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To improve the biocompatibility of activated carbon materials used for hemosorption (hemoperfusion) detoxification, it is important to understand the mechanism of interaction of the sorbent with toxic compounds and components of blood. A method of elucidating the mechanism of interaction between carbon and various adsorbates was developed, involving the measurement of change in sorbent open-circuit potentials and adsorption of the adsorbate and calculation of the effective number of electrons transferred in the course of adsorption. Cupric ions and t-butanol were used as model adsorbates. It was shown that the adsorption mechanism (Faradaic vs. non-Faradaic) can vary with open-circuit potential of the adsorbent.

Activated carbons and thermally expanded graphite were modified by pyrrole electropolymerization. Both positive and negative shifts of open circuit potential were observed, depending on the initial potential of the carbon material. Pyrrole electropolymerization on carbon material also occurred when carbon was pre-modified to a potential more positive than +600 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl).