Swelling of PVA/Chitosan/TiO2 Nanofibers Membrane in Different PH

Abstract

The nanofiber PVA/chitosan have been successfully fabricated by the addition of TiO2 or without TiO2. Nanofiber membranes of PVA/chitosan/TiO2 were fabricated with weight ratio of PVA/chitosan (w/w) 90/10, 85/15, and 80/20. Glutaraldehyde cross-linking was added to increase membrane stability in water. Swelling behavior was tested in three different pH to investigate the swelling behavior of nanofiber membranes of PVA/chitosan with and without TiO2. The result indicated that the addition of chitosan concentration would decrease the swelling index, and increase the time constant (τ). The swelling index will increase in high pH (pH 10.01) compare to low pH (pH 4.01).