Physicochemical characteristics of ZnS immobilized on spherical activated carbon for removing HA(humic acid)

In this study, spherical activated carbons contained ZnS(Zn-SPAC) were successfully prepared through carbonization/activation processes. Strong acid ion exchange resin as starting material of Zn-SPAC was treated by 0.01 N zinc solution. Ion exchange treatment was performed from one time to three times for controling zinc content. The ion exchanged resins was activated under N ₂/H₂O-vapor atmosphere at 900°C for 0.5 hr following by carbonization treatment at 700°C under N₂ atmosphere. The Zn-SPAC samples were measured physicochemical characteristics such as X-ray patterns, SEM image, energy dispersive X-ray spectra, BET specific surface area, intensity and zinc content and used to remove humic acid(HA) in batch reactor for measuring photochemical activity. The X-ray patterns were appeared ZnS type. The Zn-SPAC had large BET specific surface area and their shape was spherical with a diameter about 350 - 400 μm. When the Zn-SPAC were dosed in UV reactor, the HA removal efficiency increased upto 60 % at 4hr. The order hand, the HA removal efficiency by only UV-C(λmax = 254nm) irradiation was not good about 15 %. Therefore, we infer that the Zn-SPAC have good photochemical activity and presented possibility of photocatalyst for water purification.