Radiation-induced eco-compatible sulfonated starch/acrylic acid graft copolymers for sucrose hydrolysis

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2012-02, Vol.87 (3), p.1905-1912
• Main Authors: Abd El-Rehim, H.A., Diaa, D.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acrylic acid; Applied sciences; catalytic activity; composite polymers; environmental factors; Exact sciences and technology; fructose; glucose; Hydrogel; Hydrolysis; ionizing radiation; Natural polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Radiation; reaction kinetics; starch; Starch and polysaccharides; Sucrose; Sulfonated starch; temperature; thermal stability
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.09.072

► Eco-compatible sulfonated starch/acrylic acid graft copolymers were prepared using gamma radiation. ► Sulfonated starch/acrylic acid (SS/AA) copolymer was used for hydrolysis of sucrose to glucose and fructose. ► The catalytic activity of the copolymers was found to be dependent on the reaction temperature and sulfonated starch/acrylic acid graft copolymers compositions. ► The catalytic activity increases as the reaction temperature, sulfonated starch feed solution content and pore size structure increases. ► The prepared SS/AA copolymers could be considered as catalytic reagent for sucrose hydrolysis. Radiation-induced graft-copolymers capable of hosting sulfonic groups and having more effective catalytic activity towards sucrose hydrolysis were prepared. Acrylic acid monomer (AA) was copolymerized with sulfonated starch (SS) at different compositions using ionizing radiation. Swelling behavior of the prepared copolymers at different environmental conditions was studied as well as thermal stability. The hydrolysis of sucrose to glucose and fructose by sulfonated starch/acrylic acid (SS/AA) graft copolymers was investigated. The kinetics of the reaction was determined for various (SS/AA) graft copolymers compositions and at a temperature range of 40–60°C. The catalytic activity of the copolymers was found to be dependent on the reaction temperature and (SS/AA) graft copolymers compositions, it increases as the reaction temperature and sulfonated starch content (in the feed solution) increases. The obtained results suggest that the prepared SS/AA copolymers could be considered as catalytic reagent for sucrose hydrolysis.