Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of fullerenes with tetrahydrofuran-water as a mobile phase and sensitive ultraviolet or electrochemical detection.

Fullerenes (C60 and C70) were separated on a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography column with a mobile phase of tetrahydrofuran-water (70:30, v/v) and detected with ultraviolet or electrochemical detection. A baseline resolution of C60 and C70 was achieved with a capacity factor values of 7.6 and 10.8 respectively and a resolution of 3.7. The detection limit for C60 was 0.1 pmol on column and was nearly the same for both detection methods.