In this study, Fe-Ni bimetallic catalyst supported on kaolin is prepared by a wet impregnation method. The effects of mass of kaolin support, pre-calcination time, pre-calcination temperature and stirring speed on catalyst yields are examined. Then, the optimal supported Fe-Ni catalyst is utilised to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) method. The catalysts and MWCNTs prepared using the optimal conditions are characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), high-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), electron diffraction spectrometer (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD/EDS patterns of the prepared catalyst confirm the formation of a purely crystalline ternary oxide (NiFe2O4). The statistical analysis of the variance demonstrates that the combined effects of the reaction temperature and acetylene flow rate predominantly influenced the MWCNT yield. The N2 adsorption (BET) and TGA analyses reveal high surface areas and thermally stable MWCNTs. The HRTEM/HRSEM micrographs confirm the formation of tangled MWCNTs with a particle size of less than 62 nm. The XRD patterns of the MWCNTs reveal the formation of a typical graphitized carbon. This study establishes the production of MWCNTs from a bi-metallic catalyst supported on kaolin.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental impacts of recovery of valuable metals from the desulfurizing spent catalyst. Molybdenum, vanadium and nickel widely used in the area of catalysis. But the demand of these metals is full filled by industries. Every year, more than 18,000 tons spent catalysts are discarded. In most countries, spent catalyst is classified as a harmful waste. Thus, metal recovery from spent catalyst has been processed. The recovery process of molybdenum, vanadium and nickel from spent catalyst was mainly carried out wet process. However, this process are not suitable for economics and environmental aspects. Because environmental costs for removal of sulfur in the spent catalyst is high and huge amount of industrial wastewater occurs. Thus, it is necessary to develop a process which is efficient and does not cause pollution than the wet process. Thus, we have studied life cycle assessment about the dry process for the recovery of valuable metals.