Table of Contents

Abstract.......................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction ..........................................................................................................3
1.1 The History of Activated Carbon ............................................3
2. Preparation process for medical use ........................................................................4
2.1 Overview...........................................................................................................4
2.2 The process ...................................................................................................4
3. Uses of Active Carbon ..............................................................................5
3.1 Medical uses ..................................................................................................6
3.2 Cosmetics..........................................................................................................7
 Abstract

This seminar provides an introduction to the

preparation and characteristics of activated carbon
for medicinal use, and indicates its variety of
applications in medical and cosmetic field.
 1. Introduction
Activated carbon is a form of chemically treated carbon to increase the
efficiency of the absorption on its surface [1]. Due to its high porosity,
activated charcoal is used as a natural remedy used to trap toxins and
chemicals and expel them out of the body so that they would not
absorbed again[4] . There are several methods of preparing activated
carbon using multiple activating agents, but Compared with the quality
index of British Pharmacopoeia and the United States Pharmacopoeia
standards for activated carbon, this peanut shell-based activated carbon
preparation using CO2 was suitable for medicinal use[5].

1.1 The History of Activated Carbon

The ancient Egyptians were the first to use activated charcoal since
1500 BC, For the treatment of intestinal diseases due to its antiseptic
properties [3].since the eighteenth century until now it has been interested
in activated charcoal to benefit from it in various therapeutic medical
applications [1].and It is on the World Health Organization's List of
Essential Medicines[3].
 2. Preparation process for medical use

2.1 Overview

There are two types of carbon activation, which are physical and
chemical, but physical activation is characterized by green and clean
production without secondary waste compared to chemical whose
disadvantages are severe corrosion and the need for washing, so we have
relied on physical activation to produce active carbon for medical use[6].
In this stage, the activated agent used to affect the pH of activated
charcoal, when we use an acidic agent, the pH is less than 7, and when we
use an alkaline activating agent, the pH is greater than 7. So here we
used co2, which is a weak acid, to produce almost moderate activated
charcoal, and the result was activated charcoal with a pH between 6 and
7, which is best suited for medical use. Active carbon is made from a
variety of sources, but it is important when using it for medicinal
treatment to choose activated charcoal made from coconut shells or other
natural sources. The porous surface of activated charcoal contains a
negative electrical charge that causes association with toxins and gases
that have positive charge. [4]

2.2 The process

Peanuts were selected as feedstock and co2 was activated in the

fluidized bed reactor by high temperature. Peanut shells were used as a
precursor to prepare activated carbon for medical use via CO2 activation
in a high-temperature fluidized bed reactor. The influence of the
activation time and activation temperature on the yield and adsorption
capacity of the activated carbon, which were estimated using methylene
blue (MB) and phenazone adsorption, was studied. The activated carbon
microstructure was assessed based on N2 adsorption, scanning electron
microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy while the
adsorption kinetics was evaluated using MB dye. In this study, the
optimized conditions, activation temperature of 900 °C and activation
time of 5 h, produced 225.8 mg g− 1 MB, 421.5 mg g− 1 phenazone
uptake and 26.15% yield. At the optimized conditions, a 1060 m2 g− 1
Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area and 0.8021 cm3 g− 1 total
pore volume were obtained for the activated carbon samples, and the
presence of carboxyl, hydroxyl and alkyl functional groups was detected.
The investigation of MB adsorption on the prepared activated carbon
indicated that the adsorption kinetics process closely follows a pseudo-
second-order chemisorption model.[5] The quality of the prepared
activated carbon met the USP and BP standards.[5].

3. Uses of Active Carbon

The global activated carbon market expanded markedly to $4.7B in
2019, Consumption increased by 2.9 percent between 2007 and 2019,
China is the largest consumer of active carbon worldwide, with 25% of
the total volume, followed by the United States with 271 k tones ,
followed by India with a share of 10 %. While the largest market for
activated coal in the world is the United States, followed by China, then
India, which collectively accounts for 50 percent of the global market [7]
.so Activated carbon, has a wide range of uses in the medical and
cosmetic fields.
 3.1 Medical uses

 Alcohol poisoning treatment : Activated charcoal absorbs toxins

within the digestive system where the adsorption of toxins with
activated charcoal depends on the balance between the free toxin
and the active charcoal / toxins complex. The best activated
charcoal absorbs toxins in its non-ionizing form, while the polar
water-soluble particles are less likely to be absorbed due to the
pharmacodynamics of activated charcoal. It absorbs better the non-
polar organic toxins and the weak solubility in the water.[8] [4].
 Eliminate toxins in emergency situations, such as drug poisoning
due to an overdose, it is effective against aspirin, cocaine,
morphine and opium, as most organic compounds bind to the
surface of activated charcoal, preventing the body from absorbing
them [4].
 Reducing cholesterol :Clinical studies have shown that activated
charcoal has a role in lowering cholesterol levels as the high fat
content of food is absorbed in the gut and thus reduces the
intestinal absorption of fats.
 This, in turn, reduced the absorption of fat from the gut. Moreover,
low-density lipoprotein (LDL, “bad cholesterol”) level was
reduced, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, “good cholesterol”)
level was increased in one study[9].
 Hemoperfusion: The process of pumping blood through activated
charcoal columns to remove internal or external toxins in urine,
dialysis or acute toxicity [1]. The current blood separator columns
use coated activated carbon, which is a granular charcoal coated
with cellulose acetate or methacrylate hydrogel. This ensures large
 surface pores as it absorbs the solute from the plasma and travels
through it and is trapped in the tiny pores and then removed from
the circulation. This method proved to be more effective than
traditional hemodialysis, and it was also used in cases of vasculitis,
liver failure and autoimmune diseases [10].

3.2 Cosmetics

 Teeth whitening by changing the pH balance in the mouth, which

helps prevent tooth decay, mouth odor and gum disease and
absorbs microbes that contaminate the teeth if it also has a
therapeutic role in this case[4].
 Skin: It is effective in treating body odor and acne, as there are
activated charcoal soaps As it’s both anti-bacterial and anti-
inflammatory it can sooth existing acne , and it treats insect bites
and rashes ; Activated charcoal is used in the manufacture of
ointments that treat insect stings due to its high ability to absorb
toxins from insect bites that cause itching.[4].
 Combating premature aging due to the toxic burden of food and
climatic conditions[4]. Activated Charcoal is said to tighten pores
and smooth the skin. It also reduces inflammation, which is
significant in preventing premature aging.