Equilibrium swelling study of crosslinked chitosan membranes in water, buffer and salt solutions

Physically crosslinked membranes were prepared by treating chitosan (Ch) with pentasodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) at different reaction conditions. The equilibrium swelling ratio, Seq, of Ch/TPP membranes in water, buffer and salt solutions at 37 C were determined. The experimental data indicated, that Seq depended on pH of buffer solution and type and concentration of salt solution. Swelling capacity in water depended on the content of TPP ions in the membrane and crosslinking density