Abstract

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CASSAVA STARCH –GMETHACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMERS WITH CERIC AMMONIUM NITRATE AS AN INITIATOR

Indumathi A. and Aswini G.*

Abstract

This work presents synthesis and characterization of copolymer obtained by grafting of (methacrylic acid) on cassava starch in the presence of initiator ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN).Starch was extracted from cassava roots by preparation (peeling and washing) rasping/pulping/grating, purification (starch washing), dewatering and drying, and finishing (milling and packaging). The different reaction parameters such as effect of temperature, initiator and monomer concentrations were optimized to determine the maximum percentage grafting. The formation of graft copolymers was confirmed by analysis of the obtained products with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD, TGA studies and all the results were investigated. The results of FT-IR measurements clearly suggest that methacrylic acid monomer were effectively grafted onto starch obtained from cassava root.

Keywords: Starch, methacrylic acid, ceric ammonium nitrate and sodium hydroxide.