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The feasibility of applying nanoscale TiO2/coconut shell powder (TCNSP) composite to remove HA in aqueous solution was evaluated, and the optimization of the photocatalytic systems using newly developed TCNSP composite was performed. The developed TCNSP composite has high specific surface area (i.e., 454 m2/g) and great porosity (i.e., 66.9%) with pore size of less than 5 μm. High removal efficiencies (≥95%) of HA were observed due to the significant synergistic effects by coupling adsorption and photocatalytic reaction of TCNSP composite. As the initial concentration of HA increased, the degradation rate (Kapp) decreased due to HA sorption saturation to the surface of TCNSP composite and the photon interception by HA molecules in aqueous solution. Since the increased loading amount of TCNSP composite enhanced the number of active sites,Kappvalues increased until the optimum loading amount of TCNSP composite. As pH values increased, HA removal efficiency decreased due to increasing electrostatic repulsion between HA and TCNSP composite. Based on the response surface methodology, higher HA removal efficiencies were obtained with acidic condition, longer reaction time, and appropriated loading amount of TCNSP. Further pilot-scale study is in progress using TCNSP composite combined with UVC to remove HA from large amounts of surface water (i.e., 200 m3/d).

An innovative nanoscale ZnO/polybutadiene rubber composite (ZBRC) was developed as a valid alternative to TiO 2 particles or immobilized TiO 2 for the mineralization of chlorinated hydrocarbons without difficulties in the recovery of nanoscale photocatalyst particles. A synergistic increase in the removal of 1,1,2-trichloroethylene (TCE) through the coupled reaction processes (i.e., sorption, photolysis, and photocatalysis) was observed because sorption of TCE to the ultraviolet(UV)-transparent polybutadiene rubber occurred, and was coupled with the heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions with nanoscale ZnO particles on the surface of ZBRC. The removal rate of TCE decreased with an increase in the initial concentration of TCE because of both inhibited generation of electron-hole pairs and deficiency of photons to activate ZnO particles. Also, the TCE removal rate increased as the loading amount of ZBRC increased. Based on satisfactory linear regressions (R 2 ≥ 0.94) between the apparent degradation rate constant (K app ) and the initial concentration vs. the ZBRC loading amount, the K app values can be estimated, a priori, without performing photocatalytic experiments. The removal efficiencies were more significantly affected by the changes in the initial concentration of TCE and the ZBRC loading amounts than by the changes in light intensity and pH in aqueous solutions. From the results of response surface analysis, the greater removal efficiencies of TCE were achieved with higher pH values, greater amounts of ZBRC, and greater intensity of light. Based on these results, newly-developed ZBRC with both high removal efficiency and low cost performs as a valid alternative to TiO 2 particles or immobilized TiO 2 for the mineralization of chlorinated hydrocarbons in various environmental and industrial matrices.

In this study, the various organic supports (i.e., silicone, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, epoxy, and, butadiene rubber) with great sorption capacity of organic contaminants were chosen to develop nano-ZnO/organic composites (NZOCs) and to prevent the detachment of nano-ZnO particles. The water resistance of the developed NZOCs were evaluated, and the feasibility of the developed NZOCs were investigated by evaluating the removal efficiency of 1,1,2-trichloroethylene (TCE) in the aqueous phase. Based on the results from water-resistance experiments, long-term water treatment usage of all NZOCs was found to be feasible. According to the FE-SEM, EDX, and imaging analysis, nano-ZnO/butadiene rubber composite (NZBC) with various sizes and types of porosity and crack was measured to be coated with relatively homogeneously-distributed nano-ZnO particles whereas nano-ZnO/silicone composite (NZSC), nano-ZnO/ABS composite (NZAC), and nano-ZnO/epoxy composite (NZEC) with poorly-developed porosity and crack were measured to be coated with relatively heterogeneously-distributed nano-ZnO particles. The sorption capacity of NZBC was close to 60% relative to the initial concentration, and this result was mainly attributed to the amorphous structure of NZBC, hence the hydrophobic partitioning of TCE to the amorphous structure of NZBC intensively occurred. The removal efficiency of TCE in aqueous phase using NZBC was close to 99% relative to the initial concentration, and the removal efficiency of TCE was improved as the amount of NZBC increased. These results stemmed from the synergistic mechanisms with great sorption capability of butadiene rubber and superior photocatalytic activities of nano-ZnO. Finally, the removal efficiency of TCE in aqueous phase using NZBC was well represented by linear model (R 2 ≥0.936), and the Kapp values of NZBC were from 2.64 to 3.85 times greater than those of Kphotolysis, indicating that butadiene rubber was found to be the suitable organic supporting materials with enhanced sorption capacity and without inhibition of photocatalytic activities of nano-ZnO.

In order to overcome drawbacks (i.e., filtration and recovery) of conventional powder type photocatalysts, nano-ZnO/Laponite/PVA (ZLP) photocatalyzed adsorption balls were developed by using in situ mixing of nanoscale ZnO as a photocatalyst, and Laponite as both adsorbent and supporting media in deionized water, followed by the poly vinyl alcohol polymerization with boric acid. The optimum mixing ratio of nano-ZnO:Laponite:PVA:deionized water was found to be 3:1:1:16 (by weight), and the mesh and film produced by PVA polymerization with boric acid might inhibit both swelling of Laponite and detachment of nanoscale ZnO from ZLP balls. Drying ZLP balls with microwave (600 watt) was found to produce ZLP balls with stable structure in water, and various sizes (55~500 µm) of pore were found to be distributed based on SEM and TEM results. In the initial period of reaction (i. e., 40 min), adsorption through ionic interaction between methylene blue and Laponite was the main removal mechanism. After the saturation of methylene blue to available adsorption sites for Laponite, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue occurred. The effective removal of methylene blue was attributed to adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. Based on the results from this study, synthesized ZLP photocatalyzed adsorption balls were expected to remove recalcitrant organic compounds effectively through both adsorption and photocatalytic degradation, and the risks of environmental receptors caused by detachment of nanoscale photocatalysts can be reduced.

We measured chrominance of chrysotile powder using a colorimeter and a luminance meter under different light sources with seven color filters to test feasibility for the real time asbestos detector development. Chrysotile powder was prepared by heating asbestos fabric at 150 °C for 1hr and hydrochloric acid treatment was followed to remove other elements. Refractive index liquid was used as a color changing analyte to observe the change in chrominance of chrysotile. From the measurements, it revealed that a colorimeter was more suitable for the chrysotile detection by the maximum change in chrominance, especially in the short wave length range of blue regions. A luminance meter was not able to separate the difference in chrominance depending on different color and light sources regardless dyeing. It might be due to that reflected light from chrysotile particle was relatively weaker than that from illuminated area. It is our suggestion that the real time monitoring of asbestos in indoor air can be possible using a color sensor, specified to the unique wavelength of dyed chrysotile based on our chrominance data.