Synthesis and property of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) grafted chitosan by nitroxide-mediated polymerization with chitosan-TEMPO macroinitiator

Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) grafted chitosan was prepared by nitroxide-mediated polymerization of sodium 4-styrenesulfonate in the presence of chitosan-TEMPO macroinitiater. The results indicated that the graft polymerization was well controlled by the nitroxide-mediated process, and the graft copolymers were successfully synthesized. Chitosan-g-PSS could self-assembly into the worm-like or spherical micelles, which might be associated with PSS graft content; and the ion-exchange property of chitosan-g-PSS could be controlled by adjusting PSS graft content. The property may promote the graft copolymers to be used in the ion exchange for the environment protection.