Aqueous polymerization of acrylamide initiated by cerium (IV)–ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid redox system

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) terminated polyacrylamide was obtained by using the EDTA–cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate Ce(IV)] redox initiator in the aqueous polymerization of acrylamide. The polymerization behaviors as a function of the concentration of Ce(IV), EDTA, and acrylamide as well as temperature were studied. The consumption rate of cerium(IV) depends a first-order reaction on the ceric ion concentration (Ce(IV)]). The complex formation constant (K) and disproportionation constant (k_d) of Ce(IV)–EDTA chelated complex are 1.67 × 10⁴ and 3.77 × 10^?3, respectively. The rate dependences of polymerization on monomer concentration and EDTA concentration both follow a second-order reaction in the run of initial monomer concentration (M]_i) equal to 0.2 mol dm^?3. The number average molecular weight increases linearly with the ratio of M]_i/Ce(IV)]_i. The mechanism and kinetics for the polymerization was proposed. The kinetic parameters involved were determined. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.