Grafting of polyacrylonitrile onto sodium alginate using benzoyl peroxide as initiator

Abstract

In this study, grafting of polyacrylonitrile onto sodium alginate was carried out in aqueous medium using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The graft copolymers were characterized by Fourier tansforms infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimety, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The eff€cts of reaction variables such as the ratio of monomer to sodium alginate, amount of BPO, reaction time and teinperature on the percentage grafting G (%) were studied. The optimum conditions for grafting were achieved at a ratio of sodium alginate to acrylonitrile of 1:3 by weight, 0.1 g of BPO and reaction temperature and time of 80"C and 4 h, respectively. These conditions provided highest percentage of grafting and yield of graft copolymerization of 125.s0% and 4t"g4yo, respectively. The results indicate that benzoyl peroxide could be used as thermal initiator for grafting polyacrylonitrile onto sodium alginate.