Ceric Ion-Initiated Grafting of Poly(Methyl Acrylate) onto Chitin

Abstract

Abstract Poly(methy1 acrylate) was grafted onto chitin in an aqueous medium by using the ceric ion as a redox initiator in the presence of 10−4 M nitric acid and oxygen from the atmosphere. The grafting percentage turned out to be dependent on reaction temperature, time, and initiator concentration, but it was found to be independent of monomer concentration. In the course of the grafting reaction, homopolymerization of methyl acrylate occurs. The percentage of homopolymer was found to depend only on the reaction temperature. The apparent activation energy for the grafting reaction was estimated to be 11 kcal/mol. The grafted chitin is insoluble in solvents for chitin but shows enhanced swelling in some organic solvents.