C60 has gained significant attention in the natural health community for its wide-ranging benefits, from sunburn prevention to promoting hair growth and longevity. It acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against damage caused by free radicals.
The C60 fullerene operates by producing electrons to neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidation. It’s commonly infused in olive oil, sold in capsule form, or blended with cannabidiol (CBD) to produce healthy C60+CBD Tinctures.
In this article, we take a look at the C60 production process.
C60: A Ball of Carbon Atoms
“C60” stands for “Carbon 60,” representing the number of carbon atoms forming a molecule called a fullerene, specifically a Buckminsterfullerene. Buckminsterfullerenes are commonly known as “buckyballs.”
The name pays homage to scientist and architect Buckminster Fuller, who popularized geodesic domes in his architectural designs. These domes bore a resemblance to the newly discovered molecules, inspiring the name.
In recognition of their groundbreaking work, the scientists behind these discoveries were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1996.
The Structure of C60
Fullerenes, such as C60, are fascinating molecules consisting of fused five and six-membered carbon rings. In a C60 molecule, each six-membered ring is encircled alternately by hexagons and pentagons of carbon atoms, with each pentagon fused to five hexagons.
This unique arrangement causes the hexagons to form a bowl-like structure, and the three pentagons attached to each ring induce curvature, resulting in a dome-like shape that curves around itself, resembling a sphere (much like a soccer ball). All 60 carbon atoms in fullerene C60 are equivalent, contributing to a single 13C NMR resonance.
Here’s the chemical data for C60:
- Chemical Formula: C60
- Molecular Weight: 720.660 g/mol
- Density: 1.65 g/dm3
- Appearance: Dark needle-like crystals
The C60 Production Process
There are two major production options, as shown below.
The Laser Ablation Technique
The laser ablation technique, pioneered by Kroto, Smalley, and Curl, aimed to investigate long linear carbon chains. They used Smalley’s AP2 machine that allowed the study of clusters of any element.
Even today, the process involves firing pulsed laser beams at chemical elements. These beams generate temperatures hotter than most star surfaces, thereby vaporizing the targeted element.
After that, the vapor cools and forms clusters, which are then swept into a vacuum chamber by bursts of high-pressure gas. Within the chamber, the clusters condense. A second laser pulse ionizes and pushes the clusters into a mass spectrometer for analysis.
However, this method only yields microscopic amounts of fullerenes.
The Arc Method
The arc method is a common laboratory technique for producing gram-sized quantities of fullerenes, albeit with purification challenges. It consists of five stages that are discussed below:
- Synthesis: Fullerenes are synthesized from fullerene-containing soot using the arc method, similar to the Huffman Kratschmer method. An arc is struck between two graphite electrodes in a helium atmosphere (100~200 Torr), with water surrounding the device for cooling. The resulting soot typically contains 10 – 15 % of soluble fullerenes.
- Extraction: Fullerenes are extracted from the soot using either solvent or sublimation methods. The solvent method which is the most common, dissolves fullerenes in a suitable solvent like benzene or toluene. Impurities can be filtered out. The sublimation method involves heating the raw soot in a quartz tube, causing the fullerenes to sublimate and condense in a colder part of the tube.
- Separation (Purification): To obtain pure fullerene microcrystalline powder or solution, chemical purification is necessary due to potential impurities from previous stages. This is achieved through sublimation or solvent methods, with the former based on temperature gradients and the latter on liquid chromatography.
- Derivative Synthesis: Fullerene derivatives are synthesized using organic synthesis techniques.
- Post-processing: This includes dispersion into matrices and other subsequent treatments.
The Combustion Method
The combustion method is used for large-scale industrial production. It was discovered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Physical Properties of Buckminsterfullerene
- C60 remains stable even under high temperatures and pressures.
- Fullerenes, being covalent in nature, dissolve in organic solvents but not in water.
- Pure C60 solutions have a deep purple color and leave behind a brown residue on evaporation.
- In the solid state, C60 molecules arrange themselves in a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure.
- Buckminsterfullerene (C60) exhibits superconducting properties below 18K, allowing electric current to flow without resistance.
- Crystallization of C60 in benzene solution yields triclinic crystals with the formula C60·4C6H6.
Chemical Properties of C60
- Buckminsterfullerene can be electrochemically reduced to form fulleride ions. It reacts with group-1 metals to produce solid K3C60, which exhibits superconductivity below 18K.
- Hydrogenation of C60 results in the formation of polyhydrofullerenes. Additionally, C60 undergoes Birch reduction due to its slight aromatic character.
- Halogenation reactions with C60 produce compounds such as C60Br8 and C60Br24.
- Ozonation of C60 in 1,2-xylene at 257K yields an intermediate ozonide C60O3, which can decompose to form epoxide C60O.
- C60 acts as a ligand in transition metal complexes due to its extensive π system. For instance, reacting OsO4 with C60 and 4-tert-butylpyridine produces C60(OsO4)(4-t-butylpyridine)2.
- Compounds containing encapsulated metals within the fullerene sphere, such as UC60, are formed.
Applications
- In its pure state, fullerene acts as an insulator but can be converted to semiconductors and superconductors under appropriate conditions.
- Buckminsterfullerenes’ ability to trap various atoms or molecules makes them useful in medicine. For instance, radioactive C60O can be used in cancer and AIDS therapy, while buckminsterfullerene can be mixed with cannabidiol (CBD) to create healthy C60+CBD tinctures.
- Fullerenes enhance the antiwear and anti-friction properties of lubricating oils.
- They catalyze photochemical refining processes in industries.
- Due to its high electron affinity, C60 is used as a common electron acceptor in donor/acceptor-based solar cells.
- Buckminsterfullerene may serve as a means to store hydrogen, potentially for fuel cell-powered cars.
Health Risks of C60
- C60 is sensitive to light, and prolonged exposure can lead to degradation, posing risks.
- Ingestion of C60 solutions exposed to light may increase the risk of cancer development.
Wrapping Up
Now that you’ve learned more about C60, you can see why companies are increasingly incorporating it into their health products. C60 is an antioxidant with incredible health benefits.
It’s essentially a carbon molecule with a unique cage-like structure that shows promise in many scientific fields. As scientists continue to explore its distinctive properties, we’re all excited to see the potential it holds for the future.
