Polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of a macrofungus, Grifola frondosa

Abstract

Powder of a macrofungus, Grifola frondosa (GF) was prepared from the white stipes. The biomaterial was washed with acetone and distilled water, and slightly transparent white powder of GF was obtained. In the presence of the GF powder, the polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) was carried out in distilled water with ceric ion in nitric acid as an initiator. The reaction product was precipitated in acetone, filtrated, and dried. The yield calculated from the mixture of polyacrylamide-GF increased with an increase of temperature and the amount of the GF used. The mixture was washed with distilled water, and the solubilization % into water was determined. The reaction of AAm onto the surface of the GF facilitated the solubization in water. The 1H NMR of GF without or with water/acetone washing and the filtrate of GF or GF-Polyacrylamide (PAAm) mixture was measured. It was estimated that higher fatty acids were extracted with acetone from GF, while α-type polysaccharides or that including PAAm were extracted with water. However, it was difficult to extract β-type polysaccharides with water.