Photochemistry and environmental applications of water-soluble fullerene compounds

The use of water-soluble fullerene-based compounds as sensitizers for reactive oxygen species (ROS) was investigated for the photodegradation of organic contaminants. A variety of conditions were evaluated to determine the production of ROS species by water soluble fullerene. Fullerol was an effective photosensitizer, particular under ultraviolet light. Fullerol produced a mixture of reactive oxygen species under both visible and ultraviolet irradiation. Evidence of both singlet oxygen and superoxide production was obtained. Water-soluble fullerene aggregates were not photocatalytic. Under dark conditions, fullerol appears to act as an antioxidant, while n-C60 had no antioxidant properties and under certain conditions may accelerate the production of ROS. Finally, it was demonstrated that membrane filtration can be used to separate the fullerene compounds from the process water. Nanofiltration membranes were used to remove fullerol from an aqueous solution. Fullerol rejection was approximately 98% and no fouling of the membrane was observed