Grafting of vinyl acetate–methyl acrylate mixture onto cellulose. Effect of inorganic salts

The effect of the addition of NaNO3 and NaCl on the graft copolymerization of a mixture of vinyl acetate–methyl acrylate onto cellulose, using ceric ion as initiator, is examined. Several grafting parameters were measured. Presence of NaNO3 affects the graft copolymerization by enhancing the cellulose oxidation, but it leaves almost unaffected the homopolymerization reaction. NaCl works similarly to NaNO3. As a consequence of salt presence, ligand changes in the ceric ion complexes, as well increase in the ionic strength of the medium, are expected.