Continuous Distillation of Fullerenes

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目的重点是开发一种有效分离不同形式富勒烯碳的系统。富勒烯是最近发现的一类材料，包括C60、C70、C76和其他全碳分子，是一个研究兴趣浓厚的主题，在电子、光学和电池技术中有潜在的应用。不幸的是，纯化这些材料的唯一可用方法是色谱法，这是一种效率低下的批处理方法，导致纯化材料的价格非常高。TDA研究（TDA）提出了一种高效的富勒烯分级升华连续分离工艺。初步的计算已经证明了这一过程的潜在效率，并且PI以前有过批量升华过程净化富勒烯的经验。第一阶段将完成过程的数学模拟，并设计、建造和测试仪器。利用实验数据，TDA将估算大规模生产纯化富勒烯的成本。如果有必要，第二阶段将设计和建造一个更大规模的富勒烯净化装置。研究数量的纯化富勒烯的商业销售应该从第一阶段开始，因为第一阶段的设备很可能是现有纯化的高级富勒烯（碳原子数大于70的富勒烯）最有效的生产者。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project focuses on developing a system for the efficient separation of the different forms of fullerene carbon. Fullerenes, a recently discovered class of materials including C60, C70, C76, and other all-carbon molecules, are a subject of intense research interest and have potential application in electronic, optics, and battery technology. Unfortunately, the only available method for purification of these materials is chromatography, an inefficient, batch process that has led to very high prices for purified materials. TDA Research (TDA) proposes to develop an efficient process for the continuous separation of fullerenes by fractional sublimation. Preliminary calculations have demonstrated the potential efficiency of this process, and the PI has previous experience with a batch-scale sublimation process for fullerene purification. Phase I will complete the mathematical simulation of the process, and design, build, and test the apparatus. Using experimental data, TDA will estimate the cost of purified fullerenes in large scale production. Phase II, if warranted, will design and construct a larger scale apparatus for the purification of fullerenes. Commercial sales of research quantities of purified fullerenes should begin in Phase I, because the Phase I apparatus may well be the most efficient producer of purified higher fullerenes (those with greater than 70 carbon atoms) in existence.