Abstract
N-(phenylacetyl) chitosan (NPAC) polymer was synthesized by the reaction of phenylacetic acid with chitosan. The chemical structure of the formed polymer was characterized by IR and microanalysis. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal stability of the NPAC polymer was less than that of chitosan. The products of NPAC thermal degradation were identified by the GC-MS technique. The results indicate that the mechanism of degradation of NPAC polymer is characterized by the elimination of low-molecular weight radicals. A combination of these radicals and a random scission mechanism along the backbone chain are the main source of the degradation products.