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Purification of fullerenes

Assignee: University of South Carolina
•
Filing: 1992-06-10
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Granted: 1994-05-10
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Expires: 2012-06-10
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Abstract

Abstract A low-cost and facile method of purifying fullerenes to obtain a preparation enriched in a fullerene of selected molecular weight using activated carbon involves adding a fullerene mixture to the top end of a column comprising activated carbon, passing a solvent in which the selected molecular weight fullerene is soluble through the column, and recovering a fraction enriched in the selected molecular weight fullerene from the bottom end of the column. In addition to activated carbon, the column may further comprise silica gel, diatomaceous earth, or other materials which aid in column packing and eluent flow.

Inventors

  • 👤 James M. Tour
  • 👤 Walter A. Scrivens
  • 👤 Peter V. Bedworth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 04:46
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B32/00; C01B32/05; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y30/00; B82Y40/00; C01B32/15; C01B32/152; C01B32/156; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/39; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/842; Y10S977/845

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 81 words
A method of purifying a mixture of fullerenes to obtain a preparation enriched in a fullerene of a selected molecular weight comprising; adding a fullerene mixture to the top end of a column comprising activated carbon, passing a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatics and halogenated hydrocarbons in which said selected molecular weight fullerene is soluble through said column, and recovering a fraction enriched in the fullerene of the selected molecular weight from the bottom end of the column.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 81 words
A method of purifying a mixture of fullerenes to obtain a preparation enriched in a fullerene of a selected molecular weight comprising; adding a fullerene mixture to the top end of a column comprising activated carbon, passing a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatics and halogenated hydrocarbons in which said selected molecular weight fullerene is soluble through said column, and recovering a fraction enriched in the fullerene of the selected molecular weight from the bottom end of the column.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is aromatic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said aromatic solvent is selected from the group consisting of mesitylene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said aromatic solvent is toluene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is carbon tetrachloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 11 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is heteroaromatic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 11 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said solvent is pyridine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fullerene mixture is in the form of a solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fullerene mixture is soot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said column also comprises silica gel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the ratio by weight of activated carbon to silica gel is 1:2.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said aromatic solvent is driven through said column by applying 5 p.s.i. to 5000 p.s.i. to one end of said column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 wherein the fullerene of selectted molecular weight is a C 60 fullerene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 wherein the fullerene of selectted molecular weight is a C 70 fullerene.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

WO1992004279A1 Cited

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Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-05-09 1997-11-08 1998-05-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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