SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF STARCH-GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE-ACRYLIC ACID CATION-EXCHANGE COMPOSITES

The synthesis of starch/glycidyl methacrylate/acrylic acid cation exchange composites was achieved by bulk polymerizing of acrylic acid (AA)/glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) mixtures in presence of starch using sodium peroxydisulphate/sodium sulphite initiating redox system. The effect of the concentration of each of sodium peroxydisulphate sodium sulphite, AA and GMA as well as polymerization temperature on the formation of the composites was investigated. Five kinds of composites of different carboxyl contents were prepared and characterized by investigating their potentiometric titrations, durabilities to use, as well as water swellabilities and solubilities.