Preparation of cationic polyacrylamide by aqueous two-phase polymerization

Abstract

Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) was synthesized by aqueous two-phase polymerization technique using acrylamide (AM) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate methyl chloride (DMC) as raw materials, aqueous polyethylene glycol 20000 (PEG 20000) solution as dispersant, 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (V-50) as initiator and poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate methyl chloride) (PDMC) as stabilizer. The polymer was characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H-NMR spectrum and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The copolymer composition was analyzed. The effect of monomers concentration, PEG 20000 concentration and stabilizer concentration on copolymer were investigated, respectively. The optimum reaction conditions for obtaining a stable CPAM aqueous two-phase system were monomers concentration 8~15%, PEG 20000 concentration 15~25%, and PDMC concentration 0.5~1.5%. Finally, the formation process of copolymer particles was investigated by optical microscope.