Development and evaluation of the effectiveness of combinations of biopolymer and mineral enterosorbents in relation to metals

Introduction. To protect the population in conditions of polymetallic pollution of the environment, the enterosorption method is used, the purpose of which is to remove excess amounts of incoming metals from the body. Specialized literature mainly describes the clinical effectiveness of enterosorbents, while information on their sorption capacity is extremely insufficient. One of the approaches to increasing the sorption capacity of monoenterosorbents is the use of combinations of enterosorbents with different sorption mechanisms.

The purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative assessment of the sorption capacity of various types of enterosorbents, and to search for optimal combinations of biopolymer and mineral enterosorbents with higher effective sorption capacity compared to monoeutosorbents.

Material and methods. The sorption capacity of enterosorbents was estimated experimentally. To create combinations, the sorption capacity of the main types of biopolymer and mineral enterosorbents was determined. Of the biopolymer enterosorbents, based on the results of testing monoenterosorbents, chitin-containing preparations “Chitosan” and “Mikoton” were selected to create combinations. The most common mineral enterosorbents were selected to create combinations: dioctahedral smectite (“Smecta”), finely dispersed silicon dioxide (“Polysorb MP”), activated carbon, granulated zeolite based on a mineral of sedimentary-volcanic origin with a clinoptilolite content of up to 95% “ZeoDetox”. To model the complex composition of the internal environment of the body, it is proposed to use whey, which is a multicomponent matrix consisting of water with minerals and an organic fraction (proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins) dissolved in it.

Results. A method for obtaining combinations of enterosorbents has been developed experimentally, allowing one to obtain their optimal homogeneous mixture with qualitatively new properties. The effectiveness of combinations of enterosorbents was determined based on the results of testing monoenterosorbents, with an assessment of the sorption capacity. The possibility of using whey, which simulates the liquid phase in which sorption processes occur in the body, to assess the sorption capacity of combinations of enterosorbents has been demonstrated. The created combinations of enterosorbents showed a higher sorption capacity with respect to the metals under study, compared to individual monoenterosorbents.

Limitations. The experiment was conducted in vitro, which, on the one hand, removes ethical restrictions, but forms certain qualitative limitations in the interpretation of the results of the efficiency of the obtained sorption materials as enterosorbents.

Conclusion. When high concentrations of metals are received, the optimal composition is a mixture combining biopolymers with established high sorption capacity and one of the mineral enterosorbents. Thus, a combined enterosorbent based on zeolite and activated carbon showed a relatively high absolute efficiency compared to other combinations of mineral enterosorbents. At the same time, it has high selectivity, which, in combination with low hydrophilicity, is optimal for regular use.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of a biomedical ethics committee opinion or other documents.

Authors’ contributions:
Tunakova Y.A. – concept and design of the study;
Galimova A.R. – conducting experimental studies;
Valiev V.S. – planning the study;
Faizullin R.I. – analysis and interpretation of the obtained data;
Shrom I.A. – literature analysis.
All co-authors – approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The research was carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation as part of the fulfillment of obligations under Agreement No. 075-03-2024-067 dated 17.01.2024 (topic number FZSU-2023-0005).

Received: December 24, 2024 / Revised: March 31, 2025 / Accepted: July 14, 2025 / Published: August 29, 2025

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