Carbon nanotubes from post-consumer waste plastics: Investigations into catalyst metal and support material characteristics

Carbon nanotubes were produced from post-consumer mixed waste plastics using a pyrolysis-catalysis process. The catalysts used Ni-Fe bimetals supported over four different porous materials. Ni-Fe/MCM41 catalyst displayed the highest catalytic activity for of in terms carbon material yield at 55.60 wt.%. order was Ni-Fe/MCM41> Ni-Fe/ZSM5> Ni-Fe/Beta > Ni-Fe/NKF5, which closely related to their differences pore volume and reducibility. Formation alloy with fine particle dispersion is suggested be crucial promotion decomposition precursors subsequent precipitation form nanotubes. Whereas, large size led irregular shapes simultaneous decrease purity graphitization By-product production hydrogen quantities (38.10 mmol H2 g−1plastic) could as process fuel.