Sucrose as a sweetener for activated charcoal.

The efficacy of sucrose as a flavor for activated charcoal was studied. In vitro adsorption of sucrose (in Simulated Gastric Fluid, USP, without pepsin) to activated charcoal, and of a 1-g/liter sodium salicylate solution to a 1:1 mixture of sucrose and activated charcoal and to plain activated charcoal, was measured spectrophotometrically. In vitro adsorption of sucroses to activated charcoal was minimal. Sucrose reduced in vitro adsorption of sodium salicylate to activated charcoal by only small amounts. For example, at a ratio of 4 g activated charcoal to 1 g sodium salicylate, sucrose reduced salicylate adsorption to activated charcoal from 99% to 95%. A 1:1 sucrose-activated charcoal preparation provides sufficient flavor without substantial loss of adsorbance.