A possibility of the production of carbon nanotubes from heavy hydrocarbons

A possibility of the production of carbon nanotubes from heavy hydrocarbon resources derived from natural asphalt was examined. Before the use of heavy hydrocarbons, pure compound, toluene was used as the pure substrate to establish the reaction system for the production of carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes were found in the carbonaceous product deposited on inner wall of a quartz tube and at the exit of the tube. The carbonaceous product was observed by scanning electron microscopy and analyzed by temperature-programmed oxidation experiments to identify the presence of carbon nanotubes. Based on the reaction system and reaction conditions with toluene, the production of nanotubes was examined by using heavy hydrocarbons such as asphaltene and maltene fractions from a natural asphalt. Under selected reaction conditions including the reaction temperature and the amount of the catalyst, carbon nanotubes with a diameter of 30–60 nm were found.