The kinetic of fullerol formation in the presence of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a phase transfer catalyst both under conventional and microwave heating conditions was investigated. It was found that the activation energy (E-a) for the investigated processes under microwave heating was two to four times lower than for the same, conventionally heated process. Also, the pre-exponential factor (1n A) was 436-4200 times lower for the microwave heating process. The differences in the kinetic parameters (activation energy and pre-exponential factor) of the process under microwaves can be explained with the specific (non-thermal) activation of centres of the newly formed phase due to the electromagnetic energy absorption. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.