Peroxydiphosphate/bisulfite-initiated polymerization of acrylamide and its retardation kinetics

The kinetics of aqueous polymerization of acrylamide with peroxydiphosphate/bisulfite redox pair was studied at 35 ± 0.2°C under atmospheric oxygen. The rate of polymerization was found to be of first power to monomer, half‐power to catalyst, and 0.75 power to activator concentration. The overall energy of activation was calculated to be 11.0 kcal/deg mol between 25 and 45°C. The effect of addition of organic solvents and dinitrobenzenes as retarders on the rate of polymerization were studied kinetically and retardation constants for nitro compounds were evaluated by a newly proposed method (intercept method), when two retarders act simultaneously.