Remarkable Improvement in Efficiency of Filtration Method for Fullerene Purification

Filtration of fullerene extract through thin layer of powdered activated carbon fiber was reported as a very practical process for fullerene purification. In order to make it more efficient, the conditions of the filtration were further investigated. As a result, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene with high fullerene solubility was found to be employed as solvent to give pure C₆₀ and C₇₀ in moderarte to excellent yields, reducing a volume of solvent, an amount of activated carbon and a time for purification. The efficiency of the improved filtration method presented here is considered to be comparable to or even better than that of the previous methods.