Enhancing carbon nanotubes production from pyrolysis–catalysis of plastic waste through monolithic heating
Abstract
In this study, we developed a novel monolithic heating method by utilizing electromagnetic induction to enhance carbon nanotube (CNT) production from plastic waste via pyrolysis–catalysis. Metal porous catalysts, including iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and Fe–Ni alloy, enabled rapid volumetric heating, improved catalytic efficiency and reduced energy consumption compared with conventional methods. The porous Fe catalyst demonstrated superior CNT yield, while Ni provided the highest hydrogen (H2) production. We achieved carbon-recovery efficiencies of 86%, 84% and 82% for low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, respectively, by using the Fe catalyst. Our economic analysis indicated that CNT production from waste polyethylene and waste polypropylene is feasible, with break-even selling prices of $4.02 and $4.87 kg−1, respectively. Our work supports the development of a circular economy by enabling the efficient conversion of plastic waste into valuable CNTs and H2 via pyrolysis–catalysis.
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BibTeX
@article{pan2026enhancing,
title = {{Enhancing carbon nanotubes production from pyrolysis–catalysis of plastic waste through monolithic heating}},
author = {Ruming Pan and Jie Yu and Youwei Yang and Ilman Nuran Zaini and Xibo He and Muhammad Rafique and Yibo Wu and Kuandong Jiang and Leilei Dai and Yi Fang and Youchuang Chao and Yuming Wen and Yanming Guo and Gérald Debenest and Weihong Yang and Wangliang Li and Yaning Zhang and Yong Shuai},
journal = {National Science Review},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1093/nsr/nwag143},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05765260v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Enhancing carbon nanotubes production from pyrolysis–catalysis of plastic waste through monolithic heating
AU - Ruming Pan
AU - Jie Yu
AU - Youwei Yang
AU - Ilman Nuran Zaini
AU - Xibo He
AU - Muhammad Rafique
AU - Yibo Wu
AU - Kuandong Jiang
AU - Leilei Dai
AU - Yi Fang
AU - Youchuang Chao
AU - Yuming Wen
AU - Yanming Guo
AU - Gérald Debenest
AU - Weihong Yang
AU - Wangliang Li
AU - Yaning Zhang
AU - Yong Shuai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/05
JO - National Science Review
DO - 10.1093/nsr/nwag143
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05765260v1
AB - In this study, we developed a novel monolithic heating method by utilizing electromagnetic induction to enhance carbon nanotube (CNT) production from plastic waste via pyrolysis–catalysis. Metal porous catalysts, including iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and Fe–Ni alloy, enabled rapid volumetric heating, improved catalytic efficiency and reduced energy consumption compared with conventional methods. The porous Fe catalyst demonstrated superior CNT yield, while Ni provided the highest hydrogen (H2) production. We achieved carbon-recovery efficiencies of 86%, 84% and 82% for low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, respectively, by using the Fe catalyst. Our economic analysis indicated that CNT production from waste polyethylene and waste polypropylene is feasible, with break-even selling prices of $4.02 and $4.87 kg−1, respectively. Our work supports the development of a circular economy by enabling the efficient conversion of plastic waste into valuable CNTs and H2 via pyrolysis–catalysis.
SN - 2095-5138
SN - 2053-714X
ER -