Graft Copolymerization onto Starch Nanoparticle Using Peroxymonosulfate/ Mandelic Acid as a Novel Redox Pair

Unreported peroxymonosulfate/mandelic acid as a redox pair initiation system has been used to graft copolymerizes acrylonitrile onto our previously prepared starch nanoparticle (SNPs) in aqueous medium under nitrogen atmosphere. Optimization of the grafting conditions was studied and the grafting parameters were expressed in terms of graft yield %, graft reaction efficiency % and homopolymer %. Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques confirmed the synthesis of the precursor’s materials and the success of the grafting onto starch nanoparticle. The resultant copolymer was found to be more thermally stable and more resistance to biodegradability than the starch nanoparticle counterparts. Besides, the optimum conditions were obtained when using 1 g starch nanoparticle, 2 ml of AN (based on weight of substrate), 30 m mol/l potassium peroxymonosulphate, 8 m mol/l mandelic acid, 2 hours reaction time and 45°C of temperature.