Chitin Nanofiber Membranes for Chiral Separation

Abstract

Nanofiber membranes for chiral separation were prepared from chitin, which is the most abundant natural amino polysaccharide. The membrane showed chiral separation ability by adopting concentration gradient as a driving force for membrane transport. In other words, the chitin nanofiber membrane selectively transported the D-isomer of glutamic acid (Glu), phenylalanine (Phe), and lysine (Lys) from the corresponding racemic amino acid mixtures.