Synthesis and properties of a water soluble graft (chitosan-g-2-acrylamidoglycolic acid) copolymer

► By the spectroscopic data it is confirmed that the grafting of 2-acrylamidoglycolic acid has occurred at hydroxyl group and NH2 group of chitosan. ► The thermal analysis data show that the grafted polymer is more thermally stable than pure chitosan. ► Our synthesized graft copolymer (chitosan-g-2-acrylamidoglycolic acid) shows very good water swelling ability and resistance to biodegradability. ► Grafting is further supported by enhanced properties like metal ion uptake and flocculation efficiency.