Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Acrylate in Starch Using Ceric Ion/Thiourea Initiator System

Abstract

Graft copolymers of methyl acrylate onto starch were prepared in aqueous solution at 29°C using ceric ion and the batch and modified batch polymerization (with incremental addition of monomer and initiator) processes. It was found that the conversion of monomer to polymer, the graft levels, the efficiency and frequency of grafting were markedly higher for the modified batch process. The effect of thiourea on the grafting characteristics of ceric ion initiated copolymerization of methyl acrylate was also examined. The results show that at comparable ceric ion concentrations, the molecular weight and the frequency of grafting methyl acrylate were higher in the presence of thiourea.     

Graft copolymerization of cellulose initiated by ceric salts: Effect of reaction conditions on the consumption of ceric ion

A soluble monomer [methyl acrylate (MA)] and an insoluble monomer [butyl methacrylate (BMA)] were grafted onto cellulose by three types of ceric salts under both oxygen-free conditions and in the presence of oxygen. For comparison, Ce(IV) consumption during cellulose oxidation was also determined under similar reaction conditions. Slightly more Ce(IV) was consumed during cellulose oxidation in the presence of oxygen. During graft copolymerization of MA under oxygen-free conditions, the consumption of Ce(IV) was much lower than during cellulose oxidation regardless of the type of ceric salt employed. The opposite was observed in the presence of oxygen: much more Ce(IV) was consumed during grafting than during cellulose oxidation. The consumption of Ce(IV) in the graft copolymerization of BMA by ceric sulfate was nearly independent of reaction conditions and it was approximately the same as in cellulose oxidation. In the reaction initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate under oxygen-free conditions, less Ce(IV) was once again used up during grafting than during cellulose oxidation. However, the difference was much smaller than in the case of MA.     

Ceric Ion-Initiated Grafting of Poly(Methyl Acrylate) onto Chitin

Abstract

Poly(methy1 acrylate) was grafted onto chitin in an aqueous medium by using the ceric ion as a redox initiator in the presence of 10^?4 M nitric acid and oxygen from the atmosphere. The grafting percentage turned out to be dependent on reaction temperature, time, and initiator concentration, but it was found to be independent of monomer concentration. In the course of the grafting reaction, homopolymerization of methyl acrylate occurs. The percentage of homopolymer was found to depend only on the reaction temperature. The apparent activation energy for the grafting reaction was estimated to be 11 kcal/mol. The grafted chitin is insoluble in solvents for chitin but shows enhanced swelling in some organic solvents.     

Grafting onto Wool. XXVII. Graft Copolymerization of MixeD Vinyl Monomers by Use of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as Redox Initiator

In order to ascertain the effect of a donor monomer, vinyl acetate (VAc), on the graft copolymerization of acceptor monomers, ethyl acrylate (EA) and butyl acrylate (BA), grafting of mixed vinyl monomers (EA + VAc) and (BA + VAc) was carried out on Himachali wool in aqueous medium using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a redox initiator. Graft copolymerization was carried out at different temperatures for various reaction periods. Percent grafting and percent efficiency were determined as functions of 1) concentration of mixed vinyl monomers, 2) concentration of CAN, 3) concentration of HNO₃ 4) temperature, and 5) reaction time. VAc, the donor monomer, was found to decrease percent grafting of EA and BA onto wool.     

Graft Copolymerization on to Cellulose Using Binary Mixture of Monomers

The graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and ethyl acrylate (EA) comonomers onto cellulose has been carried out using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator in the presence of nitric acid at 35±0.1°C. The addition of ethyl acrylate as comonomer has shown a significant effect on overall and individual graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile on cellulose. The graft yield (%G_Y) and other grafting parameters viz. true grafting (%G_T), graft conversion (%C_G), cellulose number (Ng) and frequency of grafting (G_F) were evaluated on varying the concentration of comonomers from 6.0–30.0×10^?1 mol dm^?3 and ceric (IV) ions concentration from 2.5–25×10^?3 mol dm^?3 at constant feed composition (f_AN 0.6) and constant concentration of nitric acid (7.5×10^?2 mol dm^?3) in the reaction mixture. The graft yield (%G_Y) and other grafting parameters were optimal at 15×10^?1 mol dm^?3 concentration of comonomers and at 10×10^?3 mol dm^?3 concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate. The graft yield (%G_Y) and composition of grafted chains (F_AN) was optimal at a feed composition (f_AN) of 0.6. The energy of activation (Ea) for graft copolymerization has been found to be 16 kJ mol^?1. The molecular weight (Mw) and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of grafted chains was determined by GPC and found to be optimum at 15×10^?1 mol dm^?3 concentration of comonomer in the reaction mixture. The composition of grafted chains (F_AN) determined by IR method was used to calculate the reactivity ratios of monomers, which has been found to be 0.62 (r₁) and 1.52 (r₂), respectively for acrylonitrile (AN) and ethyl acrylate (EA) monomers used for graft copolymerization. The energy of activation for decomposition of cellulose and grafted cellulose was determining by using different models based on constant and different rate (β) of heating. Considering experimental observations, the reaction steps for graft copolymerization were proposed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">P. psyllium</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-polyacrylonitrile: synthesis and characterization

P. psyllium mucilage, an anionic natural polysaccharide consisting of pentosan and uronic acid obtained from the seeds of Plantago psyllium (Plantago family), was grafted with acrylonitrile (AN). Graft copolymers were prepared by grafting acrylonitrile onto P. psyllium mucilage (PSY) using ceric ion initiated solution polymerization technique for the very first time. The influence of varying concentration of (AN) and ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) on graft copolymerization was studied. The percent grafting was found to be affected by the concentrations of AN and CAN in the reaction mixture. The prepared copolymers were not soluble in any common solvent or mixture of solvents. The prepared copolymers were characterized by FTIR.     

Copolymers of modified starches with polyacrylonitrile

A study was made of the ceric ammonium nitrate-initiated graft polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto a number of modified starches that had been reduced in molecular weight by either acid, hypochlorite, or enzyme treatment. With highly soluble starches, much of the starting material was recovered as ungrafted carbohydrate, and the reaction product was largely dimethylformamide-soluble polymer with a high polyacrylonitrile (PAN) content. The molecular weight of grafted PAN was lower when the modified starches existed as granules in water dispersion; however, heating (60°C) an aqueous slurry of an acid-modified corn starch (with intact granules) before the reaction had relatively little effect on the composition of the copolymer. Decreasing the concentrations in water of modified starch and AN resulted in more frequent and lower molecular weight grafts of PAN. Aqueous methanol as a reaction medium for an acid-modified starch with intact granules led to more frequent grafting of lower molecular weight PAN than when water alone was used. The number of grafted chains, however, was fewer than found with unmodified wheat starch under comparable conditions. A modified starch with the granule structure completely broken down gave no detectable reaction in aqueous methanol.     

Synthesis of graft copolymers of xyloglucan and acrylonitrile

Xyloglucan (XG), a water‐soluble food grade polysaccharide is reported as a substrate for the graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN). XG was extracted from tamarind seed mucilage. Polymerization was initiated both by ceric ion in aqueous medium under N₂ atmosphere and with microwave (MW) irradiation. The progress of the reaction was monitored gravimetrically. The effect of different reaction parameters such as monomer concentration, level of ceric ammonium nitrate/HNO₃ (CAN) initiator, reaction time and temperature, and MW power on the percent grafting (PG) was studied. Grafting of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) onto XG was confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques have been used to study the thermal and morphological changes in the materials. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Grafting onto Wool. XXVI. Graft Copolymerization of Vinyl Monomers by Use of Cr(acac)3-TBHP as Initiator

Methyl methacrylate (MMA), methyl acrylate (MA), and ethyl acrylate (EA) have been graft copolymerized onto wool fiber in aqueous medium using the chromium acetylacetonate-tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (Cr(acac)₃-TBHP) system as initiator. The percentage of grafting has been determined as a function of the concentrations of monomer, chelate, and TBHP, and the time and temperature under optimum conditions. MMA produced a maximum grafting of 119.8%, MA produced a maximum grafting of 56%, while EA afforded maximum grafting to the extent of 41.9%. Different vinyl monomers were found to follow the following reactivity order toward grafting onto wool fiber in the presence of the Cr(acac)₃-TBHP system: MMA > MA > EA.     

Grafting onto wool. I. Ceric ion-initiated grafting of poly(methyl acrylate) onto wool

Poly(methyl acrylate) has been grafted onto wool by using ceric ion as redox initiator in an aqueous medium. Initiation by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) was carried out in the presence of nitric acid of varying concentration at 35, 45, and 50°C for a period of 1.5 or 3 hr. Percent grafting was found to be dependent on concentrations of acid and monomer, reaction time, and temperature. Above 45°C, a considerable amount of homopolymer was formed; at 35°C, very little grafting of poly(methyl acrylate) was observed. Nitric acid catalyzed the reaction and a concentration of 0.17–0.19M HNO₃ was found suitable.     

Grafting vinyl monomers to starch by ceric ion. I. Acrylonitrile and acrylamide

Studies were carried out on the grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) and acrylamide (AA) to starch by ceric ion. The variables affecting the grafting of AN and AA were investigated with granular wheat starch dispersed in aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide and ceric ammonium nitrate as catalyst. Results showed that the concentrations of monomer and catalyst are the major factors influencing the grafting of AN; thus the monomer content of the grafts can be regulated by these variables. The grafting of AA is also influenced by these variables, but to a much less degree. Increasing concentrations of monomer promote homopolymerization and increasing concentration of catalyst inhibit grafting. The extent of grafting of this monomer can best be controlled by reaction time. Under the most favorable conditions, maximum grafting efficiency (ratio of amount of grafted monomer to total amount of monomer converted to polymer) was 87% for AN and 43.8% for AA. Although the monomer content of the AN grafts was higher than that of AA grafts prepared under identical conditions, the number of branches in the grafts was almost the same; only the length of the branches was different. The AN-starch grafts have branches of higher molecular weight.     

Graft Copolymerization of Poly(ethyl Acrylate) onto Wool in the Presence of Ceric Ammonium Nitrate as Redox Initiator

Poly(ethyl acrylate) has been grafted onto Himachali wool in an aqueous medium by using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as redox initiator. Copolymerization was studied at five different temperatures: 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60°C. Maximum grafting occurred at 45°C. Nitric acid was found to catalyze the graft copolymerization reactions. Percentage and efficiency of grafting were found to be dependent upon concentrations of CAN (initiator) and of monomer. Percentage of grafting has been determined as function of time, and from the slope of percent grafting versus time plot, the initial rate of graft copolymerization (R) has been determined.     

Enhancement of the grafting performance and of the water absorption of cassava starch graft copolymer by gamma radiation

Enhancement of the gamma radiation grafting of acrylonitrile onto gelatinized cassava starch was investigated. Infrared spectrometry was used to follow the chemical changes in the grafting reaction and from saponification. The saponified starch-g-PAN (HSPAN) was then characterized in terms of grafting parameters to provide a guide for the optimum total dose (kGy) and the appropriate ratio of starch/acrylonitrile for a fixed dose rate of 2.5 × 10⁻¹ kGy/min. Other dose rates were also carried out to obtain the appropriate result of grafting copolymerization and of water absorption. A thin aluminium foil, covering the inner wall of the reaction vessel, was found to be far more effective than any other metal films in the enhancement of the grafting reaction and the water absorption as well. Nitric acid in the medium increases the grafting yield and the water absorption. Methyl ether hydroquinone inhibitor was evaluated for its ability to increase homopolymerization and decrease graft reaction. When styrene was used as a comonomer, it hampered the grafting of acrylonitrile onto starch backbone. The water absorption capacity was improved by freeze-drying the HSPAN. The treatment of the HSPAN with aluminium trichloride hexahydrate was found to enhance the degree of wicking, but to decrease the water absorbency.     

Graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto cellulose in presence of soda lime glass. I

Sodium bisulfite–soda lime glass has proved to be a good initiator for polymerization and graft polymerization onto cellulose of some vinyl monomers. A scheme dealing with the mechanism of initiation has been proposed assuming trapping of the bisulfite radical inside the glass frame-work to form a so-called sulfur-impregnated solid. Such a solid has paramagnetic properties and acts on the vinyl monomers and cellulose as any free-radical-producing source thus leading to polymerization and graft polymerization onto cellulose. Other radicals containing sulfur, such as sulfite, sulfate, and persulfate failed to give such property with soda lime glass. With the sodium bisulfite–soda lime glass system the reactivity decreases in the order methyl methacrylate > ethyl acrylate > acrylonitrile which is inconsistent with the arrangement of acceptor monomers with decreasing electron-donating ability. This may reflect interference of the addition reaction which may take place between the monomer and bisulfite and the rate of which may depend on the activation energy of the monomer.     

Kinetics of radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate

The radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene with ethyl acrylate onto preirradiated polyethylene powder was carried out at 20°C. The grafting yield decreased in the following order: ethyl acrylate ? styrene > styrene–ethyl acrylate mixture. On the other hand, the amount of absorption of liquid monomers in polyethylene powder decreased as follows: styrene > styrene–ethyl acrylate mixture > ethyl acrylate. By kinetic analysis of the grafting yield and amount of absorption of monomers it was elucidated that the value K_p/K_t in an ethyl acrylate system (7.7 × 10^?2) was much larger than those in styrene–ethyl acrylate systems and in a styrene system (ca. 1.0 × 10^?2).     

Grafting onto wool. IV. Effect of amines upon ceric ion-initiated grafting of poly(methyl acrylate)

Grafting of poly(methyl acrylate) onto wool has been carried out in an aqueous medium at 45 ± 1°C by using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in the presence of triethylamine, diethylamine, n-butylamine, triethanolamine, and N,N-dimethylaniline. The percentage of grafting varied with the nature and concentrations of the amines. Reactivity of the different amines toward grafting reactions followed the order: triethylamine > diethylamine > n-butylamine > triethanolamine ≥ N,N-dimethylaniline. In the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline grafting did not occur. An attempt has been made to explain the observed reactivity of Ce⁴⁺ in various amine systems in graft copolymerization reactions.     

Monomer reactivity ratios in graft copolymerization

This paper discusses monomer reactivity ratios in various radiation- and redox-initiated graft copolymerizations. The polymers studied were polyethylene, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(methyl methacrylate); the comonomer mixtures were styrene–acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate–styrene, acrylonitrile–methyl acrylate, and vinyl acetate–acrylonitrile. The polymer–comonomer mixture systems were so chosen as to permit study of both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The homogeneous systems included systems of low and high viscosity. The heterogeneous systems included both polymers swollen by the comonomer mixture and polymers not swollen by the comonomer mixture. None of the homogeneous grafting systems studied showed deviations from the normal copolymerization behavior under a variety of experimental conditions. Monomer reactivity ratios in graft copolymerization were the same as the values in nongraft copolymerization. The heterogeneous systems in which the polymer was swollen by the comonomer mixture yielded grafted copolymer compositions which were the same as those in nongraft copolymerization. The heterogeneous grafting system polytetrafluoroethylene/styrene–acrylonitrile showed deviations from normal copolymerization behavior at low degrees of grafting when the reaction was only on the polymer surface. The behavior became normal at higher degrees of grafting when the system approaches that in which the polymer is swollen by the comonomers. In all reaction systems, it was found that the use of radiation to initiate the reaction does not in any way affect the copolymerization behavior of the two monomers in a comonomer pair.     

GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF VINYL MONOMERS ONTO STARCH INITIATED BY TRANSITION METAL-THIOUREA REDOX SYSTEMS

In this paper, the capabilities of grafting acrylonitrile (AN) onto starch initiatedby Fe(III)-TU, V(V)-TU, Cr(VI)-TU, Mn(VII)-TU redox systems were compared in thepresence of sulfuric acid of different concentrations. It was shown that the grafting capabili-ty of Mn(VII)-TU is the highest in these initiating systems. Using Mn (VII-TU as initia-tor, the effects of various acids (HClO_4, H_2SO_4, HNO_3, HCl) on the graft copolymerizationof acrylonitrile onto starch were discussed, and the capabilities of graft copolymerizationof methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA) onto starch wereinvestigated. The experimental results show that the order of the influences of differentacids is HClO_4>H_2SO_4>HNO_3>HCl, and the order of grafting capabilities of differentmonomers grafted onto starch is MMA>AN>AM>AA. The structure and morphology ofgraft copolymers were studied with infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.The size, shape and roughness of surface of the grafted starch granules are changed aftergrafting.     

Graft copolymerization onto jute fiber: Ceric ion-initiated graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out on both defatted and bleached jute fibers using ceric ammonium sulfate (CAS) as the initiator. In order to obtain the optimum condition for grafting, the effects of initiator concentrations, temperature, time of reaction, lignin content of jute, and the monomer concentration were studied. The maximum percent grafting and grafting efficiency were found to be 132% and 0.71, respectively. Kinetic studies showed that at 0.03M CAS, the reaction appeared to obey the second-order process. The activation energies were found to be 7.74 and 5.12 kcal/mole for defatted (lignin content, 15.7%) and chlorite-bleached jute (lignin content 10%), respectively. The activation energies of graft copolymerization of MMA onto jute fiber are compared with the energies of activation of graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN).     

Graft polymerization of acrylic monomers onto starch fractions. IV. Effect of reaction time on the grafting of butyl acrylate onto amylose

Studies were carried out on the grafting of butyl acrylate (BA) to amylose by the ceric ion method. After removing the homo-PBA with THF and toluene, and the ungrafted amylose with 0.5NNaOH, the PBA content of the graft copolymers was determined by acid hydrolysis with 1N HCl. The influence of reaction time on the grafting yields was determined and the largest values were: 82% for the grafting efficiency, 246% for the percent grafting, 62% for the grafted amylose, 48% for the grafted PBA, and 64% for the total conversion.