Microwave assisted synthesis and characterization of Phaseolus aconitifolius starch-g-acrylamide

Moth bean starch was modified through microwave assisted synthesis using a very low concentration of free radical initiator. Grafted copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Swelling study was also performed at various temperatures to access its suitability in diverse industrial application. Starch-grafted-acrylamide could be efficiently synthesized using a small concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in aqueous medium under microwave irradiation. The FT-IR spectral analysis confirms group attachment on starch backbone. XRD and SEM studies confirmed more crystalline structure, while TGA confirmed high thermal stability as compared to native starch. Starch-g acrylamide was successfully grafted and this novel biomaterial could be used in various industrial applications like food, textile paper, petroleum and pharmaceutical.