Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto modified plantain pulp in the presence of ceric ions

Plantain pulp was modified by treatment with allyl chloride in diisopropyl ether at 60 °C which results in an average degree of substitution of 0.215 allyl chloride moieties per anhydroglucose unit (AGU). Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto modified and unmodified pulp was carried out at 29 °C using various concentrations of ceric ion initiator. It was found from the dependence of the extent of graft polymer formation on ceric ion concentration that termination of graft polymerization occurred mainly by the interaction of growing graft polymer chains with ceric ion and that the extent of graft polymer formation was markedly enhanced by the modification of the plantain pulp. The effect of isopropanol on the extent of graft polymer formation on the modified material was also examined.