Separation of fullerenes C-60 and C-70 on silica gels grafted with immobilized tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives

Chromatographic properties of sorbents prepared from copper tetrasulfotetra phenylporphyrin and tetra(1-pyridiniomethyl-4-phenyl)porphyrin bound to sil ica gel by ionic bonds are studied. Some of the synthesized sorbents exhibi t efficient chromatographic characteristics in separation of C-60 and C-70 fullerenes. It is shown that the chromatographic characteristics of the sor bents are substantially dependent on the amount of tetraphenylporphyrin in them. This result is explained based on the assumption that the highest eff iciency of sorption is achieved when several optimally located tetraphenylp orptryrin molecules simultaneously participate in the event of sorption of a fullerene molecule. It is found that the sorbents synthesized are strongl y bound by ionic bonds to the surface of the support; therefore, the sorben ts are practically not washed out of the column.