Graft copolymerization of styrene onto curdlan initiated by ammonium persulfate

A new polysaccharide derivative having grafted polystyrene was synthesized by graft copolymerization of styrene onto curdlan initiated with ammonium persulfate (APS) in H2O at 60 degrees C. Effective concentration of APS was present in a narrow range around 0.25mmol against 0.50g (0.27mmol) of curdlan and styrene concentration was also one of important factors controlling the graft copolymerization. The maximum grafting percentage was 209%. Characterization of the resulting curdlan-graft-polystyrene was performed by means of IR, CP/MAS solid-state NMR, DSC, and SEM. The polystyrene grafts obtained after acid hydrolysis of curdlan-graft-polystyrenes had large molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions.