Patent ID: 8092778
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: B82Y,C01B

Abstract:
1. A method for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel and carbon nanotubes comprising: providing a reactor having a microwave transparent wall; providing a flow of methane gas into the reactor; preparing Fe based catalyst particles from a catalyst precursor by coprecipitation of an aqueous solution; mixing the catalyst particles with carbon to form a catalyst mixture; placing the catalyst mixture in the reactor on a microwave transparent holder configured to allow the flow of methane gas to pass through the holder and around the catalyst mixture; pretreating the catalyst mixture in the reactor using microwave irradiation at a first microwave power directed through the wall of the reactor and the holder and the flow of methane gas through the holder; heating the catalyst mixture in the reactor at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere using microwave irradiation at a second microwave power less than the first microwave power directed through the wall of the reactor and the holder; directing the flow of methane gas through the holder and around the catalyst mixture; and controlling the second microwave power to produce the carbon nanotubes and a product gas comprising from about 15% to 20% hydrogen by volume, and from about 80% to 85% methane by volume.