pt deposited inside the film was larger than when nitrogen was introduced. As the number of voltage change cycles increased, the amount of Pt deposited inside the membrane increased, and Pt dissolved in the cathode moved toward the anode, showing a uniform distribution throughout the membrane at 20,000 cycles. In the process of the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test, the hydrogen crossover current density of the membrane did not change, and it was confirmed that the deposited Pt did not affect the durability of the membrane.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.148-158
• /
• 2022

The electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) to produce value-added fuels and chemicals using clean energy sources (like solar and wind) is a promising technology to neutralize the carbon cycle and reproduce the fuels. Presently, the ECR has been the most attractive route to produce carbon-building blocks that have growing global production and high market demand. The electrochemical CO₂ reduction could be extensively implemented if it produces valuable products at those costs which are financially competitive with the present market prices. Herein, the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ obtained from flue gases of a power plant to produce diesel and formic acid using a consistent techno-economic approach is presented. The first scenario analyzed the production of diesel fuel which was formed through Fischer-Tropsch processing of CO (obtained through electroreduction of CO₂) and hydrogen, while in the second scenario, direct electrochemical CO₂ reduction to formic acid was considered. As per the base case assumptions extracted from the previous outstanding research studies, both processes weren't competitive with the existing fuel prices, indicating that high electrochemical (EC) cell capital cost was the main limiting component. The diesel fuel production was predicted as the best route for the cost-effective production of fuels under conceivable optimistic case assumptions, and the formic acid was found to be costly in terms of stored energy contents and has a facile production mechanism at those costs which are financially competitive with its bulk market price. In both processes, the liquid product cost was greatly affected by the parameters affecting the EC cell capital expenses, such as cost concerning the electrode area, faradaic efficiency, and current density.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2024

Globally, the demand for electric vehicles has surged due to greenhouse gas regulations related to climate change, leading to an increase in the production of used batteries as a consequence of the battery life issue. This study aims to selectively leach and recover valuable metal lithium from the cathode material of spent LFP (LiFePO₄) batteries among lithium-ion batteries. Generally, the use of inorganic acids results in the emission of toxic gases or the generation of large quantities of wastewater, causing environmental issues. To address this, research is being conducted to leach lithium using organic acids and other leaching agents. In this study, selective leaching was performed using the organic acid methane sulfonic acid (MSA, CH₃SO₃H). Experiments were conducted to determine the optimal conditions for selectively leaching lithium by varying the MSA concentration, pulp density, and hydrogen peroxide dosage. The results of this study showed that lithium was leached at approximately 100%, while iron and phosphorus components were leached at about 1%, verifying the leaching efficiency and the leaching rates of the main components under different variables.