REMOVAL OF ENDOTOXIN FROM AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS BY AFFINITY MEMBRANE

Endotoxin was removed by affinity membranes with histidine immobilized as affinity ligand. Macropore cellulose membrane was prepared from fi lter paper by alkaline treatment and chemical crosslinking, and was us ed as matrix for the immobilization of affinity ligand. The matrix mem brane was derived by hexamethylenediamine and activated by glutaraldeh yde before histidine was immobilized. Membrane cartridges containing 4 0 or 80 sheets of affinity membrane were also prepared, which can be u sed to remove pyrogen from aqueous solutions. Using a cartridge with 4 0 sheets of affinity membrane, the endotoxin content in solution can b e reduced to a minimum of 0.12 EU/mL. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, L td.