• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.174-184
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• 1998

Biosorption characteristics were investigated to discuss the use of agar entrapped Spirulina to remove of heavy metal ions from polluted waters. Agar immobilized algae were used as bioadsorbent in continuous reactor for heavy metal ions removal. The process solution contains Pb, Cu, and Cd as single ion and binary ions. In the adsorption of single heavy metal ions by agar immobilized Spirulina, the adsorption reached within 1hr and observed diffusion limitation differed from the free algal cell adsorption. The optimum pH for the adsorption of heavy metals was 4.5 but the influence of pH decreased less than that of free algal cell. Also, the adsorption characteristics of single heavy metal ions with agar immobilized Spirulina fitted the BET isotherm. Both of experiments of free algal cell and agar immobilized algae showed higher removal efficiency in the single ion solutions than binary ions solutions. The experimental results in the packed column with agar immobilized algae were over 90% of removal efficiency for the Pb, Cu, and Cd in single ion solutions.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.73-82
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• 2003

Various forest humic substances were collected at different climate regions with different forest types, and adsorption of heavy metals such as Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) were characteristically conducted to obtain optimal adsorption conditions and to evaluate the removal efficiency of heavy metals by each forest humic substance. The adsorption isotherms for Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) conformed to Langmuir's equation. In the stirred reactor, the removal efficiencies of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) by forest humic substances were more than 90% but that of Cr(III) was less than 60%. The adsorption capacities of heavy metals in the stirred reactor were considerably varied depending on the type of forest humic substances. Among humic substances, the one from deciduous forest at subtropical region showed the highest removal efficiency for Cu(II). There was no significant difference in removal efficiency by each heavy metal depending on reaction temperature ranged from 20 to 50oC except for Cr(III), and the adsorptions of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) were occurred rapidly in the incipient stage within 10 min, while Cr(III) needed more reaction time to be adsorbed. The stirred and packed bed column reactors showed similar adsorption characteristics of heavy metals by humic substances, but the removal efficiency was considerably higher in the packed bed column reactor than in the stirred reactor. Therefore, in actual operation process, a continuous packed bed column reactor was more economical.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.773-779
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• 2013

This study was performed to provide the basic data for the function of BTEX removal for compact electrostatic precipitator which are applicable to indoor environment (or closed spaces). For this purpose, the adsorption equilibrium test was conducted for BTEX of activated carbon sheet (ACS) and activated carbon (AC), and the adsorption characteristics of AC and ACS were evaluated using the Langmuir constant which was obtained from the adsorption characteristics, adsorption capacity and regression calculation. The surface area and adsorption pore volume of ACS reduced by 70% and 86%, respectively, as compared to those of AC, and the adsorption capacities of BTEX also showed a similar level. Thus, it is considered that ACS applied electrostatic precipitator is able to remove dust and BTEX simultaneously.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2021

The natural weathered sand of basalt (WSB) has been used for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution. The influence of various parameters i.e., contact time, pH, weathered sand of basalt dosage, particle size of the weathered sand of basalt, temperature and initial cadmium concentration were analyzed. Cadmium adsorption kinetics was well described by the pseudo second order model. Adsorption equilibrium for cadmium was properly well fitted to Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity 0.50 mg/g. Compared with the other experimental results using various kinds of adsorbents at a low concentration (1.0 mg/L or so) similar to that of this study, the cadmium removal efficiency using weathered sand of basalt was higher. It has been demonstrated that weathered sand of basalt has a available alternative adsorbent for cadmium when its initial concentration is low.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.426-438
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• 2020

In this study, cherry kernel shell pyrolytic charcoal was synthesized (CKSC) and composite beads were obtained by blending this pyrolytic charcoal with chitosan and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (Fe-C-CKSC). Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous solutions by Fe-C-CKSC composite beads and CKSC adsorbents was studied comparatively. The effects of Cr(VI) initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH and temperature parameters on Cr(VI) adsorption were investigated. Adsorption reached an equilibrium point within 120 min for CKSC and Fe-C-CKSC adsorbents. The maximum Cr(VI) removal was obtained at the initial pH value of 1.56 for CKSC and 2.00 for Fe-C-CKSC. The optimum adsorbent dosage was found to be 5 g/L for CKSC and 3 g/L for Fe-C-CKSC. Based on the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacities were calculated as 14.455 mg/g and 47.576 mg/g for CKSC and Fe-C-CKSC, respectively. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies were performed. As a result of adsorption kinetics calculations, adsorption was found to be consistent with the pseudo second order kinetic model. Characterization of the synthesized adsorbents was performed by SEM, BET, FTIR and elemental analysis. This study has shown that low cost adsorbents CKSC and Fe-C-CKSC can be used in Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2019

This study used a packed column reactor and a horizontal flow mesh reactor to examine the removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions using pine bark, a natural adsorbent prepared from Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora). Both equilibrium and nonequilibrium adsorption experiments were conducted on copper ion concentrations of 10mg/L, and the removals of copper ions at equilibrium were close to 95%. Adsorption of copper ions could be well described by both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The bark was treated with nitric acid to enhance efficiency of copper removal, and sorption capacity was improved by about 48% at equilibrium; mechanisms such as ion exchange and chelation may have been involved in the sorption process. A pseudo second-order kinetic model described the kinetic behavior of the copper ion adsorption onto the bark. Regeneration with nitric acid resulted in extended use of spent bark in the packed column. The horizontal flow mesh reactor allowed approximately 80% removal efficiency, demonstrating its operational flexibility and the potential for its practical use as a bark filter reactor.

• Carbon letters
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• v.20
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• pp.10-18
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• 2016

Nanoporous carbon structures were synthesized by pyrolysis of grass as carbon precursor. The synthesized carbon has high surface area and pore volume. The carbon products were acid functionalized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, transmission electron microscopy, and Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Acid functionalized nanoporous carbon was explored for use in removal of toxic Cr(VI) ions from aqueous media. An adsorption study was done as a function of initial concentration, pH, contact time, temperature, and interfering ions. The experimental equilibrium data fits well to Langmuir isotherm model with maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 35.335 mg/g. The results indicated that removal obeys a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and that equilibrium was reached in 10 min. A desorption study was done using NaOH. The results of the present study imply that acid functionalized nanoporous carbon synthesized from grass is an efficient, renewable, cost-effective adsorbent material for removal of hexavalent chromium due to its faster removal rate and reusability.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.725-730
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• 2011

In this study, it was investigated that the feasibility of utilizing inorganic mesostructures for removal of phosphate in water. The comparison of the efficiency for phosphate adsorption between inorganic mesostructures was conducted. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) methods were used to characterize these mesostructures. The efficiencies of silica and titanium mesostructures for the removal of phosphate from aqueous solution were investigated. Equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities of mesostructure adsorbents were found to be 49.3 and 19.5 mg $g^{-1}$ for the titanium and silica mesostructures, respectively. The adsorption kinetics was described by a pseudo third-order kinetic model. The results from this study indicated that the titanium mesostructure has the potential to be utilized for the cost-effective removal of phosphate from wastewater.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-68
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• 2015

Chemically activated and carbonized adsorbents were prepared from Moringa oleifera pod husks (MOP), characterized and evaluated for their ability to remove a common antibiotic - ofloxacin (OFX) from aqueous solution. The pulverized precursor was steeped in a saturated ammonium chloride solution for a day to give the chemically activated adsorbent (AMOP). A portion of AMOP was pyrolyzed in a muffle furnace at 623 K for 30 min to furnish its carbonized analogue (CMOP). The adsorbents showed favorable physicochemical attributes. The effects of operational parameters such as initial OFX solution pH and concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature and contact time on OFX removal were investigated. At equilibrium, optimal removal efficiencies of 90.98% and 99.84% were achieved at solution pH 5 for AMOP and CMOP, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data fitted into both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Gibbs free energy change (${\Delta}G^o$), enthalpy change (${\Delta}H^o$) and entropy change (${\Delta}S^o$) indicated that the adsorption of OFX was feasible, spontaneous, exothermic and occurred via the physisorption mode. Adsorption kinetics obeyed the Blanchard pseudo-second-order model. The results may find applications in the adsorptive removal of micro-contaminants of pharmaceutical origin from wastewater.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2020

The study objective was to evaluate the enhanced removal of high concentrations of phosphorus from synthetic wastewater (solely phosphorus-containing) and real wastewater (pig manure) by using carbon nanotube (CNT)-coated steel slag. Generally, phosphorus removal by steel slag is attributed to Ca²⁺ eluted from the slag. However, in this study, CNT was used to control the excess release of Ca²⁺ from steel slag and increase the phosphorus removal. The phosphorus removal rate by the uncoated steel slag was lower than that of the CNT-coated steel slag, even though the Ca²⁺ concentrations were higher in the solution containing the uncoated steel slag. Therefore, the phosphorus removal could be attributed to both precipitation with Ca²⁺ eluted from steel slag in aqueous solution and adsorption onto the surface of the CNT-coated steel slag. Furthermore, the protons released from the CNT surface by exchanging with divalent cations acted to reduce the pH increase of the solution, which is attributed to the OH^- eluted from the steel slag. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics of the CNT-coated steel slags followed the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the uncoated and CNT-coated steel slags was 6.127 and 9.268 mg P g^-1 slag, respectively. In addition, phosphorus from pig manure was more effectively removed by the CNT-coated steel slag than by the uncoated slag. Over 24 hours, the PO₄-P removal in pig manure was 12.3% higher by the CNT-coated slag. This CNT-coated steel slag can be used to remove both phosphorus and metals and has potential applications in high phosphorus-containing wastewater like pig manure.