ANS fluorescence as a tool to monitor cross-linking polymerization of acrylamide

A method based on monitoring the fluorescence intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate (ANS) has been introduced to follow the cross-linking polymerization of acrylamide initiated by ammonium persulfate-TEMED redox initiator system. There is about a 20-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity of ANS accompanying polymerization. Preferential location of ANS molecules near the hydrophobic regions of the polymer surface appears to explain the fluorescence intensity enhancement. The method is found to be consistent with the conventional dilatometric method.