Facile preparation of Chaetomorpha antennina based porous polysaccharide–PMMA hybrid material by radical polymerization under microwave irradiation.

A hybrid material was prepared from the hot water soluble sulphated polysaccharide of the green seaweed Chaetomorpha antennina (CM_sps) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) by radical polymerization in aqueous medium under microwave irradiation. An insoluble material was formed with the progress of the polymerization. The product was characterized by the IR spectrum and elemental analysis, as well as by acid hydrolysis followed by mass spectrum of the hydrolysate of the hybrid CM_sps–PMMA for confirming the insertion of PMMA. Comprehensive characterization of the product included TGA, XRD, ESI-MS and BET surface analysis. The hybrid material was porous, and formed gel in water–DMSO mixture. It had the crystallinity index of 0.122, and had BET pore diameter of 3.71 nm, a size which is far larger than the molecular diameters of common natural gases and zeolites (0.5–1.0 nm). This material may be useful in the domain of certain adsorption and catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]