Separation and purification of fullerenes
View Patent ↗A method of processing fullerenes includes generating a gas stream having suspended soot particles and condensable gases, wherein the condensable gases comprising fullerenes, and separating at least a portion of the condensable gases from the suspended soot particles using a gas/solid separations process. At least a portion of the fullerenes in the condensable gases can be condensed and collected after separation of the condensable gases.
1. An apparatus for the processing of fullerenes comprising:
a combustor capable of generating a gas effluent comprising suspended soot particles, PAH, and condensable gases, said condensable gases comprising fullerenes;
an inlet conduit for directing a gaseous effluent to a first separation point;
a first gas/solid separation device located at the first separation point;
an outlet conduit for directing a gas effluent from the first separation point to a first collection point;
a collection device located at the first collection point; and
a temperature control for controlling the temperature of the gaseous effluent.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control comprises use of conductively cooled surfaces and/or inert gases and/or liquids.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of gas/solid separation devices and/or gas/solid collection devices.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separation device is selected from the group consisting of filters, electrostatic precipitators, electrostatic separators, and inertial separators.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the filter comprises a sieve filter.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the filter comprises high temperature alumina beads.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of collection devices.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collection device comprises a condensing surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collection device is selected from the group consisting of filters, electrostatic precipitators, electrostatic separators, and inertial separators.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second gas/solid separation devices, each said device in flow communication with the inlet conduit;
means for directing the gases from the inlet conduit into the first or second gas/solid separations devices; and
first and second outlets for directing gas effluent from the first and second gas/solid separation devices, respectively.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first inlet port for introducing material into the first gas/solids separation device; and
a second inlet port for introducing material into the second gas/solids separation device.
12. An apparatus for the processing of fullerenes comprising:
means for generating and directing a gaseous effluent comprising suspended soot particles, PAH, and condensable gases to a first collection point;
means for reducing PAH content in the gaseous effluent;
means for separating a first solid from the gaseous effluent at a first collection point;
means for directing the gas stream from the first collection point to a second collection point; and
means for separating a second solid from the gaseous effluent at a second collection point.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
one or more temperature controllers for controlling the temperature of the gaseous effluent.