Synthesis of Carbon Nano Materials Originated from Waste Cooking Oil Using a Nebulized Spray Pyrolysis

In this present study, carbon nanomaterials were synthesized by a nebulized spray pyrolysis processs using waste cooking oil and ferrocene as carbon precursor and catalyst, respectively. The precursor solution was formed into droplets by a nebulization process under nitrogen gas flow through inside the furnace tube. Simultaneously, the oil was decomposed as nano carbons by heating mechanism onto the surface of activated carbons used as substrate. By varying the catalyst concentration dissolved in the oil (0.015, 0.02 and 0.025 g/ml) and operating temperature (650, 700 and 750 °C), the structure or morphology of the as-prepared nano carbons can be controlled. The structure and morphology of the carbon samples were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their graphite and crystal structure was characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results showed that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were formed at a high catalyst concentration (0.025 g/ml), whereas carbon spheres (CNSs) were found at a lower concentration (0.015 and 0.02 g/ml) for the synthesis process conducted at 650 °C. Similarly, agglomerated CNSs were also obtained for the deposition conducted at high operating temperature of 700 and 750 °C and catalyst concentration of 0.025 g/ml.