Junseo Park, Hyeon Soo Kwon, Oh Ruem Lee, Won Gyu Lee
{"title":"Surface Modification of Expanded Graphite with Copper Nanoparticles by Supercritical Method and its Thermal Properties","authors":"Junseo Park, Hyeon Soo Kwon, Oh Ruem Lee, Won Gyu Lee","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00780-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00780-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Copper nanoparticle–expanded graphite (CuNPs/EG) composites were developed to improve through-plane heat transport in graphite-based thermal interface materials (TIMs). Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthesized by chemical reduction using polyethylene glycol and ascorbic acid to suppress aggregation and oxidation, and were then incorporated into expanded graphite (EG) by a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂)-assisted intercalation process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of metallic CuNPs, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed a particle size distribution of approximately 150–650 nm with a main peak near 350 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that ethanol used as a co-solvent produced a more homogeneous distribution of Cu species within the expanded interlayer voids and porous regions of EG than isopropyl alcohol. Cross-sectional SEM/EDS analysis further showed Cu-containing particles distributed inside the composite film. After 14 days of air exposure at 25 °C and 40% relative humidity, only weak oxygen signals were detected from CuNPs embedded within EG, indicating improved oxidation stability. Laser flash analysis showed that the CuNPs/EG composite prepared using ethanol exhibited a through-plane thermal conductivity of 8.402 W/m·K, a 124.5% increase compared with pristine EG, while retaining an in-plane thermal conductivity of 90.854 W/m·K. These results demonstrate that ethanol-assisted scCO₂ intercalation is an effective strategy for developing oxidation-stable CuNPs/EG composites with enhanced through-plane thermal transport.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 13","pages":"3511 - 3526"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149190019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Efficient Solvent-Free Mesitylene Synthesis from Acetone using Amorphous NbOPO4 Catalyst","authors":"Jimin Kang, Mahlet N. Gebresillase, Jeong Gil Seo","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00771-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00771-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The utilization of biomass-derived acetone into high-value aromatics offers a sustainable alternative to fossil-based processes. In this study, niobium phosphate catalysts with varying P/Nb molar ratios were synthesized and evaluated for the solvent-free aldol condensation of acetone to mesitylene. Among the catalysts, NbOPO<sub>4</sub>(0.75) exhibited the highest surface area (277.2 m<sup>2</sup>/g) with moderate acid sites, leading to the highest acetone conversion and mesitylene selectivity. Comprehensive catalyst characterization—including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), <sup>31</sup>P solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (<sup>31</sup>P-NMR), ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH<sub>3</sub>-TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)—showed synergistic correlations between P/Nb ratio, acidity, morphology, and catalytic activity. Reaction condition screening showed that a temperature of 220 °C and a moderate pressure of 5 bar Ar maximized mesitylene selectivity while minimizing side reactions such as acetic acid formation and polymerization. The amorphous NbOPO<sub>4</sub> catalyst also exhibited good recyclability with stable selectivity over cycles. This work demonstrates the potential of amorphous NbOPO<sub>4</sub> as an efficient and reusable solid acid catalyst for upgrading bio-derived acetone into renewable fuel additives.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 13","pages":"3497 - 3509"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Elevating Electrochemical Performance of CuS@ZnS Nanocomposite for Supercapacitor Applications","authors":"Tamoor Ahmad, Samira Elaissi, Tahani Rahil Aldhafeeri, Syed Kashif Ali, Abhinav Kumar","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00758-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00758-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Supercapacitors are now thought to be the best storage devices; however electrochemical functioning is completely reliant on the composition of the electrode. This study describes the creation of CuS, ZnS and the hydrothermal creation of CuS@ZnS nanocomposite as electrode material for supercapacitors. The nanocomposite demonstrates well defined morphology, clear crystal structure along with greater surface area via scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. Additionally, evaluation of the electrochemical effectiveness of produced materials was done with varying electrochemical techniques. The pure exhibit specific capacitance (C<sub>s</sub>) of (435 F g<sup>− 1</sup>), while CuS@ZnS nanocomposite manifested a greater C<sub>s</sub> is 785 F g<sup>− 1</sup> at 1 A g<sup>− 1</sup>. According to the overall performance investigation, enhanced morphology and superior electrochemical characteristics of CuS@ZnS nanocomposite make it a better supercapacitor electrode. This study has not only identified an efficient supercapacitor electrode material but also highlighted the importance of composite materials fabricated via easy and affordable approaches for energy storing processes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 11","pages":"3117 - 3130"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application and Research Status of Microwave Technology in the Depolymerization Process of Polymer","authors":"Dejun Zou, Rui Wang, Fen Zhou, Zhe Li, Zhaohui Han, Lei Xu","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00778-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00778-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the widespread application of polymer materials, research on their depolymerization has also advanced significantly. For natural polymer materials, depolymerization enables the production of high-value chemicals and alternatives to fossil fuels; for synthetic polymer materials, it facilitates resource recovery and circular reuse. Traditional depolymerization methods (such as thermal cracking, hydrolysis, and alcoholysis) suffer from harsh reaction conditions, poor product controllability, and high energy consumption. Microwave-assisted depolymerization, characterized by selective heating and rapid reaction, is an efficient and energy-saving technology for polymer chemical recycling and high-value conversion. This review summarizes the principles and advantages of microwave-assisted depolymerization technology, highlighting recent progress in microwave depolymerization studies of natural polymers such as lignin, chitosan, starch, and cellulose, as well as synthetic polymers including poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC). The review analyzes the catalytic mechanisms involved in microwave depolymerization, discusses the influence of reaction conditions on depolymerization efficiency, and explores the challenges and future directions of this technology, providing valuable insights for the research and resource utilization of polymer depolymerization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 13","pages":"3465 - 3482"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ajit Dattatray Phule, Sung Min Park, Ji Young Park, Nuri Sagong, Jae Hwan Yang
{"title":"Synergistic NOx Elimination at Low Temperature by Metal Oxide/ Nitrogen Doped Mesoporous Carbon Catalyst","authors":"Ajit Dattatray Phule, Sung Min Park, Ji Young Park, Nuri Sagong, Jae Hwan Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00779-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00779-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (NDC) and vanadium-doped (V₂O₅/NDC) catalysts were synthesized and systematically investigated for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOₓ with NH₃. Undoped mesoporous carbon (MPC) exhibited poor NOₓ conversion (< 10%) over 80–350 °C. In contrast, NDC catalysts showed significantly enhanced performance, achieving > 40% NOₓ conversion with high N₂ selectivity (> 95%) between 170 and 290 °C, with NDC1.5 reaching ~ 95% conversion at 230 °C. To further optimize activity, V₂O₅ (1–10 wt%) was loaded onto NDC1. The optimal 7VNDC1 catalyst achieved > 90% NOₓ conversion (98% at 230 °C) and 95% N₂ selectivity across 200–290 °C. Moreover, 7VNDC1 demonstrated excellent durability, maintaining 92% NOₓ conversion and 99% N₂ selectivity over 12 h at 200 °C. Physicochemical characterizations revealed high surface areas (1191–1804 m²/g) and mesoporosity favorable for gas adsorption. They also confirmed successful N-doping, predominantly as pyrrolic nitrogen (N-5), and homogeneous dispersion of vanadium species, which synergistically improved redox properties. In-situ DRIFTS studies revealed that both Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanisms operate at 200 °C, with Eley-Rideal being dominant. Overall, this work demonstrates that V₂O₅-loaded NDC is a highly effective, stable low-temperature SCR catalyst, offering a promising route for NOₓ mitigation with minimal secondary emissions.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 13","pages":"3483 - 3496"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149188954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guanghua Cai, Jun Li, Lei Wu, Yang Li, Zhendong Ouyang, Xiaofei Li, Yunxiao Wen, Jian Yang, Ximei Fan
{"title":"The Presence of Oxygen Vacancies and Protonation Promotes Photogenerated Charge Separation and Singlet Oxygen Generation for Efficient Removal of Gaseous Toluene Under Visible Light","authors":"Guanghua Cai, Jun Li, Lei Wu, Yang Li, Zhendong Ouyang, Xiaofei Li, Yunxiao Wen, Jian Yang, Ximei Fan","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00772-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00772-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of effective technologies for degrading low-concentration volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments remains a critical challenge in environmental remediation. In this work, a Bi<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>6</sub>-based photocatalyst featuring oxygen vacancies (OVs) and protonation was successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method followed by acid treatment. The optimized catalyst exhibited remarkable performance in degrading low-concentration toluene (30 ppm), achieving 95.43% and 97.44% degradation rates under visible-light irradiation for 120 min in air and pure oxygen atmospheres. Mechanistic studies revealed that the introduced oxygen vacancies effectively suppress photo-induced carrier recombination, while protonation enhances molecular oxygen activation, modulates singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>) generation, and facilitates toluene oxidation. This synergistic strategy not only broadens the visible-light absorption range but also enables precise regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The proposed approach demonstrates excellent visible-light responsiveness and ROS controllability under mild conditions, offering a promising solution for addressing widespread environmental pollution through efficient solar-driven VOCs mineralization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 12","pages":"3389 - 3400"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149162904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jae-Hoon Lee, Eun-Hee Park, Jae-Hong Shin, Deog-Su Park, Dong-Won Lee, Sang-Kon Lee, Jeong-Kwon Suh, Yeon-Soo Hong
{"title":"Constant flow oxygen generation with manganese oxide supported on spherical activated carbon using hydrogen peroxide decomposition","authors":"Jae-Hoon Lee, Eun-Hee Park, Jae-Hong Shin, Deog-Su Park, Dong-Won Lee, Sang-Kon Lee, Jeong-Kwon Suh, Yeon-Soo Hong","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00724-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00724-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In situations where oxygen is scarce or absent, such as during prolonged diving or high-altitude mountaineering, or in cases where breathing becomes impossible due to toxic substances like in fires or chemical, biological, or radiological incidents, a device that supplies a specific amount of oxygen is necessary for survival. A Manganese Oxide/Spherical Activated Carbon (Mn-SPAC) catalyst was produced for the purpose of creating a steady oxygen supply. This was achieved through the carbonization and activation of manganese-exchanged resin under nitrogen and steam conditions. The characteristics of Mn-SPAC were analyzed using pore characteristics analysis, XRD, FE-SEM, and XPS, focusing on the amount of added manganese and carbonization time. To optimize conditions for generating a consistent amount of oxygen, the synthesized catalyst was reacted with 30% hydrogen peroxide, and the amount of oxygen produced was measured. In the optimized reaction setup, a consistent oxygen release was monitored for a duration of 20 min during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Comparative XPS studies conducted pre- and post-reaction demonstrated the oxidation state of manganese following the process. These observations indicate that the newly developed catalyst is best suited for one-time use scenarios.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 11","pages":"2899 - 2909"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rui-Ping Yeh, You-Lin Lai, Franklin Chau-Nan Hong, Yih-Ming Shyu, Yu-Chuan Lin
{"title":"Post-Plasma Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Methane to Light Oxygenates Over Cu- and Ag-Modified CHA Zeolites","authors":"Rui-Ping Yeh, You-Lin Lai, Franklin Chau-Nan Hong, Yih-Ming Shyu, Yu-Chuan Lin","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00776-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00776-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Selective oxidation of methane to light oxygenates under mild conditions remains challenging because thermal activation commonly leads to deep oxidation and carbon deposition. Here, a post-plasma catalysis (PPC) system integrating dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma with Cu- and Ag-exchanged CHA-type zeolites, SAPO-34 and SSZ-13, enabled room-temperature conversion of methane to methanol and other oxygenates. Structural characterization confirmed that the CHA framework was largely preserved after metal exchange, with Cu species finely dispersed within the zeolite matrix, whereas Ag species were located mainly on the external surface. Under mild plasma conditions, CHA-based supports outperformed MFI- and BEA-type zeolites, giving higher selectivity toward oxygenates, including methanol and formaldehyde, together with lower coke formation, underscoring the role of zeolite confinement. Among the catalysts examined, Cu/SAPO-34 and Cu/SSZ-13 showed the best balance of methane conversion and oxygenate selectivity, and maintained performance over five consecutive short-term cycles. The introduction of Ag further shifted the product distribution from methanol toward formaldehyde. These findings identify Cu- and Ag-supported CHA zeolites as promising catalysts for energy-efficient plasma-assisted methane upgrading and highlight the combined importance of zeolite confinement and metal identity in governing oxygenate distribution.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 12","pages":"3401 - 3414"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149162913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Process Performance Evaluation of Modified Semiconductor Scrubber System via Process Simulation","authors":"Subeen Wi, Jonghyuk Yoon, Hyoungwoon Song","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00764-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00764-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In semiconductor manufacturing, nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a major greenhouse gas emitted during processes such as SiO₂ deposition, requiring effective abatement technologies. Conventional semiconductor scrubber systems rely on catalytic thermal decomposition and wet scrubbing but suffer from high energy demand and excessive water consumption. To address these limitations, we designed a modified system integrating a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU) and compared its system performance with a conventional configuration using commercial process simulation. Validation against literature data and experimental measurements confirmed the accuracy of the model. Parametric analysis demonstrated that the modified system reduced power consumption by 55% and achieved a two-fold increase in system efficiency compared with the conventional system, with the optimal performance observed at a reaction temperature of 1,008 K. These results highlight the potential of WHRU-integrated scrubbers to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in semiconductor exhaust gas treatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 12","pages":"3375 - 3387"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Thermodynamic and Emission Performance of SOFC-GT Hybrids with Dual Recirculation Strategies","authors":"Suthin Pholboorn, Yaneeporn Patcharavorachot, Dang Saebea, Amornchai Arpornwichanop","doi":"10.1007/s11814-026-00777-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-026-00777-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Solid oxide fuel cell–gas turbine (SOFC-GT) hybrid systems offer high efficiency and low emissions for sustainable power generation. This study compares two SOFC-GT configurations with different exhaust gas recirculation strategies: SOFC-GT-RAN (anode recirculation) and SOFC-GT-RAB (afterburner recirculation). Both systems were modeled in Aspen Plus using methane with 10% pre-reforming. Parametric analyses were conducted to examine the influence of fuel utilization, steam-to-carbon ratio, SOFC operating temperature, and recirculation ratio on system performance. The results show that SOFC-GT-RAN consistently outperforms SOFC-GT-RAB in terms of power output, efficiency, and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. At optimal conditions (SOFC temperature = 1173 K, fuel utilization = 0.90, steam-to-carbon ratio = 2.0, anode recirculation ratio = 0.30, afterburner recirculation ratio = 0.10), SOFC-GT-RAN achieved SOFC and net powers of 208.51 kW and 207.47 kW, compared to 156.43 kW and 158.01 kW for SOFC-GT-RAB. Energy and exergy efficiencies were 93.18% and 89.81% for RAN, substantially higher than 70.96% and 68.40% for RAB. Moreover, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were lower for RAN (205.98 kg/MWh) than for RAB (268.82 kg/MWh). These findings confirm that anode exhaust gas recirculation provides superior technical and environmental performance, highlighting SOFC-GT-RAN as a promising pathway for efficient and clean hybrid power generation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"43 12","pages":"3415 - 3430"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}