Preparation and characterization of starch grafted with methacrylamide using ammonium persulphate initiator

• Preparation of starch grafted with polymethacrylamide copolymer using ammonium persulfate initiator.
• The graft copolymer shows improved thermal properties.
• The copolymer could be effectively used in drug delivery.

In this study, methacrylamide (MAA) was successfully grafted with starch by simple free radical polymerization technique using ammonium persulphate (APS) initiator. Reaction conditions were examined. The highest percentage grafting of 351.60% was found to be best at 1:4 starch:methacrylamide weight ratio, 0.4 g APS and 90 °C reaction temperature. The washed copolymers were characterized by spectroscopic and thermal analyses. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed the presence of MAA peaks. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) revealed that the prepared copolymer has improved thermal stability.

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