Calcium-Mediated Adsorption of Neutral Amino Acids to Carboxymethylated Chitin

Abstract

Abstract Among various divalent metal ions, calcium has been found to be adsorbed tightly onto carboxymethylated chitin. The adsorption was completed not only by induced carboxyl groups but also by the support of acetamide, as well as primary and secondary hydroxyl groups. Although the adsorption capacity for transition metal ions was enhanced appreciably by regeneration into fibrous form, only that of calcium ion, among alkali-earth metals, was at the same level as that of transition metals. Since little effect was shown on the adsorption of phenylalanine by the blocking of α-amino and α-carboxyl groups of L-Phe, and since D-Phe was so a little adsorbed, the chiral specific adsorption of phenylalanine might be supported by mediation of calcium ion and by the contribution of hydrophobicity of the β-phenyl group.