US 12,037,244 B2Granted

Microwave catalysis for modular production of carbon nanomaterials from natural gas

AssigneeWest Virginia University Board of Governors on behalf of West Virginia University

InventorsJianli Hu, Changle Jiang, Brandon Robinson, Xinwei Bai, I-Wen Wang

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Abstract

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to CO2-free and/or low-CO2 methods of co-producing hydrogen and solid forms of carbon via natural gas decomposition using microwave radiation. The methods are efficient, self-sustaining, and environmentally benign. In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to recyclable and recoverable catalysts useful for enhancing the disclosed methods, wherein the catalysts are supported by solid forms of carbon. Methods for recycling the catalysts are also disclosed. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for producing hydrogen from at least one hydrocarbon gas, the method comprising:

(a) applying microwave radiation to the at least one hydrocarbon gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising metal atoms;
(b) collecting the hydrogen;
(c) contacting the catalyst and the at least one solid carbon product with an acid composition;
(d) removing the metal atoms from the acid composition;
and
(e) removing the at least one solid carbon product from the acid composition;
(f) using a portion of the at least one solid carbon product as a supporting solid carbon product to restart the method beginning at step (a);
wherein the microwave radiation causes the at least one hydrocarbon gas to decompose into hydrogen and at least one solid carbon product;
wherein the acid composition causes the metal atoms to separate from the at least one solid carbon product;
wherein the at least one hydrocarbon gas comprises methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof;
wherein the catalyst comprises Ni, Co, Mo, Pt, Pd, Cu, Sn, Mn, or a combination thereof;
wherein the catalyst comprises a support;
wherein the support comprises a supporting solid carbon product, SiC, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, an aerogel, a perovskite, or a combination thereof;
wherein the at least one solid carbon product a comprises nanoparticles, fullerenes, carbon filaments, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or a combination thereof;
and
wherein the supporting solid carbon product comprises nanoparticles, fullerenes, carbon filaments, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or a combination thereof.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.