• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.632-638
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• 2014

Batch adsorption studies including equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of new fuchsin dye using granular activated carbon were investigated with varying the operating variables such as initial concentration, contact time and temperature. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Temkin isotherms. Adsorption equilibrium was mostly well described by Langmuir Isotherm. From the estimated separation factor of Langmuir ($R_L$ = 0.023), and Freundlich (1/n = 0.198), this process could be employed as an effective treatment for the adsorption of new fuchsin dye. Also based on the adsorption energy (E = 0.002 kJ/mol) from Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm and the adsorption heat constant (B = 1.920 J/mol) from Temkin isotherm, this adsorption is physical adsorption. From kinetic experiments, the adsorption reaction processes were confirmed following the pseudo second order model with good correlation. The intraparticle diffusion was a rate controlling step. Thermodynamic parameters including changes of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also calculated to predict the nature of adsorption. The change of enthalpy (92.49 kJ/mol) and activation energy (11.79 kJ/mol) indicated the endothermic nature of adsorption processes. The change of entropy (313.7 J/mol K) showed an increasing disorder in the adsorption process. The change of free energy found that the spontaneity of process increased with increasing the adsorption temperature.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 1987

This study of adsorption and column percolation was conducted to examine the utilization of natural zeolite for the removal of heavy metals from waste water to compare with that of absorption activated carbon. The adsorption of heavy metals by natural zeolite was conformed to the Freundlich isotherm (1/n values: $0.12{\sim}0.45$, K values: $18.77{\sim}59.48$) and natural zeolite was turned out to be an effective adsorbent of heavy metals. At the same particle size and percolation velocity, zeolite adsorbed a greater amount of heavy metals was adsorbed on natural zeolite than activated carbon. The smaller the particle size, the more heavy metals that were adsorbed. It was postulated that the most effective size as an adsorbent of heavy metals from waste water ranged from 0.5 to 2.0mm. The slower the percolation velocity that of the heavy metal solution in column, the more heavy metals were adsorbed. Natural zeolite in a single solution adsorbed more heavy metals than that in mixed solution, and the order of the adsorption amount on natural zeolite was Cu>Zn>Cd.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2017

Electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) have received a tremendous interest due to their suitability for diverse applications. They have been fabricated using different carbon based electrodes including activated carbons, single walled/multi walled carbon nano tubes. But, graphite which is one of the natural resources in Sri Lanka has not been given a considerable attention towards using for EDLCs though it is a famous carbon material. On the other hand, EDLCs are well reported with various liquid electrolytes which are associated with numerous drawbacks. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) are well known alternative for liquid electrolytes. In this paper, it is reported about an EDLC fabricated with a nano composite polyethylene oxide based GPE and two Sri Lankan graphite based electrodes. The composition of the GPE was [{(10PEO: $NaClO_4$) molar ratio}: 75wt.% PC] : 5 wt.% $TiO_2$. GPE was prepared using the solvent casting method. Two graphite electrodes were prepared by mixing 85% graphite and 15% polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) in acetone and casting n fluorine doped tin oxide glass plates. GPE film was sandwiched in between the two graphite electrodes. A non faradaic charge discharge mechanism was observed from the Cyclic Voltammetry study. GPE was stable in the potential windows from (-0.8 V-0.8 V) to (-1.5 V-1.5 V). By increasing the width of the potential window, single electrode specific capacity increased. Impedance plots confirmed the capacitive behavior at low frequency region. Galvanostatic charge discharge test yielded an average discharge capacity of $0.60Fg^{-1}$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1093-1101
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• 2000

The object of this study was to develop new BNR process using fixed-biofilm which could be applied to retrofit the existing wastewater treatment plant or to introduce as tertiary treatment plant. To achieve complete denitrification from typical raw sewage in Korea, external carbon source must be supplied because $SCOD_{cr}/T-N(NH_4{^+}-N+NOx-N)$of raw sewage was lower than other countries. In this study, the ratio of $SCOD_{cr}/NH_4{^+}-N$ was 2.49 and the influent $NH_4{^+}$-N concentration during the experimental period was varied from 25 to 37 mg/L. To enhance nitrogen removal from the sewage, the two processes using fixed biofilm were adopted as R-Hanoxic/mid.settler/aerobic/anoxic/ aerobic) and R-2(aerobic/mid.settlerlanoxic/anoxic/aerobic), respectively. In the comparison of $NH_4{^+}$-N, T-N effluent quality and T-N removal efficiency in both processes without external carbon source, R-1 process was better than R-2 process for nitrogen removal from raw sewage. With respect to $SCOD_{cr}$/NOx-N ratio and total nitrogen removal in each anoxic reactor of two processes, R-1's was more effective than R-2's for distributing organic matters of raw sewage. In the both processes using fixed biofilm, the amount of required alkalinity to remove unit $NH_4{^+}$-N were 5.18 and 5.76($g{\cdot}CaCO_3/g{\cdot}NH_4{^+}-N_{removed}$), respectively and were lower than activated sludge BNR process(7.14).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.668-674
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• 2005

It is reported that a method for the hydrogen production from the propane decomposition using carbon black as a catalyst is more effective than from the methane decomposition. Since the by-products like CO and $CO_2$ are not produced by the direct decomposition of propane, it is considered as an environmentally sustainable process. In this study, hydrogen was produced by the direct decomposition of propane using either commercial activated carbon or carbon black at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of $500-1,000^{\circ}C$. Resulting products in our experiment were not only hydrogen but also several by-products such as methane, ethylene, ethane, and propylene. Hydrogen yield increased as temperature increased because the amount of those by-products produced in the experiment was inversely proportional to temperature. The achieved hydrogen yield at $750^{\circ}C$ with commercial DCC N330 catalyst was 22.47％ in this study.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.281-294
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• 2012

Filtration using granular media such as quarried sand, anthracite and granular activated carbon is a well-known technique used in both water and wastewater treatment. A relatively new pre-filtration method called pebble matrix filtration (PMF) technology has been proved effective in treating high turbidity water during heavy rain periods that occur in many parts of the world. Sand and pebbles are the principal filter media used in PMF laboratory and pilot field trials conducted in the UK, Papua New Guinea and Serbia. However during first full-scale trials at a water treatment plant in Sri Lanka in 2008, problems were encountered in sourcing the required uniform size and shape of pebbles due to cost, scarcity and Government regulations on pebble dredging. As an alternative to pebbles, hand-made clay pebbles (balls) were fired in a kiln and their performance evaluated for the sustainability of the PMF system. These clay balls within a filter bed are subjected to stresses due to self-weight and overburden, therefore, it is important that clay balls should be able to withstand these stresses in water saturated conditions. In this paper, experimentally determined physical properties including compression failure load (Uniaxial Compressive Strength) and tensile strength at failure (theoretical) of hand-made clay balls are described. Hand-made clay balls fired between the kiln temperatures of $875^{\circ}C$ to $960^{\circ}C$ gave failure loads of between 3.0 kN and 7.1 kN. In another test when clay balls were fired to $1250^{\circ}C$ the failure load was 35.0 kN compared to natural Scottish cobbles with an average failure load of 29.5 kN. The uniaxial compressive strength of clay balls obtained by experiment has been presented in terms of the tensile yield stress of clay balls. Based on the effective stress principle in soil mechanics, a method for the estimation of maximum theoretical load on clay balls used as filter media is proposed and compared with experimental failure loads.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.228-234
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• 1998

Among various water contaminents, organic compounds like phenol are difficult to be removed or destroyed by conventional methods under the unusual discharge conditions. The separation of phenol from aqueous solution has been carried out by several methods recently: absorption by an activated carbon, solvent extraction and liquid membrane technology. The liquid membrane based on water-oil emulsification has been tested as an alternative technology of the conventional technology. In this work, tri-n-butyl phosphate(TBP) and liquid polymers were examined as a liquid membrane in the supported liquid membrane(SLM). The feed concentration of phenol was varied and various types of liquid membranes were used to examine their effects on separation of phenol. It was found that TBP, polypropylene glycol 4000(PPG 4000) and polybutytene glycol 500(PBG 500) were proper carriers because mass transfer rates through them were much higher than or similar to that through methyl isobutyl ketone(MIBK) which was used as a conventional solvent in a solvent extraction process.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

The cement industry brought very severe environment problems with massive carbon dioxide during its production. To solve this problem, attempts on Alkali-Activated Slag (AAS) concrete that perfectly substitutes industrial by-products such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) for cement are being actively made. AAS concrete is possible to have high strength development at room temperature, however, it is difficult to ensure the working time due to the fast setting time and the loss of workabillity because of the alkali reaction. In this study, the early age properties of alkali activated slag mortar are investigated to obtain the fundamental data for AAS concrete application to structural members. The water-binder ratio (W/B) was fixed at 0.35 and sodium hydroxide and waterglass as alkali activator was used. The compressive strength, the flow and the ultrasonic pulse velocity were measured according to the type of superplasticisers, which were naphthalene(N), lignin(L), melamine(M) and PC(P), up to a maximum of 2 percent by the mass of GGBFS. The results showed that adding melamine type of superplasticizer improved the fluidity of AAS mortar without decreasing the compressive strength, while naphthalene and polycarbonate type of superplasticizer had little effect on the fluidity of AAS mortar.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the addition of activated charcoal (AC) and oak charcoal on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient disappearance, and ruminal gas production. AC and oak charcoal were added at the levels of 0.50, and 1.00 % to experimental diet (roughage/concentrate ratio ; 2/8). Ruminal pH and ammonia-N tended to increase by adding AC(P<0.05). But oak charcoal did not affect the ruminal pH and ammonia-N. Although not significant, ruminal total VFA and molar percentage of butyric acid tended to decrease in AC diets. but molar percentage of acetate and propionate were not affected by adding AC. Ruminal degradation of dry matter, crude protein, NDF, and ADF in AC diets tended to increase than in non-AC diet, however, no tendency in ruminal degradation of hemicellulose was observed. Ruminal gas production tended to increase in the AC and oak charcoal diets(P<0.05). Although there appeared some beneficial effects in adding AC to ruminant diets in this study, more works should be done with AC before we can make clear conclusion on the use of AC in the ruminant diets.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1281-1286
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• 2008

Nitrous oxide(N$_2$O) is well known as a greenhouse gas that contributes to the global warming (310 times more per molecule than carbon dioxide) and to the destruction of the ozone layer. The objective of this study is to estimate N$_2$O emission factor using an emission isolation flux chamber from municipal wastewater treatment plants. N$_2$O gas was analysed by GC/ECD with 6 port gas sampling valve. The results of this study were as follows. N$_2$O emission factor of 5-Stage process from Y wastewater treatment plants was lowest as 0.94 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN. And that of other processes were 2.65 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN for Activated sludge process, 9.30 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN for Denipho process, and 26.73 g-N$_2$O/kg-TN for Sequencing Batch Reactor process. We have known that 5-Stage process is most appropriate process to reduce greenhouse for municipal wastewater treatment plants.