The intensive development of the petrochemical industry globally reflects the necessity of an efficient approach for oily sludge and wastewater. Hence, for the first time, the current study utilized magnetic waxy diesel sludge (MWOPS) to synthesize activated carbon coated with TiO2 particles for the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and COD from oily petroleum wastewater (OPW). The photocatalyst was characterized using CHNOS, elemental analysis was performed using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), Raman, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), MAP thermo-gravimetric analysis/ differential thermo-gravimetric (TGA–DTG), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The optimization of synthesized highly porous AC/Fe3O4/TiO2 photocatalyst was conducted considering the impacts of pH, temperature, photocatalyst dosage, and UVA6W exposure time. The results demonstrated the high capacity of the MWOPS with inherent magnetic potential and desired carbon content for the removal of 91% and 93% of TPH and COD, respectively. The optimum conditions for the OPW treatment were obtained at pH 6.5, photocatalyst dosage of 250 mg, temperature of 35 °C, and UVA6W exposure time of 67.5 min. Moreover, the isotherm/kinetic modeling illustrated simultaneous physisorption and chemisorption on heterogeneous and multilayer surfaces. Notably, the adsorption efficiency of the AC/Fe3O4/TiO2 decreased by 4% after five adsorption/desorption cycles. Accordingly, the application of a well-designed pioneering photocatalyst from the MWOPS provides a cost-effective approach for industry manufacturers for oily wastewater treatment.

Industrial activities that utilize nuclear technology can cause radioactive contamination in the ecosystems. In particular, cesium (Cs) has problems, such as neurological diseases, when it is exposed and accumulated in the bodies of animals, plants, and humans for a long time. Therefore, the development of simple and economical adsorbents for Cs removal is required. In this study, the surface of petroleum residue pitch was modified using NaClO and it was used to remove Cs from an aqueous solution. Batch experiments and characterization of the modified adsorbent were performed to determine the adsorption mechanism between the adsorbent and Cs. From these results, chemical and monolayer adsorption were found to occur at the carboxyl groups on the adsorbent surface, along with a cation exchange reaction occurred due to the sodium ions on the surface. Through this modification process, the total acidity, including phenolic, lactonic and carboxylic functional groups, was improved to 1.563 mmol/g and the maximum adsorption capacity of Cs for the modified adsorbent was 65.8 mg/g.

The lithium-ion battery has been utilized in various fields including energy storage system, portable electronic devices and electric vehicles due to their high energy and power densities, low self-discharge, and long cycle-life performances. However, despite of various research on electrode materials, there is a lack of research on developing of binder to replace conventional polymer-based binding materials. In this work, petroleum pitch (MP-50)/polymer (polyurethane, PU) composite binder for lithium-ion battery has fabricated not only to use as a binding material, but also to re-place conventional polymer-based binder. The MP-50/PU composite binder has also prepared to various ratios between petroleum pitch and polymer to optimize the physical and electro-chemical performance of the lithium-ion battery based on the MP-50/PU composite binder. The physical and electrochemical performances of the MP-50/PU composite binder-based lithium-ion battery were evaluated using a universal testing machine (UTM), charge/discharge test. As a result, lithium-ion battery based on the MP-50/PU composite (5:5, mass ratio) binder showed optimized performances with 1.53 gf mm− 1 of adhesion strength, 341 mAh g− 1 of specific discharge capacity and 99.5% of ICE value.

In recent times, there has been a significant demand for supercapacitors in energy storage applications due to their rapid charging– discharging capabilities, high power density, and excellent stability. Nevertheless, the synthesis of electrode materials with a substantial surface area, exceptionally high porosity, and superior electrochemical performance is still challenging. Activated carbons with a distinctive porous structure and exceptional electrochemical properties emerged as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors. In this study, we used a porous activated carbon (PAC) derived from petroleum coke followed by KOH activation as an efficient anodic electrode material. The ultra-high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 2105.6 m2 g− 1 with stacked layers of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional hexagonal structure makes the PAC an efficient candidate for a supercapacitor electrode. The PAC delivers a specific capacitance of 470 F g− 1 at a current density of 0.5 A g− 1 over a potential window of 0 to −1 V. The excellent cycling stability in a three-electrode setup with a capacitance retention of ⁓98% even at a high current density of 10 A g− 1 makes the PAC a potential anodic electrode material for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

The lithium ion battery has applied to various fields of energy storage systems such as electric vehicle and potable electronic devices in terms of high energy density and long-life cycle. Despite of various research on the electrode and electrolyte materials, there is a lack of research for investigating of the binding materials to replace polymer based binder. In this study, we have investigated petroleum pitch/polymer composite with various ratios between petroleum pitch and polymer in order to optimize the electrochemical and physical performance of the lithium-ion battery based on petroleum pitch/polymer composite binder. The electrochemical and physical performances of the petroleum pitch/polymer composite binder based lithium-ion battery were evaluated by using a charge/discharge test, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and universal testing machine (UTM). As a result, the petroleum pitch(MP-50)/polymer(PVDF) composite (5:5 wt % ratio) binder based lithium-ion battery showed 1.29 gf mm-1 of adhesion strength with 144 mAh g-1 of specific dis-charge capacity and 93.1 % of initial coulombic efficiency(ICE) value.

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to valuable chemicals is a promising way of storing renewable energy through electric-to-chemical energy conversion, while its large-scale application is in urgent need of cheap and high-performance catalysts. Herein, we invent a convenient method to synthesize N-doped porous carbon by ammonia etching the pyrolysis carbon of petroleum pitch. We found the ammonia etching treatment not only increase the pyridinic-N content, but also enlarge the specific surface area of the petroleum pitch-based porous carbon. As a cheap and easily available catalyst for carbon dioxide electroreduction, up to 82% of Faradaic efficiency towards carbon monoxide was obtained at − 0.9 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M KHCO3. After a long time electrocatalysis of more than 20 h, the Faradaic efficiency of carbon monoxide remains 80%, indicating the porous carbon as made have an ultra-high stability as catalyst for carbon dioxide reduction. Our work provides a new technology to economically prepare efficient electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction.

자그로스 습곡대는 신생대 시기에 아라비아 판과 유라시아 판이 충돌하며 형성되었다. 이 습곡대는 터키에서 호르므즈 지역까지 북서-남동 방향으로 2,000 km 이어진 산맥을 이룬다. 전세계 석유의 약 8%가 자그로스 산맥(충상단 층)의 전면부에 발달한 습곡으로 이루어진 배사구조에 집적되어 있다. 지금까지 알려진 자그로스 지역의 5개 석유시스템 가운데 백악기 중기-마이오세 초기 석유 시스템의 원시 자원량이 가장 많다. 백악기 중기-마이오세 초기 석유 시스템의 근원암은 Kazhdumi층과 Pabdeh층으로 석유 생성 이상으로 숙성되었으며, 저류암은 Bangestan층군(Sarvak, Ilam 층)과 Asmari층이며, 덮개암은 증발잔류암층인 Gachsaran층과 셰일층인 Gurpi층이다. Bangestan층군과 Asmari층에 트랩되어 있는 원유는 90%이상이 Kazhdumi층에서 기원하였고 그 외 나머지 원유는 Pabdeh층에서 기원하였다. 데즈풀만 지역에서 고각의 배사구조를 이루고 있는 Asmari, Sarvak, Khami층은 이미 많은 부분이 탐사된 반면 좀더 깊은 곳에 위치한 퇴적층과 저각의 소규모 배사구조는 아직 탐사되지 않았다. 그러므로 이 지역의 개발 잠재력은 자그로스 습 곡대 석유시스템의 이해를 필요로 한다.

Pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) is used for the manufacturing of high-purity pitch for carbon precursor due to its high carbon content, high aromaticity, and low heterogeneous element and impurity content. Pitch is commonly classified with its softening point, which is most considerable physical property affecting to various characteristics of the carbon materials based on pitch, such as electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and pore property. Hence, the softening point should be controlled to apply pitch to produce various carbon materials for different applications. Previous studies introduce reforming process under high pressure and two step heat treatment for the synthesis of pitch with high softening point from PFO. These methods lead to a high process cost; therefore, it is necessary to develop a process to synthesize the pitch with high softening point by using energy effective process at a low temperature. In this study, waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was added to control the softening point of PFO-based pitch. The pitch synthesized by the heat treatment with the addition of PET showed the softening point higher than that of the pitch synthesized with only PFO. The softening point of PFObased pitch synthesized at 420 °C was 138.3 °C, while that of the pitch synthesized by adding PET under the same process conditions was 342.8 °C. It is proposed that the effect of the PET addition on the increase in the softening point was due to the radicals generated from thermal degradation of PET. The radicals from PET react with the PFO molecules to promote the polymerization and finally increase the molecular weight and softening point of the pitch. In addition, activated carbon was prepared by using the pitch synthesized by adding PET, and the results showed that the specific surface area of the activated carbon increased by the addition of PET. It is expected that the pitch synthesis method with PET addition significantly contributes to the manufacture of pitch and activated carbon.

The petroleum refinery industry handles a variety of complex chemical substances and employs a large number of people around the world. According to previous research, diseases caused by exposure to chemicals were quite common among workers in refineries until the 1980s. More recently, it is unusual for oil refinery workers to suffer from these serious diseases. The objective of this study was to identify the occurrence level of general diseases and any differences in lifestyle habits of workers in refineries in Korea compared with the general population. In this study, we used the results of health examinations from 2014 for workers at a large oil refinery in South Korea. In addition, based on the results of KNHANES from 2014 as representative of the population, hypertension, diabetes, anemia, hyperlipidemia, liver function abnormality, and kidney function abnormality were calculated using the standardized incidence rate. Hypertension showed a low result with an SIR of less than 1, but a high result in the case of abnormal liver function. The workers’ occurrence rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, kidney dysfunction, and anemia were lower than those of ordinary salaried employees. however, their occurrence rate for abnormal liver function was markedly higher. In lifestyle habits, the smoking rate of workers was low while the alcohol consumption rate was quite high. This study has improved the understanding of the health status of workers in a large oil refinery in Korea, and has shown the impact of lifestyle habits related to the work environment on chronic diseases.

The oxygen-rich activated carbon (AC) was facilely developed using petroleum coke as a raw material by KOH activation under the rapid heating rate. The porosity and surface chemistry of ACs prepared under different heating rates were characterized and their adsorption properties for methylene blue (MB) were investigated. The results showed that the AC5 prepared under the heating rate of 5 °C min−1 had the highest surface area compared with the AC10, AC15 or AC20, while the AC20 prepared under the heating rate of 20 °C min−1 consisted of the highest oxygen content and most –OH functional group compares with the other ACs. These indicated that rapid heating rate was against the formation of more developed porosity, however, it was beneficial to producing more oxygen functional groups. As to MB adsorption, AC15 exhibited the maximum adsorption capacity for MB of 884 mg g−1 due to high surface area of 2803 m2 g−1 and high oxygen content of 23.27%. Moreover, despite the fact that AC20 had much lower surface area than the AC5, the AC20 showed higher MB adsorption capacity than the AC5. This was because the AC20 has the highest content of –OH, which was a positive impetus for MB adsorption. Therefore, rapid heating rate was an effective and simple approach to preparing the oxygen-rich ACs for improving the adsorption capacity of MB.

In the present study, carbon molded bodies were prepared by using graphite/coke fillers and petroleum-based binder pitch with various softening points, and the thermal properties of the prepared carbon molded bodies were investigated. The ratio of a binder affects the molded body preparation: no molded body was prepared at a low binder pitch content, and swelling occurred during the thermal treatment at a high binder pitch content. The binder pitch thermal treatment yield was the highest at 41 wt% at the softening point of 150 °C and the lowest at 23 wt% at the softening point of 78 °C. A significant mass reduction was found in the range of 150 to 300 °C in the petroleum-based binder pitch, and in the range of 300 to 475 °C in the coal-based binder pitch. The molecular weight of the binder pitch was analyzed through the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) method. The molecular weight ratio within the interval showing the highest binder pitch molecular weight (178 to 712 m/z) was the highest at 66.4% in the coal-based binder pitch (softening point 115 °C) and the lowest at 46.0% in the petroleum-based binder pitch (softening point 116 °C). When the petroleumbased binder pitch was applied, as the softening point was increased, the voids decreased and thus the thermal conductivity increased. The highest thermal conductivity was 99.5 W/mK for the carbon molded bodies prepared using the coal-based binder pitch and 102.8 W/mK for those prepared by using the petroleum-based binder pitch. The results showed that the thermal properties were similar between the coal-based binder pitch (softening point 115 °C) and the petroleum-based binder pitch (softening point 150 °C).

Spinnable mesophase pitch precursor containing more than 98% mesophase content was successfully prepared from FCC-DO (fluid catalytic cracking-decant oil) without hydrogenation or catalytic reaction. The preparation method involved thermal condensation, vacuum treatment, and annealing treatment. Petroleum mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers are produced by melt spinning of pitch precursors, followed by stabilization and carbonization. The resulting carbon fiber exhibited good mechanical performances up to tensile strength of 2.1 GPa and tensile modulus of 212 GPa, with strain-to-failure higher than 1.0%. These properties ensuring that the automotive grade carbon fibers can be successfully prepared from FCC-DO derived petroleum mesophase pitches through the cost-competitive processes.

In this study, pitch crosslinked by oxygen function groups was made into activated carbon (AC) and pore structure was observed. The oxygen functional groups were introduced by the addition of waste PET for pitch synthesis. Activation agent ratios used to obtain the AC during the activation process were 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 (pitch:KOH, w/w). The oxygen content in the prepared pitch was characterized by elemental analysis. Also, the molecular weight of pitch was investigated by MALDITOF. Specific surface area and micropore volume of the prepared AC were determined by the argon adsorption–desorption analysis and calculated using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Horvath–Kawazoe equations, respectively. Micropore fraction of PET-free AC was smaller than that of PET-added AC. At high activation agent ratio, mesopores were created when the micropore structure collapsed. However, in the PET-added AC, due to the oxygen crosslinking effect, the micropore structure and micropore size were maintained even at a high activation agent ratio. Therefore, PET AC was found to have a higher micropore fraction than that of PET-free AC.

Petroleum-based impregnating pitches were prepared from pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) using a two-step heat treatment without a separation process. The pressurized heat treatment, the first step, was used to improve the properties of the pitches and enhance the product yield by promoting the cracking and polymerization of the components in the PFO. An atmospheric heat treatment as the second step was used only to synthesize the impregnating pitches from the liquid pitches prepared during the first step. The prepared impregnating pitches had the properties of a commercial petroleum-based impregnating pitch. The impregnation performance was evaluated by HT-XRD and an impregnation test. The HT-XRD results showed changes in the stacked structure of the pitches at the impregnation temperature. The bulk density of the carbon block was increased to 14.3% and the porosity was reduced by 10.3% after the impregnation/recarbonization process. The high reaction temperature during the first step induced the formation of quinoline insoluble (QI) components during the second step of the treatment, and the QI components adversely affected the impregnation process.

연료유로 사용되는 석유제품은 각각의 품질기준, 등급, 사용용도에 따라 여러 종류가 있다. 국가 별로 유류에 세금을 부과하는 정도에 따라 동일한 석유제품이라 하더라도 가격차이가 발생한다. 가격이 저렴한 비과세의 석유제품을 상대적으로 고가인 수송용 연료에 불법적으로 혼합하는 행위로 인하여 탈세, 환경오염, 차량고장 등의 문제가 발생한다. 이러한 석유제품간 불법 혼합을 방지하기 위해 특정 석유제품에 미량의 식별제(Marker)를 법적으로 첨가하고 있다. 국내에서는 가정용 및 상업용 연료로 사용되는 등유를 자동차용 경유에 불법적으로 혼합하는 행위를 방지하기 위하여 식별제를 도입하여 사용하고 있으며, UV-Vis 분광광도계나 HPLC를 이용하여 식별제 함량을 정량적으로 분석하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존에 식별제 함량 분석을 위해 발색제를 첨가하거나 시료를 전처리하는 조작없이 GC-MS로 석유제품에 첨가된 식별제를 정성적 및 정량적으로 분석하는 방법을 개발하였다.

액화석유가스(Liquefied Petroleum Gas)를 연료(Fuel)로 하는 차량의 실제 운행단계에서 시동 꺼짐 현상 등이 발생한다는 소비자 민원이 접수 된 바 있으며, 최근 유통과정에서 녹 등의 이물질로 인한 소비자 피해 가능성이 제기되어 LPG 잔류물질(Residue) 항목에 대한 관리 필요성이 대두되었다. 본 연구에서는 LPG 국내생산 및 수입사 제품과 실제로 유통되고 있는 LPG의 잔류물질 특성을 연구하였다. LPG 잔류물질을 GC-MS를 사용하여 정성분석을 하였고, ICP-OES를 이용하여 무기물 성분을 분석하였다. GC-MS 분석결과 고무 제조공정을 용이하게 하기 위해 고무에 소량 배합하는 가소제(Plasticizer) 등이 분석되었다. 또한 ICP-OES를 이용한 무기물 분석결과 주로 LPG 생산 시 사용되는 소포제 등에서 유래된 것으로 추정되는 Si와 충전시설 등에 사용되는 그리스 첨가제 성분 등으로 추정되는 P와 Zn도 일부 검출되었다. 본 연구에서 분석된 LPG 잔류물질에 대해서는 녹 등을 유발할 수 있는 성분이 검출되지 않았지만 가소제 및 그리스 첨가제 성분이 LPG 연료계통에 영향을 줄 수 있으므로 적정품질의 고무류 사용과 저비점 그리스 첨가제 사용 확대가 필요할 것으로 보인다.

We examined the pressure effects on petroleum pitch synthesis by using open and closed reaction systems. The pressure effects that occur during the pitch synthesis were investigated in three pressure systems: a closed system of high pressure and two open systems under either an atmosphere or vacuum. A thermal reaction in the closed system led to the high product yield of a pitch by suppressing the release of light components in pyrolysis fuel oil. Atmospheric treatment mainly enhanced the polymerization degree of the pitch via condensation and a polymerization reaction. Vacuum treatment results in a softening point increase due to the removal of components with low molecular weights. To utilize such characteristic effects of system pressure during pitch preparations, we proposed a method for synthesizing cost-competitive pitch precursors for carbon materials. The first step is to increase product yield by using a closed system; the second step is to increase the degree of polymerization toward the desired molecular distribution, followed by the use of vacuum treatment to adjust softening points. Thus, we obtained an experimental quinoline insolubles-free pitch of product yield over 45% with softening points of approximately 130°C. The proposed method shows the possibility to prepare cost-competitive pitch precursors for carbon materials by enhancing product yield and other properties.

석유제품은 다양한 형태의 탄화수소화합물로 구성되어진 화합물로, 다른 종류의 액체류와 마찬가지로 온도변화에 따른 밀도와 부피의 변화가 발생한다. 액상에서 석유제품의 밀도를 측정하는 방법은 분별 증류된 각 석유제품에 대해 주로 얻어진 실험 데이터를 기반으로 한다. 본 연구에서는 등유와 자동차용 경유의 온도변화에 따른 밀도와 부피변화를 실제 측정하여 온도변화에 따른 변화추이를 분석하고, 국제규격인 ASTM에서 제시하는 밀도부피 환산표를 이용한 환산값을 계산하고 두 값을 비교분석하였다. 또한, 국내 계량 관련법에서 규정하고 있는 온도변화에 대한 기준과 실측값과의 상호 비교를 통해 차이점을 분석하였다.

석유제품 내의 식별제를 정성⋅정량분석하기 위해 HPLC의 적용가능성을 연구하였다. 등유와 자동차용 경유에 함유된 식별제의 정성분석을 위해 HPLC에서 최적의 분석조건(이동상 용매의 비율, 유속 등)을 선정하고, 이를 바탕으로 식별제의 정량분석을 위한 검량곡선을 작성하였다. 특히, 일정 농도 범위에서의 등유는 4.75분에서, 그리고 자동차용 경유는 4.17분의 머무름시간(retention time)을 나타내었고, 등유와 자동차용 경유의 검량곡선 상관계수(R2)가 0.999 이상을 나타내어 정량분석에 적용 가능할 것으로 나타났다. 현행 식별제의 분석방법인 UV/Vis 분광광도계를 이용한 분석결과와 비교분석을 실시하였고, 등유의 경우 약 7 %의 낮은 편차를 보였으며, 자동차용 경유의 경우 약 20 %의 다소 큰 편차를 확인하였다.