• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1319-1330
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• 2000

Activated carbons prepared by chemical activation of organic waste sludges with $ZnCl_2$ and $K_2S$ have been studied in terms of their pore development and adsorptivity. Pore development of the carbons prepared from organic waste sludges was characterized by the nitrogen adsorption at 77K. The $ZnCl_2$-activated carbon produced by chemical activation with zinc chloride exhibited type I isotherm characteristics according to the BDDT classification, suggesting the presence of micropores formed by activation process. The isotherms of the commercial powdered activated carbon and $K_2S$-activated carbon reveal a hysteresis similar to that of type IV in BDDT classification, indicating the formation of mesopores. This result implies that the major pores of $K_2S$-activated carbon are composed of meso and micropores, and a macropores are minor. The adsorptive capacities of metal on the $K_2S$-activated carbon prepared from organic waste sludges were found to be superior to those on a commercial granular activated carbon. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms yield a fairly good fit to the adsorption data, indicating a monolayer adsorption of metals onto $K_2S$-activated carbon. The adsorptive capacity of the $K_2S$-activated carbon was superior to $ZnCl_2$-activated carbon for $PO_4$-P, and vice versa for $NO_3$-N. From the results of the studies reported here, it can be concluded that activated carbons with adsorptivity superior to commercial granular activated carbons can be produced from organic waste sludge using a two-step carbonization/activation procedure with zinc chloride or potassium sulfide as the activating agents.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2015

In this study, the adsorption efficiency of mixed heavy metals in aqueous solution was investigated using modified activated carbon. Moreover, the heavy-metal stabilization treatment of contaminated marine sediment was achieved using modified activated carbon as stabilizing agents. From the experimental results, it was shown that the adsorption equilibrium was attained after 120 mins. Heavy metal adsorption was characterized using Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted well to the Langmuir model in modified activated carbon. The adsorption uptake of $As^{3+}$ (28.47 mg/g) was higher than $Cr^{6+}$ (13.28 mg/g). In case of the $Cr^{6+}$, the results showed that adsorption uptake decreased with increasing pH from 6 to 10. However, adsorption of $As^{3+}$ slightly increased in the increasing change of pH. The modified activated carbon was applied for a wet-curing duration of 120 days. From the sequential extraction results, the exchangeable, carbonate, and oxides fractions of Cr and As in sediment decreased by 5.8% and 7.6%, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 2009

In this study, the characteristics of granular activated carbon (GAC) supported metal was investigated in an area influenced by flame discharge and temperature variation during irradiating microwave. The modified GAC was formulated by impregnating metal hydroxides of nickel (Ni/GAC), barium (Ba/GAC), copper (Cu/GAC), zinc (Zn/GAC), cobalt (Co/GAC) and lanthanum (La/GAC). Ba/GAC was selected as it showed lack of spark discharge and temperature increasing aspects. Comparison of adsorption and desorption amount of GAC and Ba/GAC showed that adsorption and desorption rate of the GAC were higher than those of Ba/GAC. The results show that the presence of barium can decrease adsorption/desorption rate because of plugging pore of GAC. Toluene regeneration rate of Ba/GAC was better than that of GAC due to barium loading. Finally, GAC with barium can be controled a rapid increasing temperature and spark discharge, increased the regeneration rate of toluene during desorption by irradiating microwave.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.472-478
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• 2023

In this study, the acetaldehyde removal characteristics of activated carbon (AC) for air purifier filters were investigated using metal catalysts-impregnation and functional group-modification method. The AC with a high specific surface area(1700 m²/g) and micropores was prepared by KOH activation of coconut charcoal and the efficiency of catalyst and functional group immobilization was examined by varying the drying conditions within the pores after immersion. The physical properties of the prepared activated carbon were analyzed by BET, ICP, EA, and FT-IR, and the acetaldehyde adsorption performances were investigated using gas chromatography (GC) at various impregnation and modified conditions. As the concentration of impregnation solution increased, the amount of impregnated metal catalysts increased, while the specific surface area showed a decreasing trend. The adsorption tests of the metal catalyst-impregnated and functional group-modified activated carbons revealed that excellent adsorption performance in compositions MgO10@AC, CaO10@AC, EU10@AC, and H-U3N1@AC, respectively. The MgO10@AC, which showed the highest adsorption performance, had a breakthrough time of 533.8 minutes and adsorption capacity of 57.4 mg/g for acetaldehyde adsorption. It was found that the nano-sized MgO catalyst on the activated carbon improved the adsorption performance by interacting with carbonyl groups of acetaldehyde.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to gain basic information on the characteristics of $CO_2$ adsorption in relation to $Na_2CO_3$, $K_2CO_3$, $Li_2CO_3$-impregnated activated carbon in a Fixed Bed Reactor. From the results of this study the following conclusions were made: $Na_2CO_3$, $K_2CO_3$, $Li_2CO_3$-impregnated activated carbon had a longer breakthrough time and more enhanced adsorption capacity than activated carbon alone. When tested with isothermal adsorption and tested for $CO_2$ adsorption the amount of $CO_2$ adsorbed varied with temperature, $CO_2$ inlet concentration, gas flow rate, aspect ratio, etc. Based on the results, when Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Polanyi adsorption isotherms were used for linear regression of isothermal adsorption data, Langmuir adsorption isotherm was the most suitable. And, the optimum condition for $Na_2CO_3$ and $K_2CO_3$ impregnated activated carbon make-up was 1N and $Li_2CO_3$ was 0.1N. It could be concluded that adsorption capacity was decreased with adsorption temperature and increased gas concentration. When the aspect ratio (L/D) was varied 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, the significant drop of adsorption amount was observed below 1.0 and breakthrough time was shortened with gas flow rate.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.364-377
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• 2017

In this study, to improve the low surface area of domestic anthracite as raw materials of activated carbon, characteristics on chemical activation and VOCs adsorption of activated carbon according to mixing ratio of anthracite and lignite. For these, properties of raw materials, parameter characteristics of preparation processes for activated carbon, and VOCs adsorption characteristic of the prepared activated carbon are analyzed. The experimental results showed that, the domestic anthracite had disadvantages of high contents for ash and lead, arsenic, which were exceeded for the heavy metal limits, in the properties of raw materials. To improve these diadvantages, using the mixing ratio of anthracite and lignite, and the optimum conditions for pretreatment, activation, washing, and pellitization process, the activated carbon had a range of BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area of $1,154{\sim}1,420m^2g^{-1}$ with mesopore development and hydrophobic surface property. The carbons were satisfied with the quality standard for granular activated carbon, and had similar physicochemical properties with the commercial activated carbon. The minimum mixing condition for commercial VOCs activated carbon performance must have the caloric value of above $5,640kcal\;kg^{-1}$, and the carbon had higher adsorption capacity with order of xylene > toluene > benzene according to more higher molcular weight and hydrophobic property.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Most of the herb residue producing from oriental medical clinics(OMC) and hospitals(OMH) is wasted in Korea. To develop of adsorbent for removing heavy metal from wastewater, the various pre-treatment methods of the herb residue were evaluated by potentiometric titration, Freundlich isotherm adsorption test and the kinetic adsorption test. The herb residue was pre-treated for increasing the adsorption capacity by cleaning with distilled water, 0.1 N HCl and 0.1 N NaOH and by heating at $370^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. It showed a typical weak acid-weak base titration curve and a short pH break like commercial activated carbon during photentiometric titration of pre-treated herb residue. The log-log plots in the Freundlich isotherm test were linear on the herb residue pre-treated with NaOH or HCl like commercial activated carbon. The adsorption capacity(qe) in the Freundlich isotherm test for $Cr^{6+}$ was 1.5 times higher in the pre-treated herb residue with HCl than in activated carbon. On the other hand the herb residue pre-treated with NaOH showed the good adsorption capacities for $Pb^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$ even though those adsorption capacities were lower than that of activated carbon. In kinetic test, most of heavy metals removed within the first 10 min of contact and then approached to equilibrium with increasing contact time. The removal rate of heavy metals increased with an increase of the amount of adsorbent. Likewise, the removal rates of heavy metals were higher in the herb residue pre-treated with NaOH than in that pre-treated with HCl. The adsorption preference of herb residues pre-treated with NaOH or HCl was $Pb^{2+}>Cu^{2+}$ or $Cd^{2+}>Cr^{6+}$ in the order. Conclusively, the herb residue can be used as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals depending on pr-treatment methods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of membrane fouling caused by soluble organic materials in a membrane bioreactor process. For the removal of filterable organic materials (FOC) smaller than $1{\mu}m$, coagulants and activated carbon were added. A membrane bioreactor using a submerged $17{\mu}m$ metal sieve was operated in laboratory scale to examine the possibility of membrane fouling control. As the dosage of GAC and coagulant increased, the residual FOC concentration decreased and the permeate flow rate increased markedly. The permeate flux increased with an increased PACl addition at the range from 0 to 50 mg/l. At coagulant dosage of 27mg/l, the removal of FOC was about 46% and the flux increased to 3.5 times compared to the case without PACl addition. The permeate flux increased gradually with an increase in GAC dosage. At GAC dosage of 50mg/L, the permeate flux was about 2 times higher compared that for raw water. The particle in the range of $0.1{\sim}1.0{\mu}m$ were removed effectively by the addition of GAC and coagulant. Higher osage of GAC and coagulant, led to higher removal of FOC. A different set of experiments was also performed to investigate the effect of pretreatment on the permeation ability of MBR system using the metal sieve membrane. After 40 hours of operation, the permeate flux was about 1,000 ($L/m^2-hr$), which is 20 times higher compared to the results in literature. It is likely that combined pretreatment using coagulant and activated carbon was the most effective to resolve membrane fouling problems. Moreover, the continuous operations could be successful by applying this pretreatment method.

• Carbon letters
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• v.26
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Biochar obtained from the thermal conversion of biomass has high potential as a substitute material for activated carbon and other carbon-based materials because it is economical, environmentally friendly, and carbon-neutral. The physicochemical properties of biochar can also be controlled by a range of activation methods such as physical, chemical, and hydrothermal treatments. Activated biochar can be used as a catalyst for the catalytic pyrolysis of a biomass and as an absorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions and atmospheric pollutants. The applications of biochar are also expanding not only as a key component in producing energy storage materials, such as supercapacitors, lithium ion batteries, and fuel cells, but also in carbon capture and storage. This paper reviews the recent progress on the activation of biochar and its diverse present and future applications.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2008

Pitch-binded activated carbon fiber(ACF)/$TiO_2$ composite photocatalysts were prepared by Carbon Tetra Chloride (CTC) solvent mixing method with different mixing ratios of anatase to ACF. The result of the textural surface properties demonstrated that there is a slight increase in the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area of composites with an increase of the amount of ACF. The surfaces structure morphologies of the composites were observed using an Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In the XRD patterns for all ACF/$TiO_2$ composites, the diffraction peaks showed the formation of anatase crystallites. The EDX spectra showed the presence of C, O and Si with strong Ti peaks. Most of these samples were richer in carbon and major Ti metal than any other elements. From the photo-decomposition results, the excellent activity of the ACF/$TiO_2$ composites between c/$c_0$ for methylene blue and UV irradiation time could be attributed to both the effects of the photocatalysis of the supported $TiO_2$ and adsorptivity of activated carbon fiber and another carbon derived from pitch.