Kinetics of polymerization initiated by Mn3+–substrate redox system. I

The kinetics and mechanism of polymerization of acrylamide (AM) initiated by manganese (III) acetate (MTA)–diglycolic acid (DGA) redox system in aqueous sulfuric acid were studied in the temperature range 20-35°C. The overall rates of polymerization and the disappearance of Mn³⁺ and the kinetic chain lengths of polyacrylamide were determined. The polymerization reaction is initiated by the organic free radical arising from the Mn³⁺–diglycolic acid reaction and the termination is by the metal ions. The rate of polymerization of acrylamide was found to be proportional to the first power of monomer and diglycolic acid and independent of manganese(III) acetate. The various rate parameters were evaluated.