• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.3691-3695
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• 2012

Photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in ferric-tartrate system under irradiation of visible light was investigated. Effects of light resources, initial pH value and initial concentration of various reactants on Cr(VI) photocatalytic reduction were studied. Photoreaction kinetics was discussed and a possible photochemical pathway was proposed. The results indicate that Fe(III)-tartrate system is able to rapidly and effectively photocatalytically reduce Cr(VI) utilizing visible light. Initial pH variations resulte in the concentration changes of Fe(III)-tartrate complex in this system, and pH at 3.0 is optimal for Cr(VI) photocatalytic reduction. Efficiency of Cr(VI) photocatalytic reduction increases with increasing initial concentrations of Cr(VI), Fe(III) and tartrate. Kinetics analysis indicates that initial Fe(III) concentration affects Cr(VI) photoreduction most significantly.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2013

In this study, the photocatalytic reactor system equipped with photocatalyst-carrying-silica-media cartridges [photocatalytic reactor system (1)] was used to perform the treatment of waste air containing malodor and volatile organic compound (VOC). The result of its performance was evaluated and compared with that of the photocatalytic reactor system equipped with commercial photocatalyst-carrying-nonwoven filter-media cartridges [photocatalytic reactor system (2)]. In case of photocatalytic reactor system (1), at the 1st stage of run the removal efficiencies of ethanol and toluene continued to be 80% and 20%, respectively. However, unlike toluene, the removal efficiency of ethanol dropped to 40% at the end of the 1st stage of run. The removal efficiency of hydrogen sulfide decreased from 100% to 90%. At the 2nd stage of its run the removal efficiency of ethanol decreased to 10% while the removal efficiencies of hydrogen sulfide and toluene remained as same as 90% and 20%, respectively, even though the inlet load of toluene increased by factor of four. In the 3rd stage of its run, as the result of application of aluminium-coated reflector film to the inner wall of photocatalytic reactor system, the removal efficiencies of ethanol and toluene increased by 5% to be 15% and 25%, respectively. In case of photocatalytic reactor system (2), at the 1st stage of its run, the removal efficiencies of ethanol, hydrogen sulfide and toluene continued to be 10%, 97% and 100%, respectively. However, at 2nd stage of its run their removal efficiencies became 5%, 95% and 2~3%, respectively, which showed that the removal efficiencies of ethanol and hydrogen sulfide decreased insignificantly while the removal efficiency of toluene dropped significantly from the perfect elimination. Moreover, the reflector film did not affect the performance of photocatalytic reactor system (2) at all. Therefore the removal of ethanol, hydrogen sulfide and toluene by photocatalytic reactor system (2) was mainly attributed to hydrophobic adsorption of its nonwoven filter media and its extent of photocatalytic removal turned out to be negligible, compared to that of photocatalytic reactor system (1).

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2013

Poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) nanofibers containing different amounts of titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) have been prepared by electrospinning technique. Photocatalytic activity of these electrospun PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers and the effect of $TiO_2$ content on the photocatalytic efficiency of PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers have been evaluated by monitoring the photodecomposition of fluorescein dye, rhodamine B and methylene blue under UV irradiation with respect to irradiation time. Moreover, the effect of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) on the photocatalytic behavior of PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers has also been investigated. The results showed that PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers are effective photocatalyst and their photocatalytic efficiency increases with the increase of $TiO_2$ content in the PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers. It is also observed that the presence of $H_2O_2$ significantly enhances the photocatalytic ability of PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers. The morphology and the photocatalytic behavior of the PAN/$TiO_2$ nanofibers containing different amounts of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles have been investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and UV/Visible spectroscopy, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2013

A selected halogenated organic contaminant, monochlorophenol was successfully degraded by photocatalytic reaction in a circulating batch system. The photocatalytic degradation in most cases follows first-order kinetics. The photocatalytic reaction rate increased in the $TiO_2$ dosage range of 0.1 g/L to 0.4 g/L, then decreased with further increase of the dosage. Also the degradation rate increased over the range of the retention time from 0.49 min. to 0.94 min., then decreased with further increase of the retention time in the circulating batch reactor. The photocatalytic activity was enhanced by addition of metal impurities, platinum(Pt) and palladium(Pd) onto the photocatalysts. The photocatalytic degradation rate increased with the increase of Pt and Pd in the content range of 0 to 2wt %, then decreased with further increase of the metal contents. Therefore the metal loading to $TiO_2$ influence the degradation rate of a halogenated organic compound by acting as electron traps, consequently reducing the electron/positive hole pair recombination rate.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.413-421
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• 2005

This study focused on the decomposition of toluene in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. Hexagonally packed meso-structured Mn-titanosilicates (Mn-Ti-MCM-41), as the photocatalysts, have been prepared by the hydrothermal method. The physical properties of the photocatalysts were characterized using XRD, XPS, TEM, BET/ICP, and $NH_3$/Toluene-TPD. Experiments were carried out at the applied voltage of 9.0 kV and at room temperature of $20^{\circ}C$. In the plasma only system, the activity of the toluene decomposition was higher than that in the photocatalytic system. However, the amount of by-products, such as phenol, $C_2{\sim}C_4$ alkene, was also increased in the plasma only system. However, the by-products decreased remarkably in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system. When Mn5mol%-Ti-MCM-41 was used as a photocatalyst in a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system, the $CO_2$ selectivity in products was increased dramatically compared to other catalysts. It was confirmed that a plasma-photocatalytic hybrid system was better for toluene decomposition compared to photocatalytic and plasma only systems.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.57-65
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• 2002

The photocatalytic degradation of TCE using solar energy in POFR was studied. The use of solar energy was investigated in plastic optica fiber photocatalytic reactor (POFR). In POFR, the main parameters of photocatalytic degradation of TCE were lihgt intensity, thickness of $TiO_2$-coated film on plastic fiber core, the same of total $TiO_2$-coated surface area with changed length. We studied the apparent photonic efficiency and photocatalytic degradation rate of TCE in POFR. The apparent photonic efficiency of various light intensities was decreased by an incresed intensities. The photocatalytic activities of $TiO_2$-coated optical fiber reactor system depended on the coating thickness, and total clad-stripped surface area of POF. Photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene ($C_2HCl_3$, TCE) in the gas-phase was elucidated by using $TiO_2$-coated plastic optical fiber reactor. In TCE degradation, in-situ FTIR measurement resulted in mineralization into $CO_2$.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2008

Photocatalytic oxidations of benzene gas using the closed system (batch reactor) were induced to determine its by-products and investigate the effect of humidity and oxygen concentration on their generation. The study was able to identify 11 gaseous by-products: 2-methylpropene, acetaldehyde, acetone, pentane, methylcyclobutane, methylcyclopentane, cyclohexane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, and hexane. All the by-products were saturated hydrocarbons, which are less toxic than benzene and were probably formed through hydrogenation reaction on the photocatalytic surface. The photocatalytic oxidation of benzene under higher humidity produced less by-products. However, the amount of acetone released increased with higher humidity and oxygen concentration.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.855-864
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• 2006

This study introduces a method to eliminate formaldehyde and benzene, toluene from indoor air by means of a photocatalytic oxidation reaction. In the method introduced, for the good performance of the reaction, the effect and interactions of the $TiO_2$ catalyst and ultraviolet in photocatalytic degradation on the reaction area, dosages of catalysts, humidity and light should be precisely examined and controled. Experiments has been carried out under various intensities of UV light and initial concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene and toluene to investigate the removal efficiency of the pollutants. Reactors in the experiments consist of an annular type Pyrex glass flow reactor and an 11W germicidal lamp. Results of the experiments showed reduction of formaldehyde, benzene and toluene in ultraviolet $/TiO_2/$ activated carbon processes (photooxidation-photocatalytic oxidation-adsorption processes), from 98% to 90%, from 98% to 93% and from 99% to 97% respectively. Form the results we can get a conclusion that a ultraviolet/Tio2/activated carbon system used in the method introduced is a powerful one for th treatment of formaldehyde, benzene and toluene of indoor spaces.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.133-139
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• 2014

In this research, the photocatalytic degradation of benzothiophene in $TiO_2$ aqueous suspension has been studied. $TiO_2$ photocatalysts are prepared by a sol-gel method. The dominant anatase-structure on $TiO_2$ particles is observed after calcining the $TiO_2$ gel at $500^{\circ}C$ for 1hr. Photocatalysts with various transition metals (Nd, Pd and Pt) loading are tested to evaluate the effect of transition metal impurities on photodegradation. The photocatalytic degradation in most cases follows first-order kinetics. The maximum photodegradation efficiency is obtained with $TiO_2$ dosage of 0.4g/L. The photodegradation efficiency with Pt-$TiO_2$ is higher than pure $TiO_2$ powder. The optimal content value of Pt is 0.5wt.%. Also we investigate the applicability of $H_2O_2$ to increase the efficiency of the $TiO_2$ photocatalytic degradation of benzothiophene. The optimal concentration of $H_2O_2$ is 0.05. The effect of pH is investigated; we obtain the maximum photodegradation efficiency at pH 9. Hydroxy-benzothiophenes and dihydroxy-benzothiophenes are identified as reaction intermediates. It is proposed that benzothiophene is oxidized by OH radical to sequentially form hydroxyl-benzothiophenes, dihydroxybenzothiophenes, and benzothiophenedione.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1302-1307
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• 2006

This study describes the preparation of high-performance photocatalyst and its environmental applications. We prepared visible-light response nano-particle photocatalyst exhibiting the similar photocatalytic activity with $TiO_2$, dispersed $TiO_2$ on $SiO_2$ with an active rutile type titanium oxide prepared at low temperature. The binder and stable photocatalytic $TiO_2$ sol for photocatalytic system were also prepared. Such products were evaluated by UV/Vis spectrometer, X-ray diffraction analysis, SEM, measurement of photocatalytic activities and surface area, mechanical properties of $TiO_2$-coated surfaces. The results obtained can be applied in efficient photocatalytic systems using POF and metal plate for the purification of air.