• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1262-1267
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• 2008

Reductive discolorization studies were conducted. Azo-dyes usually have biological toxicity and it is known that the dyes are hardly removed by biological treatments. One of the simplest way to remove the color is to break the azo-bond and it is possible to break the bond with zero-valent metals. Three types of azo-dyes (Cibacron Briliant Yellow 3G-P (CBY3G-P), Benzopurpurin 4b (B-4B), Chicago sky blue 6b (CSB6B)) were tested. All tested azo-dyes were highly pH dependent and lower pH was preferred. The reaction mechanism was reductive cleavage and amines were expected as products. The dissolved iron ions from zero-valent iron can also remove the color through coagulation and precipitation and a set of experiments were conducted to evaluate the contribution by the dissolved iron. The results indicated that the contribution were also dependent on the type of dyes. This study showed that the reductive cleavage using zero-valent iron could be an alternative for the azo-dye waste water.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2011

In this study, for recovery of renewable noble metal from used stack of fuel cell, synthesis of platinum nano particle is established through effect of platinum solution concentration, pH value, reducing agent and dispersing agent at a volume ratio of 1 mM $H_2PtCl_6$:10 mM $NaBH_4$:8 mM Cl4TABr = 1:0.4:0.4(vol.%), pH4, $50^{\circ}C$, 160 rpm and 10min. Less than 5 nm platinum particles were synthesized using Pt leaching solution from used MEA of stack under same condition of method using simulated Pt solution. The characteristics of synthesized nano particles was illustrated by XPS analysis as the reduction of platinum ions into platinum metals(zero-valent).

• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

Porous pellets for immobilizing heavy metals were manufactured from coal tailings and iron oxide powder. Coal tailings was pulverized and mixed with iron oxide powder. The mixed powder was granulated into spherical pellets and roasted. Over $1100^{\circ}C$, residual coal in coal tailings reduced iron oxide to ZVI(Zero-Valent Iron). The pellets have 34.63% of porosity, 1.31 g/mL of bulk density, and 9.82.urn median pore diameter. The pellets were reacted with synthetic solutions containing each heavy metals: arsenic(V), copper(II), chrome(VI), and cadmium(II), respectively. On the test of immobilizing heavy metal, the pellets made at $1100^{\circ}C$ were superior to the other pellets made under $1000^{\circ}C$. Immobilizing over 99.9% of 10ppm heavy metal solutions required I hour for arsenic, 2 hours for chrome, and 4 hours for copper. However, immobilizing capacity of cadmium was inferior to that of the other metals and it was decreased in reversely proportion to initial concentration of the solutions.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.165-173
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• 2005

Nano-sized iron particles were synthesized by reduction of $Fe^{3+}$ in aqueous solution under two reaction conditions, aerobic and anaerobic, and the reactivity of iron was tested by reaction with trichloroethene (TCE) using a batch system. Results showed that iron produced under anoxic condition for both synthesis and drying steps gave rise to iron with higher reduction reactivity, indicating the presence of oxygen is not favorable for production of nano-sized iron deemed to accomplish reactivity enhancement from particle sized reduction. Nano-sized iron sample obtained from the anoxic synthesis condition was further characterized using various instrumental measurements to identity particle morphology, composition, surface area, and particle size distribution. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image showed that synthesized particles were uniform, spherical particles (< 100 nm), and aggregated into various chain structures. The effects of other synthesis conditions such as solution pH, initial $Fe^{3+}$ concentration, and reductant injection rate on the reactivity of nano-sized iron, along with standardization of the synthesis protocol, are presented in the companion paper.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.174-180
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• 2005

Nano-sized iron was synthesized using borohydride reduction of $Fe^{3+}$ in aqueous solution. A wide range of synthesis conditions including varying concentrations of reagents, reagent feeding rate, and solution pH was applied in an aqueous system under anaerobic condition. The reactivity of nano-sized iron from each synthesis was evaluated by reacting the iron with TCE in batch systems. Evidence obtained from this study suggest the reactivity of iron is strongly dependent on the synthesis solution pH. The iron reactivity increased as solution pH decreased. More rapid TCE reduction was observed for iron samples synthesized from higher initial $Fe^{3+}$ concentration, which resulted in lower solution pH during the synthesis reaction. Faster feeding of $BH_4^-$ solution to the $Fe^{3+}$ solution resulted in lower synthesis solution pH and the resultant iron samples gave higher TCE reduction rate. Lowering the pH of the solution after completion of the synthesis reaction significantly increased reactivity of iron. It is presumed that the increase in the reactivity of iron synthesized at lower pH is due to less precipitation of iron (hydr)oxides or less surface passivation of iron.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Cultivation area using agricultural plastic film facilities in Korea is rapidly increasing every year; however, it accelerates the salt accumulation in soils due to repeated cultivation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Coal ash contains various trace elements and has high potential to be used in agricultural purposes. This research was aimed to improve the quality of salts-accumulated soils and crop growth grown in the plastic film facilities using the soil amendment derived from coal ash and zero-valent iron powder. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soil amendment used in the study was manufactured using coal ash with iron powder and subjected to a typical upland soil for soil quality enhancement and two salts-accumulated soils for crop growth. After one month incubation of the salts-accumulated soils treated with the soil amendment, soil pH increased significantly and soil EC decreased by approximately 50%, compared to the control or the treatment without the soil amendment. Since the soil salts' concentration is proportional to EC, the subjected soil amendment can be proposed as an effective way to overcome soil salts accumulation in agricultural plastic film facilities. For crop growth, the length of roots and stems increased by approximately 10% and the dry weight also increased by a maximum of 75%, compared to the control. CONCLUSION: The soil amendment made from waste resources such as coal ash and zero-valent iron was found to not only be effective in improving salt-accumulated soils and crop yield but also be safe against harmful heavy metals.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2009

This study concerned remediation of heavy metal contaminated farmland soils near abandoned mine, using stabilization method, with particular emphasis on the remediating the soils contaminated with multi-elements. In this study, stabilizing heavy metals based on 'In-situ chemical fixation' has been applied to the soil collected from an abandoned mine in Korea, using column test, with various stabilizing agents, including $FeSO_4$, $KMnO_4$, sludge (collected from coal mine drainage treatment pond), zero-valent iron (ZVI), zeolite and $CaCO_3$. Sixty five-days operation of the flow-through columns yield $FeSO_4\;+\;KMnO_4$ and zeolite are efficient on reducing As leaching from the soil. ZVI and sludge are reducing the leaching of Cu. Although $FeSO_4\;+\;KMnO_4$ seem to be efficient for most heavy metals, high pH in the initial stage of test enabled high leaching of the heavy metals, whereas fixation of the heavy metals maintain throughout the rest of the test period, with increasing pH up to around 6. Addition of some alkaline agent may inhibit the low pH during the application. The column test was also run as two set: one set incubated with deionized water for 72 hours prior to starting the test, and the other without incubation. The incubated set demonstrated better stabilizing efficiency, indicating the potential optimized operation method.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.712-722
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• 2007

This study screened three natural ores (iron, mangenase, and zinc), two types of slags, and two elemental metals (elemental iron and zinc) to evaluate transformation characteristics of CAH mixtures [e.g. Carbontetrachloride (CT), 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), and Perchloroethene (PCE)]. To select an effective metal medium to treat the CAH mixtures, we measured transformation capacities (CAH mass ultimately transformed/mass of metal added) and the degree of dechlorination. We also considered economical efficiency of the metal media by comparing the value, CAH mass ultimately transformed divided by the price of metal medium added. A simplified mathematical model adapting CAH transformation capacity, first-order transformation kinetics, and available mass of metal transforming CAH was developed and used for estimating CAH transformation rate coefficient and longevity of the metal medium. CAH transformation capacity for elemental iron and elemental zinc were 4258~7129 and $4215{\sim}6330{\mu}g\;CAH\;transformed/g$ metal added, respectively, which are a factor of 80~200 higher than slags and natural ores. They also showed a factor of 1.1 to 2.2 greater degree of dechlorination than the others. Among natural ores and slags, Zinc ore showed the highest transformation capacity, $47{\sim}53{\mu}g\;CAH\;transformed/g$ metal added. Although zinc ore have smaller transformation capacity than elemental metals, economical efficiency of zinc ore is a factor of 10~20 greater than elemental metals tested. Consequently, zinc ore would be more economical medium than the others tested in this study. We estimated the pseudo first-order transformation rate of zinc ore was in the order of CT > 1,1,1-TCA > PCE.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2008

Current soil remediation principles for toxic metals have some limitations even though they vary with different technologies. An alternative technology that transforms hazardous substances into nonhazardous ones would be environmentally beneficial. Objective of this research was to assess optimum conditions for Cr(VI) reduction in soils as influenced by ZVI(Zero-Valent Iron), organic matter and moisture content. The reduction ratio of Cr(VI) was increased from 37 to 40% as organic matter content increased from 1.07 to 1.75%. In addition, Cr(VI) concentration was reduced as soil moisture content increased, but the direct effect of soil moisture content on Cr(VI) reduction was less than 5% of the Cr(VI) reduction ratio. However, combined treatment of ZVI(5%), organic matter(1.75%) and soil moisture(30%) effectively reduced the initial Cr(VI) to over 95% within 5 days and nearly 100% after 30 days by increasing oxidation of ZVI and concurrent reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The overall results demonstrated that ZVI was effective in remediating Cr(VI) contaminated soils, and the efficiency was synergistic with the combined treatments of soil moisture and organic matter.