This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project will address large scale production of fullerene materials in an ecologically benign manner. Presently, fullerene manufacturing is based on a synthesis of soot from an evaporated graphite rod and a dissolution of the soot in an organic chemical solvent to extract the fullerene. Synthesis of soot is energy intensive and impractical for large scale production, while the organic chemical process is environmentally toxic and hazardous. This project will extract fullerene from fullerene-containg coal. The process will involve (i) demineralization and elimination of impurities in the coal and (ii) extraction of fullerenes by sublimation. If proven feasible as an economical and ecologically benign process, it could be commercialized to meet the presently growing demand for fullerene materials.
