Large-scale industrial manufacturing of carbon nanotubes in a continuous inclined mobile-bed rotating reactor via the catalytic chemical vapor deposition process

doi:10.1007/s11705-017-1635-1

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2017, Vol. 11

Issue (2) : 280-289 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-017-1635-1

VIEWS & COMMENTS

Large-scale industrial manufacturing of carbon nanotubes in a continuous inclined mobile-bed rotating reactor via the catalytic chemical vapor deposition process

Sophie L. Pirard(

), Sigrid Douven, Jean-Paul Pirard

Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Liege, B-4000 Liege, Belgium

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Abstract

This article reports the different steps of the design, development and validation of a process for continuous production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via catalytic chemical vapor deposition from the laboratory scale to the industrial production. This process is based on a continuous inclined mobile-bed rotating reactor and very active catalysts using methane or ethylene as carbon source. The importance of modeling taking into account the hydrodynamic, physicochemical and physical phenomena that occur during CNT production in the process analysis is emphasized. The impact of this invention on the environment and human health is taken into consideration too.

Keywords carbon nanotubes catalytic chemical vapor deposition inclined rotating reactor industrial process scaling-up

Corresponding Author(s): Sophie L. Pirard

Just Accepted Date: 21 February 2017 Online First Date: 13 April 2017 Issue Date: 12 May 2017

Cite this article:

Sophie L. Pirard,Sigrid Douven,Jean-Paul Pirard. Large-scale industrial manufacturing of carbon nanotubes in a continuous inclined mobile-bed rotating reactor via the catalytic chemical vapor deposition process[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2017, 11(2): 280-289.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-017-1635-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2017/V11/I2/280

Fig.1 Process for continuous CNT production. Reprinted from Ref. [] with permission from Elsevier

Fig.2 Continuous reactor for CNT production at LCE

Fig.3 SEM and TEM images of CNTs obtained with catalyst Cat-2-E using ethylene as carbon source

Fig.4 Scheme of discontinuous installation to measure catalytic activity and catalytic deactivation. Reprinted from Ref. [] with permission from Elsevier

Fig.5 Specific productivity (kg_CNT/kg_catalyst) of the four industrial catalysts, normalized to the specific productivity of Cat-2-E as a function of time [,,?]

Fig.6 CNT purity set against specific productivity with Cat-2-M. Full line corresponds to the model and symbols correspond to experimental data []

Fig.7 Pilot reactor for CNT production at Nanocyl SA

Fig.8 Comparison between experimental productivity in pilot reactor at Nanocyl SA with productivity calculated by the model []

Fig.9 Specific reaction rate as a function of methane partial pressure with Cat-2-M, at (○) 925 °C, (?) 975 °C and (?)1000 °C. Full lines correspond to the model and symbols correspond to experimental data []

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