Metal ion permeation properties of silk fibroin/chitosan blend membranes

Silk fibroin/chitosan (SF/CS) blend membranes were prepared and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that SF and CS were compatible in the blend membranes and that the membranes were dense without microscopic phase separation. Swelling experiments showed that the swelling ratio of the blend membranes increased with CS content and reached the highest value when CS content was 70 wt%. Experiments indicated that the permeability coefficient of K+ through the blend membrane was 2-4 times higher than that of pure CS membrane, and 10 times higher than that of pure SF membrane. The permeation rate of K+ increased linearly with CS content in the blend membrane for the lower concentration feeding solution. For different metal ions, the permeability through SF/CS blend membranes was in the sequence K+ > Ca2+ > Cd2+ > Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Ni2+. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.