• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2023

Two carbonaceous adsorbents CAT and CARBOPAL were tested for reducing the concentration of the three herbicides in water: 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), TCP (2,4,6-trichlorophenol) and metolachlor. Textural and chemical characterization of the adsorbents include nitrogen isotherms, FTIR, titration and thermogravimetric analyses. Adsorption was studied in discontinuous adsorption experiments at different pH values. The experimental adsorption isotherms data were fitted to four theoretical models. Adsorbent characterization reveals that CAT has higher micropore area, lower pore diameter and lower acidity than CARBOPAL. The adsorption is a second-order process and the isotherms best fitted to Sips model. The efficiency of the process depends mainly on the charge of the adsorbate for TCP and 2,4-D, but it depends on the charge of the surface for metolachlor. Adsorption capacity is higher on CAT for 2,4-D and TCP (small molecules), and it is higher on CARBOPAL for metolachlor (large molecules). Theoretical calculations clearly support this assumption.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2008

A surfactant recovery and reuse process by selective adsorption with activated carbon was proposed to reduce surfactant cost in a soil washing process. Mathematical model simulation was performed for the whole process, which consists of soil washing, soil recovery, and soil re-washing. The optimal range of surfactant dosage was $6{\sim}10$-fold critical micelle concentration in soil. The efficiency of surfactant reuse process was decreased with increasing the dosage of activated carbon. Effectiveness factor for activated carbon significantly altered the efficiency of the reuse process unlike effectiveness factor for soil. Total requirement of surfactant was reduced to 20-30% with the reuse process compared to the conventional soil washing process. The contamination of wastewater after soil washing was reduced with the reuse process. This mathematical model can be used to estimate performance of the whole process of soil washing including surfactant recovery and to obtain optimal ranges of operating conditions without extra labor-intensive experimental works.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.989-996
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• 2009

In this study, the effects of biofilter media type (three different activated carbons and anthracite), empty bed contact time (EBCT) and temperature on the removal of four aldehyde species (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal and methylglyoxal) in BAC filters were investigated. Experiments were conducted at three water temperature (5, 15 and $25^{\circ}C$) and four EBCTs (5, 10, 15, and 20 min). The experimental results indicated that the coal based BAC retained more bacterial biomass on the surface of the activated carbon than the other BACs, and increasing EBCT or increasing water temperature also increased the four aldehyde species removal in BAC filters. To achieve above 80% of removal efficiency for four aldehyde species in a BAC filter, above 15 min EBCT at $5^{\circ}C$ and 10 min EBCT at above $15^{\circ}C$ were required. The kinetic analysis indicated a first-order reaction rate for the biodegradation of four aldehyde species at various water temperatures. Data obtained from the BAC filters at various temperatures were also used to evaluate pseudo first-order rate constants for four aldehyde species. The half-lives evaluated for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal and methylglyoxal in the coal-based BAC ranging from 0.89 to 3.19 min, from 0.75 to 3.35 min, from 2.16 to 4.72 min and from 1.49 to 3.86 min, respectively, could be used to assist water utilities in designing and operating BAC filters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.438-443
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• 2007

This study was done to investigate perchlorate contamination in Nakdong river. The perchlorate was detected in Nakdong river and ranged from ND to $82.1{\mu}g/L$. The highest concentration was observed in Wheguan. The perchlorate concentration was decreased with the down stream of Nakdong river. Three different virgin activated carbons made of each coal(Calgon), coconut(Samchully) and wood(Picabiol) based activated carbon(AC) were tested for an adsorption performance of perchlorate in a continuous adsorption column. Breakthrough behavior was investigated that the breakthrough points of coal, coconut and wood based AC as 2,300 bed volumn(BV), 719 BV and 288 BV respectively. Adsorption capacity(X/M) of real, coconut and wood based AC was observed. The experimental results of adsorption capacity showed that coal based AC was highest$(768.2{\mu}g/g)$, coconut based AC was intermediate$(299{\mu}g/g)$ and wood based AC was lowest$(99.2{\mu}g/g)$. Moreover, carbon usage rates(CURs) for coal, coconut and wood based AC had been shown as 0.71 g/day, 2.16 g/day and 3.45 g/day respectively. The constant characteristic of the system, k of coal, coconut and wood based ACs were found to be 307.2, 102.5 and 94.2, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1255-1261
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• 2008

In this study, The effects of three different biological activated carbon (BAC) materials (each coal, coconut and wood based activated carbons), empty bed contact time (EBCT) and water temperature on the removal of haloacetic acid (HAA) 5 species in BAC filters were investigated. Experiments were conducted at three water temperatures (5, 10 and 20$^{\circ}C$) and four EBCTs (5, 10, 15 and 20 min). The results indicated that coal based BAC retained more attached bacterial biomass on the surface of the activated carbon than the other BAC, increasing EBCT or increasing water temperature increased the HAA 5 species removal in BAC columns. To achieve an HAA removal efficiency 50% or higher in a BAC filter, the authors suggest 10 min EBCT or longer for 5$^{\circ}C$ waters and 5 min EBCT for waters at 10$^{\circ}C$ or higher. The kinetic analysis suggested a first-order reaction model for HAA 5 species removal at various water temperatures (5, 10 and 20$^{\circ}C$). The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants and half-lives were also calculated for HAA removal at 5, 10 and 20$^{\circ}C$. The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants and half-lives were also calculated for HAA 5 species removal at 5$\sim$ 20$^{\circ}C$. The half-lives of HAA 5 species ranging from 0.75 to 18.58 min could be used to assist water utilities in designing and operating BAC filters for HAA removal.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.209-212
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• 2002

The heavy use of petroleum products in modern livings has brought ubiquitous environmental contaminants of aromatic compounds, which persist in aquatic and geo-environment without the substantial degradation. The persistence and accumulation of the aromatic compounds, which include xylene, phenol, toluene, phthalate, and so on are known to cause serious problems in our environments. Some of soil and aquatic microorganisms facilitate their growth by degrading aromatic compounds and utilizing degrading products as growth substrates, the biodegradation helps the reentry of carbons of aromatic compounds, preventing their accumulation in our environments. The metabolic studies on the degradation of aromatic compounds by microoganlsms were extensively carried out along with their genetic studies. A Rhodococcus sp. isolated in activated sludges has shown the excellent ability to grow on phenol as a sole carbon source. In the present study investigated a gene encoding phenol-degrading enzymes from a Rhodococcus sp.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.146-152
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• 2005

The activated carbon was produced from Sancheong bamboo by carbon dioxide gas activation methods. The carbonization of raw material was conducted at $900^{\circ}C$, and $CO_2$ activation reactions were conducted under various conditions: activation temperatures of $750-900^{\circ}C$, flow rates of carbon dioxide $5-30cm^3/g-char{\cdot}min$, and activation time of 2-5 h. The yield, adsorption capacity of iodine and methylene blue, specific surface area and pore size distribution of the prepared activated carbons were measured. The adsorption capacity of iodine (680.8-1450.1 mg/g) and methylene blue (23.5-220 mg/g) increased with increasing activation temperature and activation time. The adsorption capacity of iodine and methylene blue increased with the $CO_2$ gas quantity in the range of $5-18.9cm^3/g-char{\cdot}min$. But those decreased over those range due to the pore shrinkage. The specific volume of the mesopore and macropore of bamboo activated carbon were $0.65-0.91cm^3/g$. Because of this large specific volume, it can be used to the biological activated carbon process. Bamboo activated carbon phisically adsorbed the $CO_2$ of maximum 106 mg/g-A.C in the condition of 90% $CO_2$ and adsorption temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. The $CO_2$ adsorption ability of bamboo activated carbon was not changed in the 5 cyclic test of desorption and adsorption.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.699-705
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• 2010

In this study, three different biological activated carbons (BACs) were prepared from activated carbons made of each coal (F400, Calgon), coconut (Samchully) and wood(Pica, Picabiol) which were run for two and half years in the pilot plant. The attached bio-film microorganisms in and on the BACs were isolated and identified. The results showed that nine different bacteria species (Chryseomonas luteola, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas vesicularis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Spingomonas paucimobilis, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Spirillum spp., and Pasteurella haemolytica) were isolated and identified, the dominant species was Pseudomonas sp. that had occupied 56.5%. More specifically, it was observed that the populations of the microorganisms deceased in the order: Pasteurella haemolytica (18.9%) > Chryseomonas luteola (4.0%) > Agrobacterium radiobacter (3.5%) > Aeromonas hydrophila (2.0%) in and on the BACs. After isolating of 9 species of biofilm microorganisms, the growth curve for the biomass was investigated. During 24~96 hours, the biomass has the highest concentration, and activity of the biomass was the best to uptake geosmin as carbon resources. The operation temperatures for investigating the biodegradation of geosmin were set at $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. Pseudomonas vesicularis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Agrobacterium radiobacter and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia played a maior role in removing the target compound as geosmin. However, geosmin was not biodegraded well by Chryseomonas luteola, Spingomonas paucimobilis, and Spirillum spp.. It is also interesting to evaluate kinetics of biodegradability of geosmin. The first-order rate constants for biodegradability of geosmin at $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ were $0.00006{\sim}0.0002\;hr^{-1}$ and $0.0043{\sim}0.0046\;hr^{-1}$ respectively. Higher water temperature produced better geosmin removal rates. When concentrations of geosmin increased from 10 to 10,000 ng/L, the rate constants for biodegradability of geosmin increased from 0.0003 to $0.0882\;hr^{-1}$. As described earlier, higher geosmin concentration in the reactor produced higher rate constant.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.194-199
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• 2005

The principle of vortex cyclone was applied to enhance the treatment efficiency of waste air streams containing particulate matters, phenol, and others. Adsorption, condensation, and/or coagulation could be induced at low temperature zone formed by Joule-Thomson expansion as the pressurized air and pulverized activated carbon were introduced at the tangential direction into the cyclone system applied with the coaxial funnel tube of vortex cyclone. Easily condensible vapors were adsorbed and/or condensed forcibly on coagulated or condensed materials which were formed as cores for coagulation or condensation by themselves or on pulverized activated carbons. These types of coagulation or condensation rates were rapidly promoted by increase in their diameter. The maximum removal efficiency obtained from this experiment for the removal of carbon dioxide and phenol was about 87.3 and 93.8 percent, respectively. Phenol removal efficiency was increased with the relative humidities and enhanced by pulverized activated carbon added. The Joule-Thomson coefficients were increased with the pressure of air injected in the range of the relative humidities between 10% and 50%. It is believed that the moisture, particulate matters, and the pressure of the process air introduced could control the removal efficiency of VOCs.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.232-237
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• 2022

Biorefineries, in which renewable resources are utilized, are an eco-friendly alternative based on biomass feedstocks. Alginic acid, a major component of brown algae, which is a type of marine biomass, is widely used in various industries and can be converted into value-added chemicals such as sugars, sugar alcohols, furans, and organic acids via catalytic hydrothermal decomposition under certain conditions. In this study, ruthenium-supported activated carbon and magnesium oxide were mixed and applied to the depolymerization of alginic acid in a batch reactor. The addition of magnesium oxide as a basic promoter had a strong influence on product distribution. In this heterogeneous catalytic system, the separation and purification processes are also simplified. After the reaction, low molecular weight alcohols and organic acids with 5 or fewer carbons were produced. Specifically, under the optimal reaction conditions of 30 mL of 1 wt% alginic acid aqueous solution, 100 mg of ruthenium-supported activated carbon, 100 mg of magnesium oxide, 210 ℃ of reaction temperature, and 1 h of reaction time, total carbon yields of 29.8% for alcohols and 43.8% for a liquid product were obtained. Hence, it is suggested that this catalytic system results in the enhanced hydrogenolysis of alginic acid to value-added chemicals.