• Clean Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2016

As an attempt to replacing petroleum-based chemicals with bio-based ones, synthesis of furfural from biomass-derived xylose attracts much attention in recent days. Conventionally, furfural from xylose has been produced via the utilization of highly corrosive, toxic, and environmentally unfriendly mineral acids such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. In this study, microwave-assisted biphasic reaction process in the presence of novel bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts was developed for the eco-benign and effective synthesis of furfural from xylose. The microwave was irradiated for reaction acceleration and a biphasic system consisting of $H_2O$ : MIBK (1 : 2) was designed for continuous extraction of furfural into the organic phase in order to reduce the undesired side products formed by decomposition/condensation/oligomerization in the acidic aqueous phase. Moreover, sulfonated amorphous carbonaceous materials were prepared from wood powder, the most abundant lignocellulosic biomass. The prepared catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, XPS, BET, elemental analysis and they were used as bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts for the dehydration of xylose into furfural more effectively. For further optimization, the effect of temperature, reaction time, water/organic solvent ratio, and substrate/catalyst ratio on the xylose conversion and furfural yield were investigated and 100% conversion of xylose and 74% yield of furfural was achieved within 5 h at $180^{\circ}C$. The bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts could be used three times without any significant loss of activity. This greener protocol provides highly selective conversion of xylose to furfural as well as facile isolation of product and bio-based heterogeneous acid catalysts can alternate the environmentally-burdened mineral acids.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2015

Mesophase pitch is an important starting material for making a wide spectrum of industrial and advanced carbon products. It is produced by pyrolysis of petroleum residues. In this work, mesophase formation behavior in petroleum residues was studied to prepare environmentally-benign mesophase pitches, and the composition of petroleum residues and its influence on the mesophase formation was investigated. Two petroleum residues, i.e., clarified oil s (CLO-1, CLO-2) obtained from fluid catalytic cracking units of different Indian petroleum refineries, were taken as feed stocks. A third petroleum residue, aromatic extract (AE), was produced by extraction of one of the CLO-1 by using N-methyl pyrrolidone solvent. These petroleum residues were thermally treated at 380℃ to examine their mesophase formation behavior. Mesophase pitches produced as a result of thermal treatment were characterized physico-chemically, as well as by instrumental techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry. Thermal treatment of these petroleum residues led to formation of a liquid-crystalline phase (mesophase). The mesophase formation behavior in the petroleum residues was analyzed by optical microscopy. Mesophase pitch prepared from CLO-2 exhibited the highest mesophase content (53 vol%) as compared to other mesophase pitches prepared from CLO-1 and AE.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2022

Choline chloride-glycerol (1:2 mol), a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) is examined as a draw solution in forward osmosis (FO) for dewatering application. The NADES is easy to prepare, low in toxicity and environmentally benign. A polyamide thin film composite membrane was used. Characterization of the membrane confirmed porous membrane structure with good hydrophilicity and a low structural parameter (722 ㎛) suitable for FO application. A dilute solution of 20% (v/v) NADES was enough to generate moderate water flux (14.98 L m^-2h^-1) with relatively low reverse solute flux (0.125 g m^-2h^-1) with deionized water feed. Application in dewatering industrial wastewater feed showed reasonably good water flux (11.9 L m^-2h^-1) which could be maintained by controlling the external concentration polarization and fouling/scaling mitigation via simple periodic deionized water wash. In another application, clarified sugarcane juice could be successfully concentrated. Recovery of the draw solute was accomplished easily by chilling utilizing thermo responsive phase transition property of NADES. This study established that low concentration NADES can be a viable alternative as a draw solute for dewatering of wastewater and other heat sensitive applications along with a simple recovery process.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.292-300
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• 2014

Chlorine-resistant sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer (SPAES)-thin film composite (TFC) membranes for desalination are prepared using monoglyme as a selective solvent, which dissolves SPAES, but should be inert to porous polysulfone layer (e.g., Udel$^{(R)}$). Different from formic acid and diethylene glycol used as other selective solvents, monoglyme is environmentally friendly and has much lower boiling temperature. After a pretreatment of Udel$^{(R)}$ support film in isopropyl alcohol-glycerine mixture to minimize pore penetration leading to fairly reduced water flux, coating of SPAES solution in monoglyme onto the support and stepwise drying processes are conducted for defect-free TFC formation. The transport behavior through SPAES-TFC membranes is observed, correlating with the effects of sulfonation level, protonation, and physical and chemical crosslinking of SPAES selective layers.

• Clean Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2001

With fast advancement of fine machineries and semiconductor industries in recent decades, the ultra-cleaning of organic chemicals, submicron particles from contaminated unit equipments and products such as silicon wafers becomes one of the most important steps for further advancement of such industries. To date, two kinds of ultra cleaning techniques are used; one is the wet-cleaning and the other is the dry cleaning. In case of wet cleaning, removal of organic contaminants and submicron particles is made by DIW with additives such as $H_2O_2$, $H_2SO_4$, HCl, $NH_4OH$ and HF, etc. While the wet cleaning method is most widely adopted for various occasions, it is inevitable to discharge significant amount of toxic waste waters in environment. Dry cleaning is an alternative method to mitigate environmental pollution of the wet cleaning with maintaining comparable degree of cleaning to the wet cleaning. Although there are various concept of dry cleaning have been devised, the dry cleaning with environmentally-benign solvent such as carbon dioxide proven to show high degree of cleaning from the contaminated porous surface as well as from the bare surface. Thus, special global attention has been placing on this technique since it has important advantages of simple process schemes and no environmentally concern, etc. Thus, this article critically reviews the state-of-the-art of the supercritical fluid drying with emphasis on the thermo-physical characteristics of the supercritical solvent, environmental gains compared to other dry cleaning methods, and the generic aspects of the basic design and processing engineering.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2004

Microparticles of an inclusion complex between itraconazole and 2-hydroxypropyl-${\beta}$-cyclodextrin (HP-${\beta}$-CD) were prepared using an environmentally-benign supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) process. In order to evaluate the degree of complexation, the thermal behavior of solid micro particulate complexes was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The experimental results obatined for the solubility and dissolution rate of the microparticulate inclusion complexes in a buffer solution of pH 1.2 showed that the complexation of itraconazole with HP-${\beta}$-CD results in a significant increase in the solubility and dissolution rate of itraconazole. For the microparticulate itraconazole/Hp-${\beta}$-CD inclusion complexes prepared by the SAS process, about 80% of itraconazole was found to dissolve in the buffer solution. Our experimental results confirmed that the SAS process is a promising method for the preparation of microparticles of water-insoluble drug/cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.660-667
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• 2016

Conventional decontamination methods utilize water-based systems, which generate high amounts of secondary wastes. Herein, we describe an environmentally benign decontamination method using liquid and supercritical $CO_2$. The use of $CO_2$ as a solvent affords effective waste reduction by its ability to be recycled, thereby leaving be hind only the contaminants upon its evaporation. In this study, a $CO_2$ solution process was assessed using t-salen(t-butylsalen), DC18C6 (dicyclohexano-18Crown6), 8-HQN(8-hydroxyquinoline), NEt4PFOSA(perfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid tetra-ethyl ammonium salt), and NEt4PFOA(pentadecafluorooctanoic acid ammonium salt) to extract spiked radioactive contaminants(Nb,Zr,Co,Sr) from an inert sample matrix, namely filter paper. With the static extraction method, Sr was extracted with a maximum extraction rate of 97%, and Nb was extracted with a maximum extraction rate of 75%. Additionally, we were also able to extract Co and Zr with maximum extract ion ratesof 73% and 64%, respectively.