Abstract: A process for the production of fullerenes by which a high-purity fullerene can be separated at high productivity from a mixture comprising a fullerene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon component, and a carbonaceous polymeric component and which comprises the step (A) of preparing a mixture comprising a fullerene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon component, and a carbonaceous polymeric component, the step (B) of separating this mixture into a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon component and a mixture of a fullerene and a carbonaceous polymeric component, and the step (C) of separating this mixture into a fullerene and a carbonaceous polymeric component.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon fuel is either imperfectly combusted or thermally decomposed in a reactor 11, thereby producing a high-temperature gas flow containing fullerenes and soot. Then, the gas flow from the reactor 11 is cooled in a range of over 600 to 900° C. by a temperature adjustment unit 12. Consequently, the cooled gas flow is introduced to a first filter, and the soot contained in the gas flow is removed. The gas flow having passed through the first filter is further cooled to collect the fullerenes as solid. In this case, a second filter is used according to need.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon fuel is either imperfectly combusted or thermally decomposed in a reactor 11, thereby producing a high-temperature gas flow containing fullerenes and soot. A mixture of the fullerenes and soot is collected from the gas flow using a filtering unit 12 which includes a heat-resistant filtering member made of either a porous ceramic material or a porous metal material. The fullerenes are collected from the mixture by usual means. These processes according to the method of the present invention make it possible to produce a large amount of fullerenes.