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Updated: May 7, 2026

Preparation of Expanded Chitin Foams and their Use in the Removal of Aqueous Copper
Published on: February 27, 2021
Chemical modification of chitin by grafting with polystyrene using ammonium persulfate initiator
Ahmedy Abu Naim1, Abdulganiyu Umar, Mohd Marsin Sanagi
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Chitin was successfully grafted with polystyrene by free radical mechanism using ammonium persulfate (APS) initiator. The reaction was carried out in aqueous medium. The effect of pH, chitin:monomer weight ratio, APS, reaction time and reaction temperature were investigated. The results showed that the optimum conditions for grafting of polystyrene were found as follows: pH 7, chitin:monomer weight ratio of 1:3, 0.4 g of APS, reaction temperature of 60 °C and reaction time 2 h. The graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning electron microscopy (DSC). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis carried out on the hydrolyzed graft copolymer showed that the Mn and Mw were 6.3395×10(4) g/mol and 1.69283×10(5) g/mol, respectively, with polydispersity index of 2.7.
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