Optimized conditions for the grafting reaction of poly(methyl acrylate) onto rubberwood fiber |
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| Authors: | Faraj A Abu-Ilaiwi Mansor B Ahmad Nor Azowa Ibrahim Mohamad Zaki Ab Rahman Khairul Zaman Md Dahlan Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia;2. Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Malaysia |
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| Abstract: | Graft copolymerization of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) onto rubberwood fiber (RWF) was carried out by free radical initiation. Hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ions were used as an initiator system. Effects of various parameters (reaction temperature and reaction time, as well as hydrogen peroxide, ferrous ammonium sulfate and monomer concentrations) on the grafting percentage were investigated. A high percentage of grafting was achieved when optimum reaction conditions were used. The optimum temperature of the reaction was determined to be about 55 °C and the reaction time was 120 min. The optimum concentration of H2O2 was 0.03 M and the amounts of Fe2+ and MA were 0.4 mmol and 0.05 mol, respectively. The PMA homopolymer was removed from the graft copolymer by Soxhlet extraction using acetone. The presence of PMA on the fiber was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and gravimetry. The surface morphology of the poly(methyl acrylate)-graft-(rubberwood fiber) was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry |
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| Keywords: | rubberwood fiber methyl acrylate cellulose lignocellulose graft copolymerization |
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