Date of Award
12-1-2016
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Mondal, Kanchan
Abstract
The aim of this research is to investigate the role of chemical functionalization on carbon nanotubes and its effect on the FT synthesis. Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) bought from the market were functionalized using HNO3 to introduce oxygen-containing groups to the MWNT surface. This treatment also adds defects on MWNT surface. Carboxyl functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (-COOH) and hydroxyl functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (-OH) were also bought from the market and used in the experiments, Results of FT experiments showed very high CO conversion. Fischer Tropsch activity and product selectivity were towards liquid hydrocarbons due to functionalization. Highly desired product distribution were obtained due to chemical functionalization of CNTs. The performance of all the functionalized Multi wall nanotubes was better than the pure Multi wall nanotubes. Operating conditions like temperature, syngas feed flow rate and syngas ratio were also to impact the FT performance.
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