• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2022

Boron(B) is a rare resource used for various purposes such as glass, semiconductor materials, gunpowder, rocket fuel, etc. However, Korea depends entirely on imports for boron. Considering the global boron reserves and its current production rate, boron will be depleted on earth in 50 years. Thus, a process including proper adsorbent materials recovering boron from seawater is demanded. This research proposed carbonized nanofibers prepared from electrospun PAN(polyacrylonitrile) mats as promising materials to adsorb boron in aqueous solution. First, the mechanism of boron adsorption on carbonized nanofibers was investigated by DFT(density functional method)-based molecular modeling and the calculated energetics demonstrated that the boron chemisorption on the nitrogen-doped graphene surface by a two-step dehydration is possible with viable activation energies. Then, the electrospun PAN mats were stabilized in air and then carbonized in an argon atmosphere before being immersed in the boric acid aqueous solution. Analytically, SEM(scanning electron microscopy) and Raman measurements were employed to confirm whether the electrospinning and carbonization of PAN mats proceeded successfully. Then, XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) peak analysis showed whether the intended nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber surface was formed and boron was properly adsorbed on nanofibers. Those results demonstrated that the carbonized nanofibers prepared from electrospun PAN mats could be feasible adsorbents for boron recovery in seawater.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.434-439
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• 2006

In this study, activated carbon(ACs) have been modified by nitric acid and heat-treatment. The surface and structure properties of ACs were determined by BET surface area, FT-IR pH and acid/base value. The changes in pore structure and surface properties of these modified ACs were correlated with natural gas adsorption which measured by volumetric apparatus at $0^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. The pore textural properties of activated carbon was also characterized by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Specific surface area and micropore volume of them were calculated by Langmuir equation and Horvath-Kawazoe method, and chemical properties of surface were measured by FT-IR and titration of acid and base solutions. Pore texture of activated carbons after treatments were not significantly changed. Total acidity increased and basicity of samples decreased. however the basicity increased with heat treatment. The methane adsorption of ACs become different depending on the acid/base value of samples.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.256-261
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• 2016

In this work, we have prepared the filter papers with the pitch-based activated carbon fibers and the binder fibers using wet-laid process. The influence of the binder fiber on the porosity of the filter papers has been investigated by using nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77 K and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result, the specific surface area has increased with an decrease in the content of binder fiber. It has been shown that the optimum ratio of pitch-based activated carbon fibers and the binder fibers is 70:30, resulting in high porosity, excellent bonding strength, large specific surface area ($650.4m^2/g$) and high noxious gas removal efficiency (86.9%). In addition, it has been observed that the mean pore size distribution of the fiber papers has not been affected by the binder fiber.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2007

In order to understand the breakthrough behaviour of iodine vapours on impregnated carbon systems, an active carbon, 80 CTC grade, $12{\times}30$ BSS particle size and $1104\;m^2/g$ surface area, was impregnated with metal salts such Cu, Cr, Ag, Mo and Zn, and an organic compound Triethylene diamine (TEDA) to prepare different carbon systems such as whetlerite, whetlerite/TEDA, whetlerite/KI/KOH and ASZMT. The prepared adsorbents along with active carbon were characterized for surface area and pore volume by $N_2$ adsorption at liquid nitrogen temperature. These carbon systems were compared for their CT (concentration X time) values at 12.73 to 53.05 cm/sec space velocities and 2 to 5 cm carbon column bed heights. The carbon column of 5.0 cm bed height and 1.0 cm diameter was found to be providing protection against iodine vapours up to 5.5 h at 3.712 mg/L iodine vapour concentration and 12.73 cm/sec space velocity. The study clearly indicated the adsorption capacities of carbon systems to be directly proportional to their surface area values. Dead layer with all the prepared carbon systems was found to be less than 2.0 cm indicating it to be minimum bed height to have protection against $I_2$ vapours. Effect of carbon bed height and flow rate was also studied. The active carbon showed maximum protection at all bed heights and flow rates in comparison to all other impregnated carbon systems, showing that only physical adsorption is responsible for the removal of iodine vapours.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2013

The effect of humic acid (HA), and the roles of microfiltration (MF), PES (polyethersulfone) beads adsorption, and photo-oxidation were investigated in hybrid process of ceramic MF and PES beads loaded with titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment. Those were compared and studied in viewpoints of membrane fouling resistance ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$). Because membrane fouling increased dramatically as decreasing HA, $R_f$ increased and J decreased, and finally $V_T$ was the highest at 2 mg/L HA. In the experiment to investigate the roles of photo-oxidation and adsorption at humic acid 4 mg/L and 6 mg/L. In both conditions, $R_f$ was the lowest and $V_T$ was the highest in MF + $TiO_2$ + UV process. The average treatment efficiencies of turbidity and dissolved organic matters were the highest in MF + $TiO_2$ + UV process, too.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.179-189
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• 2008

The performance of Lean NOx Trap (LNT) based on the catalysts of Pt/K/Ba/$\gamma-Al_2O_3$ with proprietary washcoat formulation is studied using a bench flow reactor system. To investigate the effect of temperature and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) on the nitrogen oxides (NOx) trapping capacity as well as NOx breakthrough time and final ratio of $NO_2$ to NO of LNT, series of adsorption isotherms are carried out with simulated exhaust gases of the lean burn engines. Since typical operation of LNT requires periodic regeneration with a short rich excursion, where the stored or trapped NOx is released and subsequently reduced to $N_2$, the effect of the duration of lean and rich phase and type of reductants on the NOx conversion is investigated. NOx storage capacity and breakthrough time obtained from adsorption isotherms shows a volcano-type dependence on the temperature with a maximum NOx storage capacity occurring $350^{\circ}C$ and with a maximum breakthrough time occurring $400^{\circ}C$ at all GHSVs investigated in this study. Also, maximum ratio of $NO_2$ to NO is obtained at $400^{\circ}C$ with a GHSV of $75,000\;hr^{-1}$ Lean/rich cycle of 100 s lean and 5 s rich used with a concentration of 1.33% of $H_2$ and 4% of CO in the rich phase is found to be optimum at operating temperature of $350^{\circ}C$ and a GHSV of $50,000\;hr^{-1}$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.664-668
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• 2002

In this work, the catalytic reduction mechanisms of NO over ACFs/copper prepared by electrolytic copper plating has been studied. It was found that copper content on carbon surfaces increased with increasing the plating time. However, a slightly gradual decrease of adsorption properties, such as, BET specific surface area, was observed in increasing the plating times within the range of well-developed micropore structures. As experimental results, nitric oxide was converted into the nitrogen and oxygen on ACFs and ACFs/copper catalyst surfaces at $500^{\circ}C$. Especially, the surfaces of ACFs/copper catalyst were found to scavenge the oxygen released by catalytic reduction of NO, which could be explained by the presence of another nitric oxide reduction mechanism between ACFs and ACFs/copper catalysts.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.56-61
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• 2008

The kudzu has been investigated as an adsorbent for treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater. The specific surface of kudzu was analyzed to be $189.91m^2/g$ and its major composition were found to be nitrogen and oxygen. It was observed that adsorption reaction for Cr(VI) on kudzu meets 1st order in kinetics and Langmuir Model in equilibrium. As the pH of wastewater was increased, the adsorbed amount of Cr(VI) onto kudzu was increased due to the pre-combination of $OH^-$ with adsorbent and the efficiency of adsorption was found to be 60% when real electroplating Cr(VI)-containing wastewater was applied.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.737-742
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• 2014

This study aimed for evaluating the applicability of the two stage dual media filtration system in field water treatment plant. The field plant of two stage and dual media filtration system was operated for 2 months. Average iron concentrations of the settled water, existing filtered water and second stage filtered water was 0.041 mg/L, 0.007 mg/L and 0.005 mg/L, respectively. Removal efficiency of iron concentration in the second stage is appropriately 35% more than in existing filtered water. Also removal efficiency of residual chlorine in the dual media filtration system is relatively 42.3% more than in existing filtered water due to adsorption of activated carbon, but the removal of ammonia nitrogen by adsorption is insufficient. Average concentrations of THM and chloroform in the settled water are 0.033 mg/L, 0.026 mg/L, respectively and in existing filtered water are 0.023 mg/L and 0.023 mg/L. Average concentrations of THM and chloroform in the dual media filtration system are 0.008 mg/L and 0.013 mg/L. Therefore removal efficiency of THM concentration in second stage is more than 66.4% in existing filtrated water. Also removal efficiency of chloroform in the dual media filtration system is more than 50.0% in existing filtered water because of the adsorption of activated carbon. In this case backwashing period in dual stage system is 4~5 days, but in existing filtration system is 1~2 days.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.588-594
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• 2000

Structural changes of an iron phthalocyanine (FePC) monolayer induced by adsorption and externally applied potential on high area carbon surface have been investigated in situ by iron K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) in 0.5 M $H_2S0_4.$ Fine structures shown in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) for microcrystalline FePC decreased upon adsorption and further diminished under electrochemical conditions. Fe(II)PC(-2) showed a 1s ${\rightarrow}$ 4p transition as poorly resolved shoulder to the main absorption edge rather than a distinct peak and a weak 1s ${\rightarrow}$ 3d transition. The absorption edge position measured at half maximum was shifted from 7121.8 eV for Fe(lI)PC(-2) to 7124.8 eV for $[Fe(III)PC(-2)]^+$ as well as the 1s ${\rightarrow}$ 3d pre-edge peak being slightly enhanced. However, essentially no absorption edge shift was observed by the 1-electron reduction of Fe(Il)PC(-2), indicating that the species formed is $[Fe(II)PC(-3)]^-$. Structural parameters were obtained by analyzing extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) oscillations with theoretical phases and amplitudes calculated from FEFF 6.01 using multiple-scattering theory. When applied to the powder FePC, the average iron-to-phthalocyanine nitrogen distance, d(Fe-$N_p$) and the coordination number were found to be 1.933 $\AA$ and 3.2, respectively, and these values are the same, within experimental error, as those reported ( $1.927\AA$ and 4). Virtually no structural changes were found upon adsorption except for the increased Debye-Wailer factor of $0.005\AA^2$ from $0.003\AA^2.$ Oxidation of Fe(II)PC(-2) to $[Fe(III)PC(-2)]^+$ yielded an increased d(Fe-Np) (1 $.98\AA)$ and Debye-Wailer factor $(0.005\AA^2).$ The formation of $[Fe(II)PC(-3)]^-$, however, produced a shorter d(Fe-$N_p$) of $1.91\AA$ the same as that of crystalline FePC within experimental error, and about the same DebyeWaller $factor(0.006\AA^2)$.