Dispersion of C60 in natural water and removal by conventional drinking water treatment processes

The first objective of this study is to examine the fate of C₆₀ under two disposal scenarios through which pristine C₆₀ is introduced to water containing natural organic matter (NOM). A method based on liquid-liquid extraction and HPLC to quantify nC₆₀ in water containing NOM was also developed. When pristine C₆₀ was added to water either in the form of dry C₆₀ or in organic solvent, it formed water stable aggregates with characteristics similar to nC₆₀ prepared by other methods reported in the literature. The second objective of this study is to examine the fate of the nC₆₀ in water treatment processes, which are the first line of defense against ingestion from potable water - a potential route for direct human consumption. Results obtained from jar tests suggested that these colloidal aggregates of C₆₀ were efficiently removed by a series of alum coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration processes, while the efficiency of removal dependent on various parameters such as pH, alkalinity, NOM contents and coagulant dosage. Colloidal aggregates of functionalized C₆₀ could be well removed by the conventional water treatment processes but with lesser efficiency compared to those made of pristine C₆₀.