Poly(acrylamide)-starch graft copolymer was treated independently with
sodium hydroxide and different acid solutions. The different acids in
clude phosphoric, hydrochloric, and sulphuric acid. The treatment was
carried out under a variety of conditions including sodium hydroxide c
oncentration, time, and duration of hydrolysis as well as type of acid
used. The extent of hydrolysis was assessed by estimating amide and c
arboxyl content as well as the acrylate and starch content before and
after treatment. It was found that the increment in carboxyl content i
s equal to the decrement in amide on using sodium hydroxide concentrat
ion up to 1N, while using higher concentration than 1N leads to a diff
erence in formed carboxyl and decreased amide groups. The magnitude of
this difference depends on sodium hydroxide concentration as well as
temperature and duration of hydrolysis. The maximum value of carboxyl
content obtained was 593 meg/100 g sample. The acidic treatment of the
starch copolymer does not affect the conversion of amide groups to ca
rboxyl groups, and the sole effect was hydrolysis of starch component
of the copolymer. Evaluation of the alkali-treated copolymer as cation
exchanger was carried out. The absorption efficiency % of different c
ations depends on the associated anions and follow the order: Cu2+ Zn2
+ > Co2+ > Mg2+. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.