Abstract
ABSTRACTA stainless-steel mesh loaded with nickel catalyst was produced and used for the pyrolysis–catalysis of waste high-density polyethylene with the aim of producing high-value carbon products, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The catalysis temperature and plastic-to-catalyst ratio were investigated to determine the influence on the formation of different types of carbon deposited on the nickel–stainless-steel mesh catalyst. Increasing temperature from 700 to 900°C resulted in an increase in the carbon deposited on the nickel-loaded stainless-steel mesh catalyst from 32.5 to 38.0 wt%. The increase in sample-to-catalyst ratio reduced the amount of carbon deposited on the mesh catalyst in terms of g carbon g−1 plastic. The carbons were found to be largely composed of filamentous carbons, with negligible disordered (amorphous) carbons. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the filamentous carbons revealed them to be composed of a large proportion (estimated at ∼40%) multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The optimum process conditions for CNT production, in terms of yield and graphitic nature, determined by Raman spectroscopy, was catalysis temperature of 800°C and plastic-to-catalyst ratio of 1:2, where a mass of 334 mg of filamentous/MWCNTs g−1 plastic was produced.
Highlights
There is current interest in carbon nanotubes as advanced materials due to their reported unique and advantageous properties in a range of industrial sectors such as electronics [1], biosensors [2], energy storage, reinforced composites etc. [3]
The catalysis consisted of a stainless steel mesh which had been loaded with nickel to produce a nickel-stainless steel catalyst
Carbon was deposited onto the mesh catalyst during the process of pyrolysis-catalysis of the high density polyethylene
Summary
There is current interest in carbon nanotubes as advanced materials due to their reported unique and advantageous properties in a range of industrial sectors such as electronics [1], biosensors [2], energy storage, reinforced composites etc. [3]. There is current interest in carbon nanotubes as advanced materials due to their reported unique and advantageous properties in a range of industrial sectors such as electronics [1], biosensors [2], energy storage, reinforced composites etc. Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical hollow tubes composed of carbon with nano-sized diameters (0.1-100 nm) and long length (100m>). The process involves high carbon content feedstocks such as methane, ethylene, benzene, xylenes, acetylene which interact with catalysts and form carbon nanotubes which grow on the catalyst surface [5, 6, 7, 8]. The process conditions range from 700 – 1200 °C and typical catalysts include Fe, Co, Ni, nano-particles and organometallic catalysts such as ferrocene, cobaltocene, nickelocene [9, 10, 11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
