SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND OPTIMISATION OF CARBOXYMETHYL CHITOSAN GRAFT GYLCIDYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER

The graft copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto the carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) has been successfully carried out using ceric ammonium nitrate as a redox initiator in aqueous nitric acid medium. The effect of grafting variables, i.e. concentration of initiator, temperature, monomer (GMA), polymer (CMCS), solvent and reaction time on the grafting parameters (GE (%), GY (%), GP (%) and (%C)) was systematically investigated and optimized for the graft copolymer (CMCS-g-GMA) to achieve a highest percent grafting. From the observed results it was evident that the grafting parameters were increased initially but thereafter it declines with increase in the concentration of initiator, temperature, monomer, polymer, solvent and time. The synthesized graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The FT-IR measurements clearly indicate that the glycidyl methacrylate monomer was effectively grafted onto carboxymethyl chitosan and the XRD studies elucidate the change in the crystallinity of the grafted polymeric samples. The results were investigated