• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.646-653
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• 2019

Recovery of valuable metals in the industrial wastewater and sludge has attracted an attention owing to limited metallic resources in the earth. In this study, we firstly fabricated Ti/Ir-Ru electrodes by spin coating technique for effective recovery of Cu in electrowinning process. Two different Ti/Ir-Ru electrodes were fabricated using 100 and 500 mM of precursors (i.e., Ir-Ru). SEM-EDX and AFM revealed that Ir and Ru were homogenously distributed on the surface of Ti plate by the spin coating, in particular the electrode prepared by 500 mM showed distinct boundary line between Ir-Ru layer and Ti substrate. XRD, XPS, and cyclic voltammetry also revealed that characteristics of IrO₂, RuO₂, and TiO₂ and its electrocatalytic property increased as the concentration of coating precursor increased. Finally, we carried out Cu recovery experiments using two Ti/Ir-Ru as anodes in electrowinning process, showing that both anodes showed a complete removal of Cu (1 and 10 g/L) within 6 h reaction, but much higher kinetic rate constant was obtained by the anode prepared by 500 mM. The findings in this study can provide a fundamental knowledge for surface characteristics of Ti/Ir-Ru electrode prepared by spin coating method and its potential feasibility for effective electrowinning process.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.84-87
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• 2014

Separation/recovery of valuable metals such as zinc, nickel or tin from copper alloy dross has recently attracted from the viewpoints of environmental protection and resource recycling. In this study, preliminary investigation on separation of tin (Sn) from copper alloy dross using selective dissolution method was performed. The tin in the copper alloy dross did not dissolve in an aqueous nitric acid solution which could allow the concentration/separation of tin from the copper alloy dross. Precipitation of tin as $H_2SnO_3$ (meta stannic acid)occurred in the solution and transformed to tin dioxide ($SnO_2$) after drying process. The dried sample was heat-treated at low temperature and its crystal structure, surface morphology and chemical composition were investigated.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1999

Studies have been conducted for the purpose of using manganese nodule and residue remained after extracting valuable metals [mm it as the adsorbent of cadmium wastewater. The study observed the adsorption percentage according to initial cadmium concentration and interpreted each adsorption systems by applying the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin isotherms. The adsorption amounts increased as the initial concentration at cadmium ion increased, whereas the adsorption percentage decreased. Linearity was shown when applied to the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The k value which evaluates the adsorption capacity of adsorbent in Freundlich isotherm, turned out to be 11.72, the highest in case of manganese nodule. The Xm value, the maximum adsorption amount of the adsorbate that adsorbs as a monolayer in Langmuir isotherm of manganese nodule, was estimated as 0.16, representing higher value compared with those of leached residue, leached residue-raw manganese nodule mixture, and activated carbon.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.22-32
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• 2013

Glass materials possess unique functional characteristics of ceramics different from those of metals, which has marked glass as one of the mainstay materials in the history of mankind. Nowadays, industrial sophistication necessitates comparable "smart" attributes of glass materials as a significantly advanced form of sophistication. Smart glasses are increasingly applied in many state-of-the-art digital appliances such as displays and semiconductors and waste is also expected to accumulate therefrom in the near future: More than 60,000 tons of smart glass wastes were reported as of 2012, for example. In the present paper, current status of domestic Korean smart glass industry and related recycling enterprise have been comprehensively investigated. Finally, Korean domestic smart glass recycling technology and its future prospect are also briefly presented.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2019

Lifetime of Si photovoltaics modules are about 25 years and a large amount of waste modules are expected to be discharged in the near future. Therefore, the extraction and collection of valuable metals out of discharged Si modules will be one of the important technologies. In this study, we demonstrated that supercritical $CO_2$ extraction method can be effectively used to remove Cu, one of the abundant elements in the module, as well as its oxide form, $Cu_2O$. Especially, we proved that the addition of hexane as co-solvent is effective for the removal of both materials. The optimal ratio of $CO_2$ and hexane was 4:1 at a fixed temperature and pressure of $250^{\circ}C$ and 250 bar, respectively. In addition, it was proven that the removal of $Cu_2O$ was preceded via reduction of $Cu_2O$ to Cu.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.91-106
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• 2019

The demand for lithium has increased sharply due to the explosive increase in lithium secondary batteries for environment-friendly vehicles (EV: Electric Vehicle, HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle, PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). Traditionally, lithium has been produced mainly from lithium-containing minerals and brine, and recently it also has been recovered along with other valuable metals by recycling cathode materials of lithium secondary batteries. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed various recovering precesses of lithium from lithium-containing substances.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2023

As the demand for lithium-ion batteries, a key power source in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, continues to increase for achieving global carbon neutrality, there is a growing concern about the environmental impact of disposing of spent batteries. Extensive research is underway to develop efficient recycling methods. While hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy methods are commonly used to recover valuable metals from spent cathode materials, they have drawbacks including hazardous waste and complex processes. Hence, alternative recycling methods that are environmentally friendly are being explored. However, recycling spent cathode materials still remains complex and energy-intensive. This study focuses on a novel approach called solid-state synthesis, which aims at regenerating the performance of spent cathode materials. The method offers a simpler process and reduces energy consumption. Optimal heat treatment conditions were identified based on experimental results, contributing to the development of sustainable recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2024

As the demand for lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles is increasing, it is important to recover valuable metals from waste lithium-ion batteries. In this study, the effects of gas flow rate and hydrogen partial pressure on hydrogen reduction of NCM-based lithium-ion battery cathode materials were investigated. As the gas flow rate and hydrogen partial pressure increased, the weight loss rate increased significantly from the beginning of the reaction due to the reduction of NiO and CoO by hydrogen. At 700 ℃ and hydrogen partial pressure above 0.5 atm, Ni and Li₂O were produced by hydrogen reduction. From the reduction product and Li recovery rate, the hydrogen reduction of NCM-based cathode materials was significantly affected by hydrogen partial pressure. The Li compounds recovered from the solution after water leaching of the reduction products were LiOH, LiOH·H₂O, and Li₂CO₃, with about 0.02 wt% Al as an impurity.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

With industrial development, the inevitable increase in both organic and inorganic waste necessitates the exploration of waste treatment and utilization methods. This study focuses on co-pyrolyzing lignin and red mud to generate metalbiochar, aiming to demonstrate their potential as effective adsorbents for water pollutant removal. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed mass loss of lignin below 660℃, with additional mass loss occurring (>660℃) due to the phase change of metals (i.e., Fe) in red mud. Characterization of the metal-biochar indicated porous structure embedded with zero-valent iron/magnetite and specific functional groups. The adsorption experiments with 2,4-dichlorophenol and Cd(II) revealed the removal efficiency of the two pollutants reached its maximum at the initial pH of 2.8. These findings suggest that copyrolysis of lignin and red mud can transform waste into valuable materials, serving as effective adsorbents for diverse water pollutants.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2013

Although Korean domestic production of flat panel displays totalled more than 48 trillion KRW in 2007, most of the flat panel display wastes have been land-filled or incinerated, which greatly overshadows Korean national prestige as a world leading producer and developer of flat panel display devices. Countries such as Japan or EU possess quite limited land-fill capability and have sought ways to dispose of WEEEs from environment-friendly perspective rather than recovery of valuable materials from the wastes. Considering relatively short cycle of about 5 years for flat panel display devices, it is estimated that more than 5 million units will be accumulated as wastes by 2015. Urban mining is a most suitable countermeasures against China's monopoly of rare and rare earth metals, which are contained in flat panel display wastes. Therefore, materials recycling of waste LCD units has to be developed and commercialized soon enough for economic and environment-friendly recovery of valuable resources hidden in LCD wastes.