Utilization of catalytically active metals in mining waste and water for synthesis of carbon nanotubes

This study presents the application of fine-grained precipitates from mine waters for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes. Experimental synthesis of carbon nanotubes was carried out on natural substrates taken from the Slovak mining localities Marku.sovce, Smolnik and Popro.c. The substrates were obtained from mining waste taken from the shore dark sediment settling ponds in Marku.sovce, from the water flowing out of the mine in Smolnik and from the sediment collected from the mine of Popro.c. The main components of the colloidal residues resulting from the extraction of ores are particles containing catalytically active metals. Microscopic analysis of nanocomposites synthetized in a hot filament chemical vapour deposition reactor shows that the sediments from all residues after ore mining have a high ability to catalyse the synthesis of carbon nanotubes. The combination of catalyst particles and co-catalyst plays an essential role in the formation of carbon nanotubes.