Inhibitory effect of sorbitol on acetaminophen adsorption by activated carbon.

The effective use of activated carbon as oral adsorbent in the primary treatment of acute acetaminophen poisoning was studied. The adsorption characteristics of acetaminophen onto activated carbons in presence of sorbitol were investigated in vitro. Both the equilibrium amount adsorbed and the removal rate of acetaminophen onto activated carbon were decreased with the increase of sorbitol concentration in solutions. The sorbitol concentration independency of the inhibition to the acetaminophen adsorption was recognized. It was concluded that the addition of sorbitol to the suspension of activated carbon inhibited the acetaminophen adsorption by activated carbon.