(431c) In-Vitro Adsorption of Paracetamol Overdose Using Olive Leaves Biomass

Overdose of drug ingestion such as that by paracetamol (PAR) can lead to several health side-effects in patients. Conventional remedy for drug intoxication requires fast gastric lavage to minimize its absorption within the gastric digestive system. This treatment method has some limitations associated with life-threatening Brad dysrhythmia that might occur by aspiration pneumonia, laryngospasm, and inadvertent tracheal intubation. Moreover, this method requires sophisticated emergency operations after admission. While intoxication remedy time is severely important, a fast pre-treatment method using low-cost and safe organic adsorbent can be applied to minimize absorption of PAR. Therefore, olive leaves (OL) biomass powder is used as an adsorbent for PAR and tested in-vitro conditions like that of the human digestive system.

The OL biomass was characterized for its surface morphology and physical properties. Results indicated that OL samples demonstrated high functional groups, high surface area, and pore size distribution that is required for removal of PAR and minimizing diffusion resistance needed for achieving a higher rate of uptake. The corresponding saturation capacity was 8.3 mg PAR/g-OL. This value was obtained at the acidic condition of pH 2, which demonstrated the highest values compared to that obtained at other pH values such as 6 and 9. Effect of addition of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate during treatment by these adsorbents provided synergism effect.

Kinetic adsorption of PAR obtained at different adsorbents concentrations, solution pH, agitation speed, co-adsorbates of citric acid, and bicarbonates was tested for their effect on the rate of uptake. It is found that increasing OL mass, agitation speed has increased the rate of adsorption of PAR. While increasing PAR concentration requires additional adsorbents to achieve the desired rate. Moreover, the addition of a large amount of citric acid during treatment using OL has enhanced the PAR rate of uptake. Nevertheless, using bicarbonate solution demonstrated an increase in PAR uptake rate. The isotherm data were fitted using Langmuir and Freundlich models and found that the Langmuir model best fit these data with an average regression coefficient of 0.99.

Olive leaves biomass can be industrially manufactured and used for the treatment of PAR intoxication as these materials are natural, safe, and environmentally friendly.