The preparation and characterization of Alginate–Chitosan membranes as solid support for BTB and urease entrapment

Abstract

A study of alginate-chitosan membrane synthesize was done. The membrane was prepared by mixing alginate and chitosan hydrosols (1:1 in mass ratio) at pH approximately 5.28. Then it was applied for matrix immobilization of urease and bromothymol blue (BTB) by entrapment technique. The physical, chemical, thermal properties of alginate– chitosan membrane and their impact on immobilized urease activity were investigated. The polymer products were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It’s showed that alginate-chitosan membrane was formed by electrostatic interaction. The obtained membran has better mechanical properties than original alginat and chitosan membranes. The immobilization urease into alginate-chitosan membrane retained the catalytic activity of the enzyme, as confirmed by color change of BTB indicator after membrane was immersed in substrate solution (urea). Therefore, alginate-chitosan membrane has good characteristics as matrix of enzyme immobilization.