Patent ID: 6083469
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B82Y,C01B,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for the production of a mixture of C.sub.60, C.sub.70 fullerenes and higher molecular weight fullerenes, as essentially the only non-gaseous product of the process, comprising:a) heating, to a temperature between about 1100.degree. C. and about 2000.degree. C. in a substantially reduced-metals free reactor vessel, a feed mixture comprised of a hydrocarbon portion admixed with a diluent portion wherein the diluent portion comprises at least one member of the Group VIII-A elements of the Periodic Table of the Elements and wherein the hydrocarbon portion comprises a mixture containing about 80 to about 100 mole percent of ethane admixed with other aliphatic hydrocarbons having at least two but less than six carbon atoms in their molecular structure;b) causing the feed mixture at a pressure at least 1 kg/cm.sup.2 to flow through the substantially reduced-metals free reactor vessel, contained within and heated by a fired furnace, at a flow rate sufficient to provide a residence time at temperatures greater than 700.degree. C. of between about 0.001 second and about 0.05 second,c) quenching the reactor effluent stream by cooling to a temperature below about 700.degree. C. within a time period about equal to that of its residence time in the reactor by quenching means, wherein the reactor effluent prior to and during the quench procedure is precluded from contact with cooling surfaces comprised of or containing reduced-metals of the Group VIII-B elements of the Periodic Table of the Elements,d) separation and recovery of a solid mixture of fullerenes entrained within the quenched reactor effluent stream by one or more gas/solids separation means.