Isolation and Characterization of the Higher Fullerenes from Carbon Soot

• Published in: Fullerenes, nanotubes, and carbon nanostructures Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 309 - 316
• Main Authors: Jovanovic, T., Koruga, DJ, Jovancicevic, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 05-05-2011; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Buckminsterfullerene; Carbon; Chromatography; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; higher fullerenes; Initial carbon soot; Materials science; Nanostructure; Physics; Pyridines; Solvents; Soot; soxhlet extraction; Specific materials; UV/VIS; Atmospheric pressure; Soot; Toluene; Solubility; IR; UV/VIS; Carbon; Chromatography; soxhlet extraction; higher fullerenes; Pyridine; Fullerenes; Initial carbon soot
• ISSN: 1536-383X; 1536-4046
• DOI: 10.1080/15363831003721872

In the first phase of the process, the higher fullerenes, mainly C
76
and C
84
, as well as the basic fullerenes C
60
and C
70
, in a smaller amount, were Soxhlet extracted with pyridine from the sample of initial carbon soot, produced in electrical arc. The extract was obtained in increased, high yield of 16.4%, due to application of the original procedure. The solubility of fullerenes in this solvent was determined. Chromatographic separation of fullerenes from pyridine extract was performed by continual elution, in one phase of the process, under atmospheric pressure, with original, defined gradient of solvents, from pure hexane to pure toluene, on active Al
2
O
3
column, by a new, improved method. Identifications of fullerenes in the obtained chromatographically purified fractions and pyridine extract of the initial soot were performed using determined IR and UV/VIS techniques that have not been presented previously for the higher fullerenes.