Aqueous polymerization of ethyl acrylate initiated by ceric ion‐reducing agent systems in nitric acid medium

Kinetic study of aqueous polymerization of ethyl acrylate (EA) was carried out at 30 °C in dilute nitric acid medium by employing ammonium ceric nitrate (ACN)–methyl cellosolve (MC) and ACN–ethyl cellosolve (EC) as redox initiator systems. The ceric ion consumption was found to be first order with respect to ceric ion concentration with both initiator systems. The formation of complexes between Ce(IV) and reducing agents (RA) was observed. The order with respect to Ce(IV), reducing agents and monomer was evaluated for aqueous polymerization of EA by Ce(IV)–MC and Ce(IV)–EC redox initiator systems. The overall activation energy, E_overall, for aqueous polymerization of EA was evaluated in the temperature region of 27–40 °C with both initiator systems. A kinetic mechanism for aqueous polymerization of EA initiated by redox initiator systems is presented. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry