Polysaccharide Graft Copolymers - Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Modification of natural polysaccharides through various graft copolymerization techniques is discussed in this chapter. Characterization of graft copolymers using different techniques like FT-IR, C-NMR, SEM, XRD, TGA, DTA and DTG along with their physical, chemical and mechanical properties are discussed as a function of different reaction conditions of their synthesis. Applications for modified polysaccharides include drug delivery devices, controlled release of fungicides, selective water absorption from oil-water emulsions and purification of water. 

Keywords Polysaccharides, green composites, graft copolymers, drug-fungicide delivery, thermal stability, biodegradation 

Susheel Kalia and Luc Averous (eds.) Biopolymers Biomedical and Environmental Applications, (35-58) Scrivener Publishing LLC 

Polysaccharides and their graft copolymers find extensive applications in diversified fields. Grafting is known to improve the characteristic properties of backbones. Such properties include water repellancy, thermal stability, flame resistance, dyeability and resistance towards acid-base attack and abrasion. Modification of natural cellulosics through graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto Cannabis indica, rayon, jute, cotton, etc., has resulted in the improvement of their morphology and other physicochemical properties [9-23]. 

Polysaccharides can be modified through graft copolymerization using different techniques such as chemical and radiation techniques [28-33]. 

---

R171 B. S. Kaith, H. Mittal, J. K. Bhatia and S. Kalia, Polysaccharide Graft Copolymers - Synthesis, Properties and Applications , in Biopolymers Biomedical and Environmental Applications, eds. S. Kalia and L. Averous, Scrivener Publishing, Salem, Mass., 2011, p. 35. 

---