PREPARATION OF PHOTOINITIATOR-BOUND CELLULOSES AND THEIR REACTIVITY

Photoinitiator-bound celluloses (Cell-AQ and Cell-BP) were prepared by reaction of epoxy-activated cellulose with, respectively, 1-aminoanthraquinone (AQNH2) and 4-aminobenzophenone (BPNH2) in N,N-dimethylformamide at 70-degrees-C. About 60% of the initial epoxy groups (1.90-2.10 mmol/(g cellulose)) was found to participate in the reaction under alkaline conditions. The photoinitiator-bound celluloses exhibited an activity towards photoinduced formation of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions of D-glucose, and isopropyl alcohol. The amount of hydrogen peroxide formed was higher for the Cell-BP than the Cell-AQ. Moreover, the photoinitiator-bound celluloses showed an ability to initiate photografting of methyl methacrylate at 60-degrees-C in a water medium, indicating a higher percentage of grafting and a lower percentage of homopolymer compared to photoinitiator-sensitized celluloses, which were prepared by immersing a cellulose sample in acetone solutions of AQNH, and BPNH, and drying under vacuum to remove the solvent. It was found that the photoinitiator residues introduced into the cellulose substrate are capable of abstracting hydrogen atoms from the substrate.