Optimization of preparation process for allylamine-bacterial cellulose via graft copolymerization by response surface methodology

Abstract

In order to improve the efficiency of new adsorbent, grafting-allylamine bacterial cellulose(al-BC), response surface methodology(RSM) was used for the optimization of preparation process. Three factors affecting the yield of grafting reaction are the amount of allylamine, the concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate(CAN) and the concentration of nitric acid. Based on the regression coefficient analysis in the Box-Behnken design, a relationship between the preparation variable and grafting yield was obtained. Square error analysis on main factors, and multi-variable interactions were employed for studying grafting yield. The results show that at the conditions of CAN of 23.00 mmol/L CAN, 0.17 mol/L nitric acid, adding an amount of grafting-allylamine bacterial cellulose of 26.49 mL/L made grafting rate reach maximum of 24.25% at 40 °C after the reaction for 4 h. The experimental results are in good agreement with the calculation values via proposed regression equation, indicating that the equation could be used to predict and optimizate the preparation of grafting al-BC.