Abstract
This chapter introduces the reader to utilizing plastic wastes as a precursor for the fabrication of carbon nanotubes and the efforts done for this purpose. In addition, it provides a brief introduction to the topic, and an overview of the fundamental concepts of carbon nanotubes, including structure, types, and growth mechanism, is given. The conventional methods of fabricating carbon nanotubes are discussed. Moreover, it describes the methods used to convert plastic waste to carbon nanotubes in detail, while also highlighting the factors affecting each process’s efficiency and the recent progress in this regard.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Abbreviations
- AAO:
-
Anodic aluminum oxide
- BCNTs:
-
Bamboo carbon nanotubes
- BR:
-
Polybutadiene rubber
- CCVD:
-
Ceramic boat in a horizontal quartz tube
- CNTs:
-
Carbon nanotubes
- CO:
-
Carbon monoxide
- CO CVD:
-
Carbon monoxide CVD
- CoAc:
-
Cobalt acetate
- CVD:
-
Chemical vapor deposition
- HDPE:
-
High-density polyethylene
- HiPCO:
-
High-pressure catalytic decomposition of carbon Monoxide
- LDPE:
-
Low-density polyethylene
- MA-PP:
-
Maleated polypropylene
- MWNT:
-
Multiwalled nanotube
- NR:
-
Natural rubber
- OMMT:
-
Modified montmorillonite
- PE:
-
Polyethylene
- PECVD:
-
Plasma-enhanced CVD
- PET:
-
Polyethylene terephthalate
- PF:
-
Phenolic formaldehyde resin
- PP:
-
Polypropylene
- PS:
-
Polystyrene
- PVC:
-
Polyvinyl chloride
- SBR:
-
Styrene-butadiene rubber
- SWNT:
-
Single-walled nanotube
- VLS:
-
Vapor–liquid-solid
References
Tessnow-von Wysocki I, Le Billon P (2019) Plastics at sea: treaty design for a global solution to marine plastic pollution. Environ Sci Policy 100:94–104
Singh N, Hui D, Singh R, Ahuja IPS, Feo L, Fraternali F (2017) Recycling of plastic solid waste: a state of art review and future applications. Compos B Eng 115:409–422
Pol VG, Thiyagarajan P (2010) Remediating plastic waste into carbon nanotubes. J. Environ Monit 12(2):455–459
Okolie JA, Nanda S, Dalai AK, Berruti F, Kozinski JA (2020) A review on subcritical and supercritical water gasification of biogenic, polymeric and petroleum wastes to hydrogen-rich synthesis gas. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 119:109546
Williams PT (2006) Yield and composition of gases and oils/waxes from the feedstock recycling of waste plastic. In: Feedstock recycling and pyrolysis of waste plastics. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., pp 285–313
Bazargan A, McKay G (2012) A review—synthesis of carbon nanotubes from plastic wastes. Chem Eng J 195–196:377–391
Czepirski L, Szczurowski J, Ba, ys M, aw, Makomaski G, Zieli, ski J, Ciesi, ska W, awa (2016) Novel carbonaceous nanomaterials from waste polymers. Curr Nanomaterials 1(2):103–109
Mukherjee A, Debnath B, Ghosh SK (2018) Carbon nanotubes as a resourceful product derived from waste plastic—a review. In: Waste management and resource efficiency. Springer, Singapore, pp 915–934
Kukovitskii EF, Chernozatonskii LA, L’Vov SG, Mel’nik NN (1997) Carbon nanotubes of polyethylene. Chem Phys Lett 266(3–4):323–328
Kiselev NA, Sloan J, Zakharov DN, Kukovitskii EF, Hutchison JL, Hammer J, Kotosonov AS (1998) Carbon nanotubes from polyethylene precursors: structure and structural changes caused by thermal and chemical treatment revealed by HREM. Carbon 36(7–8):1149–1157
Purohit R, Purohit K, Rana S, Rana RS, Patel V (2014) Carbon nanotubes and their growth methods. Proc Mater Sci 6:716–728
Baughman RH (2002) Carbon nanotubes–the route toward applications. Science 297(5582):787–792
Zhuo C, Levendis YA (2013) Upcycling waste plastics into carbon nanomaterials: a review. J Appl Polym Sci 131(4):39931
Prasek J, Drbohlavova J, Chomoucka J, Hubalek J, Jasek O, Adam V, Kizek R (2011) Methods for carbon nanotubes synthesis—review. J Mater Chem 21(40):15872
Ren Z, Lan Y, Wang Y (2012) Aligned carbon nanotubes: physics, concepts, fabrication and devices. Springer Science & Business Media, pp. 1–299
Iijima S (1991) Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature 354(6348):56–58
Iijima S, Ichihashi T (1993) Single-shell carbon nanotubes of 1-nm diameter. Nature 363(6430):603–605
Sadegh H, Ali GAM, Abbasi Z, Nadagoud MN (2017) Adsorption of ammonium ions onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Stud Univ Babes-Bolyai Chem 62(2):233–245
Seyed Arabi SM, Lalehloo RS, Olyai MRTB, Ali GAM, Sadegh H (2019) Removal of congo red azo dye from aqueous solution by ZnO nanoparticles loaded on multiwall carbon nanotubes. Physica E 106:150–155
Ali GAM, Sadegh H, Yusoff MM, Chong KF (2019) Highly stable symmetric supercapacitor from cysteamine functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes operating in a wide potential window. Mater Today Proc 16:2273–2279
Nessim GD (2010) Properties, synthesis, and growth mechanisms of carbon nanotubes with special focus on thermal chemical vapor deposition. Nanoscale 2(8):1306
Ali GAM, Lih Teo EY, Aboelazm EAA, Sadegh H, Memar AOH, Shahryari-Ghoshekandi R, Chong KF (2017) Capacitive performance of cysteamine functionalized carbon nanotubes. Mater Chem Phys 197:100–104
Maazinejad B, Mohammadnia O, Ali GAM, Makhlouf ASH, Nadagouda MN, Sillanpää M, Asiri AM, Agarwal S, Gupta VK, Sadegh H (2020) Taguchi L9 (34) orthogonal array study based on methylene blue removal by single-walled carbon nanotubes-amine: adsorption optimization using the experimental design method, kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics. J Mol Liq 298:112001
Kumar M (2011) Carbon nanotube synthesis and growth mechanism. In: Yellampalli, S (eds.) Carbon nanotubes—synthesis, characterization, applications. IntechOpen, pp. 127–193
Saleh MH, Koller M (2019) Introductory chapter: carbon nanotubes. In: Saleh HE, El-Sheikh SMM (eds.) Perspective of carbon nanotubes. IntechOpen, pp. 3–9
Sadegh H, Ali GAM, Makhlouf ASH, Chong KF, Alharbi NS, Agarwal S, Gupta VK (2018) MWCNTs-Fe3O4 nanocomposite for Hg(II) high adsorption efficiency. J Mol Liq 258:345–353
Sharifi A, Montazerghaem L, Naeimi A, Abhari AR, Vafaee M, Ali GAM, Sadegh H (2019) Investigation of photocatalytic behavior of modified ZnS:Mn/MWCNTs nanocomposite for organic pollutants effective photodegradation. J Environ Manage 247:624–632
Sadegh H, Ali GAM, Agarwal S, Gupta VK (2019) Surface modification of MWCNTs with carboxylic-to-amine and their superb adsorption performance. Int J Environ Res 13(3):523–531
Saifuddin N, Raziah AZ, Junizah AR (2013) Carbon nanotubes: a review on structure and their interaction with proteins. J Chem 2013:1–18
Lu J, Miao J (2012) Growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes: a nano Czochralski model. Nanoscale Res Lett 7(1):356
Pirard SL, Douven S, Pirard J-P (2017) Large-scale industrial manufacturing of carbon nanotubes in a continuous inclined mobile-bed rotating reactor via the catalytic chemical vapor deposition process. Front Chem Sci Eng 11(2):280–289
Brinson BE, Gangoli VS, Kumar A, Hauge RH, Adams WW, Barron AR (2019) From newspaper substrate to nanotubes—analysis of carbonized soot grown on Kaolin sized newsprint. C. J Carbon Res 5(4):66
Venkataraman A, Amadi EV, Chen Y, Papadopoulos C (2019) Carbon nanotube assembly and integration for applications. Nanoscale Res Lett 14(1):220
Mirabootalebi SO, Akbari GH (2017) Methods for synthesis of carbon nanotubes—review. Int J Bio-Inorg Hybr Nanomater 6(2):49–57
Zhuo C, Hall B, Richter H, Levendis Y (2010) Synthesis of carbon nanotubes by sequential pyrolysis and combustion of polyethylene. Carbon 48(14):4024–4034
Chen S, Liu Z, Jiang S, Hou H (2020) Carbonization: a feasible route for reutilization of plastic wastes. Sci Total Environ 710:136250
Ahamed A, Veksha A, Yin K, Weerachanchai P, Giannis A, Lisak G (2020) Environmental impact assessment of converting flexible packaging plastic waste to pyrolysis oil and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. J Hazard Mater 390:121449
Sharma SS, Batra VS (2019) Production of hydrogen and carbon nanotubes via catalytic thermo-chemical conversion of plastic waste: review. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 95(1):11–19
Zahid MU, Pervaiz E, Hussain A, Shahzad MI, Niazi MBK (2018) Synthesis of carbon nanomaterials from different pyrolysis techniques: a review. Mater Res Express 5(5):052002
Gong J, Liu J, Wan D, Chen X, Wen X, Mijowska E, Jiang Z, Wang Y, Tang T (2012) Catalytic carbonization of polypropylene by the combined catalysis of activated carbon with Ni2O3 into carbon nanotubes and its mechanism. Appl Catal A 449:112–120
Gong J, Chen X, Tang T (2019) Recent progress in controlled carbonization of (waste) polymers. Prog Polym Sci 94:1–32
Mishra N, Das G, Ansaldo A, Genovese A, Malerba M, Povia M, Ricci D, Di Fabrizio E, Di Zitti E, Sharon M, Sharon M (2012) Pyrolysis of waste polypropylene for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes. J Anal Appl Pyrol 94:91–98
Tang T, Chen X, Meng X, Chen H, Ding Y (2005) Synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by catalytic combustion of polypropylene. Angew Chem Int Ed 44(10):1517–1520
Kong Q, Zhang J (2007) Synthesis of straight and helical carbon nanotubes from catalytic pyrolysis of polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 92(11):2005–2010
Zheng Y, Zhang H, Ge S, Song J, Wang J, Zhang S (2018) Synthesis of carbon nanotube arrays with high aspect ratio via ni-catalyzed pyrolysis of waste polyethylene. Nanomaterials 8(7):556
Arena U, Mastellone ML, Camino G, Boccaleri E (2006) An innovative process for mass production of multi-wall carbon nanotubes by means of low-cost pyrolysis of polyolefins. Polym Degrad Stab 91(4):763–768
Aboul-Enein AA, Awadallah AE (2019) Impact of Co/Mo ratio on the activity of CoMo/MgO catalyst for production of high-quality multi-walled carbon nanotubes from polyethylene waste. Mater Chem Phys 238:121879
Joseph Berkmans A, Jagannatham M, Priyanka S, Haridoss P (2014) Synthesis of branched, nano channeled, ultrafine and nano carbon tubes from PET wastes using the arc discharge method. Waste Manage 34(11):2139–2145
El Essawy NA, Konsowa AH, Elnouby M, Farag HA (2016) A novel one-step synthesis for carbon-based nanomaterials from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles waste. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 67(3):358–370
Nath DCD, Sahajwalla V (2011) Application of fly ash as a catalyst for synthesis of carbon nanotube ribbons. J Hazard Mater 192(2):691–697
Nath DCD, Sahajwalla V (2012) Analysis of carbon nanotubes produced by pyrolysis of composite film of poly (vinyl alcohol) and modified fly ash. Mater Sci Appl 03(02):103–109
Zhang Y, Wu C, Nahil MA, Williams P (2015) Pyrolysis-catalytic reforming/gasification of waste tires for production of carbon nanotubes and hydrogen. Energy Fuels 29(5):3328–3334
Alves JO, Soares Tenório JA, Zhuo C, Levendis YA (2012) Use of Stainless Steel AISI 304 for catalytic synthesis of carbon nanomaterials from solid wastes. J Mater Res Technol 1(3):128–133
Kwon S-J, Seo H-K, Ahn S, Lee T-W (2018) Value-added recycling of inexpensive carbon sources to graphene and carbon nanotubes. Adv Sustain Syst 3(1):1800016
Mastellone ML, Perugini F, Ponte M, Arena U (2002) Fluidized bed pyrolysis of a recycled polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 76(3):479–487
Yang W, Sun WJ, Chu W, Jiang CF, Wen J (2012) Synthesis of carbon nanotubes using scrap tyre rubber as carbon source. Chin Chem Lett 23(3):363–366
Acomb JC, Wu C, Williams PT (2016) The use of different metal catalysts for the simultaneous production of carbon nanotubes and hydrogen from pyrolysis of plastic feedstocks. Appl Catal B 180:497–510
Arnaiz N, Martin-Gullon I, Font R, Gomez-Rico MF (2018) Production of bamboo-type carbon nanotubes doped with nitrogen from polyamide pyrolysis gas. J Anal Appl Pyrol 130:52–61
Borsodi N, Szentes A, Miskolczi N, Wu C, Liu X (2016) Carbon nanotubes synthetized from gaseous products of waste polymer pyrolysis and their application. J Anal Appl Pyrol 120:304–313
Zhuo C, Hall B, Levendis Y, Richter H (2011) A novel technology for Green(er) Manufacturing of CNTs via recycling of waste plastics. In: MRS Proceedings 1317
Zhuo C, Alves JO, Tenorio JAS, Levendis YA (2012) Synthesis of carbon nanomaterials through up-cycling agricultural and municipal solid wastes. Ind Eng Chem Res 51(7):2922–2930
Acomb JC, Wu C, Williams PT (2014) Control of steam input to the pyrolysis-gasification of waste plastics for improved production of hydrogen or carbon nanotubes. Appl Catal B 147:571–584
Wu C, Nahil MA, Miskolczi N, Huang J, Williams PT (2016) Production and application of carbon nanotubes, as a co-product of hydrogen from the pyrolysis-catalytic reforming of waste plastic. Process Saf Environ Prot 103:107–114
Nahil MA, Wu C, Williams PT (2015) Influence of metal addition to Ni-based catalysts for the co-production of carbon nanotubes and hydrogen from the thermal processing of waste polypropylene. Fuel Process Technol 130:46–53
Zhang Y, Williams PT (2016) Carbon nanotubes and hydrogen production from the pyrolysis catalysis or catalytic-steam reforming of waste tyres. J Anal Appl Pyrol 122:490–501
Lopez G, Artetxe M, Amutio M, Alvarez J, Bilbao J, Olazar M (2018) Recent advances in the gasification of waste plastics. A critical overview. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 82:576–596
Liu X, Shen B, Yuan P, Patel D, Wu C (2017) Production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from thermochemical conversion of waste plastics using Ni/anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template catalyst. Energy Proc 142:525–530
Veksha A, Yin K, Moo JGS, Oh W-D, Ahamed A, Chen WQ, Weerachanchai P, Giannis A, Lisak G (2020) Processing of flexible plastic packaging waste into pyrolysis oil and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction. J Hazard Mater 387:121256
Zhang Y, Wu C, Nahil MA, Williams P (2016) High-value resource recovery products from waste tyres. Proc Inst Civil Eng Waste Resource Manage 169(3):137–145
Gou X, Zhao D, Wu C (2020) Catalytic conversion of hard plastics to valuable carbon nanotubes. J Anal Appl Pyrol 145:104748
Zhang Y, Nahil MA, Wu C, Williams PT (2017) Pyrolysis–catalysis of waste plastic using a nickel–stainless-steel mesh catalyst for high-value carbon products. Environ Technol 38(22):2889–2897
Panahi A, Wei Z, Song G, Levendis YA (2019) Influence of Stainless-Steel catalyst substrate type and pretreatment on growing carbon nanotubes from waste postconsumer plastics. Ind Eng Chem Res 58(8):3009–3023
Tripathi P, Durbach S, Coville N (2017) Synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes from plastic waste using a stainless-Steel CVD reactor as catalyst. Nanomaterials 7(10):284
Adrados A, de Marco I, Caballero BM, López A, Laresgoiti MF, Torres A (2012) Pyrolysis of plastic packaging waste: a comparison of plastic residuals from material recovery facilities with simulated plastic waste. Waste Manage 32(5):826–832
Acomb JC, Wu C, Williams PT (2015) Effect of growth temperature and feedstock: catalyst ratio on the production of carbon nanotubes and hydrogen from the pyrolysis of waste plastics. J Anal Appl Pyrol 113:231–238
Zhang B, Song C, Liu C, Min J, Azadmanjiri J, Ni Y, Niu R, Gong J, Zhao Q, Tang T (2019) Molten salts promoting the “controlled carbonization” of waste polyesters into hierarchically porous carbon for high-performance solar steam evaporation. J Mater Chem A 7(40):22912–22923
Moo JGS, Veksha A, Oh W-D, Giannis A, Udayanga WDC, Lin S-X, Ge L, Lisak G (2019) Plastic derived carbon nanotubes for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction: effects of plastic feedstock and synthesis temperature. Electrochem Commun 101:11–18
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Alhanish, A., Ali, G.A.M. (2021). Recycling the Plastic Wastes to Carbon Nanotubes. In: Makhlouf, A.S.H., Ali, G.A.M. (eds) Waste Recycling Technologies for Nanomaterials Manufacturing. Topics in Mining, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68031-2_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68031-2_24
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-68030-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-68031-2
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)