IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,577,112
Granted Patent B2
US 12,577,112 · App. 18/187,493 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Carbon fiber materials from waste polyethylene and polyethylene oil

Inventors: Elham Fini (Phoenix, AZ); Albert Hung (Tempe, AZ)
Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
C01B32/324C01B32/382C08J11/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,577,112
App. No.
18/187,493
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, manufacturing carbon fiber materials includes combining waste plastic with waste polyethylene oil to yield infused waste plastic, combining the infused waste plastic with sulfuric acid to yield a mixture, irradiating the mixture with microwave radiation to yield sulfonated waste plastic, and carbonizing the sulfonated waste plastic to yield the carbon fiber materials. In another aspect, manufacturing carbon fiber materials includes combining waste polyethylene oil with sulfuric acid to yield a mixture, combining the mixture with waste plastic to yield infused waste plastic, irradiating the infused waste plastic with microwave radiation to yield sulfonated waste plastic, and carbonizing the sulfonated waste plastic to yield the carbon fiber materials.

Claims (33)

1 . A method of manufacturing carbon fiber materials, the method comprising:

combining waste plastic with waste polyethylene oil to yield infused waste plastic;

combining the infused waste plastic with sulfuric acid to yield a mixture;

irradiating the mixture with microwave radiation to yield sulfonated waste plastic; and

carbonizing the sulfonated waste plastic to yield the carbon fiber materials.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the waste polyethylene oil is chemically heterogeneous.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the waste polyethylene oil is prepared by solvothermal liquefaction.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvothermal liquefaction comprises:

combining waste plastic with a solvent to form a mixture; and

heating the mixture.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising heating the mixture under pressure in range of about 20 MPa to about 25 MPa.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the solvent comprises one or more of acetone, alcohol, nitric acid, and water.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the waste plastic comprises polyolefins.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the polyolefins comprise high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or a combination thereof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the mixture with the microwave radiation comprises heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 100° C.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein irradiating the mixture with the microwave radiation comprises heating the mixture to a temperature in a range between 100° C. and 200° C.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein irradiating the mixture with the microwave radiation comprises heating the mixture to a temperature in a range between 150° C. and 200° C.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the infused waste plastic comprises between 5 wt % and 15 wt % of the waste polyethylene oil.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein carbonizing the sulfonated waste plastic comprises heating the sulfonated waste plastic to a temperature of at least 750° C.

14 . A method of manufacturing carbon fiber materials, the method comprising:

combining waste polyethylene oil with sulfuric acid to yield a mixture;

combining the mixture with waste plastic to yield infused waste plastic;

irradiating the infused waste plastic with microwave radiation to yield sulfonated waste plastic; and

carbonizing the sulfonated waste plastic to yield the carbon fiber materials.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the waste polyethylene oil is chemically heterogeneous.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the waste polyethylene oil is made by solvothermal liquefaction of waste plastic.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the waste plastic comprises polyolefins.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the polyolefins comprise high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or a combination thereof.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein irradiating the infused waste plastic with the microwave radiation comprises heating the infused waste plastic to a temperature of at least 100° C.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein irradiating the infused waste plastic with the microwave radiation comprises heating the infused waste plastic to a temperature in a range between 100° C. and 200° C.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein irradiating the infused waste plastic with the microwave radiation comprises heating the infused waste plastic to a temperature in a range between 150° C. and 200° C.

22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the infused waste plastic comprises between 5 wt % and 15 wt % of the waste polyethylene oil.

23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein carbonizing the sulfonated waste plastic comprises heating the sulfonated waste plastic to a temperature of at least 750° C.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: FINI, ELHAM; HUNG, ALBERT
To: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 063667/0967 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63322186 · Mar 21, 2022
Related Publication 20230294995A1 · Sep 21, 2023
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