Activated carbon is used in kidney machines, also known as hemodialysis machines, to help remove toxins, waste products, and excess fluids from the blood of individuals with kidney failure or impaired kidney function. These machines simulate some of the functions of a healthy kidney by filtering the blood and maintaining the body’s electrolyte and fluid balance. Activated carbon is incorporated into the system to enhance the purification process.

Activated carbon is used as a component of the hemodialysis process to help remove toxins and waste products that accumulate in the blood due to impaired kidney function. In this context, activated carbon is often referred to as “charcoal” or “carbon adsorbent.”

One of the primary waste products that needs to be removed from the blood during hemodialysis is urea, a nitrogen-containing compound. Activated carbon can adsorb urea from the blood, helping to reduce its concentration in the patient’s bloodstream.

Apart from urea, there are many other uremic toxins—various waste products and molecules—that accumulate in the blood of individuals with kidney failure. Activated carbon has a high surface area and porosity, making it effective at adsorbing a range of these toxins and helping to lower their levels in the bloodstream.

Hemodialysis machines equipped with activated carbon cartridges can target middle molecules—larger molecules that are challenging to remove with conventional dialysis techniques. Activated carbon adsorption can enhance the removal of these middle molecules, improving the overall effectiveness of the treatment.

Activated carbon can also be used to purify the dialysis fluid that comes into contact with the patient’s blood during the treatment. By removing impurities from the dialysis fluid, activated carbon contributes to the overall effectiveness and safety of the hemodialysis process.