High-performance sulfonated polyether sulfone/chitosan membrane on creatinine transport improved by lithium chloride

Membrane-based polyether sulfone (PES) is a potential candidate for hemodialysis because of its properties such as high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. However, the nature of the hydrophobicity in the PES membrane inhibits their performance in transporting creatinine. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were modified using a sulfonation process and the addition of chitosan (CS) and lithium chloride (LiCl) to improve its performance in transporting creatinine. The FTIR spectrum of the modified membrane shows peaks of the sulfonate (-SO₂), amine (NH), and hydroxyl (-OH) groups in absorption areas of 1065 cm^-1, 1650 cm^-1, and 3384 cm^-1, respectively, indicating that the membrane SPES/CS-LiCl has been successfully prepared. The modified PES membranes shows a higher porosity, swelling, water absorption, and hydrophilicity than pure PES membrane. The modification of the PES membrane in this study also enhances the ability of the membrane to transport creatinine. In the pure PES membrane, the creatinine clearance is 0.30 mg/dL, while in the SPES/CS-LiCl (5:2) membrane the creatinine clearance is 0.42 mg/dL.