Cellulose Graft Copolymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Grafting of vinyl monomers onto cellulose is an important tool for the modification of cellulose. Depending on the monomer grafted onto cellulose, it gains new properties. The grafting can be performed in heterogeneous or homogeneous medium. In the grafting performed in heterogeneous medium, the reaction is carried out in aqueous medium using a suitable initiator. As initiator, the radiation or chemical initiators such as ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), various persulfates, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), and Fenton reagent (Fe(II)–H2O2) are mostly used. In case of CAN initiator, the grafting should be performed in acidic medium in order to prevent its hydrolysis. In the homogeneous grafting reactions, either a water-soluble cellulose derivative is used in the grafting or cellulose is dissolved in a suitable solvent, and then the grafting is performed. Higher number of grafts per cellulose chain is obtained in homogeneous grafting than those in heterogeneous medium.