Adsorption of Bilirubin by Chitosan Coated Activated Carbon Prepared from Date Pits

The aim of this process was to prepare activated carbon (AC) from date pit powder and observe its adsorption efficiency of bilirubin toxin. Adsorption plays a vital role in the removal of toxins from the blood stream of... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of this process was to prepare activated carbon (AC) from date pit powder and observe its adsorption efficiency of bilirubin toxin. Adsorption plays a vital role in the removal of toxins from the blood stream of patients with liver failure. It has been acknowledged from preceding literature that AC has a high capacity to adsorb albumin-bound toxins, which is why it is expended for this purpose. In order to increase the adsorption of bilirubin, an increase in the surface area of the AC was necessary. This increase was achieved through pyrolysis. Furthermore, to increase the capacity of absorbance, the AC was coated with chitosan gel, which contains several groups on its chains that act as interaction sites. Results indicated that the presence of the AC lead to a dramatic cut in bilirubin and the more the AC added to a sample, the faster the rate of adsorption as well as a higher capacity of adsorption allowable.