Synthesis of carbon nanoparticles from used motor oil and benzene via solution plasma process

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) were successfully synthesized from the mixture of used motor oil and benzene via a solution plasma process (SPP). The synthesis was achieved within a single step at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The effects of mixing ratio between used motor oil and benzene on the physical and chemical properties of CNPs were investigated by means of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed that there were no significant changes in morphological feature and chemical functional groups on CNPs at different mixing ratios. The CNPs exhibited the aggregates of fine particles with the diameter of about 20-30 nm. The crystallinity of CNPs was found to be slightly increased when synthesized under the presence of used motor oil, possibly due to the effect of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in used motor oil. We expect that the conversion of used motor oil into CNPs by SPP could be another attractive way to add the value to used motor oil prior to disposing.