Abstract:
The production of the fullerene C60 and its emerging applications in consumer
products imply its ultimate release to the environment. Due to the molecule’s relative
novelty, the aqueous characteristics of C60 have not been fully assessed, though it may
potentially harm human or ecological health. C60 is highly insoluble in water, and
relatively little research has been performed on C60 aggregates that are released directly
to natural waterways. In this research, multiple C60 suspensions were created via the
suspended stirring method in natural Willamette River water, lab-made synthetic water,
and deionized water. Analysis of these suspensions revealed that over a two month
period, C60 particles in natural water are less stable than in synthetic water designed to
mimic the natural water, and both are less stable than C60 particles that have been in
suspension for a couple of years. Therefore, the behavior of C60 in real waterways with
complex aqueous chemistry may be different than that predicted by lab experiments
relying solely on synthetic water. This discrepancy should be considered when predicting
the fate and bioavailability of C60 in natural waters.
