Optimization of the Production and Separation of Fullerenes

Mixtures of C60 and C70 containing up to 50% C70 are obtained from the production of fullerenes with a DC furnace with high currents (400 A). In addition, two chromatographic methods using silica gel and reversed‐phase silica gel are introduced for the separations of 400 and 300 mg, respectively, of mixed fullerenes per hour. Larger amounts of fullerenes can thus be purified on standard chromatographic supports.