Preparation of a novel activated carbon microsphere and its in vitro adsorption characteristics for biological molecules

We prepared a novel pitch-based activated carbon microsphere（ACM）and studied its in vitro adsorption characteristics for biological molecules.The original spherical asphalt particles were prepared through bitumen emulsification.After oxidation and burning,ACMs with a range of parameters were prepared.In vitro adsorption experiments of ACMs for biological molecules were carried out.The prepared ACMs possessed a BET specific surface of 1566 m^2/g with a voidage of 0.653 cm^3/g and a volume of micropores of 0.478 cm^3/g.They showed high adsorption for glucose and creatintine.Compared with the medically used carbon powder,the prepared ACMs exhibited significantly lower adsorption for digestion enzymes.In conclusion,the prepared ACMs,as an oral adsorbent candidate,possessed higher BET specific surface area and larger volume of micropores;they also exhibited favorable selective adsorption features for biological molecules.

Curative effect of novel oral carbon microspheres on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats

A kind of novel pitch-based activated carbon microsphere（ACM） characterized by its controlled porous structure was developed in this study,the curative effect of this ACM on diabetes mellitus in rats was investigated.ACM 0.2-0.3 mm in diameter was prepared by modified method.The optimal ACM was screened by its adsorption ability for glucose.Diabetes mellitus model was established by streptozotocin injection in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Two groups of rats were orally administrated with ACM twice a day for 30 d.Intestinal glucose transport was determined in vitro using everted rat intestinal sacs technique.Compared with the diabetic mellitus group,the ACM treated group showed significant lower blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance after two-week treatment.If ACM was applied in the mucosal side,glucose permeation clearance in the ACM treated group was significantly higher than that of the control group,especially at high glucose concentration（10 mg/mL） on the serosal side.The selected ACM possessed a BET specific surface of 1566 m^2/g and high volume of micropores（0.478 cm^3/g） with fine spherical morphology,and showed more significant adsorption capacity for glucose.As oral microsphere preparations,ACM presented the curative effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.

Preparation of TiO2 microspheres with flower-like morphology through a water-in-oil emulsion route assisted by solvothermal treatment

Mesoporous TiO2 microspheres with flower-like morphology, high specific surface area, and high- crystallinity primary crystalline-phase of anatase have been prepared through a water-in-oil emulsion synthesis route assisted by solvothermal treatment. The as-prepared powder microspheres, as well as their precursor, were characterized by various techniques. Thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis indicated that the optimal sintering temperature of the TiO2 precursor was 550 ℃. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size analysis, and X-ray diffractionjointly confirmed that the precursor powder with a spherical structure and main particle sizes ranging from 3 to 20 μm had the same primary crystalline-phase as the TiO2 microspheres obtained from the calcination of the precur- sor at 550 ℃ for 4 h. The specific surface area of the TiO2 microspheres was approximately 123.6 m2/g according to the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller （BET） nitrogen adsorption results. Compared with the com- mercial TiO2 powder （P25）, the resulting TiO2 microspheres exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity. Based on the experimental results, a rational mechanism was proposed to elucidate the formation of the TiO2 microsoheres.