Abstract

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITOSAN -GRAFT - METHACRYLONITRILE COMPOSITE

S.R. Khairkar*

Abstract

Chitosan was grafted with methacrylonitrile (MAN) through oxidative-radical copolymerization using ammonium persulfate (APS) in acidic medium. The grafting conditions were extensively studied by varying grafting parameters. All the findings have been discussed and proposed a plausible mechanism for the graft copolymerization. Evidence of graft copolymerization was obtained by FTIR spectroscopy, e.g., the appearance of nitrile in the spectrum of chitosan-graft-polymethacrylonitrile. The synthetic conditions were systematically optimized through studying the influential factors including temperature, as well as concen-trations of initiator, Chitosan-g- methacrylonitrile composite can be best adsorbent for metal extraction and dyes extraction. It can use in analytical chemistry would be attractive not only in terms of product cost and environmental safety but also from a materials science point of view.The representative chitosan-graft- methacrylonitrile was characterized using FTIR, DSC, XRD and Scanning electron microscopy taking chitosan as reference.

Keywords: Chitosan, Composite, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile.