CERIC-INDUCED GRAFTING OF ACRYLATE MONOMERS ONTO SODIUM ALGINATE

The graft copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) and methyl methacry late (MMA) onto sodium alginate (SA) with eerie ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a redox initiator in an aqueous medium has been studied. The optim ized reaction conditions affording the maximum percentage of grafting of MA and MMA onto SA are determined by varying the concentrations of nitric acid, eerie ammonium nitrate, SA, MA and MMA, and also temperat ure and time. A comparison of the reactivity of the acrylate monomers with that of acrylonitrile has been made.