CHITOSAN/SERICIN BLEND MEMBRANES FOR ADSORPTION OF BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN

Chitosan/sericin blend membranes for adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated. A preliminary screening test was carried out to identify a suitable chitosan/sericin blend ratio. The blend membrane with a chitosan/sericin mass ratio of 4: 1 was found to have a maximum adsorption capacity (q(m)) of 25.3 g/m(2), which is 45 % greater than the maximum adsorption capacity of the pure chitosan membrane. The adsorption-desorption cycle studies showed that the chitosan/sericin blend affinity membrane could be reused, and over 80 % of the original adsorption capacity was retained after regeneration. Compared to other affinity membranes for BSA adsorption, the chitosan/sericin membrane exhibited a significantly high adsorption capacity with a comparable adsorption rate.