A new type of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microbeads with surface grafted iminodiacetic acid: Synthesis and characterization

In this study, firstly, uniform poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) microbeads with an average diameter of 230 μm were synthesized by suspension polymerization of GMA monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacylate (EGDMA) crosslinker in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) initiator . Secondly, the PGMA microbeads obtained were modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) to afford a new type of microbeads carrying two pendant carboxylic acid groups on the surface. The IDA modification was followed by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transformed Infrared (ATR-FTIR) measurements. The surface morphology and thermal behavior of the PGMA and their modificated form were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques further confirming modification.