Chemical Recycling of Consumer-Grade Black Plastic into Electrically Conductive Carbon Nanotubes

Hedayati, Aliakbar; Barnett, Chris J.; Swan, Gemma; White, Alvin Orbaek

doi:10.3390/c5020032

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Black-and whitecolored PS were also converted to valuable carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapor deposition in the presence of ferrocene as a catalyst. [113] PS and the catalyst were dissolved in toluene and the carbon nanotubes were formed in a liquid injection reactor at 780°C. In another approach, PS cups were carbonized under high pressure and at temperatures of 600-700°C.…”

Section: Polystyrenementioning

confidence: 99%

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Strategic Approach Towards Plastic Waste Valorization: Challenges and Promising Chemical Upcycling Possibilities

et al. 2021

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Plastic waste, which is one of the major sources of pollution in the landfills and oceans, has raised global concern, primarily due to the huge production rate, high durability, and the lack of utilization of the available waste management techniques. Recycling methods are preferable to reduce the impact of plastic pollution to some extent. However, most of the recycling techniques are associated with different drawbacks, high cost and downgrading of product quality being among the notable ones. The sustainable option here is to upcycle the plastic waste to create high-value materials to compensate for the cost of production. Several upcycling techniques are constantly being investigated and explored, which is currently the only economical option to resolve the plastic waste issue. This Review provides a comprehensive insight on the promising chemical routes available for upcycling of the most widely used plastic and mixed plastic wastes. The challenges inherent to these processes, the recent advances, and the significant role of the science and research community in resolving these issues are further emphasized.

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Section: Polystyrenementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Black PS-based food packaging waste is difficult to sort by the optical sorting system because of the high absorption of black color, [113] and hence, they mostly end up in the landfills. Another aspect is that collection, sorting, and storage of PS waste are expensive as compared to the value of the products manufactured from recycled PS.…”

Section: Psmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategic Approach Towards Plastic Waste Valorization: Challenges and Promising Chemical Upcycling Possibilities

et al. 2021

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“…The resultant off-gas traverses via carrier-gas to a catalyst site to complete the conversion from vapor to solid CNT product. The pyrolytic growth of CNTs can be improved by co-addition of thermodynamically compatible solvent [11][12][13] such as toluene [14,15] to dissolve plastics including polystyrene (PS). The dissolution process confers five benefits over dry plastic pyrolysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes via Liquid Injection Chemical Vapour Deposition as a Vector for the Chemical Recycling of Waste Composite Carbon Sources

White¹,

Hedayati²,

Yick³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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For every three people on the planet there is approximately two Tonne (Te) of available plastic waste. We show that carbon recovery from polystyrene (PS) plastic is enhanced by the co-addition to solvents to grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by liquid injection chemical vapour deposition. Polystyrene was loaded up to 4 wt% in toluene and heated to 780 °C in the presence of a ferrocene catalyst and a hydrogen/argon carrier gas in a 1:19 ratio. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy were used to identify multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The PS addition in the range from 0 to 4 wt% showed improved quality and CNT homogeneity; Raman “Graphitic/Defective” (G/D) values increased from 1.9 to 2.3; mean CNT diameters increased from 43.0 to 49.2 nm; and maximum CNT yield increased from 11.3% to 14.2%. Since both the CNT diameters and the percentage yield increased with respect to polystyrene addition, we conclude that carbon from the PS contributes to the carbon within the MWCNTs. The electrical contact resistance of acid washed Bucky papers produced from each loading, ranged from 2.2 to 4.4 Ohm, with no direct correlation to PS loading. Due to this narrow range, the materials with different loading were mixed to create six wires of an Ethernet cable and tested using iPerf to give uplink and downlink speeds of ~99.5 Mbps, comparable to Cu wire of identical dimension (~99.5 Mbps). The lifecycle assessment (LCA) of CNT wire production was compared to copper wire production for the use case in a Boeing 747-400 over the lifespan of the craft. Due to their lightweight nature the CNT wires decreased the CO2 footprint by 21 kTonne (kTe) over the aircraft lifespan.

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“…Resulting from their unique properties, such as their easy moldability, light weight, and relative inexpensiveness, polymeric materials play a significant role in our daily lives [1][2][3][4]. They have been employed in different fields, including drug delivery, catalysis, healthcare, and construction; hence, it is not possible to picture life without them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrospun Alginate Nanofibers Toward Various Applications: A Review

et al. 2020

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Alginate has been a material of choice for a spectrum of applications, ranging from metal adsorption to wound dressing. Electrospinning has added a new dimension to polymeric materials, including alginate, which can be processed to their nanosize levels in order to afford unique nanostructured materials with fascinating properties. The resulting nanostructured materials often feature high porosity, stability, permeability, and a large surface-to-volume ratio. In the present review, recent trends on electrospun alginate nanofibers from over the past 10 years toward advanced applications are discussed. The application of electrospun alginate nanofibers in various fields such as bioremediation, scaffolds for skin tissue engineering, drug delivery, and sensors are also elucidated.

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Chemical Recycling of Consumer-Grade Black Plastic into Electrically Conductive Carbon Nanotubes

Cited by 21 publications

References 24 publications

Strategic Approach Towards Plastic Waste Valorization: Challenges and Promising Chemical Upcycling Possibilities

Strategic Approach Towards Plastic Waste Valorization: Challenges and Promising Chemical Upcycling Possibilities

Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes via Liquid Injection Chemical Vapour Deposition as a Vector for the Chemical Recycling of Waste Composite Carbon Sources

Electrospun Alginate Nanofibers Toward Various Applications: A Review

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