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A method has been designed for making spherical microencapsulation of activated-carbon particles for use in the removal of metabolic wastes and/or toxins from blood. This bench-scale method was able to make better uniformity in particle size, and at a higher particle production rate. The material properties such as particle size, particle porosity, electromicroscopy of surface morphology, surface hardness, and pore-size distribution were characterized in order to conclude with their adsorption capacity for specific toxin solutes. The performance characteristics of these self-prepared particle encapsulation was also evaluated against the commercially available hemoperfusion particles, e.g., Kuraray's DHP (Japan). The encapsulation particles were also coated with polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) for blood compatibility purpose.

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Chitin-grafted-poly(methacrylic acid) (chi-g-PMAA) was synthesized and characterized as an adsorbent of paraquat. Chig-PMAA copolymers were prepared using various concentrations of ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate (Ce þ4 ) to determine the optimal concentration of Ce þ4 . Grafting was verified by differential scanning calorimeter thermograms, FTIR, and solid-state 13 C-NMR spectra. A representative chi-g-PMAA copolymer was neutralized to a sodium salt (chi-g-PMANa) and used to adsorb paraquat. The adsorption equilibrium data are strongly related to both the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherms. The maximal adsorption capacity is 147.0 mg/g-adsorbent. This value exceeds those of Fuller's earth and activated carbon, which are the most common binding agents that are currently used for paraquat. The results suggest that chi-g-PMANa has potential as a paraquat adsorbent.