GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF STARCH-AN INITIATED BY POTASSIUM-PERMANGANATE

The initiating ability of the potassium permanganate in the graft copo lymerization of acrylonitrile onto starch was studied. The results ind icate that the grafting parameters, such as concentrations of potassiu m permanganate, acrylonitrile, starch, and catalyst acids, all have si gnificant effects on the graft copolymerization and the components of the graft copolymers, and this offers methods to adjust the properties of the graft copolymers. The sources of starch and corn starch deriva tives both affected the components of the graft copolymers, which show ed the influence of functional group on the grafting ability of starch . The preheat treatment and preoxidation of starch, as well as the add ing sequence of the reactants all influenced the graft copolymerizatio n, from which some suggestions about the grafting procession could be obtained. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.