AN INDUSTRIAL METHOD OF PRODUCING FULLERENES

摘要

A process for continuous production of fullerenes using a hydrocarbon feed source material, a non-reactive gas and a metal-based material, to produce solid-phase fullerenes. The process takes place in an atmosphere of a non-reactive gas and at high temperature. Industrial by-products of coal or petroleum processing, containing hydrocarbon mixtures and various carbonaceous materials, preferably pitches or tars, are introduced into the reactor and allowed to be catalytically transformed into fullerenes. The gas-phase fullerenes are allowed to advance to a higher temperature area within the reactor thereby completing any unfinished hydrocarbon-to-fullerene transformations, yielding in a product containing at least 10% to 40% fullerene molecules.