Synthesis and optimization of polyacrylamide and gum arabic graft copolymer

Abstract

Graft copolymerization of polyacrylamide onto gum arabic was carried out in aqueous medium at room temperature (30oC) using various initiator (ceric ion) and monomer (acrylamide) concentrations. The extent of graft copolymer formation was determined in terms of percentage graft yield. The results obtained showed that the percentage yield of the graft copolymer is a function of both the initiator and monomer concentrations. The grafted copolymer was characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The IR spectral data for pure Gum Arabic (GA) and that of Gum Arabic-grafted Polyacrylamide (GA-g-PAAM) indicate that grafting actually occurred. The successful grafting of polyacrylamide onto gum arabic will enhance the search for materials transformation through chemical derivatization with attendant expansion of their spectra of application.Keywords: Graft copolymerization, polyacrylamide, monomer, gum arabic, Chemical derivatization