Effect of sodium lauryl sulfate on the polymerization of acrylonitrile

✍ Scribed by N. Patel; I. Mohammed; B. N. Das; B. K. Sinha

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 364 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/app.1982.070271020

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Micellar catalyzed polymerization of acrylonitrile using ceric(IV)–glycerol redox system in aqueous sulfuric acid solution in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate (NaLS) has been studied. The polymerization experiments were conducted between 15°C and 25°C, under conditions where no oxidation of sodium lauryl sulfate by ceric ion would we expected. The rate of polymerization (R~p~) increases with increasing concentration of NaLS. The rate of monomer (AN) disappearance was proportional to [AN]^1.5^ and [glycerol]^0.5^, but, however, R~p~ changes in a nonlinear manner with increase in Ce(IV) concentration in the presence of the surfactant. The rate of Ce(IV) disappearance was not proportional to its original concentration. The chain length of the polymer could not be determined viscometrically, as the polymer obtained in presence of NaLS was insoluble in organic solvents. The activation energy of this polymerization process was calculated by conducting the experiment at different temperatures. The infrared spectra of the polymers in the presence and absence of surfactant have also been examined.