PREPARATION AND CO-CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF FUNCTIONALIZED LATTICES

Stable cationic latices were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene with 1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide or 1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium iodide as comonomers using azo-bis(isobutyramidine hydrochloride) as initiator. Comonomers were prepared by a new and simple synthetic procedure. Addition of methanol and especially comonomer increased the surface charge density of cleaned latices and enhanced the polymerization rate. In the presence of iodide, the polymerization rate was lowered. The co-catalytic properties of silica-cleaned latices on the oxidative coupling of 2-mercaptoethanol were tested after cobalt(II)phthalocyanine-tetrasodiumsulphonate (CoTSPc) immobilization onto the functionalized latex particles. A significant increase in oxidation rate was found as compared with the polymer-free CoTSPc system.