In the present work, bismuth nanopowders with various particle size distributions were synthesized by controlling argon (Ar) gas flow rate and chamber pressure of a gas condensation (GC) apparatus. From the analyses of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and nitrogen gas adsorption results, it was found that as Ar gas flow rate increased, the specific surface area of bismuth increased and the average particles size decreased. On the other hand, as the chamber pressure increased, the specific surface area of bismuth decreased and the average particles size increased. The optimum gas flow rate and chamber pressure for the maximized electrochemical active surface area were determined to be 8 L/min and 50 torr, respectively. The bismuth nanopowders synthesized at the above condition exhibit 13.47 of specific surface area and 45.6 nm of average particles diameter.

Synthesis gas is a high valued compound as a basic chemicals at various chemical processes. Synthesis gas is mainly produced commercially by a steam reforming process. However, the process is highly endothermic so that the process is very energy-consuming process. Thus, this study was carried out to produce synthesis gas by the partial oxidation of methane to decrease the energy cost. The effects of reaction temperature and flow rate of reactants on the methane conversion, product selectivity, product ratio, and carbon deposition were investigated with 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor. With the fluidized bed reactor, CH4 conversion was 91%, and Hz and CO selectivities were both 98% at 850℃ and total flow rate of 100 mL/min. These values were higher than those of fixed bed reactor. From this result, we found that with the use of the fluidized bed reactor it was possible to avoid the disadvantage of fixed bed reactor (explosion) and increase the productivity of synthesis gas.

The effects of reaction temperature and flow rate of reactants on the methane conversion, product selectivity, product ratio, and carbon deposition were investigated with 13wt% Ni/MgO catalyst. Reaction temperatures were changed from 600 to 850℃, and reactants flow rates were changed from 100 to 200 mL/mim. There were no significant changes in the methane conversion observed in the range of temperatures used. It is possibly stemmed from the nearly total exhaustion of oxygen introduced. The selectiveties of hydrogen and carbon monoxide did not largely depend on the reaction temperature. The selectivities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide were 96 and 90%, respectively. Carbon deposition observed was the smallest at 750℃ and the largest at 850℃. It is found that the proper reaction temperature is 750℃. The best reactant flow rate was 150 ml/min.

Dielectric barrier discharge plasma is a new technique in water pollutant degradation, which that is characterized by the production of chemically active species such as hydroxyl radicals, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, etc. If dissolving of plasma gas generated in the plasma reaction has increased, it is possible to increase the contaminant removal capacity. In this study, the improvement on the dissolving performance of plasma gas was evaluated by the indirect method measuring the overall oxygen transfer coefficient. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of nozzle type, distance from water surface, air supply rate and liquid circulation rate. The experimental results showed that the KLa value of the 3-prong nozzle is 2.67 times higher than the diffuser. The order of KLa value with nozzle type ranked in the following order: 3-prong nozzle (inner diameter, less 1 mm) > circular nozzle (inner diameter, 1.5 mm) > ellipse nozzle (short diameter 1 mm, long diameter 2.5 mm) > circular nozzle (inner diameter, 3 mm). Optimal liquid circulation rate was appeared to be 1.7 L/min, the value of KLa was 0.510 1/min. The value of KLa with increasing air supply rate was revealed in the form of an exponential such as KLa=0.3581e0.2919＊air flow rate

The sludge flotation/thickening apparatus equipped a micro-bubble generating pump was used to investigate micro-bubble generating properties on operational parameters. We evaluated micro-bubble generating properties as results to be operated the apparatus by operational parameters which are pump discharge pressure, air/water ratio(A/W ratio), air flow rate, and water flow rate. Micro-bubble generating efficiencies in pumps without recycling flow and with 50% of recycling flow was found to be very efficient on optimum A/W ratio from 1.06 to 3.62% and optimum A/W ratio from 1.05 to 4.06%, respectively. In condition of 3.6% of A/W ratio, we showed that the apparatus could be generated 36,000 ppm of micro-bubble concentration to be optimum treatment efficiency in sludge thickening process.