Synthesis of fuel oil and carbon nanotubes in an autoclave using plastic waste as precursor

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis of fuel oil and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using waste plastic in a batch pyrolysis reactor of 750 mL capacity was carried out. Density, calorific values and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of fuel oil. The calorific value of oil was higher than the energy needed for pyrolysis process. The same reactor was used as an autoclave for the synthesis of CNTs. SEM and TEM results showed that carbon nanotubes of 40–60 nm diameters were grown on Ni/Mo/MgO catalyst. CNT yield was around 3.2 g of CNTs per 6 g of PP. The purity of CNTs was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The present study proposes a feasible process to convert plastic waste into furnace oil by rapid pyrolysis and synthesis of CNTs.