STUDY OF THE THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF POTASSIUM PERSULFATE BY POTENTIOMETRY AND CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

Two methods of analysis, potentiometry and capillary electrophoresis, were used to study the decomposition of potassium persulfate (KPS) in aqueous solutions. The experiments were carried out in a glass reactor equipped with continuous control of temperature and pH during the rea ction. The effect of the pH on the decomposition of KPS was investigat ed. The rate of KPS decomposition in the presence of a variety of addi tives (surfactants, inhibitor, monomer-like molecules, and monomers), which are used in emulsion polymerization recipes, was also studied ov er the temperature range of interest. The rate of disappearance of the persulfate ion was greatly increased in the presence of hydroquinone, but changed very little in the presence of surfactants. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.