Degradation of acrylic acid-grafted cellulose in aqueous medium with radical initiators

Abstract

The chemical modification of cellulose by grafting reaction with Acrylic Acid (AA) considering different reaction factors was investigated. Natural polymers such as Santa Fe Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose (Avicell) and Secondary Pulp were studied as substrates. pH effect; Ce (IV), Mn(VII) and Fenton as initiators; time and temperature polymerization were investigated. Grafting reachs a maximum, 90 % graft, at pH 7. A medium to weak C=0 band at 1715 cm"1 for carboxylic group in FTIR spectroscopy is presented. Santa Fe and Avicel cellulose grafted whith AA at 17 hours are degraded. Secondary pulp with Fenton at 50-60 and 70 °C at 17 hours are degraded too. The degradation of polymers at long reaction times at 17 hours and 70°C were analized by FTIR spectroscopy and electronic microscopy analysis (SEM). © 2008 Sociedad Chilena de Química.