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US 11,932,541 B2Granted
Process and apparatus for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes from high molecular polymeric wastes
AssigneeNgee Ann Polytechnic
InventorsSundaramurthy Jayaraman, Ali Masud
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Abstract
This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes from high molecular polymeric wastes. The process comprises using induction heating in combination with catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CVD) with an array of catalytic materials to synthesize high value carbon nanotubes with better yield and purity from high molecular polymeric wastes.
Claims31
A process for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes comprising:
- depolymerizing high molecular polymeric wastes to obtain a carbon-containing feedstock;
- pre-treating an array of catalytic materials consisting of 304 type stainless steel with an acid to reduce chromium content in the array of catalytic materials to less than 12%;
- introducing a reducing gas into a catalytic reactor containing the array of catalytic materials;
- heating the array of catalytic materials in the catalytic reactor by induction heating in the presence of the reducing gas to activate active sites on surfaces of the array of catalytic materials;
- feeding the carbon-containing feedstock into the catalytic reactor containing the array of catalytic materials, wherein the array of catalytic materials is arranged in a horizontally stacked manner having a space between any two adjacent catalytic materials sufficient to allow multiwall carbon nanotubes to grow and deposit on surfaces of the catalytic materials;
- heating the array of catalytic materials in the presence of the carbon-containing feedstock by induction heating to form multiwall carbon nanotubes on the surfaces of the catalytic materials;
- and
- removing the multiwall carbon nanotubes from the surfaces of the array of catalytic materials.
5 more elements
An apparatus for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber for depolymerizing high molecular polymeric wastes;
- a catalytic reactor in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the catalytic reactor comprises:
- a cylindrical outer casing;
- an array of catalytic materials consisting of pre-treated 304 type stainless steel having a chromium content of less than 12%;
- a holder assembly configured to hold and support the array of catalytic materials, the holder assembly having an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of apertures provided along the longitudinal surface of the holder assembly;
- wherein the array of catalytic materials is arranged in a horizontally stacked manner having a space between any two adjacent catalytic materials sufficient to enable multiwall carbon nanotubes to grow on surfaces of the catalytic materials;
- a gas distributor channel connected to the holder assembly;
- and
- a heating element wound around the external wall of the outer casing capable of providing uniform induction heating to the array of catalytic materials within the catalytic reactor.
6 more elements
The apparatus according to 23, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- a first bubbler in fluid communication with the chamber and the catalytic reactor, configured for processing depolymerised feedstock from the chamber and feeding the depolymerized feedstock to the catalytic reactor.
The apparatus according to 26, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- a second bubbler in fluid communication with the catalytic reactor.
A catalytic reactor for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes comprising:
- a cylindrical outer casing;
- an array of catalytic materials consisting of pre-treated 304 type stainless steel having a chromium content of less than 12%;
- a holder assembly configured to hold and support the array of catalytic materials within the cylindrical outer casing, wherein the holder assembly having an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of apertures provided along the longitudinal surface of the holder assembly for distributing gases from within the holder assembly into the catalytic reactor;
- a gas distributor channel having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, wherein the gas outlet is connected to the inlet of the holder assembly;
- and
- a heating element wound around the external wall of the outer casing capable of providing uniform induction heating to the array of catalytic materials within the catalytic reactor;
- wherein the array of catalytic materials is arranged in a horizontally stacked manner having a space between any two adjacent catalytic materials sufficient to allow multiwall carbon nanotubes to be formed on surfaces of the catalytic materials.
4 more elements
A catalytic reactor for synthesizing multiwall carbon nanotubes comprising:
- a cylindrical outer casing;
- an array of catalytic materials consisting of stainless steel;
- a holder assembly configured to hold and support the array of catalytic materials within the cylindrical outer casing, wherein the holder assembly having an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of apertures provided along the longitudinal surface of the holder assembly for distributing gases from within the holder assembly into the catalytic reactor;
- a gas distributor channel having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, wherein the gas outlet is connected to the inlet of the holder assembly;
- and
- a heating element wound around the external wall of the outer casing capable of providing uniform induction heating to the array of catalytic materials within the catalytic reactor;
- wherein the array of catalytic materials is arranged in a stacked manner having a space between any two adjacent catalytic materials sufficient to allow multiwall carbon nanotubes to be formed on surfaces of the catalytic materials.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.