The effect of cross-linking agent amount and type on the sorption properties of starch graft polyacrylamide and poly(acrylic acid) copolymers

In free radical polymerization initiated by 2,2’-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride, grafted starch copolymers with a weight ratio of acrylamide to acrylic acid of 1:2 were obtained. Three acrylic products were used to cross-linking starch copolymers: MBA, PETIA and EBECRYL 40 in amounts of: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1.0 wt.%. Materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and reoviscometry. The sorption properties of starch copolymers were confirmed by sorption tests: water absorption, swelling in water and sorption of cations: trivalent iron and divalent copper. The highest water absorption is characteristic of materials cross-linked with MBA (1800%), then PETIA (1400%) and EBECRYL 40 (850%). On the other hand, the best swelling results are in the sequence PETIA > MBA > EBECRYL (1050% > 900% > 570%). The most effective sorbent of cations is the copolymer cross-linked with MBA. Solution purifications of 90% and 45% were obtained for Fe⁺³ and Cu⁺², respectively.