Graft Copolymerization of Ethyl acrylate onto Sodium salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Sodium Alginate: Optimal Reaction Variables and Characterization

Graft copolymerization of ethyl acrylate (EA) onto Sodium salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Sodium alginate (Na-PCMSA, DS= 0.605) was carried out using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a redox initiator. The optimal reaction conditions were evaluated by varying various reaction parameters and the influence of synthesis variables was studied. The experimental results were analyzed in terms of the proposed kinetic scheme and were found to be in very good agreement with it. The influence of carboxymethyl groups introduced into the sodium alginate molecules with regard to its behaviour towards ceric induced grafting with EA was also investigated. The percent grafting of EA onto Na-PCMSA (DS = 0.605) was determined as a function of compositions of mixed solvents comprising of methanol: water, ethanol: water, n-propanol: water, n-butanol: water and carbon tetrachloride: water systems. All the products were characterized by the help of FTIR, SEM and TGA techniques. The synthesized novel graft copolymer, Na-PCMSA-g-PEA, may find its potential application as a metal adsorbent.