The polymerization of acrylamide initiated with ceric ion in the presence of ferric ion

In the presence of ferric ion, polymerization of acrylamide initiated with ceric ion was studied. The resulting polyacrylamide was found to contain cerium and iron, and the total metal content of the polymer corresponded to one atom per macromolecule. Experimental data of paper electrophoresis, polarography and IR spectroscopy suggested that the metals combined chemically with the polymer molecule. A probable mechanism of introduction of the metal into the polymer chain is discussed.