Process Optimization and Kinetic Study of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Synthesis

Abstract

In this work is presented a kinetic study of carbon nanotube production in a pre-pilot fluidized bed reactor. A supported catalyst, namely Fe2O3 over ??-alumina is used with ethylene as carbon source. We investigate the influence of parameters, such as temperature, ethylene partial pressure, iron weight fraction and catalyst load. In order to support the study, samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An empirical kinetic model is proposed. Process optimization results suggest the operating variables to be set in a possible scaling up of the process.