Integrated processes for generating carbon monoxide for carbon nanomaterial production

An apparatus for producing carbon nanotubes comprising:

• (a) a conversion reactor that converts a mixture of a hydrocarbon(s) and carbon dioxide into a converted gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, an unreacted portion of carbon dioxide, and an unreacted portion of the hydrocarbon(s);
• (b) a cold box separator, in fluid communication with the conversion reactor, wherein the cold box separator separates the hydrogen and the unreacted portion of the hydrocarbon(s) from the converted gas stream and forms a principal stream and a by-product stream, wherein the principal stream comprises the carbon monoxide and the unreacted portion of carbon dioxide, and the by-product stream comprises the hydrogen and the unreacted portion of the hydrocarbon(s);
• (c) a nanocarbon tube production unit, in fluid communication with the cold box separator, wherein the nanocarbon tube production unit produces carbon nanotubes and the carbon dioxide stream;
• (d) a carbon monoxide recycling device, in fluid communication with the nano-carbon tube production unit, that directs the carbon dioxide stream to the conversion reactor;
• and
• (e) a device that refines and recovers hydrogen from the by-product stream.