Novel conducting nanocomposite based on polypyrrole and modified poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) via emulsion polymerization: Synthesis, Characterization, Antioxidant, and heavy metal sorbent activity

Novel polypyrrole/modified poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) conducting nanocomposites were prepared via emulsion polymerization using sodium dodecyl sulfate as an emulsifier and ammonium persulfate as an oxidant. Modified poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) was used as an external dopant for conductivity enhancement of polypyrrole. The conductivity of nanocomposites was measured with a four‐probe method. The maximum electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite was 1.40 S/cm. The data from this research showed that the novel nanocomposite presents good tendency for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Also the prepared nanocomposites were analyzed for their antioxidant activity using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the nanocomposite was 60%. The nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible, X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:138–144, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers