Synthesis and Characterization of a Modified Chitosan

Chitosan has been modified by incorporating a cationic moiety N-(3-chloro 2-hydroxypropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) onto its primary amine group in aqueous alkali medium. A series of modified chitosan copolymers (Chitocat-1 to Chito-cat-5) was synthesized by varying the CHPTAC to chitosan ratio. The modified chitosan copolymers have been characterized by viscometry, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal analysis and X-ray diffractometry. From the above investigations, it has been confirmed that the cationic moiety was successfully incorporated onto chitosan.