Uptake and Sequestration of Naphthalene and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene by C60

The interactions of common environmental contaminants with C₆₀ have been studied to evaluate the environmental impact of carbon nanomaterials. The adsorption and desorption interaction of the hydrophobic contaminants naphthalene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene with C₆₀ was characterized. Processes that cause the wetting and disaggregating of C₆₀ particles also affect the extent of organic contaminant sorption to C₆₀ aggregates by orders of magnitude. C₆₀ dissolved in organic solvents such as toluene can form stable nanoscale aggregates upon vigorous mixing in water. These nanoscale C₆₀ particles form stable suspensions in water and are referred to as ‘nano-C₆₀’. Desorption of contaminants from stable suspensions of nano-C₆₀ exhibits hysteresis. The experimentally observed adsorption/desorption hysteresis is described by a two-compartment desorption model: first, adsorption to the external surfaces that are in contact with water, and second, adsorption to the internal surfaces within the aggregates.