Phase-transfer catalysis: Free-radical polymerization of acrylonitrile using potassium peroxomonosulphate- tetrabutyl phosphonium chloride catalyst system: A kinetic study

This article presents the systematic study of kinetics and mechanism of phase-transfer-catalyzed free-radical polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and watersoluble initiator potassium peroxomonosulphate (PMS) coupled with tetrabutyl phosphonium chloride (TBPC) in ethyl acetate/water biphase system in the temperature range 45-55°C at fixed pH and ionic strength. The rate of polymerization increases with an increase in concentrations of AN, PMS, and phase transfer catalyst, PTC. It was observed that R p is proportional to [AN] 1.5 , [KHSO5 5 - ] 0.5 , and [TBPC] 0.5 . A suitable kinetic scheme has been proposed to account for the experimental observations and its significance was discussed.