Research article

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By using mercaptosuccinic acid-cerium(IV) sulfate and mercaptosuccinic acid-KMnO₄ redox systems in acid aqueous medium, the polymerization of acrylamide monomer was performed at room temperatures. Water soluble acrylamide polymers which contain mercaptosuccinic acid end-groups were synthesized. The dependence of polymerization yield and the molecular weight of polymer on the initiator concentration(n_MSA=n_Ce(IV)) at different acid concentrations, polymerization time, temperature, and concentration of sulfuric acid was investigated. The decrease in the initiator concentration resulted in an increase in the molecular weights but a decrease in the yield. The increase of reaction temperature from 20 to 60°C resulted in an increase in the molecular weights and slight decrease of the yield of polymer. Cerium and manganese ions are reduced to Ce(III) and Mn(II) ions respectively in polymerization reaction. The existence of Ce(III) ion bound to polymer was investigated by UV-visible spectrometry and fluorescence measurements. The amount of Mn(II) which is incorporated to the polymer was determined.