Dj. Koruga

Modifications of Fullerenes Extractions and Chromatographies with Different Solvents

Abstract In the Bucky System II, based on electrical arc method, carbon soot was produced. Fullerenes C60 and C70 were Soxhlet extracted from the collected soot samples with toluene, chlorobenzene and with both of them successively, modifying the original methods. The yields of the both obtained toluene extracts were 5.4%. Chlorobenzene extract yield was 5.8%. After extraction of toluene insoluble soot with chlorobenzene, the entire extract yield was increased from 5.4% to 5.8%, due to modification of the existing methods. The difference of fullerenes solubilities in these solvents has been concluded. In the second part of our work toluene and chlorobenzene fullerenes extracts were separated by column chromatographies on active Al2O3, modifying the existing methods, by elution with hexane and mixtures of benzene, toluene, or xylene with hexane in determined ratios and orders. Identifications of buckminsterfullerene C60 in the first chromatographically purified fractions were achieved by electron impact ionization (EI) mass, IR, and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The second and the third purified fullerene fractions, toluene and chlorobenzene soot extracts were characterized by IR and UV/VIS methods.

Comparative Spectroscopic Characterization of the Basic and the Higher Fullerenes

The basic C60 and C70, and the higher fullerenes, mainly C76 and C84, were extracted by original procedures, with p-xylene and the mixture of xylenes from the samples of initial carbon soot, produced in electrical arc. The extracts were obtained in increased and high yields of 6% and 11.9%, respectively, due to application of the advanced procedures. The solubility of fullerenes in these solvents was compared. Chromatographic separation of the basic and the higher fullerenes from the obtained p-xylene extract was performed by continue elution, in one phase of the process, under atmospheric pressure, with original, defined gradient of solvents, from pure hexane to 75% toluene in hexane, on active Al2O3 column, by a new, improved method. Comparative spectroscopic characterization of the obtained purified fullerene fractions and the extracts is reported. The IR and UV/VIS techniques that have not been presented previously for the higher fullerenes were employed as a contribution to better introduction of their optical absorption properties.

Advancement of the Process for Extraction, Chromatography and Characterization of Fullerenes

In the first phase of this work, the basic C60 and C70 as well as the higher fullerenes, mainly C76 and C84, were Soxhlet extracted with p‐xylene and n‐heptane from the samples of carbon soot, produced in electrical arc, yielding 5.9% and 0.7% of the extract, respectively. The remaining, p‐xylene insoluble soot was then extracted with pyridine, by original advanced method, increasing the entire extract yield for an additional 5.9% to 11.8%. The procedures for increases of the basic and higher fullerenes yields, as well as for additional, selective extraction of the higher fullerenes were found. Chromatographic separation of the basic and the higher C76 and C84 fullerenes from p‐xylene extract was performed by continual elution, in one phase of the process, under atmospheric pressure, with original, defined, gradient of solvents from 5% toluene in hexane to pure 100% toluene, on active Al2O3 column, by a new, improved method. Identifications of the basic and the higher fullerenes in chromatographically purified fractions, as well as in the obtained extracts, were performed using determined techniques of IR and UV/VIS spectroscopy that have not been presented previously for the higher fullerenes.

Isolation and Characterization of the Higher Fullerenes from Carbon Soot

In the first phase of the process, the higher fullerenes, mainly C76 and C84, as well as the basic fullerenes C60 and C70, in a smaller amount, were Soxhlet extracted with pyridine from the sample of initial carbon soot, produced in electrical arc. The extract was obtained in increased, high yield of 16.4%, due to application of the original procedure. The solubility of fullerenes in this solvent was determined. Chromatographic separation of fullerenes from pyridine extract was performed by continual elution, in one phase of the process, under atmospheric pressure, with original, defined gradient of solvents, from pure hexane to pure toluene, on active Al2O3 column, by a new, improved method. Identifications of fullerenes in the obtained chromatographically purified fractions and pyridine extract of the initial soot were performed using determined IR and UV/VIS techniques that have not been presented previously for the higher fullerenes.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEPARATION OF NANOSTRUCTURED CARBON CLUSTERS C60 AND C70

We used carbon soot produced by electrical arc method. Fullerenes, mainly C60 and C70, were Soxhlet extracted from collected soot with chlorobenzene, by modified procedure yielding 5.8% of the extract. Chlorobenzene fullerenes extract was then separated on an active alumina column, modifying the existing methods, by elution with hexane and xylene/hexanes mixtures in determined ratios and orders. Buckminsterfullerene C60 was identified in the first purified fraction using EI mass spectrometry, IR and UV/vis methods. The second and the third purified fraction, carbon soot and chlorobenzene soot extract were characterized by IR and UV/vis methods. Identifications of fullerenes in purified and unpurified forms were analyzed and compared.

Classical and quantum information channels in protein chain

Investigation of the properties of peptide plane in protein chain from both classical and quantum approach is presented. We calculated interatomic force constants for peptide plane and hydrogen bonds between peptide planes in protein chain. On the basis of force constants, displacements of each atom in peptide plane, and time of action we found that the value of the peptide plane action is close to the Planck constant. This indicates that peptide plane from the energy viewpoint possesses synergetic classical/quantum properties. Consideration of peptide planes in protein chain from information viewpoint also shows that protein chain possesses classical and quantum properties. So, it appears that protein chain behaves as a triple dual system: (1) structural - amino acids and peptide planes, (2) energy - classical and quantum state, and (3) information - classical and quantum coding. Based on experimental facts of protein chain, we proposed from the structure-energy-information viewpoint its synergetic code system.

A Kink-Soliton Model of Charge Transport Through Microtubular Cytoskeleton

Contemporary trends in science and technology are characterized by integration of biological and technical systems, like in nanotechnology, nanobiology, and quantum medicine. In our case, we were motivated by a necessity to understand charge transport through microtubular cytoskeleton as a constitutive part of acupuncture system. The high frequency component of acupuncture currents, widely exploited in microwave resonance stimulation of acupuncture system in the past decade, implies that explanation of the cytoplasmatic conductivity should be sought in the framework of Frohlich theory. Accordingly, in this paper we critically analyze the problem of the microwave coherent longitudinal electrical oscillations as a theoretical basis for understanding soliton phenomena in microtubules, showing that charged kink-soliton nonlinear microtubular excitations might be a good candidate for charge transport in microtubules.

Advances in Chromatographic Separation on Al2O3 and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Higher Fullerenes

The basic C60 and C70, and the higher fullerenes, mainly C76 and C84 were extracted with a series of different and previously unapplied solvents or combinations of solvents, by original advanced procedures, from the samples of carbon soot, produced in electric arc. The solubility of the basic and the higher fullerenes in the applied series of solvents was compared. Chromatographic separations of fullerenes from the obtained extracts were performed by continue elution, in one phase of each process, under atmospheric pressure, with the original, defined gradients of solvents, from pure hexane or 5% toluene in hexane to pure toluene, on active Al2O3 columns, by the new, improved methods. Identifications of fullerenes in all the chromatographically purified fractions and the extracts were performed using determined techniques of IR and UV/VIS spectroscopy that have not been presented previously for the higher fullerenes. The advances in chromatographic purification using alumina, as well as in understanding of the unique and the main optical absorption properties of these molecules are reported.

A Raman Spectroscopic Study of Microtubule Protein

A Raman spectrum of a pig brain microtubule is reported and partially interpreted. The conformation of microtubular protein (MTP) at room temperature (22± 2°C), determined by amide I and amide III band analysis indicates the presence of α-helix, β-sheet, turns and unorder structure types. The secondary structure, as calculated from some parameters of amide I bands, is 33% α-helix, 27% β-sheet, 24% turns and 16% undefined structure. Other vibrations sensitive to the conformation of protein are also predicted. This investigation of the structural characteristics of MTP is the first step in our future research of MTP for molecular electronic devices.

Nanoscale Magnetic Behavior of C60 Thin Films in Earth Magnetic Field under Polarization Light Influences

Abstract Magnetic behavior of C60 thin films in the Earths magnetic field under polarization light influence is presented. Transformation of magnetic field for two fullerene thin films of different thickness is investigated. Two proton magnetometers were used for these measurements. Samples of 30 nm and 250 nm thickness illustrate a significant change of magnetic field intensity under the influence of polarization light, in range from 3.4 to 12.9 nT, for 200 measurement data per sample.