Apparatus and method for producing carbon nanofibers from light hydrocarbons
AssigneeCarbonova Corp.
InventorsMina Zarabian, Pedro Pereira Almao
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for producing carbon nanofibers. The process comprises two stages. The first stage involves oxidizing light hydrocarbon with carbon dioxide or water, or oxygen, or a combination thereof to a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The second stage involves converting the produced hydrogen and the carbon monoxide to carbon nanofibers and steam. In this way, greenhouse gases may be reduced by using carbon dioxide and methane (and/or other light hydrocarbons) as reactants; and useful products may be produced, such as Carbon NanoFibers (CNF).
Claims24
A process for producing carbon nanofibers, the process comprising:
- in a first reactor, reacting a light hydrocarbon stream with an oxidizing agent to perform a reforming reaction to produce an intermediate gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- and
- in a second reactor, converting, using a nanoparticle catalyst consisting of nanoparticles, the produced hydrogen and the produced carbon monoxide selectively to carbon nanofibers that build up inside the second reactor, and steam which exits the second reactor,
- wherein the nanoparticles are formed on a support comprising barriers of filamentous oxide whiskers configured to restrict motion of the nanoparticles across a surface of the support and,
- wherein the nanoparticles are chemically bonded to the support.
A process for producing carbon nanofibers, the process comprising:
- in a first reactor, reacting a light hydrocarbon stream with an oxidizing agent to perform a reforming reaction to produce an intermediate gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- and
- in a second reactor, converting, using a nanoparticle catalyst consisting of nanoparticles, the produced hydrogen and the produced carbon monoxide selectively to carbon nanofibers that build up inside the subsequent second reactor, and steam which exits the subsequent second reactor,
- wherein the nanoparticles are formed on a support comprising barriers of filamentous oxide whiskers configured to restrict motion of the nanoparticles across a surface of the support, and
- wherein the support is magnetic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.