The effect of protein binding on ibuprofen adsorption to activated carbons Original Research Article

Abstract The potential of a range of polymer-based activated carbons to remove a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen from protein containing and protein-free solutions was studied. The adsorption capacity of five activated carbons produced from phenol–formaldehyde resin precursors (MAST Carbon Ltd) was compared to a cellulose coated activated carbon Norit RBX used in a commercial Adsorba®300C haemoperfusion column (Gambro). Ibuprofen adsorption was studied in batch experiments over 24 h at pH=7.6 and 25 °C and adsorption equilibrium data were correlated with the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Results showed that uncoated mesoporous MAST carbons can remove ibuprofen from model solutions both in the presence and absence of serum albumin. Ibuprofen is a highly protein-bound drug and the presence of serum albumin significantly affects the adsorption of ibuprofen by cellulose-coated microporous carbon used in Adsorba®300C column.