Synthesis and characterization of CNTs using polypropylene waste as precursor

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Vol. 194; pp. 68 - 77
• Main Authors: Bajad, Ganesh S., Tiwari, Saurabh K., Vijayakumar, R.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-04-2015
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Catalysts; Combustion; Magnesium oxide; Ni/Mo/MgO; Nickel; Parameters optimization; Polypropylene; Polypropylenes; Precursors; Process parameters; Response surface methodology; Synthesis; Wastes; Carbon nanotubes; Parameters optimization; Combustion; Response surface methodology; Polypropylene; Ni/Mo/MgO
• ISSN: 0921-5107; 1873-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2015.01.004

•A facile method for producing CNTs from polypropylene waste is proposed.•Optimization of Ni/Mo mole ratio using RSM suggests the adequacy of cubic model.•Process parameters were optimized by RSM using Box–Behnken four factorial design.•Maximum desirability of one suggested that 514% of CNTs would yield over Ni4Mo0.2MgO1.•Increase in Ni/Mo ratio from 0.5 to 20, inner diameter of CNTs decreases from 25 to 2nm.
We study the synthesis of MWCNTs using polypropylene waste as a precursor and Ni/Mo/MgO as a catalyst by the combustion technique. Molar ratios of Ni, Mo and MgO in the Ni/Mo/MgO catalyst were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to obtain the maximum yield of CNTs. The mole ratio 4/0.2/1 was found to yield more carbon product. Further, process parameters such as combustion temperature, combustion time, polymer and catalyst weight were optimized by RSM using Box–Behnken three-level and four-factorial design. The best possible combination of process parameters (combustion time of 10min, combustion temperature of 800°C, polymer weight of 5g and catalyst weight of 150mg) for maximum yield of CNTs was obtained. HRTEM indicates that the diameter of CNTs depends on the catalyst composition used for the synthesis of CNTs. The results of the study indicate a facile method for producing CNTs from polypropylene waste.