Tailoring FeO-AlO catalyst structure and activity via hydrothermal synthesis for carbon nanotubes and hydrogen production from polyolefin plastics.

FeO-AlO catalysts applied for conversion of polyolefin plastic waste into multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and H are typically produced by impregnation, co-precipitation or sol-gel synthesis at atmospheric pressure and temperatures below 100 °C. This study utilized hydrothermal conditions and established the role of precipitating agents (urea, N-methylurea and N,N'-dimethylurea) on properties and catalytic activity of FeO-AlO catalysts (Fe-u, Fe-mu and Fe-dmu, respectively). The precipitating agent played a key role in tailoring the properties, such as crystallization degree, surface area and reducibility.

Reaction discovery using acetylene gas as the chemical feedstock accelerated by the "stop-flow" micro-tubing reactor system.

Acetylene gas has been applied as a feedstock under transition-metal catalysis and photo-redox conditions to produce important chemicals including terminal alkynes, fulvenes, and fluorinated styrene compounds. The reaction discovery process was accelerated through the use of "stop-flow" micro-tubing reactors. This reactor prototype was developed by joining elements from both continuous micro-flow and conventional batch reactors, which was convenient and effective for gas/liquid reaction screening.