Penicillamine-cerium(IV) initiator system for synthesis of hydrogel containing lithium methacrylate ionic groups

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis of hydrogels of acrylamide or acrylamide and lithium methacrylate in the presence of N,N '-methylene bis(acrylamide) as crosslinker by using penicillamine-cerium(IV) sulfate redox initiator system was studied. The effects of the amounts of lithium methacrylate at constant crosslinker concentration and the mole ratios of total monomer/crosslinker on the swelling behaviors of hydrogels in distilled water were investigated. The hydrogels containing various ionic groups, such as, LiMA, NaMA, and KMA which were used in the copolymerization reaction at constant molar ratio of ionic monomer/acrylamide = 0.67 at different ratios of n(M)/n(MBAAm) = 25, 50, 200, and 400 (n(M) = n(IM) + n(AAm)), were synthesized. The swelling ratios and equilibrium swelling values were compared for the hydrogels. The swelling behaviors of hydrogels were also examined in the salt and phosphate buffer solutions.