Use of dicarboxylic acids to improve and diversify the material properties of porous chitosan membranes.
Several nontoxic dicarboxylic acid solutions (oxalic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, and adipic acid solutions) instead of an acetic acid solution were used as solvents for chitosan dissolution. The amount of free amino groups of the chitosan in the solution decreased due to the ionic cross-linking of the dicarboxylic acids with chitosan. These solutions were used to fabricate porous chitosan membranes. Replacing acetic acid with these dicarboxylic acids for membrane preparation improved the water uptake (by 35% at most), tensile strength (by 110% at most), and elongation capability (by 50% at most) of the membranes. These dicarboxylic acid solutions not only act as solvents but also improve the material properties of the chitosan membranes due to the ionic cross-linking and hydrogen bond formation. In brief, a nontoxic and straightforward cross-linking method has been developed for chitosan material; this method does not result in a brittle product, thus making it better than the use of toxic cross-linking reagents.
Chen
Po-Hui
PH
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Kuo
Ting-Yun
TY
Liu
Fang-Hsuan
FH
Hwang
Ya-Hsi
YH
Ho
Ming-Hua
MH
Wang
Da-Ming
DM
Lai
Juin-Yih
JY
Hsieh
Hsyue-Jen
HJ
D019342:Acetic Acid; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D013718:Tensile Strength
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D048271:Chitosan; D019342:Acetic Acid