OZONE TREATMENT OF WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMERS .4. OZONE DEGRADABILITY OF WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMERS

The ozone degradability of water‐soluble polymers, i.e., polyethylene glycol, poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), polyacrylamide, and sodium polyacrylate, was studied in the aspects of ozonization rate and degradation efficiency. The reactions of ozone with polymers were first order, respectively, with respect to ozone and polymer, except poly(vinyl alcohol) under basic condition (1/2 order with respect to ozone). The reaction rate of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) was the largest, while those of polyacrylamide and sodium polyacrylate were almost zero. The absorption rate of ozone into the polymer solution was affected by the reaction rate, the foaming property of solution, and the self‐decomposition of ozone. In terms of chain breakage and complete oxidation to CO2, the degradation efficiency of polyethylene glycol was the best, and that of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) was poor in spite of the high reaction rate. A little degradation was observed also in the case of polyacrylamide and sodium polyacrylate. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.