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.     

The surface tension of poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solution

Summary Surface tension has been measured of polyacrylic acidwater solutions with pH 3–11. Until approximately pH 4.6 corresponding to 10% neutralization, PAA-solutions are surface active and inactive at higher pH, time dependence of equlibrium surface tension is analysed. Non-ionized neutral chain segments are surface active, their diffusion to surface is rate determining.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Oberflächenspannung von wäßrigen Polyacrylsäure-Lösungen der pH-Werte von 3–11 gemessen. Bis zu einem pH-Wert von etwa 4.6, d. h. 10% Neutralisation, sind die Lösungen oberflächenaktiv, bei höheren pH-Werten inaktiv. Es wird die Zeitabhängigkeit der Einstellung der Gleichgewichtsoberflächenspannung analysiert. Nicht ionisierte, neutrale Kettensegmente sind oberflächenaktiv. Diffusion zur Oberfläche ist der zeitbestimmende Faktor.

     

Pulse radiolysis of aqueous thiocyanate solution

The pulse radiolysis of N(2)O saturated aqueous solutions of KSCN was studied under neutral pH conditions. The observed optical absorption spectrum of the SCN(*) radical in solution is more complex than previously reported, but it is in good agreement with that measured in the gas phase. Kinetic traces at 330 and 472 nm corresponding to SCN(*) and (SCN)(2)(*-), respectively, were fit using a Monte Carlo simulation kinetic model. The rate coefficient for the oxidation of SCN(-) ions by OH radicals, an important reaction used in competition kinetics measurements, was found to be (1.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1), about 30% higher than the normally accepted value. A detailed discussion of the reaction mechanism is presented.     

Pulse radiolysis of epicatechin in aqueous solution

Pulse radiolysis of epicatechin in aqueous solution has been done to investigate the reactions of epicatechin derived phenoxy radical (EpO) at neutral pH. EpO was generated by N₃ reacting toward EpOH, the rate constant was measured to be 3 × 10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The biomolecular termination of EpO is rather slow ((2k < × 10⁶ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) and results in products exhibiting strong visible absorption around 450 nm. No reactions have been observed for EpO with O₂ and O₂ in the time scale of pulse radiolysis (0.01 s), suggesting the bimolecular rate constant are less than 10⁴ and 5 × 10⁶ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively.     

Pulse radiolysis of ethyl propionate in aqueous solution

Hydrated electrons (e _aq ^– ) formed in water radiolysis react with ethyl propionate with a rate parameter of 7.5×10⁷ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. The electron adduct in acidic solutions immediately (<100 ns) dissociates, yielding CH₃CH₂C=0 radical. This process in alkaline solutions is slower, k=1.4×10⁵ s^–1. The hydroxyl radicals abstract H atoms in about 50% from the -position of propionate.     

Pulse radiolysis of butyl acrylate in aqueous solution

The pulse radiolysis of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) in aqueous solution was studied. The rate constant of the reaction of nBA with hydroxyl radicals was calculated as 1.5×10¹⁰ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The absorption spectrum of the OH^·–nBA adduct appeared to have a broad maximum at 300 nm. This spectrum was attributed to the α-carbon centred radicals. It decayed with the first-order rate constant k=1.5×10⁴ s⁻¹ (pH 10.8). The rate constant of the nBA reaction with hydrated electrons was determined as k=1.6×10¹⁰ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The spectrum of H^·–nBA adduct was similar to that recorded for OH^· adduct. It decayed with first-order kinetics at k=1.0×10⁴ s⁻¹. Spectra of the electron adduct were characterised by the band with a maximum at 285 nm (pH 10.0) or at 280 nm (pH 4.0) with ϵ=10 500 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. In acidic solution, radical anion formed upon addition of hydrated electrons to the nBA molecule, undergoes fast, reversible protonation. The decay of the reversibly protonated electron adduct was a second-order process at k=2.5×10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. This reaction took place at the carbonyl oxygen. Slow, irreversible protonation of the electron adduct at high pH takes place at the β-carbon atom at k=2.9×10⁴ s⁻¹.     

Pulse radiolysis of pyridinecarboxylic acids in aqueous solution

The reactivity of OH, e^-_aq and H radicals towards aqueous carboxypyridines: picolinic acid (2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), PA; isonicotinic acid (4-pyridinecarboxylic acid), i-NA; 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 2,6-PDCA; and 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 3,5-PDCA was investigated in the pH-range 1–13.8. The absorption spectra of the OH-adducts, H-adducts and pyridinyl radicals are given as well as the formation and decay kinetics. In acid (but not in alkaline) solution, the reaction of H-atoms leads to the formation of two distinct products, namely H-adduct and pyridinyl radicals. The yields of pyridinyl radical are: 20% for PA, 75% for i-NA, 60% for 2,6-PDCA and 25% for 3,5-PDCA (a yield of 50% has been found earlier for nicotinic acid, NA).     

Synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) nanogels by preparative pulse radiolysis

Nanogels are sub-micron size, water-swellable crosslinked structures of hydrophilic polymers. In this work a radiation-based synthesis method that has been previously tested for neutral polymers is applied for production of nanogels of a synthetic polyelectrolyte—poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). In this technique dilute, deoxygenated PAA solution (pH 2) circulating in a closed loop is subjected to pulse irradiation with fast electrons. In each pulse many tens of radicals are instantaneously formed on every macromolecule. One of the major reaction paths of these radicals is intramolecular recombination leading to the formation of nanogels. It is demonstrated that radiation-induced reactions in our system show a typical feature of intramolecular crosslinking, i.e. a strong decrease in dimensions of a polymer coil without an accompanying decrease in molecular weight. In accordance with expectations based on earlier observations on non-polar polymers, intramolecular recombination of PAA-derived radicals proceeds according to non-classical kinetics. A model of non-homogeneous kinetics with time-dependent rate constant has been applied to describe this behaviour and the relationship between kinetic parameters and initial average number of radicals per chain is briefly discussed. The weight-average molecular weight of the products is influenced by side reactions, mainly degradation (chain breakage) and intermolecular crosslinking.     

Pulse radiolysis of Triton X-100 aqueous solution

Pulse radiolysis of deaerated aqueous solutions of 4·10^–5–2.4·10^–3 mol dm^–3 Triton X-100 gives rise to a transient species originating from the reactions of OH radicals and H atoms. The rate constants of these reactions were found to be 8.8·10⁹ mol^–1·dm³·s^–1 and 1.25·10⁹ mol^–1·dm³·s^–1, respectively, for Triton X-100 concentrations below CMC. The corresponding transient species were found to decay according to second order kinetics. The mechanism of the reactions involved including concentration effects is discussed.     

Pulse radiolysis of 9-anthrylmethylammonium cation in aqueous solution

The reaction of hydrated electron with 9-anthrylmethylammonium cation to form the respective anthracene radical anion in aqueous solution has been studied by the method of pulse radiolysis. The rate constant of the reaction of with is reported. It is demonstrated that the anthracene radical anion is unstable and undergoes further reactions. The spectra of transient intermediates, leading to the final reduction products, are presented.     

Pulse radiolysis of adrenaline in acid aqueous solutions

Pulse radiolysis of adrenaline in acid aqueous solutions (pH 1–3) was carried out. The rate constants for the reactions of adrenaline with H and OH were determined: k(H + adr.) = (0·9±0·1) × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹; k(OH + adr.) = (1·65±0·15) × 10¹⁰ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The H-adduct of adrenaline has two λ_max, at 280 and 355 nm, with ϵ₂₈₀ = 420 m² mol⁻¹ and ϵ₃₅₅ = 390 m² mol⁻¹, which disappears according to a first order reaction, k₁ = 1·4 × 10³ s⁻¹. The spectra formed by OH attack was assigned to the corresponding benzoxy radical with absorption maxima at 285 and 365 nm and ϵ₂₈₅ = 620 m² mol⁻¹ and ϵ₃₆₅ = 105 m² mol⁻¹. Due to the overlapping of the intermediates, no decay kinetics could be obtained.     

Rheology and phase behavior of poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solution

The surface activity and the rheological properties of aqueous solutions of the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PnBA-b-PAA) were studied as a function of the degree of neutralization, alpha, of the poly(acrylic acid) block. Although the block copolymer spontaneously forms spherical micelles having a stretched PAA corona and a collapsed PnBA core in water for alpha > 0.1, the solutions do not exhibit any surface activity at this degree of neutralization. Cryo-TEM micrographs show that the radii of the hydrophobic core of the largest micelles are as long as the length of the hydrophobic chain. The micelles, however, have a broad size distribution, and on average, as shown by SANS, the micelles are only about half as long. At concentrations as low as 1 wt %, the solutions exhibit highly viscoelastic behavior and have a yield stress value depending on alpha. The globular micelles are highly ordered in the bulk phase, and the viscoelastic properties are a result of the dense packing of the micelles. The addition of salt or cationic surfactants dramatically decreases the viscosity of the solution. The observed properties seem to be due to electrostatic interactions between the PAA chains of the micelles.     

Complexation between poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solution

The complexation between poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in aqueous solution was studied by viscometric, potentiometric, and fluorescence techniques. It was found that an interpolymer complex formed between the two polymers through hydrogen bonding interactions with the stoichiometry of r=0.6 (r is unit molar ratio of PAA/PDEA), and the complex formation show the dependence on pH values. The phase behaviour studies showed that the lower critical solution temperature of the PDEA-PAA aqueous solution gradually increased with the increasing of r from 0.01 to 0.15, until a soluble system in the whole temperature region was obtained, which remained in the range of r=0.15-0.3. At higher PAA concentrations, when r is above 0.3, the system appeared phase separation, and almost no temperature dependence was observed. Based on these conclusion and structure characteristics of PDEA and PAA, a model containing only short sequences of monomer residues was proposed for the structure of PDEA-PAA complex.     

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.     

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.     

Pulse radiolysis of aqueous diphenyloxide

Pulse radiolysis of aqueous diphenyloxide (DPO) has been performed under various experimental conditions. The OH radicals react with DPO on various positions of the molecule with a rate constant, k=2.1×10¹⁰ l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The major reaction step appears to be a cleavage of the C–O bond of DPO resulting into C₆H₄OH (λ=285 nm) and C₆H₅O(λ=325 nm) radicals in addition to DPO–OH adducts. They disappear according to a second-order reaction. In the presence of air or in a gas mixture of N₂O:O₂=4:1 the DPO–OH adducts are scavenged by oxygen, resulting into peroxyl radicals, which are long-lived species. For the reaction of e_aq⁻ with DPO a rate constant, k=2×10¹⁰ l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ was found.     

Gamma radiolysis of aqueous solution of acrylic and polyacrylic acid in the presence of Cu2+

The inhibitory action of cupric ions in the process of radiation polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in aqueous solution was investigated as well as the reaction of the products of gamma radiolysis of water with polyacrylic acid (PAA) in the presence of cupric ions. In the case of AA-CuSO₄ and PAA-CuSO₄ systems irradiated at 77 K an external protective effect caused by copper ions was observed. This effect was connected with the electron transfer between a radical and the Cu²⁺ ion. During radiolysis of copper arcylate (A₂Cu) and a system AA-A₂Cu in aqueous solutions a protective effect exerted by copper ions was observed which seemed to be connected with the dispersion of the absorbed radiation energy by the groups: copper-ligands.     

聚醚树枝体－聚丙烯酸嵌段共聚物的水溶液自组装行为

应用UV－Vis、荧光、光物理探针、动态激光光散射和透射电镜(TEM)方法研究了聚醚树枝体与聚丙烯酸两亲嵌段共聚物(Dendr,PE-PAA)在水溶液中分子自组装行为。实验结果表明通过聚醚树枝体嵌段的疏水作用,易缔合形成聚集体,具有很低(10^-6～10^-7mol·L^-1)的临界缔合浓度(cac)。透过电镜观察到聚集体具有双层膜结构的球状、单室囊泡。临界缔合浓度(cac)以及聚集体的大小对枝状体的代数(Gi)及线性体的聚合度(n)具有明显的依赖关系。