(357e) Scaling the Separation of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes through Countercurrent Chromatography

Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) is a technique recently demonstrated to successfully separate both surfactant-coated and DNA-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by electronic structure, diameter and helical handedness. The differential partitioning of the carbon nanotubes between the two aqueous polymer phases is governed by structure-dependent solvation free energy and can readily be tuned by a number of parameters including polymer composition, surfactant structure, and the presence of salts. Additionally, ATPE is robust, cost-effective and does not require complicated instrumentation. Recent progress will be presented on the improvement, scalability, and automation of the ATPE method for SWCNT separation through the use of countercurrent chromatography.