Waste NR Latex Based-Precursors as Carbon Source for CNTs Eco-Fabrications.

Mohd Adib Hazan,Yazid Yaakob,Shahira Liza,Kar Fei Chan,Ismayadi Ismail,Mohd Zobir Hussein,Nor Azam Endot,Md Shuhazlly Mamat,Khairun Afiqa Jofri,Masaki Tanemura

doi:10.3390/polym13193409

Abstract

In this work, the potential of utilizing a waste latex-based precursor (i.e., natural rubber glove (NRG)) as a carbon source for carbon nanotube (CNT) fabrication via chemical vapor deposition has been demonstrated. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis reveals that the separation of the lightweight hydrocarbon chain from the heavier long chain differs in hydrocarbon contents in the NRG fraction (NRG-L). Both solid NRG (NRG-S) and NRG-L samples contain >63% carbon, <0.6% sulfur and <0.08% nitrogen content, respectively, as per carbon-nitrogen-sulfur (CNS) analysis. Growth of CNTs on the samples was confirmed by Raman spectra, SEM and TEM images, whereby it was shown that NRG-S is better than NRG-L in terms of synthesized CNTs yield percentage with similar quality. The optimum vaporization and reaction temperatures were 350 and 800 °C, respectively, considering the balance of good yield percentage (26.7%) and quality of CNTs (ID/IG = 0.84 ± 0.08, diameter ≈ 122 nm) produced. Thus, utilization of waste NRG as a candidate for carbon feedstock to produce value-added CNTs products could be a significant approach for eco-technology.

Highlights

Waste management of latex, either natural or synthetic rubber, has become a serious issue in many countries, as most of the daily and technological applications of latex have a limited lifetime, such as connector rubber rings, rubber cork/stoppers, tires, shoe soles, and so on
In order to explore the potential of NR gloves (NRG) as precursors, TGA analysis was performed to identify the temperature where NRG liberated most of its compounds
Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis revealed the separation of the lightweight hydrocarbon chain from the heavier long chain, with differences in the hydrocarbon contents in the NRG fraction (NRG-L)

Summary

Introduction

Either natural or synthetic rubber, has become a serious issue in many countries, as most of the daily and technological applications of latex have a limited lifetime, such as connector rubber rings, rubber cork/stoppers, tires, shoe soles, and so on. The use of natural rubber (NR) products such as laboratory gloves and medical gloves have increased rapidly due to the advancement of the research sector, as well as due to the awareness of cleanliness and viral diseases, such as with the recent COVID-19 pandemic crisis [1]. The large portion of waste produce from these industry production lines, as well as from post-consumers, will increase rapidly without proper solutions for poor disposal practices, such as land fill dumping and open burning, which expand the financial and environmental burden [2,3]. Development of methods for utilizing these waste matters into value-added products would benefit both the economy and the environment towards eco-technology

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Results

Conclusion