Aqueous Polymerization of Methacrylamide Initiated by Glycolic Acid-Ceric Ammonium Sulfate Redox System

Abstract

Abstract The aqueous polymerization of methacrylamide (MA) initiated by the glycolic acid (GA)-Ce(IV) redox system was studied in sulfuric acid medium at 35 ± 0.2°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of monomer disappearance was found to be proportional to [MA]1 [Ce(IV)]1/2 [GA]1/2, and the rate of ceric ion disappearance was proportional to [GA] and [Ce(IV)] but independent of [MA]. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing temperature in the 30 to 50°C range. The activation energy was found to be 43 kJ/mol. The effect of increasing [H2SO4] on the polymerization was also studied. A kinetic scheme involving initiation by free radicals generated from the redox reaction between GA and Ce(IV) and termination by bimolecular reaction of macroradicals has been suggested.