Synthesis of various chelating celluloses and their application in removing Al 3+ from ATP

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis of 20 commercial preparations of ATP demonstrated aluminum (a potent inhibitor of hexokinase as Al 3+ -ATP) to be both ubiquitous and the most abundant metal contaminant found. In an effort to find a convenient and effective method of removing Al 3+ from ATP we have synthesized several new chelating celluloses. Several polyvalent car☐ylic acids (EDTA, EGTA, citrate, and aluminon) were linked to aminoethylcellulose via a water-soluble carbodiimide. A chelator similar in chelating ability to ATP, cellulose polyphosphate, was prepared by reaction of excess polyphosphate with cellulose. The ability of these immobilized chelators to compete with ATP for Al 3+ was tested. Cellulose polyphosphate at pH 5 proved to be especially effective in removing Al 3+ from ATP.