Methods for preparing catalyst supports and supported catalysts from carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A new method for preparing a supported catalyst is herein provided. A carbon nanotube structure such as a rigid porous structure is formed from carbon nanotubes. A metal catalyst is then loaded or deposited onto the carbon nanotube structure. The loaded carbon nanotube is preferably ground to powder form.

1 . A method of processing carbon nanotubes comprising:
 extruding carbon nanotubes and a gluing agent to form an extrudate; and   functionalizing the carbon nanotubes in the extrudate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of claim I, wherein functionalizing the carbon nanotubes comprises use of an oxidizing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of potassium chlorate, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, CO 2 , O 2 , steam, N 2 O, NO, NO 2 , O 3 , and CO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the oxidizing agent comprises nitric acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising loading active catalyst onto the carbon nanotubes following functionalizing the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the active catalyst is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the active catalyst comprises palladium. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gluing agent is selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based polymers, hydroxylethyl cellulose, carboxylmethyl cellulose, cellulose, carbohydrates, polyethylene, polystyrene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyamides, poly(dimethylsiloxane), acrylic polymers and phenolic resins.