POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLONITRILE INITIATED BY THE CERIUM (IV)-TARTARIC ACID REDOXSYSTEM: AKINETIC STUDY

The polymerization of Acrylonitrile initiated by the free radicals generated by the Cerium (IV)-tartaricacid redox system, was studied in an aqueous nitric acid medium in the temperature range of 30o C. Therate of polymerization (RP) and the Cerium (IV) disappearance have been measured .The effect of somewater-miscible organic solvents, surfactants, and complexing agents on the rate of polymerization wereinvestigated. The temperature dependence of the rate was studied and the activation parameters werecomputed using the Arrhenius and Erying plots. A mechanism consistent with the experimental involvingCe(IV)–tartaric acid complex formation which generate free radicals was suggested. The chaintermination step of the polymerization reaction was by mutual interaction of the growing macro radicals