• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 2012

In this study, the production of bio-diesel from animal oil by esterification and trans-esterification was investigated. There were three different extraction methods for oil extraction from raw animal fat. Heterogeneous catalysts such as Amberlyst-15 and Amberlyst BD-20 and a homogeneous catalyst such as sulfuric acid were used for esterification. Among three catalysts, the removal efficiency of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) was the highest in sulfuric acid. Response surface method was carried out to find the optimal esterification condition of sulfuric acid and methanol. After the esterification under the optimal condition, this animal fat was used for the trans-esterification. Animal oil used for trans-esterification was below 1% of FFA content and 0.09% of water content. The catalysts for trans-esterification were KOH, NaOH and $NaOCH_3$. To investigate the effects of catalyst type and amount on trans-esterification, The amount of catalyst were changed with 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt%. The molar ratio of methanol/oil was changed with 4, 6, 9 and 12. The amount of catalyst was fixed to 0.8 wt%. The KOH catalyst showed the highest FAME conversion for trans- esterification, and the optimal methanol/oil weight ratio was 6. In the experiments of various catalysts and methanol molar ratios, the highest content of FAME is 96%. However, this FAME content was below Korean bio-diesel standard which is 96.5% of FAME content. After distillation, FAME content increased to 98%.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2006

Single and complex metal oxide catalysts supported onto a commercial DT51D $TiO_2$ have been investigated for gas-phase TCE oxidation in a continuous flow type fixed-bed reaction system to develop a better design approach to catalysts for this reaction. Among the $TiO_2$-supported single metal oxides used, i.e., $CrO_x,\;FeO_x,\;MnO_x,\;LaO_x,\;CoO_x,\;NiO_x,\;CeO_x\;and\;CuO_x$, with the respective metal contents of 5 wt.%, the $CrO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst was shown to be most active for the oxidative TCE decomposition, depending significantly on amounts of $CrO_x\;on\;TiO_2$. The use of high $CrO_x$ loadings greater than 10 wt.% caused lower activity in the catalytic TCE oxidation, which is probably due to production of $Cr_2O_3$ crystallites on the surface of $TiO_2$. $CrO_x/TiO_2$-supported $CrO_x$-based bimetallic oxide catalysts were of particular interest in removal efficiency for this TCE oxidation reaction at reaction temperatures above $200^{\circ}C$, compared to that obtained with $CrO_x$-free complex metal oxides and a 10 wt.% $CrO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst. Catalytic activity of 5 wt.% $CrO_x-5$ wt.% $LaO_x$ in the removal reaction was similar to or slightly higher than that acquired for the $CrO_x$-only catalyst. Similar observation was revealed for 5 wt.% $CrO_x$-based bimetallic oxides consisting of either 5 wt.% $MnO_x,\;CoO_x,\;NiO_x\;or\;FeO_x$. These results represent that such $CrO_x$-based bimetallic systems for the catalytic TCE oxidation on significantly minimize the usage of $CrO_x$ that is well known to be one of very toxic heavy metals, and offer a very useful technique to design new type catalysts for reducing chlorinated volatile organic substances.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.220-228
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• 2018

The internal resistance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) using stainless steel skein for oxidizing electrode was investigated and the factors affecting the voltage generation were identified. We also investigated the effect of power management system (PMS) on the usability for MFC and the removal efficiency of organic pollutants. The performance of a stack microbial fuel cell connected with (PMS) or PMS+LED was analyzed by the voltage generation and organic matter reduction. The maximum power density of the unit cells was found to be $5.82W/m^3$ at $200{\Omega}$. The maximum current density was $47.53A/m^3$ without power overshoot even under $1{\Omega}$. The ohmic resistance ($R_s$) and the charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) of the oxidation electrode using stainless steel skein electrode, were $0.56{\Omega}$ and $0.02{\Omega}$, respectively. However, the sum of internal resistance for reduction electrode using graphite felts loaded Pt/C catalyst was $6.64{\Omega}$. Also, in order to understand the internal resistance, the current interruption method was used by changing the external resistance as $50{\Omega}$, $300{\Omega}$, $5k{\Omega}$. It has been shown that the ohm resistance ($R_s$) decreased with the external resistance. In the case of a series-connected microbial fuel cell, the reversal phenomenon occurred even though two cells having the similar performance. However, the output of the PMS constantly remained for 20 hours even when voltage reversal occurred. Also the removal ability of organic pollutants (SCOD) was not reduced. As a result of this study, it was found that buffering effect for a certain period of time when the voltage reversal occurred during the operation of the microbial fuel cell did not have a serious effect on the energy loss or the operation of the microbial fuel cell.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.5728-5735
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• 2015

This study attempts to verify the applicability of ceramic membrane as a separator by comparing the power generation characteristics in single-chamber MFCs using ceramic membranes to those in the MFCs using nafion membrane. The generated power in MFCs by using acetate as a substrate was more stable than that by using formate, propionate and butyrate, respectively. It was shown that the generated power by using formate substrate in MFCs was unstable and a little higher than that by using acetate, and the power generated by using propionate and butyrate were lower than that by using acetate. In order to find out the Pt catalyst effect, it was compared the power generated in MFCs using Pt-coated carbon cloth as electrode to that power using normal carbon cloth. The power generated in MFCs using Pt-coated carbon cloth as electrode was 1.2 times higher than that using normal carbon cloth. The Pt-coated carbon cloth was about 5 times more expensive than normal carbon cloth. It is suggested that both power generation efficiency and cost together should be considered in selecting electrodes of MFCs. It was found that the ceramic membrane was superior to nafion membrane by comparing to the power generation characteristics obtained. It was shown that average voltage values were $523.67mV{\pm}49.41mV$ by using synthetic wastewater, in MFCs of ceramic membrane as a separator. While average voltage values were $424.09mV{\pm}79.95mV$ by using synthetic wastewater, in MFCs of nafion membrane as a separator. The organic removal efficiency, 41.7% by using ceramic membrane was a little bit higher than 40.8% by using nafion membrane. This research implies ceramic membrane can be a valid alternative to nafion membrane as a separator when considering the power generation and the efficiency of organics removal.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.486-490
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• 1998

Pt/C powder which was used as electrocatalyst in a Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell(PAFC) was fabricated by colloid method. It was reported that the sulfur from reductant, $Na_2S_2O_4$, worked as a poison against catalyst during long term operation. To remove these sulfurs, we try to treat Pt/C powder by three different methods. First, we tried to remove the sulfur according to temperature and time in $H_2$ atmosphere. As the heat treatment temperature is raised up, the effect of the removal is increased but the electrode performance is decreased because of the growth of Pt particle size. The optimal heat treatment temperature is $400^{\circ}C$, the size of Pt particle is approximately $35{\sim}40{\AA}$ and the electrode performance is $360mA/cm^2$ at 0.7 V. At $400^{\circ}C$, even though the time of heat treatment is extended, size of Pt, amounts of remaining sulfur and electrode performance is almost constant. Secondly, when we removed in a crucible at $900^{\circ}C$ the removal of the sulfur was not better, but the size of Pt particle, approximately $80{\AA}$, was smaller than that of heat treatment in $H_2$ atmosphere at $900^{\circ}C$. Lastly we treated with solvents such as acetone, benzene, and carbon disulfide. It was observed that sulfur components were removed partly by extraction with solvents, the electrode performances were similar each other.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.38-45
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• 2013

The porous ceramic beads using mine tailing were prepared and applied to catalytic converter for NOx/SOx removal. Catalytic support was used synthesized mesoporous silica (SBA-15) which coated on surface. Internal structure for porous ceramic beads was composed of three-dimensional network structure and porosity was about 80%. In addition, the specific surface area for mesoporous silica(SBA-15) coated on converter was significantly increased 55 $m^2/g$ compared with 0.8 $m^2/g$ before coating. NOx/SOx removal experiment was performed using $V_2O_5$ and $V_2O_5$/CuO converter. NOx conversion ratio for $V_2O_5$/CuO converter was approximately increased 10% compared to $V_2O_5$ converter. In addition, catalytic converter of $V_2O_5$/CuO was shown to remove 95% of NOx and 90% of SOx at reaction temperature of $350^{\circ}C$, space velocity of 10000 $h^{-1}$ and $O_2$ concentrations of 5%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.252-256
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• 2015

Nitrogen oxides ($NO_X$) was emitted from flue gas of stationary sources and exhaust gas of mobile sources, can leads to various environments problems. Selective Catalysts Reduction (SCR) is the most effective $NO_X$ removal system. Commercial $V_2O_5-WO_3/TiO_2$ catalysts, usually containing $V_2O_5$ 0.5~3 wt%, $WO_3$ 5~10 wt%, and $V_2O_5$ is active in the reduction of $NO_X$ but also in the desired oxidation of $SO_2$ to $SO_3$. To reduce the amount of vanadium, using graphene matrix supported vanadium to synthesize nanocomposite. Then, we fabricated to 1 inch honeycomb type of SCR catalysts adding graphene-vanadium nanocomposite. The chemical-physical characteristics and the catalytic activity were performed by XRD, XRF, BET and Micro-Reactor (MR). As a result, the De-NOX performance was showed, similar to the commercial catalyst activity as 77.8 % and using nanocomposite catalyst as 77.1 % at $350^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2011

Ru black was used for cathode catalyst in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell which showed low performance at the initial test. However, it was observed that the performance of Ru black cathode was dramatically enhanced after certain kind of experiment compared with initial one. It might be due to an electrochemical treatment in which a voltage was applied to the Ru cathode for constant period time. When a constant potential of 0.1 V was applied to Ru cathode for 30 min, the fuel cell performance of Ru cathode showed the best results. In order to investigate the effect of electrochemical treatment on the performance enhancement, the characteristics of electrochemically treated Ru black was compared with that of Ru black which was reduced under $H_2$ atmosphere. From XRD results, it was turned out that Ru black was not completely converted to metallic Ru by electrochemical treatment, but it is sufficient to be one of reasons for the performance enhancement. According to the results of CO stripping voltammetry, it was observed that some Ru was removed from Ru electrode by electrochemical treatment which might have a bad effect on the fuel cell performance. The removal of some Ru from as-received Ru black by electrochemical treatment is also another reason for the enhancement of fuel cell performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2015

Ceria supported on various commercial $TiO_2$ catalysts were prepared by wet-impregnation method. We confirmed that the correlation between physicochemical properties of $TiO_2$ supports and SCR activities. Physicochemical properties of the various $TiO_2$ were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and pH analysis. Ce/Ti catalyst exhibited different SCR activities with respect to physicochemical properties of $TiO_2$. An excellent activity was obtained as the surface area of $TiO_2$ increased. In the case of CeOx surface density, the excellent activity in a range of $2.5{\sim}14.5CeOx/nm^2$ was achieved and the activity tended to decrease above $14.5CeOx/nm^2$. The O/Ti mole ratio of $TiO_2$ in the range of 1.32 to 1.79 showed an excellent SCR activity. It was also confirmed that the pH of the $TiO_2$ has no effects on the SCR activity. In order to achieve excellent SCR activities, ceria oxide should be supported on $TiO_2$ possessing a high specific surface area and certain O/Ti mole ratio. In addition, the catalyst with the low CeOx surface density resulted from the high dispersed ceria oxide should be prepared.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.355-359
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• 2017

Zeolite X with Si/Al molar ratio = 1.08~1.20 was produced using a hydrothermal synthesis method. Ion-exchanged zeolite X samples were then prepared by using metal nitrate solutions containing $Mg^{2+}$ or $Cu^{2+}$. For all zeolite X samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were used to identify the change in crystal structure. The analysis of ammonia adsorption capability of zeolite X samples was conducted through the ammonia temperature-programmed desorption ($NH_3$-TPD) method. From XRD results, the prepared zeolite X samples maintained the Faujasite (FAU) structure regardless of cation contents in zeolite X, but the crystallinity of zeolite X containing $Mg^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$ cations decreased. The distribution of cation contents in zeolite X was identified via EDS analysis. $NH_3$-TPD analysis showed that the $NH_3$ adsorption capacity of $Mg^{2+}$- and $Cu^{2+}$-zeolite X were 1.76 mmol/g and 2.35 mmol/g, respectively while the $Na^+$-zeolite X was 3.52 mmol/g ($NH_3/catalyst$). $Na^+$-zeolite X can thus be utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of ammonia in future.