Activated carbon beads for the removal of highly albumin-bound species.

Activated carbon beads in which 5% activated carbon powder was embedded in 4% agarose were prepared by the emulsion technique. The column of the beads was demonstrated to effectively remove salicylic acid, warfarin, and long-chain fatty acids from solutions containing albumins by either zonal or frontal analysis under the condition of 0.1 M NaCl, pH 3.0 (HCl). The beads were also demonstrated to purify a commercial human serum albumin preparation from residual fatty acids. The beads would be of value in many biochemical purification processes in which activated carbon is employed.