Synthesis And Characterization Of Graft copolymers Of Methacrylic Acid Onto Gelatinized potato Starch Using Chromic Acid Initiator In Presence Of Air

Department of Chemistry, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173212, Himachal Pradesh

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2012, 3 (2), pp 136-142

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2011.8297

Publication Date (Web): Apr 14, 2012

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: dpathania74@gmail.com, deep-pathania@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

The graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid onto gelatinized potato starch has been carried out at 70⁰ C using chromic acid as initiator. The different reaction parameters such as effect of temperature, initiator and monomer concentrations were optimized to determine the maximum percentage grafting. The maximum grafting efficiency of 87.5% was optimized at reaction temperature (60⁰C), monomer concentration (0.81molL^-1) and initiator concentration (0.02 mmol.L^-1). The grafted samples were evaluated for other physico-chemical properties such as swelling behavior, moisture absorption and chemical resistance. The grafted samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. The additional peaks observed in FTIR spectra of grafted samples confirmed the grafting of monomer onto gelatinized starch. The grafted co-polymers have been successfully used for the removal metal ions and organic dyes from aqueous system.

Keywords

Potato starch, methacrylic acid, graft copolymerization, chromic acid and characterization