Ceric ammonium nitrate‐initiated graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto Cassia tora gum

Graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto Cassia tora gum was studied in an aqueous medium using ceric ammonium nitrate‐nitric acid as the redox initiator. To optimize the reaction conditions for obtaining maximum percent grafting, the concentrations of Cassia tora gum, ceric ammonium nitrate, acrylamide, and nitric acid, time, and temperature were varied. Results are discussed and a reaction mechanism is proposed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3250–3255, 2002