Abstract

Modification of chitosan by grafting of vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) was carried out in homogeneous phase using potassium persulfate as redox initiator. The effect of the reaction variables on the extent of grafting was studied systematically. Values for grafting percentages up to 290% were reached. It was observed that the solubility of chitosan was markedly reduced after grafting with vinyl pyrrolidone. The grafted product is insoluble in common organic solvents as well in dilute organic and inorganic acids. However, the solubility of the grafted chitosan after adsorption of copper ions changed substantially, becoming completely soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid. This was attributed to the effect of complex formation produced by coordination of amino groups of chitosan with copper ions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.