Fullerene separation

Fullerene separation by multi-step HPLC

First-step HPLC

The most efficient procedure for the separation of fullerenes is the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). For instance, the separation of the fullerene mixture from C₆₀ to C₉₄ is made in two steps.

The following figure shows a preparative HPLC setup. This setup is used for the first separation step. After this first step the resulting fractions are: C₆₀, C₇₀, C₇₆, C₇₈, C₈₀, C₈₄, C₈₆, C₈₈, C₉₀(I), C₉₀(II), C₉₂ and C₉₄.

Preparative HPLC setup

The next figure shows a typical HPLC-chromatogramm. The separation was done on a praparative Buckyprep (Cosmosil, Japan) column with toluene being the mobile phase (flow rate: 10 ml/min).

HPLC chromatogramm of fullerene fractions

The main subject in fullerene research of our group are endohedral fullerenes. After the first HPLC-step the endohedral fullerenes are found in the fractions of higher empty fullerenes, for instance La@C₈₂ is found in the C₈₈ fraction. To clarify the composition of the fractions after the fitst HPLC-step, the fraction are investigated by mass spectrometry.

Second-step HPLC

After the mass spectrometric analysis the fractions are subject to the second-step HPLC separation.

In the left figure an analytical HPLC-System from Hewlett Packard (Series 1050) is shown. Furthermore a system from Abimed/Glison (right figure) is used for the separation of endohedral fullerenes.

Anlytical	HPLC setup

The following chromatogramms show the analytical separation of Sm@C₇₄. In the end we reach a purity of 99 % by the separation.

Sepearation of Sm@C74 by HPLC

or
back to fullerene production

Contact

Prof. Lothar Dunsch