High-porosity activated carbons for bilirubin removal.
The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the extent of activation of synthetic granula and fibrous carbons and the adsorption of bilirubin from protein solutions. The total pore volumes of granular carbons START, SCN and fibrous activated carbons ACFM were 0.9-2.2. cm3/g and 0.8-1.5 cm3/g, respectively. A parallel increase in volume and specific surface area of micropores lead to a 4-5-fold increase of bilirubin adsorption from a 3% HSA solution. About 3 mg of bilirubin per 1 ml of the working column volume is removed from the solution with a 18 mg/100 ml concentration, after 8 min contact with an adsorbent after 4 hours of perfusion. Removal of bilirubin from model solutions means the conformation of albumin molecules can be restored. Carbon adsorbents synthesized for the elimination of bilirubin from protein-containing solutions can also be called deliganding adsorbents, since under some experimental conditions they eliminate other protein-bound ligands, viz. phenols by 97-99%, bile acids by 90-92% and sodium caprylate by 89-95%.