A common medical procedure for treating acetaminophen overdose is the administration of an activated carbon slurry, which is sometimes accomplished using a cola drink to improve palatability. This is potentially problematic, however, as aromatic compounds comprising cola’s caramel color may adsorb to the carbon, potentially decreasing its capacity for acetaminophen. This study quantified an activated carbon’s adsorption capacity for both acetaminophen in water and acetaminophen in cola using a linearized Langmuir isotherm, demonstrating no statistical difference between the values of 245 and 239 mg/g, respectively (t = 1.04, p = 0.679). The surface functionalities of different activated carbons, before and after treatment with acetaminophen, were analyzed and identified with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The analysis is adaptable as an experiment illustrating physical adsorption for an upper-division biophysical laboratory course.

Application of Langmuir isotherm theory to the study of activated carbon administration in acetaminophen overdoses using cola drinks to improve palatability

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.