FT-IR OF MEMBRANES MADE WITH ALGINATE POLYLYSINE COMPLEXES - VARIATIONS WITH THE MANNURONIC OR GULURONIC CONTENT OF THE POLYSACCHARIDES/

FT-IR spectra of polylysine/alginate membranes made with alginate cont aining various contents of mannuronic or guluronic acid residues have been recorded. The interpretation of the more important absorptions re lated to functional groups engaged in the complexes have been proposed and discussed using comparisons with spectra of cellulosic films and other published results. Mannuronnic rich alginate seemed to link stro nger than guluronic rich alginate to the polylysine molecules which is illustrated by the continuum in absorption between 3000 cm(-1) and 20 00 cm(-1). However, the analysis of the 2000 - 1000 cm(-1) region prom pted us to believe that the polymers were engaged in the same basic so rt of molecular complexes. Therefore it is necessary that other parame ters (either physical, as toughness, porosity,...) other than variatio ns in molecular structures are studied in order that the biological di fferences of the membranes may be explained.