The structural quality of induction thermal plasma grown-SWCNTs synthesized through the injection of five different powder mixtures containing 87.2(commercial carbon black)/2.6(Ni)/2.6(Co)/7.6(Y2O3) (wt%) with variable sulfur content of 0.02, 0.6, 1.1, 2 and 2.5 (wt%) in carbon black was investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The results showed an increase in G/D intensity ratio with sulfur content up to 2.0% implying higher structural quality of SWCNTs followed by reduction of intensity with 2.5%. The equilibrium composition of the mixtures as a function of temperature calculated using FactSage thermo-chemical software revealed a lower end temperature of total gas phase as a result of the sulfur addition and the heat related to the formation of Y2S3 solid phase which eventually increases the structural quality of SWCNTs. However, the higher amount of dissolved sulfur in the liquid solution of metallic catalysts for the mixture with 2.5% sulfur can results in the poisoning effect. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.