Alumina supported synthesis of Cassia marginata gum‐g‐poly(acrylonitrile) under microwave irradiation

In view of the known advantages of the microwave promoted reactions done in dry medium, the seed gum sourced from Cassia marginata has been graft copolymerized with acrylonitrile in dry medium at neutral alumina support under microwave irradiation. Grafting conditions were optimized and the representative graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform‐infrared, Thermo gravimetric analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, and X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurement, taking Cassia marginata gum (CM) as reference. Much higher % grafting and % efficiency could be obtained in the microwave promoted alumina supported grafting as compared to grafting done in aqueous medium (microwave promoted and conventional). Properties of the microwave synthesized Cassia marginata gum‐graft‐poly(acrylonitrile) (CM‐g‐PAN) were studied and compared with the parent seed gum. © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.