• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.408-415
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• 2014

In order to prepare high-quality activated carbons (ACs), coal tar pitch (CTP), and mixtures of CTP and petroleum pitch (PP) were activated with KOH. The ACs prepared by activation of CTP in the range of $700{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$ for 1~5 h had very porous textures with large specific surface areas of $2470{\sim}3081m^2/g$. The optimal activation conditions of CTP were determined as CTP/KOH ratio of 1:4, activation temperature of $900^{\circ}C$, and activation time of 3 h. The obtained AC showed the highest micro-pore volume, and pretty high specific surface area and meso-pore volume. The micro-pore volumes and specific areas of activated mixtures of CTP and PP were similar to each other but the meso-pore volume could be increased. In order to change the degree of crystallinity of precursors before KOH activation process, the CTPs were carbonized in the range of $500{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. As the carbonization temperature increased, the specific surface area and pore volume of the activated ACs with the same activation conditions for CTP decreased dramatically. It was demonstrated that the increased pore size distribution of AC electrodes in the range of 1 to 2 nm plays an important role in the performance of electric double-layer capacitor.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2021

This study was conducted to improve the operating conditions of an adsorption tower filled with potassium impregnated activated carbon for high hydrogen sulfide capture capacity. Heat treatment modified the surface properties of activated carbon, and ultimately determined its adsorption capacity. The activated carbon doped with potassium showed 57 times more adsorption at room temperature than that of using the raw adsorbent. It is believed that uniform pore formation and strong bonding of the potassium on the surface of carbon contributed to the chemical and physical absorption of hydrogen sulfide. The SEM analysis on the surface structure of various commercial carbons showed that the modification of surface properties through the heat treatment generated the destruction of pore structures resulted in the decrease of the absorption performance. The pressure drop across the activated carbon bed was closely related with the grain size and shape. The optimum size of irregularly shaped activated carbon granules was 2~4 mesh indicating economical feasibility.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.434-439
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• 2006

In this study, activated carbon(ACs) have been modified by nitric acid and heat-treatment. The surface and structure properties of ACs were determined by BET surface area, FT-IR pH and acid/base value. The changes in pore structure and surface properties of these modified ACs were correlated with natural gas adsorption which measured by volumetric apparatus at $0^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. The pore textural properties of activated carbon was also characterized by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Specific surface area and micropore volume of them were calculated by Langmuir equation and Horvath-Kawazoe method, and chemical properties of surface were measured by FT-IR and titration of acid and base solutions. Pore texture of activated carbons after treatments were not significantly changed. Total acidity increased and basicity of samples decreased. however the basicity increased with heat treatment. The methane adsorption of ACs become different depending on the acid/base value of samples.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.455-469
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• 2008

VOCs (Volatile organic compounds) are known as one of the harmful chemicals, causing cancer and global warming. Therefore, the proper control, removal, and reduction of the emission of VOCs are important tasks for the environmental protection. Among the method of VOCs removal activated carbon bed is the most efficient and economical method. In this study, the adsorption performance of toluene gas was investigated using various activated carbons. To find out the adsorption efficiency, the H/D (Height/Diameter) of the activated carbon and GHSV (Gas Hourly Space Velocity) of the toluene gas were manipulated with various conditions. The effect of the temperature, humidity and toluene-MEK-IPA mixed gas on adsorption were also investigated. As a result, a high adsorption performance was found when GHSV is lower at room temperature and low humidity. It was also found that the adsorption efficiency of toluene-MEK-IPA mixed gas system was lower than that of toluene gas system.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.445-451
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• 2008

In order to regenerate the activated carbon polluted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using microwave, adsorption and desorption characteristics of benzene over activated carbon (AC) coated with insulating materials were investigated. Physical characteristics of activated carbon and insulator-coated ACs were investigated by means of $N_2$ gas adsorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amount of VOC adsorbed showed a positive relationship with the specific surface area of the ACs, and spark discharge over insulator-coated ACs did not occur. Potassium silicate (PS) was the best binder for coating of insulating materials on AC. Amount of benzene desorbed by microwave irradiation was dependent on output power of microwave. Nearly same performance was obtained even though the adsorption-desorption operation under microwave irradiation was repeated 5 times. Finally, it was known that the microwave heating was a very effective mean for regenerating the polluted AC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2016

The metal-impregnated activated carbon was produced from bamboo activated carbon by soaking method of metal nitrate solution. The carbonization and activation of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$. The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. Also, NO and activated carbon reaction were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer in order to use as de-NOx agents of used activated carbon. Carbon-NO reactions were carried out with respect to reaction temperature ($20^{\circ}C{\sim}850^{\circ}C$) and NO gas partial pressure (0.1 kPa~1.8 kPa). As results, the specific volume and surface area of bamboo activated carbon impregnated with copper were decreased with increasing Cu amounts of activated carbon. In NO reaction, the reaction rate of Cu impregnated bamboo activated carbon[BA(Cu)] was promoted to compare with that of bamboo activated carbon[BA]. But the reaction rate of Ag impregnated bamboo activated carbon[BA(Ag)] was retarded. Measured reaction orders of NO concentration and activation energy were 0.63[BA], 0.92[BA(Cu)], and 80.5 kJ/mol[BA], 48.5 kJ/mol[BA(Cu)], 66.4 kJ/mol[BA(Ag)], respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.807-813
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• 2014

The Ag-impregnated activated carbon was produced from bamboo activated carbon by soaking method of silver nitrate solution. The carbonization and activation of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$. Soaking conditions are the variation of silver nitrate solution concentration (0.002~0.1 mol/L) and soaking time (maximum 24 h). The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. Also, NO and activated carbon reaction were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer in order to use for de-NOx agents of used activated carbon. Carbon-NO reactions were carried out with respect to reaction temperature ($20{\sim}850^{\circ}C$) and NO gas partial pressure (0.1~1.8 kPa). As results, Ag amounts are saturated within 2h, Ag amounts increased 1.95 mg Ag/g (0.2%)~ 88.70 mg Ag/g (8.87%) with the concentration of silver nitrate solution in the range of 0.002~0.1 mol/L. The specific volume and surface area of bamboo activated carbon of impregnated with 0.2% silver were maximum, but decreased with increasing Ag amounts of activated carbon due to pore blocking. In NO reaction, the reaction rate of impregnated bamboo activated carbon was retarded as compare with that of bamboo activated carbon. Measured reaction orders of NO concentration and activation energy were 0.63[BA], 0.69l[BA(Ag)] and 80.5 kJ/mol[BA], 66.4 kJ/mol[BA(Ag)], respectively.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

In this work, mesoporous carbons (CMK-3) were prepared by a conventional templating method using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for using catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The CMK-3 were chemically activated to obtain high surface area and small pore diameter with different potassium hydroxide (KOH) amounts, i.e., 0, 1, 3, and 4 g as an activating agent. And then Pt-Ru was deposited onto activated CMK-3 (K-CMK-3) by a chemical reduction method. The characteristics of Pt-Ru catalysts deposited onto K-CMK-3 were determined by surface area and pore size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The electrochemical properties of Pt-Ru/K-CMK-3 catalysts were also analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV). From the results, the K3g-CMK-3 carbon supports activated with 3 g KOH showed the highest specific surface areas. In addition, the K3g-CMK-3 led to uniform dispersion of Pt-Ru onto K-CMK-3, resulted in the enhancement of elelctro-catalystic activity of Pt-Ru catalysts.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2010

Ten commercial activated carbons (ACs) prepared from four different sources (bamboo, wood, peat, and coal) were evaluated for their adsorptive efficiency of six volatile compounds (isoamyl alcohol, hexanal, furfural, ethyl lactate, ethyl octanoate, 2-phenyl ethanol) which were dissolved in a 30% alcoholic model solution. These six volatile compounds are frequently found in alcoholic beverages and possibly contribute to physiological hangover due to their high concentrations. They are also generally regarded as off-flavor compounds at certain levels in alcoholic beverages such as whisky and vodka. Two hundred mL of 30% alcoholic solutions containing these six volatile compounds were treated with 0.2 g of ACs while stirring for 16 hr; the treated solutions were then measured for their adsorptive efficiencies (or removal efficiencies) by gas chromatographic analysis using two different sampling methods (direct liquid injection and headspace-solid phase microextraction). The adsorptive efficiencies of the ACs varied depending on the identity of the volatile compounds and the source material used for making the ACs. Ethyl octanoate, 2-phenyl ethanol, and hexanal were removed at high efficiencies (34-100%), whereas isoamyl alcohol, ethyl lactate, and furfural were removed at low efficiencies (5-13%). AC prepared from bamboo showed a high removal efficiency for isoamyl alcohol, aldehydes (hexanal and furfural), and 2-phenyl ethanol; these major fusel oils have been implicated as congeners responsible for alcohol hangover.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.170-174
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• 2023

CO₂ is known as one of the causes of global warming, and various studies are being conducted to capture it. In this study, a tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) plasma reaction was performed to improve the CO₂ adsorption of activated carbons (ACs) through changes in surface characteristics, and the adsorption characteristics according to the reaction time were considered. After the reaction, the micropore volume increased up to 1.03 cm³/g. In addition, as the reaction time increased, the fluorine content on the surface increased to 0.88%. It was possible to simultaneously control the pore properties and surface functional groups of the ACs through this experiment. Also, the CO₂ uptake of surface-treated ACs improved up to 7.44% compared to untreated ACs, showing the best performance at 3.90 mmol/g when the reaction time was 60 s. This is due to the synergy effect of the fluorine functional groups introduced on the surface of the ACs and the increased micropore volume caused by the etching effect. It was found that the micropore volume had a greater effect on CO₂ adsorption in the region where the CO₂ uptake was less than 3.67 mmol/g, while the added fluorine content had a greater effect in the region above that.