• Clean Technology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 2022

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized via alkaline hydrothermal treatment using commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles (P25). The TNTs were prepared at various TiO₂/NaOH ratios, hydrothermal temperatures, and hydrothermal times. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. TNTs were generated upon a decrease in the TiO₂/NaOH ratio due to the dissolution of TiO₂ in the alkaline solution and the generation of new Ti-O-Ti bonds to form titanate nanoplates and nanotubes. The hydrothermal treatment temperature and time were important factors for promoting the nucleation and growth of TNTs. The TNT catalyst with the largest surface area (389.32 m² g^-1) was obtained with a TiO₂/NaOH ratio of 0.25, a hydrothermal treatment temperature of 130 ℃, and a hydrothermal treatment time of 36 h. Additionally, we investigated the photocatalytic activity of methyl violet 2B (MV) over the TNT catalysts under UV irradiation and found that the degradation efficiencies of the TNTs were higher than that of P25. Among the TNT catalysts, the TNT catalyst that was hydrothermally synthesized for 36 h (TNT 36 h) exhibited a 96.9% degradation efficiency and a degradation rate constant that was 4.8 times higher than P25 due to its large surface area, which allowed for more contact between the MV molecules and TNT surfaces and facilitated rapid electron transfer. Finally, these results were correlated with the specific surface area.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.184-193
• /
• 2023

This study investigates the effects of a carbon fiber layer formed on the surface of an etched aluminum current collector on the electrochemical properties of the activated carbon electrodes for an electric double layer capacitor. A particle size analyzer, field-emission SEM, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm analyzer are employed to analyze the structure of the carbon fiber layer. The electric and electrochemical properties of the activated carbon electrodes using a carbon fiber layer are evaluated using an electrode resistance meter and a charge-discharge tester, respectively. To uniformly coat the surface with carbon fiber, we applied a planetary mill process, adjusted the particle size, and prepared the carbon paste by dispersing in a binder. Subsequently, the carbon paste was coated on the surface of the etched aluminum current collector to form the carbon under layer, after which an activated carbon slurry was coated to form the electrodes. Based on the results, the interface resistance of the EDLC cell made of the current collector with the carbon fiber layer was reduced compared to the cell using the pristine current collector. The interfacial resistance decreased from 0.0143 Ω·cm² to a maximum of 0.0077 Ω·cm². And degradation reactions of the activated carbon electrodes are suppressed in the 3.3 V floating test. We infer that it is because the improved electric network of the carbon fiber layer coated on the current collector surface enhanced the electron collection and interfacial diffusion while protecting the surface of the cathode etched aluminum; thereby suppressing the formation of Al-F compounds.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.544-552
• /
• 2006

Emission tests were carried out to investigate the characteristics of concentration according to flooring sort using small chamber method. The target Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) included 27 individual compounds of environmental concern, which were determined by adsorption sampling and thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS method and by DNPH cartridge/HPLC method. The emission factor of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) and Formaldehyde (HCHO) was detected $0.3mg/m^2{\cdot}h$ and $0.2mg/m^2{\cdot}h$ respectively, and the floorings of 37 (9 PVC Tile, 10 PVC Sheet, 18 Flooring) were satisfied emission standard. TVOC emission factor appeared in order of concentration of PVC Sheet, PVC Tile, and floor flooring, while HCHO was detected very high emission factor (as $0.4mg/m^2{\cdot}h$) at floor flooring above PVC series (as $0.001mg/m^2{\cdot}h$).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.204-208
• /
• 2012

Water repellency which affects infiltration, evaporation, erosion and other water transfer mechanisms through soil has been observed under several natural conditions. Water repellency is thought to be caused by hydrophobic organic compounds, which are present as coatings on soil particles or as an interstitial matter between soil particles. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of the water repellent soil and transport characteristics of trace elements within this soil. Capillary height of the water repellent soil was measured. Batch and column studies were accompanied to identify sorption and transport mechanism of trace elements such as $Cu^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$ and $Mo^{5+}$. Difference of sorption capacity between common and repellent soils was observed depended on the degree of repellency. In the column study, the desorption of trace elements and the spatial concentration distribution as a function of time were evaluated. The capillary height was in the repellency order of 0% > 15% > 40% > 70% > 100%. No water was absorbed in soil indicating >70% repellency. Using trace elements, $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mo^{5+}$ showed higher sorption capacity in the repellent soil than in non-repellent soil. The sorption performance of $Fe^{2+}$ was found to be in the repellency order of 40% > 15% > 0%. Our results found that transfer of $Mo^{5+}$ had similar sorption tendency in soils having 0%, 15% and 40% repellency at the beginning, however, the higher desorption capacity was observed as time passes in the repellent soil compared to in non-repellent soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 1977

In order to study the availability of soil P and applied P to rice plant under water-logged system, a pot experiment with five soils having different levels of available P (24, 64, 100, 144 and 231 ppm) under four levels of applied P (0, 30, 60 and 90 ppm) was conducted. The availability of P was measured in terms of plant performance and the behaviors of P in soils were studied through the fractionation of various forms of P and by measuring the adsorption and desorption characteristics. The results are summarized us following. 1. The rice plant responded to applied P in the soils containing less than 144 ppm of available P as measured by Lancaster's method in terms of number of tillers in early growth stages. However, when the response of rice plant to applied P was evaluated in terms of grain yield there was no response even in the soil containing 24 ppm of available P. 2. Applied P was fixed as Al-P at the early stages and converted into Fe-P at later stages. 3. The P adsorption maxima of soils measured by Langmuir's isotherm ranged from 70 to 100mg/100g. No relationships between the level of available P and P adsorption maxima were observed. 4. There was a trend that the higher the level of available P, the higher the release of water soluble p. 5. The reduction of soil increased the level of available P by the factor of 1.8 times of air dried soils.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.377-388
• /
• 2022

Laboratory-scale experiments were performed to identify the As removal mechanism of the residual slag generated after the mineral carbonation process. The residual slags were manufactured from the steelmaking slag (blast oxygen furnace slag: BOF) through direct and indirect carbonation process. RDBOF (residual BOF after the direct carbonation) and RIBOF (residual BOF after the indirect carbonation) showed different physicochemical-structural characteristics compared with raw BOF such as chemical-mineralogical properties, the pH level of leachate and forming micropores on the surface of the slag. In batch experiment, 0.1 g of residual slag was added to 10 mL of As-solution (initial concentration: 203.6 mg/L) titrated at various pH levels. The RDBOF showed 99.3% of As removal efficiency at initial pH 1, while it sharply decreased with the increase of initial pH. As the initial pH of solution decreased, the dissolution of carbonate minerals covering the surface was accelerated, increasing the exposed area of Fe-oxide and promoting the adsorption of As-oxyanions on the RDBOF surface. Whereas, the As removal efficiency of RIBOF increased with the increase of initial pH levels, and it reached up to 70% at initial pH 10. Considering the PZC (point of zero charge) of the RIBOF (pH 4.5), it was hardly expected that the electrical adsorption of As-oxyanion on surface of the RIBOF at initial pH of 4-10. Nevertheless it was observed that As-oxyanion was linked to the Fe-oxide on the RIBOF surface by the cation bridge effect of divalent cations such as Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Fe²⁺. The surface of RIBOF became stronger negatively charged, the cation bridge effect was more strictly enforced, and more As can be fixed on the RIBOF surface. However, the Ca-products start to precipitate on the surface at pH 10-11 or higher and they even prevent the surface adsorption of As-oxyanion by Fe-oxide. The TCLP test was performed to evaluate the stability of As fixed on the surface of the residual slag after the batch experiment. Results supported that RDBOF and RIBOF firmly fixed As over the wide pH levels, by considering their As desorption rate of less than 2%. From the results of this study, it was proved that both residual slags can be used as an eco-friendly and low-cost As remover with high As removal efficiency and high stability and they also overcome the pH increase in solution, which is the disadvantage of existing steelmaking slag as an As remover.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.418-425
• /
• 2013

The catalytic conversion of ethanol to aromatic compounds ETA was studied over ZSM-5 heterogeneous catalysts. The effect of reaction temperature, weight hourly space velocity (WHSV), and addition of water and methanol, which are the potential impurities of bio-ethanol, on the catalytic performance was investigated in a fixed bed reactor. Commercial ZSM-5 catalysts having different Si/$Al_2$ ratios of 23 to 280 and modified ZSM-5 catalysts by addition of metal (Zn, La, Cu, and Ga) were used for the activity and stability tests in ETA reaction. The catalysts were characterized with ammonia temperature programmed desorption ($NH_3$-TPD) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. The results of catalytic performance revealed that the optimal Si/$Al_2$ ratio of ZSM-5 is about 50~80 and the selectivity to aromatic compounds decreases in the order of Zn/La > Zn > La > Cu > Ga for the modified ZSM-5 catalysts. Among these catalysts from the ETA reaction, Zn-La/ZSM-5 showed the best catalytic performance for the ETA reaction. The selectivity to aromatic compounds was 72% initially and 56% after 30 h over the catalysts at reaction temperature of $437^{\circ}C$ and WHSV of $0.8h^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2023

Hydrogen, a clean energy source free of COx emissions, is poised to replace fossil fuels, with its usage on the rise. Despite its high energy content per unit mass, hydrogen faces limitations in storage and transportation due to its low storage density and challenges in long-term storage. In contrast, ammonia offers a high storage capacity per unit volume and is relatively easy to liquefy, making it an attractive option for storing and transporting large volumes of hydrogen. While NH₃ decomposition is an endothermic reaction, achieving excellent low-temperature catalytic activity is essential for process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The study examined the effects of different zeolite types (5A, NaY, ZSM5) on NH₃ decomposition activity, considering differences in pore structure, cations, and Si/Al-ratio. Notably, the 5A zeolite facilitated the high dispersion of Ni across the surface, inside pores, and within the structure. Its low Si/Al ratio contributed to abundant acidity, enhancing ammonia adsorption. Additionally, the presence of Na and Ca cations in the support created medium basic sites that improved N₂ desorption rates. As a result, among the prepared catalysts, the 15 wt%Ni/5A catalyst exhibited the highest NH₃ conversion and a high H₂ formation rate of 23.5 mmol/g_cat·min (30,000 mL/g_cat·h, 600 ℃). This performance was attributed to the strong metal-support interaction and the enhancement of N₂ desorption rates through the presence of medium basic sites.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.86-93
• /
• 2014

Mesoporous tin oxide (meso-$SnO_2$) with 5 nm mesopore and well-aligned $SnO_2$ nanowire-bundles with 5~7 nm diameters were prepared by template synthesis method. In addition to meso-$SnO_2$, meso-$SnO_2$/$SiO_2$, which has almost the same structure as meso-$SnO_2$ including $SiO_2$ used as the template were prepared by the modification of template synthesis. X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, transmission electron microscopy observed structures of meso-$SnO_2$ and meso-$SnO_2$/$SiO_2$. Although the meso-$SnO_2$/$SiO_2$ showed some positive evidences to suppress the volume change of meso-$SnO_2$ through cyclic voltammogram, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and voltage profiles during cycling, its cycle life was not improved highly to address modified structural effects. Thus, further study might be done to control the nanostructure of meso-$SnO_2$/$SiO_2$ for enhanced cycle performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.925-937
• /
• 1996

Three types of mordenites treated by steaming($SM_{6.5}$), HF solution for $SM_{6.5}(FM_a)$ and HF solutlon+steaming for $SM_{6.5}(FM_b)$ were prepared and used as cracking catalysts of vacuum gas oil. These samples were analysed by XRF and XPS for average and surface Si/Al atomic ratio, XRD for unit cell constants, nitrogen adsorption/desorption for porosity, pyridine-IR for acidic properties. In comparison with three type samples, $SM_{6.5}$ had a lot of acid amount and showed micropore volume mostly(>85% to total volume). Dealuminated $FM_a$, compared with $SM_{6.5}$, was decreased a little in acid amount and improved for porosity. Also, $FM_b$ was decreased further in acid amount and developed in mesopore dramatically. The catalytic activity and the yield of gasoline, kerosine+diesel and branched aromatic over the modified mordenites which have developed mesopore were improved. This is due to limited access of diffusion of large molecules within pore of the modified mordenites.