RESUMO
Chitosan, a linear polysaccharide, is obtained by chitin N deacetylation. Its ?(1 4) glucosidic bond is not stable and breaks easily in acid condition. In this study, chitosan of different molecular weights(MW) was prepared by acetic acid degradation. Chitosan was dissolved at 3%(w/v) concentration in 1%(v/v) acetic acid and the solution was dried at 50 degree C. We get chitosan membranes of different MW after neutralization with aqueous NaOH. The membranes are transparent, elastic and have good intensity. The permeability studies on chitosan membranes were going on with a permeable install made by our laboratory. It was determined by the transmission concentration of NaCl, L Tyr, glucose and calf albumin. We compared the permeability property with different MW chitosan membranes. The result implied that all of the four samples could permeate through the chitosan membranes. And the permeability property of the membrane increased with the chitosan MW decreaseing.