Synthesis and characterization of chitosan grafted with polystyrene using ammonium persulfate initiator

Graft copolymerization of styrene from chitosan was prepared under various conditions using ammonium persulfate (APS) initiator. The grafting was found to be best at 1:3 chitosan:styrene weight ratio, 0.4g APS and temperature 60°C. The washed products were characterized by spectroscopic and thermal methods. FT-IR analysis indicate the presence of polystyrene peaks, DSC analysis showed the improvement in Tg of the polystyrene. After acid hydrolysis, the copolymer was analyzed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and the result revealed the isolated polystyrene having Mw and Mn as 95,249 and 30,755 respectively, with polydispersity index, 2.92.