• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2015

The effects of ion-doping on $TiO_2$ nanotubes were investigated to obtain the optimal catalyst for the effective decomposition of Rhodamine B (RB) through UV photocatalytic oxidation process. Changing the calcination temperature, which changed the weight fractions of the anatase phase, the average crystallite sizes, the BET surface area, and the energy band gap of the catalyst, affected the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. The ionic radius, valence state, and configuration of the dopant also affected the photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts on RB removal increased when $Ag^+$, $Al^{3+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ were doped into the $TiO_2$ nanotubes, whereas such activities decreased as a result of $Mn^{2+}$ or $Ni^{2+}$ doping. In the presence of $Zn^{2+}$-doped $TiO_2$ nanotubes calcined at $550^{\circ}C$, the removal efficiency of RB within 50 min was 98.7%.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

This study has been numerically conducted to investigate the removal efficiency of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) for different photocatalytic honeycomb filters. Recently, the photocatalysis is being applied to air-cleaner, air-conditioner and vacuum-cleaner with the capability of air-purification, sterilization and antibiosis. However, photocatalysis is less efficient than other methods for removing VOC except in the case of low concentration. So far most of studies have focused on an improvement of the photocatalytic materials, but this study have placed emphasis on the improvements of shape of photocatalytic honeycomb filter. UV irradiation, concentration profile and pressure drop have been investigated for different cross sections of filters and for different filter lengths. Light intensity is dropped sharply with increasing distance from the UV-lamp, and becomes very low in the middle of the filters. Since photocatalytic reaction rate is a function of light intensity, VOC concentration gradient might be small in the middle of long filters. Thus, most of reaction have risen within only three times of dimensionless axial distance. These results can be used effectively for the design of advanced photocatalytic honeycomb filters.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.272-278
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• 2013

The hybrid system composed of a photocatalytic reactor and a biofilter was operated under various operating conditions in order to treat malodorous waste air containing ammonia which is a major air pollutant emitted from composting factories and many publicly owned treatment works. Total ammonia removal efficiency of the hybrid system was maintained to be ca. 80% even though its inlet loads were increased at a higher operating stage according to an operating schedule of the hybrid system. The ammonia removal efficiency of photocatalytic reactor was decreased from 65% to 22% as ammonia inlet loads to photocatalytic reactor were increased. In spite of same inlet loads of ammonia to the photocatalytic reactor, the ammonia removal efficiency of photocatalytic reactor with lower ammonia concentration of fed-waste air was higher than that with higher ammonia concentration of fed-waste air. To the contrary, during the first half of the hybrid system operation the ammonia removal efficiency of a biofilter was quite suppressed while, despite of increased ammonia inlet loads, the ammonia removal efficiency of the biofilter was continuously increased to 78% and reached the ammonia removal efficiency similar to what Lee et al. attained. The maximum ammonia elimination capacity of the photocatalytic reactor was observed to be ca. 16 g-N/$m^3$/h. In an incipient stage of hybrid system run, the ammonia elimination capacity of the biofilter showed little sensitivity against ammonia inlet loads to the hybrid system. However, in the 2nd half of its run, the ammonia elimination capacity of the biofilter was increased abruptly in case of high ammonia inlet loads to the hybrid system. In 6th stage of hybrid system run, total ammonia inlet load attained at ca. 80 g-N/$m^3$/h corresponding to 16 g-N/$m^3$/h of ammonia elimination capacity of the photocatalytic reactor. Then, the remaining ammonia inlet load to the 2nd and main process of the biofilter and its elimination capacity was expected and shown to be ca 64 g-N/$m^3$/h and ca 48 g-N/$m^3$/h, respectively. The ammonia elimination capacity of the biofilter was close to 1,200 g-N/$m^3$/day of the maximum elimination capacity of the investigation performed by Kim et al.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 2003

Nano-TiO$_2$ photocatalytic coatings were deposited on the stainless steel 304(50$\times$70$\times$3mm) by the APS(Atmospheric Plasma Spraying). Photocatlytic reaction was tested in MB(methylene blue) aqueous solution. For applying nano-TiO$_2$ powders by thermal spray, the starting nano-TiO$_2$ powder with 100% anatase crystalline was agglomerated by spray drying. Plasma second gas(H$_2$) flow rate and spraying distance were used as principal process parameters which are known to control heat enthalpy(heat input). The relationship between process parameters and the characteristics of microstructure such as the anatase phase fraction and grain size of the TiO$_2$ coatings were investigated. The photo-decomposition efficiency of TiO$_2$ coatings was evaluated by the kinetics of MB aqueous solution decomposition. It was found that the TiO$_2$ coating with a lower heat input condition had a higher anatase fraction, smaller anatase grain size and a better photo-decomposition efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.527-534
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• 2011

In this research, the photocatalytic degradation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in $TiO_2$ aqueous suspension has been studied. $TiO_2$ photocatalysts are prepared by a sol-gel method. The dominant anatase-structure on $TiO_2$ particles is observed after calcining the $TiO_2$ gel at $500^{\circ}C$ for 1hr. Photocatalysts with various transition metals (Nd, Pd and Pt) loading are tested to evaluate the effect of transition metal impurities on photodegradation. The photodegradation efficiencies with $TiO_2$ including Pt and Pd are higher than pure $TiO_2$ powder. Also we investigated the applicability of $H_2O_2$ to increase the efficiency of the $TiO_2$ photocatalytic degradation of dibenzothiophene. The degradation efficiency increases with increasing dosage of $H_2O_2$ in the range of 0.01M to 0.1M . The effect of pH is investigated; we obtained the maximum photodegradation efficiency at pH 5. In addition, the intermediate analysis found dihydroxyl -dibenzothiophene as a reaction intermediate of dibenzothiophene during the photodegradation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.785-792
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• 2005

In order to reduce roadside and indoor air pollution for volatile organic compounds VOC), it may be necessary to apply photocatalyst-coated construction materials. This study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of $TiO_2$ photocatalysis for the removal of VOC present in roadside or indoor air. The photocatalytic removal of five target VOC was investigated: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and o,m,p-xylenes. Variables tested for the current study included ultraviolet(UV) light intensity coating materials, relative humidity (RH), and input concentrations. Prior to performing the parameter tests, adsorption of VOC onto the current experiment was surveyed, and no adsorption was observed. Stronger UV intensity provided higher photocatalytic destruction(PCD) efficiency of the target compounds. For higher humidity, higher PCD efficiency was observed. The PCD efficiency depended on coating material. Contrary to certain previous findings, lower PCD efficiencies were observed for the experimental condition of higher input concentrations. The current findings suggested that the four parameters tested in the present study should be considered for the application of photocatalyst-coated construction materials in cleaning VOC of roadside or indoor air.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2024

This study focuses on improving the photocatalytic degradation efficiency by synthesizing a TiO₂/WO₃ composite. Given the environmental significance of photocatalysis and the limitations posed by TiO₂'s large bandgap and high electron recombination rate, we explored doping, surface modification, and synthesis strategies. The composite was created using a ball mill process and heat treatment, analyzed with field emission scanning electron microscope, high resolution X-ray diffraction, Raman microscope, and UV-Vis/NIR spectrometer to examine its morphology, composition and absorbance. We found that incorporating WO₃ into the TiO₂ lattice forms a W_x-Ti_1-x-O₂ solution, with optimal WO₃ content reducing the band gap and enhancing sterilization efficiency by inhibiting the anatasese to rutile transition. This contributes to the field by offering a way to overcome TiO₂'s limitations and improve photocatalytic performance.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1941-1944
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• 2010

The heterojunction structures of BiOCl/$Bi_3O_4Cl$, exhibiting considerable visible-light photocatalytic efficiency, were prepared by a simple wet-chemical process at ambient condition. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, TEM, and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra. Under visible light (${\lambda}\geq$420 nm) irradiation, BiOCl/$Bi_3O_4Cl$ exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity in decomposing 2-propanol (IP) in gas phase and salicylic acid (SA) in aqueous solution, whereas the bare BiOCl and $Bi_3O_4Cl$ showed negligible activities. It is deduced that the remarkable visible-light photocatalytic activity of the BiOCl/$Bi_3O_4Cl$ originates from the hole $(h^+)$ transfer between VB of the $Bi_3O_4Cl$ and BiOCl semiconductors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.2176-2182
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• 2013

A novel sol-gel method was implied to prepare CuO-doped ZnO nanoparticles. XRD and SEM techniques were used to characterize the CuO-doped ZnO sample. The photocatalytic degradation of Lidocaine HCl was investigated by two methods. The degradation was studied under different conditions such as the amount of photocatalyst, pH of the system, initial concentration, presence of electron acceptor, and presence of anions. The results showed that they strongly affected the photocatalytic degradation of Lidocaine HCl. The photodegradation efficiency of drug increased with the increase of the irradiation time. After 6 h irradiation with 400-W mercury lamp, about 93% removal of Lidocaine HCl was achieved. The degree of photodegradation obtained by Taguchi method compatible with the trial-and-error method showed reliable results.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.96-101
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• 2015

Quantitative evaluation of photocatalytic activity of oxide nanoparticles in aqueous solution is quite challenging in that the kinetic reaction rate is determined by a complicated interplay among various limiting factors such as light scattering and absorption, diffusion and adsorption of reactants in condensed liquid phase, photoexcited charge separation and recombination rate, and the exact nature of active sites determined by detailed morphology and crystallinity of nanocrystals. Here, we present our simple experimental results showing that the kinetic regime of a typical photocatalytic degradation experiment over UV-irradiated $TiO_2$ nanoparticles in aqueous solution is in that dominated by the photoactivity of $TiO_2$ and its concentration. This result lays a firm ground of using the measured kinetic reaction rate in evaluating photocatalytic efficiency of oxide nanocrystals under evaluation.