Calorimetric investigation of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solution

The enthalpy of dissociation of poly(acrylic acid) and of poly(methacrylic acid) in water and in 0.5N NaCl at 25°C has been measured over a wide range of degrees of neutralization of the polyelectrolytes. In the case of poly(methacrylic acid) the calorimetric data permit the direct evaluation of the enthalpy of conformational transition of the polymer. For this transition, with the aid of standard free energy data derived from potentiometric titrations, the change in entropy was also estimated. The relative accuracy of the thermodynamic data, and the possibility of deriving therefrom information on the mechanism of transitions of the type, globular coils → expanded coils for partially hydrophobic synthetic polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution are discussed.     

Effect of urea on poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) aqueous solutions

The effects of urea on aqueous solutions of both poly(methacrylic acid (PMA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been investigated by using potentiometry, viscometry and study of the fluorescence of Auramine O, a cationic dye. The viscosity behaviour of unionized PMA obtained from direct dissolution of solid powder shows that the unneutralized macromolecules can be associated in water. The stability of such “aggregates” seems weak as indicated by their disappearance as soon as the charge density is very low. For PMA salt solution percolated through a cation (H⁺) exchange resin column, no association is observed. The pH-dependent conformational behaviour of PMA which, contrary to PAA, presents compact conformations in water at low charge density is discussed in terms of solvophobic/solvophilic interactions. It is shown that, even for urea concentration up to 8 M, the compact conformations of PMA are not completely destroyed. The formation of H⁺/urea complex is taken into account.     

Adsorption of polymethacrylic acid from aqueous solutions on disperse titanium dioxide

The state of macromolecules of polymethacrylic acid adsorbed on the surface of disperse titanium dioxide was assessed using a combination of the differential concentration approach to the determination of adsorption and methods for determining the size of disperse adsorbents by dynamic light scattering and sedimentation analysis in the field of centrifugal forces. Three sections were found on the isotherm of adsorption: in the first, isolated islands of adsorbed macromolecules formed; in the second, layers of macromolecules with a different degree of deformation were observed; in the third, determining the adsorption of macromolecules is complicated by other accompanying processes, and assessing the state of macromolecules in the adsorption layer becomes difficult.     

Grafting of poly(acrylic acid) onto nonporous glass bead surfaces

The surface of glass beads were modified with covalently bonded poly(acrylic acid). The optimum reaction conditions were determined to graft poly(acrylic acid) effectively onto the glass surface. The dependence of the graft polymer molecular weight, grafting percentage and monomer weight conversion based on these reaction conditions were consistent with free radical kinetics. Grafting efficiency for azobisisobutyronitrile was more complex compared with the benzyl peroxide initiator system © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorption studies for the acrylic polyester hyper-dispersant on titanium dioxide

A novel acrylic polyester hyper-dispersant was used to disperse titanium dioxide in different organic solvents. The adsorption behaviors were investigated in ethyl acetate, toluene, and isopropyl alcohol. Meanwhile, the data of adsorption isotherms were correlated using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, Tempkin, and Fritz–Schlunder models. The results showed that the four-parameter Fritz–Schlunder isotherm equation was the best correlation. The mean free energy of sorption was calculated by Dubinin–Radushkevick equation using the adsorption data and its E value was 2.09–3.11 kJ mol^?1, this indicated the adsorption was a physical process in accordance with the FTIR test result.     

The effect of poly(methacrylic acid) on electrosurface properties of titanium dioxide in aqueous suspensions

The electrosurface properties and aggregation stability of aqueous titanium-dioxide suspensions are studied in wide ranges of medium pH values and poly(methacrylic acid) concentrations. Using the 2pK model, the ionization constants of surface hydroxyl groups of titanium dioxide are found and it is established that the adsorption of poly(methacrylic acid) macromolecules substantially decreases the fraction of neutral (uncharged) hydroxyl groups and affects the ratio between the positively and negatively charged surface hydroxyl groups.     

Pulse radiolysis of poly(acrylic acid) in deoxygenated aqueous solution

Absorption spectra of macroradicals formed by irradiation of poly (acrylic acid) in aqueous solution are presented and the role of intermediates of water radiolysis in their formation is discussed. Both the rate constant of ·OH reaction with the polymer and the process of macroradicals decay are shown to be strongly dependent on pH. The macroradicals formed in dissociated polymer molecules have a lifetime of several minutes.     

Adsorption of tricarboxylic acid biosurfactant derived from spiculisporic acid on titanium dioxide surface

In the present study, adsorption isotherms of a polycarboxylic-acid-type biosurfantant, the sodium salt of (2-(2-carboxyethyl)-3-decyl maleic anhydride) (DCMA-3Na), on TiO₂, zeta potential, and changes in particle aggregate size as a function of biosurfactant concentration, solid-liquid ratio and pH were systematically investigated. The adsorption of DCMA-3Na on the surface of TiO₂ shows a relatively weak dependence on pH, unlike the adsorption behavior of chemically-synthesized surfactants. Adsorption of DCMA-3Na still occurs at pH above the isoelectric points of TiO₂ due to the buffering capacity, which is due to three carboxylate functional groups in the hydrophilic moiety of DCMA-3Na. Since DCMA-3Na has three anionic head groups, the zeta potential of TiO₂ at pH 3 decreases very steeply from positive to negative values as the surface charges are neutralized by the adsorption of biosurfactants. Trends in zeta potentials as a function of equilibrium DCMA-3Na concentration are quite closely related to the changes in flocculation of individual TiO₂ particles.     

Graft copolymerization kinetics of acrylic acid onto the poly(ethylene terephthalate) surface by atmospheric pressure plasma inducement

After one atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film, acrylic acid (AAc) in aqueous solution was successfully graft‐copolymerized onto PET films. The effects of reaction time, AAc monomer concentration and reaction temperature on grafting behavior of AAc were systematically studied. Possible reaction kinetics of plasma‐induced graft copolymerization, starting from initial hydroperoxide decomposition, were proposed. Through the Arrhenius analysis about graft copolymerization kinetics of AAc monomers on PET surface, it was revealed that the activation energies of decomposition, propagation and termination were 98.4, 63.5, and 17.5 kJ/mol, respectively. The temperature around 80 °C was favorable not only for the formation of oxide radicals through the thermal decomposition of hydroperoxide on PET surface but also for the extension of graft copolymer chain through direct polymer grafting. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) grains grafted onto PET surfaces possessed relatively uniform size and both PAAc grain size and surface roughness increased with increasing the grafting degree of AAc. The increase of grain size with increasing grafting degree results from the possibility of forming long chain graft copolymers and their shielding of reactive sites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1594–1601, 2008     

Adsorption of cadmium(II) on humic acid coated titanium dioxide

The rapid increase in nanotechnology has led to growing concerns on environmental effects and health risks of nanoparticles (NPs). Many studies investigated the adsorption of toxic pollutants on NPs; however, the interaction between heavy metals and natural organic matter (NOM) coated metal oxide NPs was scarcely studied. In this study, using humic acid (HA) as model NOM, the adsorption of Cd(II) on humic acid coated titanium dioxide (HA-TiO(2)) NPs was investigated. Solution parameters such as pH and salinity were investigated to exploit the mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that the adsorption isotherms of Cd(II) to both TiO(2) and HA-TiO(2) complied well with Freundlich model. q(e) values increased with pH increase, mainly due to electrostatic attraction, whereas q(e) values increased initially and then decreased at 100 mmol L(-1) with salinity increase, mainly due to complexation and electrostatic effects. It is noteworthy that an overall trend of higher Cd(II) adsorption was observed on HA-TiO(2) compared to that on TiO(2), implying that HA coating might modify bioavailability of heavy metals in aquatic environment. The possible adsorption mechanisms in views of electrostatic interactions and covalent effects were interpreted, and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results also verified the possible mechanisms.     

纳米TiO-2对模型病毒-f2噬菌体的吸附特性

为了提高饮用水处理系统对病毒的去除效果,本研究采用静态实验,研究纳米TiO2对模型病毒—f2噬菌体的吸附去除特性,系统考察TiO2投加浓度、病毒浓度、温度及pH值等因素对吸附效果的影响.实验结果表明：f2噬菌体在纳米TiO2表面的吸附符合准二级吸附动力学模型,遵循化学吸附机理,颗粒内扩散为该吸附过程中的速率控制步骤,但不是唯一控制步骤;纳米TiO2对f2噬菌体的吸附符合Freundlich等温吸附模型（qe=27.4Ce1.24）,属于多层吸附类型;在20~40℃范围内,温度对纳米TiO2的吸附性能影响不大,而酸性条件下更有利于纳米TiO2对f2噬菌体的吸附.     

Electrokinetic characterization of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(ethylene oxide) brushes in aqueous electrolyte solutions

Surfaces carrying hydrophilic polymer brushes were prepared from poly(styrene)-poly(acrylic acid) and poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymers, respectively, using a Langmuir-Blodgett technique and employing poly(styrene)-coated planar glass as substrates. The electrical properties of these surfaces in aqueous electrolyte were analyzed as a function of pH and KCl concentration using streaming potential/streaming current measurements. From these data, both the zeta potential and the surface conductivity could be obtained. The poly(acrylic acid) brushes are charged due to the dissociation of carboxylic acid groups and give theoretical surface potentials of -160 mV at full dissociation in 10(-)(3) M solutions. The surface conductivity of these brushes is enormous under these conditions, accounting for more than 93% of the total measured surface conductivity. However, the mobility of the ions within the brush was estimated from the density of the carboxylic acid groups and the surface conductivity data to be only about 14% of that of free ions. The poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) brushes effectively screen the charge of the underlying substrate, giving a very low zeta potential except when the ionic strength is very low. From the data, a hydrodynamic layer thickness of the PEO brushes could be estimated which is in good agreement with independent experiments (neutron reflectivity) and theoretical estimates. The surface conductivity in this system was slightly lower than that of the polystyren substrate. This also indicates that no significant amount of preferentially, i.e., nonelectrostatically attracted, ions taken up in the brush.     

Interpolymer complexes of poly(acrylic acid) with poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) in aqueous solutions

Complexes formed from poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) were studied in aqueous solutions by viscometric, turbidimetric, FTIR spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric analysis methods. The formation of interpolymer complexes stabilized by hydrogen bonds was observed. It was found that the compositions of these interpolymer complexes are strongly dependent on the concentration of polymers, the order of mixing the solutions, and the pH. It was demonstrated that the complexation ability of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) is relatively low compared to other known nonionic water-soluble polymers. However, it can be significantly increased via hydrophobic modification of the poly(acrylic acid) using cetyl pyridinium bromide.     

Controlled synthesis of oligomeric poly(acrylic acid) and its behavior in aqueous solutions

The controlled synthesis of oligomeric poly(acrylic acid) via the pseudoliving radical reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization of acrylic acid in bulk is developed. It is shown that, at high concentrations of reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents, the polymerization of acrylic acid in bulk occurs via the pseudoliving mechanism, as evidenced by a linear increase in the numberaverage molecular mass of oligomers with conversion and a narrow molecular-mass distribution of the reaction products. The surfactant properties and behavior of the oligomers in aqueous solutions are studied.     

Synthesis and pH-sensitive micellization of doubly hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) triblock copolymer in aqueous solutions

A doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA) with M _w/M _n = 1.15 was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of t-butyl acrylate (tBA), followed by acidolysis of the PtBA blocks. The pH-sensitive micellization of PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA in acidic solution was investigated by potentiometric titration, fluorescence spectrum, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. The pK _a was 6.6 and 6.0 in deionized water and in 0.1 mol/L NaCl solution, respectively. The copolymer formed micelles composed of a weakly hydrophobic core of complexed PAA and PEO and a hydrophilic PEO shell in 1 mg/mL solution at pH < 5.5 due to hydrogen bonding. The critical micelle concentration was 0.168 mg/mL at pH 2.0. At pH < 4.5, steady and narrow distributed micelles were formed. Increasing pH to 5.0, unsteady and broad distributed micelles were observed. At pH > 5.5, the micelle was destroyed owing to the ionization of the PAA blocks.     

Adsorption of hydrophobically modified poly(acrylamide)-co-(acrylic acid) on an amino-functionalized surface and its response to the external solvent environment

The adsorption of hydrophobically modified poly(acrylamide)-co-(acrylic acid), designated as PAM-C14-AA (x%) (x = 5, 10, 20, representing the mole percent of acrylic acid units), at an amino-functionalized silicon surface was studied. The effect of polymer charge density was determined by varying the acrylic acid content of the copolymer. Characteristics of the adsorbed layer were evaluated by atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the adsorption behavior of PAM-C14-AA (x%) is influenced by the balance among the electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. Adjusting the solution pH and polymer charge density significantly affects the morphology and thickness of the adsorbed film. Furthermore, it was found that the adsorbed PAM-C14-AA undergoes conformational rearrangements when the surface is wetted by selected organic solvents. The resultant morphology and wettability of the films indicated that the different affinities of the solvents for different segments of PAM-C14-AA (x%) can be considered to be the possible cause of the conformational rearrangements of adsorbed polymer.     

Photocatalyzed reaction of indole in an aqueous suspension of titanium dioxide

The photocatalyzed oxidation of indole (1) in an aqueous suspension of titanium dioxide has been investigated and an attempt has been made to identify the products formed during the photooxidation process by gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC–MS) analysis. Photolysis of an aqueous solution of indole (1) in the presence of titanium dioxide and oxygen led to the formation of 2,3-dihydroindole-2-one (6) and 1H-indole-2,3-dione (7). A probable pathway for the formation of these products has been proposed.     

The surface tension of poly(acrylic acid) in sodium chloride solutions

Summary Surface tension of polyacrylic acid (PAA) in sodium chloride solutions was measured at various ionic strengths. Surface activity of PAA solutions increases and shows a large time dependence with increasing salt concentration. Surface activity and time dependence of surface tension is explained by the changing flexibility of PAA chains.

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Zusammenfassung Oberflächenspannung von Polyacrylsäure in Natriumchloridlösung mit verschiedenem Ionisationsgrad wurde gemessen. Die Oberflächenaktivität und Zeitdauer der Gleichgewichtseinstellung nimmt mit der Salzkonzentration zu. Oberflächenaktivität und Zeitabhängigkeit werden durch die Änderung der Beweglichkeit der Polyacrylsäureketten erklärt.

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With 5 figures