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Activated Charcoal—Past, Present and Future
Abstract and Figures
Poisoned patients were first treated with charcoal more than 150 years ago. Despite its almost universal acceptance today, activated charcoal's role has been overshadowed by the emphasis on treating poisoned patients first with gastric emptying. We review the current use of activated charcoal and recent studies that suggest that activated charcoal may be the single most effective treatment in many types of poisoning. New explanations for the mechanisms of action include "back diffusion" and disruption of enterohepatic loops. Clinical data endorse a new and aggressive role for activated charcoal in the management of poisoned and overdosed patients.
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... It will absorb most toxins to some extent, but studies show that lithium, iron, strong acids, and alkalis are the exceptions. Activated carbon black works by three methods [33] : ...
... • Adsorption of poisons, which are secreted directly into the gut. E.g., Digoxin, the so-called gastrointestinal dialysis Two recent studies have shown the potential importance of gastrointestinal activated carbon black in reducing the serum half-life of intravenous agents such as phenobarbital, theophylline, and digoxin [33] . Activated carbon black management has no real difficulties. ...
... It is not a substitute for gastric lavage, but charcoal soup can be used to wash the liquid. When the wash is done, the last dose of charcoal broth remains in the stomach [33] . Clinical efficacy of delayed administration of activated carbon black (well over an hour after ingestion) has been found for the following medications: Hemoperfusion: ...
Activated carbon black also known as Activated charcoal is a fine black powder that is made by burning biomass in a low oxygen environment which develops pores and increases its surface area. Activated carbon black is used in the food and pharmaceutical industry as a pH regulator, chelating agent and antioxidant synergist. Activated carbon black is highly beneficial to reduce environmental pollution and eliminate contaminants. Even though there is limited clinical data available on the use of Activated carbon black in the medical field, it is a promising natural ingredient that may be explored for various healthcare applications. The use of activated carbon black has increased in the last two decades. Its good adsorbing properties and cost-effective manufacturing process made activated carbon black a widely used adsorbent in industries. Though it is a good adsorbent, the possibility is that the pores will get saturated. Hence, to cut down the re-manufacturing cost of activated carbon black it is important to follow the regeneration step. Thus, the use of activated carbon black can be benefited environmentally and economically. Manufacturing of activated carbon black from the lignocellulosic
mass is the research field of interest in today’s emerging research trend.
In this review, general properties, manufacturing process, a brief introduction to adsorption mechanisms and applications of activated carbon black in life sciences are discussed.
... Several volunteer studies showed a super reduction in gastrointestinal absorption of drug/poison when a small amount of AC is administered within the first thirty minutes of drug ingestion (12). 16.5 percent of GI absorption is reduced when AC is administered 60-120 minutes after drug ingestion, compared to 40-47 percent when AC is given within 30-60 minutes (10,22,28). While SDAC has been widely used in emergencies, this review could not find a predesigned clinical trial which proves that SDAC could change clinical outcome (1). ...
Background:
Administration of a single-dose activated charcoal (SDAC) is an effective method used for gastric decontamination and for other types of poisoning and overdose. This is only true when given within the first hour of poison ingestion as the effectivity of SDAC reduces over time. In addition, generally, not all patients are able to avail treatment within the specified period. Hence, multi-dose activated charcoal is regarded as a solution to a delayed process, although, no proof outweighs the use of SDAC.
Objective:
This study aimed to review and assess the adequacy of the past and current use of AC. The author also aimed to offer recommendations believed to be the best method to consider for prehospital care.
Methods:
The author conducted 6,337 online literature searches for this review, wherein seven papers met eligibility criteria for inclusion and analysis.
Results:
In this review, routine administration of AC in poisoning was found not related to the duration of hospital stay nor any other subsequent outcomes following poison ingestion. Further, this review did not establish that administration of AC could improve patient's clinical outcome. Further research and clinical trials is required to determine the efficacy of this therapy to appropriate patients in the prehospital setting.
Conclusion:
Activated charcoal can be used to treat highly acute to life-threatening poisoning if it is administered within the first hour of ingestion. Further studies would be necessary to investigate if this would affect clinical outcome..
... Activated charcoal (AC) is a well-known adsorbent commonly used in toxicology [14]. The micropore surface of AC can adsorb many substances and drugs [15]. AC was once used as an adsorbent in hemoculture bottles to support bacterial growth, especially when blood samples were drawn after antibiotic administration [16]. ...
Broad-spectrum antibiotics can kill both pathogens and gut microbiota. Reducing exposure to excess intestinal antibiotics could theoretically protect gut microbiota homeostasis. Recently, engineered charcoals, gel microparticles, and resin beads have demonstrated efficacy in intestinal antibiotic adsorption in animal studies. We report the first in vitro study evaluating human fecal antibiotic adsorption efficacy of conventional activated charcoal (AC). We collected fecal samples from eight patients who received intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone after admission to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand, during January–March 2020. Fecal ceftriaxone was measured by indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunoassays. Three different doses of AC were mixed with fecal samples under a specified protocol. The geometric mean reduction in fecal ceftriaxone concentration when mixed with AC 30 g/g feces was 0.53 (95% CI 0.33–0.85, p-value < 0.001), meaning 47% adsorption efficacy. Increased adsorption was found with higher doses, 71% and 87% for AC 150 and 500 mg/g feces, respectively. In conclusion, the usual food-poisoning-care dose of conventional AC, 30 g/g feces, demonstrated dose-dependent and significant fecal ceftriaxone adsorption. Conventional oral AC might be a pragmatic and inexpensive option for the protection of gut microbiota in patients receiving IV ceftriaxone. However, in vivo studies and microbiome analysis are needed for further evidence.
... Several authors have suggested that this unusual behaviour may be caused by mineral deficiency in the diet [38,39]. On the other hand, charcoal consumption could also be used to relieve illness as it is known to absorb certain toxins [40,41]. This behaviour could thus be another example of self-medication in primates. ...
Previous research has revealed the gut microbiota profile of several primate species, as well as the impact of a variety of anthropogenic factors, such as tourist food supply, on these bacterial communities. However, there is no information on the gut microbiota of the endangered wild Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus). The present study is the first to characterize the faecal microbiota of this species, as well as to investigate the impact of tourist food provisioning on it. A total of 12 faecal samples were collected in two groups of M. sylvanus in the region of Bejaia in Algeria. The first group—a tourist-provisioned one—was located in the tourist area of the Gouraya National Park and the second group—a wild-feeding one—was located in the proximity of the village of Mezouara in the forest of Akfadou. After DNA extraction, the faecal microbiota composition was analysed using 16S rDNA sequencing. Statistical tests were performed to compare alpha diversity and beta diversity between the two groups. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) was applied to visualize biodiversity between groups. Behaviour monitoring was also conducted to assess the time allocated to the consumption of anthropogenic food by the tourist-provisioned group. Our results revealed the presence of 209 bacterial genera from 17 phyla in the faecal microbiota of Barbary macaques. Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia. On the other hand, the comparison between the faecal microbiota of the two study groups showed that tourism activity was associated with a significant change on the faecal microbiota of M.sylvanus, probably due to diet alteration (with 60% of feeding time allocated to the consumption of anthropogenic food). The potentially low-fibre diet at the tourist site adversely influenced the proliferation of bacterial genera found in abundance in the wild group such as Ruminococcaceae. Such an alteration of the faecal microbiota can have negative impacts on the health status of these animals by increasing the risk of obesity and illness and calls for special management measures to reduce the provisioning rate in tourist areas.
... It has a developed pore structure, large specific surface area, and rich surface functional groups, so it has a strong adsorption capacity. Activated carbon has been widely used in petrochemical, food, medicine, and other fields and has become an important functional material for economic development [11,12]. ...
Using waste biomass to produce high-value activated carbon is an important way for biomass resource utilization. The energy and mass balance during carbonization and steam activation is crucial for the system operation and still not be systematically understood and calculated. In this work, a detailed model for two-step activated carbon production was established based on Aspen Plus. The effect of activation temperature, steam/bio-char ratio, and activation agent on the activation process was investigated. The results show that utilization of the heat duty of combustion of volatiles and sensible heat from flue gas could supply the necessary energy for carbonization, steam generator (boiler), and activation reactors. Steam/bio-char ratio could influence the activation process and the heat balance. The steam/bio-char ratio was controlled as 1–2, which was reasonable for activation carbon production. The increasing heat load provided the higher reaction temperature condition and the sensible heat of syngas. From the point of view of theory and practice, for the production of wooden activated carbon, the activation temperature of 800–900 °C is reasonable. Directly using hot flue gas of volatile combustion as activation agent was energy-saving and benefiting the production of syngas with higher heating value.
... 5 Adsorbent properties of charcoal were described in the 1700s, and the first clinical application occurred in the early 1800s. 6 Its these adsorptive properties that have led to its use as a detox ingredient. In 2014, Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter Goop recommended charcoal-infused lemonade as one of the year's top juice cleansers, which brought the substance to the wellness limelight. ...
Within the past few years, activated charcoal is being actively used in cosmetic products. Due to its adsorbing properties, it is being used in all sorts of beauty products from face masks to cleansers and even soaps. In the past, activated charcoal has been used as the treatment of poisoning but now with cosmetic companies claiming charcoal's aptness in treating skin blemishes, it has regained popularity. However, there is little to no clinical evidence to support these claims. In this study, we review the current use of activated charcoal in cosmetic products and its effectiveness. With limited research, its vigorous and unregulated use in over the counter beauty products can turn out to be unsafe. Although its use as an antidote for poisoning is evident, trials to confirm its effectiveness in treating skin conditions like acne, dark spots, dermatitis need to be prioritized to render it safe to be used in cosmetic products.
... Arang aktif dapat dibuat dari salah satu dari berbagai bahan yang mengandung karbon. Kayu dengan kadar abu rendah, batu bara, lignit, dan bambu adalah beberapa contoh sumber (Derlet & Albertson, 1986) Aktivasi karbon dalam penelitian ini dilakukan melalui aktivasi fisika yaitu, proses pemutusan rantai karbon dari senyawa organik dengan bantuan panas, uap dan CO2. Gasgas tersebut berfungsi untuk mengembangkan struktur rongga yang ada pada arang sehingga memperluas permukaannya, menghilangkankonstituen yang mudah menguap dan membuang produksi tar atau hidrokarbon-hidrokarbon pengotor pada arang. ...
The skin is the outermost organ and has a close relationship with a person's psychological mechanism, because the skin is an important asset to support one's appearance, especially facial skin. That way the skin must be protected and cared for in the right way. One treatment using a face mask. That way the skin must be protected and cared for in the right way. One treatment using a face mask. Face masks are a type of cosmetic treatment that works to repair and prevent skin problems and provide nutrition to the skin so that the skin becomes clean, healthy and radiant. A good face mask is a mask that does not contain chemicals or comes from natural ingredients. Like a charcoal mask. Charcoal is produced from carbon-containing materials which go through an activation process to increase its surface area by enlarging its pores so that its adsorption power increases. The advantage of activated charcoal itself is its good absorption ability to absorb impurities and toxic substances. Absorption of activated charcoal is 1⁄4 to 10 times the weight of activated charcoal. Now charcoal has been widely used in beauty and health products, such as deodorants, shampoo, bath soap, face masks, and others. The purpose of this study is to make a charcoal mask that will be used for facial acne prone skin.
... 281 One example of a porous materials is activated charcoal, which has been used for many years. 282 The technological and scientific importance of porous solids arises from their ability to interact with ions, atoms, and molecules at their outer surface, while their interior is also accessible. Porous materials are generally defined as nanoporous materials when they have a pore diameter of less than 100 nm. ...
Nanomaterials have emerged as an amazing class of materials that consists of a broad spectrum of examples with at least one dimension in the range of 1 to 100 nm. Exceptionally high surface areas can be achieved through the rational design of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials can be produced with outstanding magnetic, electrical, optical, mechanical, and catalytic properties that are substantially different from their bulk counterparts. The nanomaterial properties can be tuned as desired via precisely controlling the size, shape, synthesis conditions, and appropriate functionalization. This review discusses a brief history of nanomaterials and their use throughout history to trigger advances in nanotechnology development. In particular, we describe and define various terms relating to nanomaterials. Various nanomaterial synthesis methods, including top-down and bottom-up approaches, are discussed. The unique features of nanomaterials are highlighted throughout the review. This review describes advances in nanomaterials, specifically fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon quantum dots, nanodiamonds, carbon nanohorns, nanoporous materials, core-shell nanoparticles, silicene, antimonene, MXenes, 2D MOF nanosheets, boron nitride nanosheets, layered double hydroxides, and metal-based nanomaterials. Finally, we conclude by discussing challenges and future perspectives relating to nanomaterials.
... However, the traditional wooden activated carbon production process causes a lot of pollution, and the intermediate products such as combustible gas and tar produced in the preparation process of activated carbon are not adequately treated, which seriously restricts the development of the activated carbon industry. 4,5 Besides, in recent years, China's domestic waste incineration disposal has increased rapidly. 6,7 Dioxin is one of the main pollution compounds during waste incineration. ...
A two-step process of carbonization coupled with steam activation was proposed for wooden activated carbon production from four kinds of biomass waste materials. The TG-FTIR results show that the carbonization process started at around 250 °C and finished at 500 °C for the coconut shell, pinewood, and plywood. The carbonization temperature of corn straw was lower than those of the other three samples, which was attributed to the higher concentration of ash content. FTIR results for the volatile compounds during carbonization show that CH4, CO, CO2, and hydrocarbons are the main detected gaseous species. The CH4 and C
m
H
n
yields of pinewood and plywood are higher than those of the coconut shell and corn straw. The carbonization results on the tubular furnace reactor show that furfural and phenol and its derivatives are the main tar compounds in waste carbonization. Carbonization experiments show that a temperature of 500 °C and residence time of 30 min are the optimized parameters for the three biomass wastes. The char yields are 26.4, 25.73, and 30.38% for pinewood, plywood, and coconut shell, respectively. CFD modeling has proven that using 20% of the volatiles could achieve lowest pollution and provide heat for carbonization of biomass waste. The steam activation results show that an activation temperature of 800 °C and activation time of 30 min are suitable for all three biomass samples, which could obtain optimized AC yields and adsorption quality for dioxin.
The literature on the use of adsorbent charcoal as an emergency antidote for the treatment of ingested poisons is reviewed. It is shown that this agent, presently somewhat neglected, has a wide spectrum of activity and when properly used is probably the most valuable single agent we possess.
• Twelve adult volunteers were given 24 81-mg aspirin tablets and were randomly assigned into the following treatment groups: (1) control aspirin, (2) 30 mL of ipecac repeated if vomiting not induced, (3) 60 g of activated charcoal per 15 g of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), and (4) ipecac repeated if needed, followed by activated charcoal/MgSO4 given 1½ hours after the last vomiting episode. All treatments began 60 minutes following aspirin ingestion. Urine was collected for 48 hours for percent total salicylate excretion. Mean SD recovery of salicylate from urine was as follows: aspirin, 96.3% ±7.5%; ipecac 70.3%±11.8%, activated charcoal/MgSO4, 56.4%±12%; and ipecac and activated charcoal/MgSO4, 72.4%± 14.1%. Ten subjects completed the study. In group 4, eight of ten subjects vomited the activated charcoal/MgSO4 immediately, making statistical analysis impossible. Analysis revealed that activated charcoal/MgSO4 significantly lowered the absorption of aspirin compared with the control and ipecac-treated groups. Furthermore, ipecac significantly lowered aspirin absorption compared with the control group. We conclude that activated charcoal/MgSO4 used alone is superior to the other treatment modalities at inhibiting the absorption of multiple aspirin tablets.
(Arch Intern Med 1984;144:48-52)
The ability of 'Medicoal', a new effervescent, activated charcoal preparation, to adsorb nortriptyline, has been investigated both in vitro and in vivo. A single dose of the effervescent charcoal 30 min after a dose of 75 mg nortriptyline produced a 60% mean reduction in both peak plasma levels and nortriptyline availability in healthy volunteers. Multiple doses of the effervescent charcoal produced 70% mean reduction in peak nortriptyline levels and availabiltiy. Activated charcoal is recommended for the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning. In in-vitro tests, a 10 g packet of the effervescent preparation containing 5 g activated charcoal) had an adsorptive capacity of approximately 3000 mg nortriptyline, a dose not usually exceeded in most cases of trycyclic antidepressant overdose.
Activated charcoal, commonly recommended for treatment of chemical ingestions, is the residue from destructive distillation of various organic materials treated to increase its adsorptive power. Since there are no known side effects, the dose should be sufficiently large for optimum adsorption. In the literature, the recommended doses range from 30 gm to 120 gm, or in a charcoal-drug ratio of 10:1. For maximum effect, activated charcoal should be administered within 30 minutes of ingestion. It can be given while its effectiveness for a particular toxic substance is verified.
Amoco Grade PX-21 powdered activated charcoal was found to adsorb nearly three times as much sodium salicylate from simulated gastric fluid than did another charcoal (Norit A), which is representative of the best of all other charcoals heretofore available. This indicates the potential superior effectiveness of the Amoco charcoal as an oral antidote in poisonings.