A kinetic approach to acrylamide radical polymerization by horse radish peroxidase-mediated initiation

Abstract

Free-radical polymerization of acrylamide in water at room temperature involves catalysis by horse radish peroxidase to produce radical species from hydrogen peroxide and 2,4-pentanedione through an oxidoreductive pathway. In the presence of the vinylic monomer, initiation takes place, leading to polyacrylamide formation after a long and unreproducible inhibition period. Conversion–time plots are presented, and some kinetic features are compared with results of previous studies of classical acrylamide polymerization. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry