Kinetics of Thermal Extraction from Soot

An experimental result on the extraction of fullerene from graphite evaporated soot by thermal sublimation in vacuum is reported. the kinetics shows a complex time dependence, an indication of a fullerene diffusion from the interior of the soot granule to the surface of the granule in order to sublime. the total fullerene yield by thermal extraction is proven to be equal to a better than the yield from the commonly used organic solvent extraction process. In addition, thermal extraction is an ecologically conscious process, while the solution extraction is not.