The polymerization of acrylamide initiated by ceric nitrate‐3‐chloro‐1‐propanol redox systems

Abstract

Abstract The polymerization of acrylamide initiated by ceric nitrate and 3‐chloro‐1‐propanol was studied in aqueous solution at 25°C. At constant hydrogen ion and nitrate ion concentration, the rate of polymerization was found to be independent of the ceric ion concentration. The molecular weight of the polymer was very low. To explain the data, a kinetic scheme is proposed whereby ceric ions are responsible for both initiation and termination. The rate constant for oxidative termination was found to be of the order of 10 5 l. mole −1 sec. −1 and varied with the hydrogen ion and the nitrate ion concentrations.