Small Business	Research Institution
Applied Sciences, Inc. 141 West Xenia Avenue P.O. Box 579 Cedarville, OH 45314-9529 Mr. Elliot B. Kennel, Principal Investigator Mr. Max L. Lake, Business Official (937) 766-2020	Research Institution West Virginia University Department of Chemical Engineering P.O. Box 6102 Morgantown, WV 26506-6102

The burning of fossil fuels adds carbon to the atmosphere, principally in the form of carbon dioxide. The best way to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide is to not have carbon present in the fuel when it is burned. By fabricating carbon nanofibers from the fossil fuel input, carbon can be removed from the fuel cycle. In this project, metal catalysts will be combined with hydrocarbon fuel sources to cause the formation of valuable carbon nanofibers at ~1000ø C, while leaving behind a hydrogen-rich (carbon-depleted) fuel source. In Phase I, the energy economics (i.e., net enthalpy per unit quantity of fuel consumed) will be determined for various fuel cycles, and experiments will be conducted to demonstrate feasibility. Clean fuel and valuable carbon products will be produced.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This effort should result in sulfur-free, hydrogen rich, cleaner burning fuels. The carbon byproducts could be used as: additives for synthetic rubber, plastic, polyurethane, concrete and other materials.