As the first part of a continued research on conversion of carboxymethyl cellulosesodium salt (CMC) to useful  biopolymer-based materials, large numbers of cyanide functional groups were introduced onto CMC by grafting with polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The graft copolymerization reactions were carried out under nitrogen atmosphere using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator. Evidence of grafting was obtained by comparing FTIR spectra of CMC and the graft copolymer as well as solubility characteristics of the products. The synthetic conditions were systematically optimized through studying the effective factors including temperature and concentrations of initiator, acrylonitrile monomer, and CMC. The overall activation energy for the grafting was estimated to be 39.7 kJ/mole. Finally, the CMC-g-PAN copolymer was characterized thermally by using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis methods.

Graft copolymers of acrylamide on carboxymethyl cellulose (d.s 0.4-0.5) were prepared by the use of ceric ion, ceric ion/reductant molecule initiator syst~ms in aqueous_medium. The graft copolymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy. The extent of graft copolymerisation was measured in terms of grafted chains as a function of both ceric ion and ceric ion/reductant molecule concentrations. It was found that introduction of reductant molecule resulted in up to 13 fold increase in percent graft levels. Flocculation of the copolymer samples and ungrafted carboxymethyl cellulose were studied using synthetic effluent of Kaolin (0.25%) in distilled water. The flocculation capacity measured in terms of reduction in the turbidity was found to be highest for carboxymethyl cellulose-g acrylamide and was dependent on the number and molecular size of the grafted polyacrylamide.

Fenitrothion (C9H12NO5PS) and butachlor (CI7H26CINO2) are widely used in agricultural fields as pesticides. Liquid liquid extraction (L.L.E) with dichloromethane ,liquid liquid microextraction and Cl8 solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques are used for extractin of liquid samples.The samples are analyzed by GC/MS-EI ,GC/MS-CI and selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode for quantization. The limit of detection (LOD) is 10 ng/l with sim mode at m/z 125 fenitrothion and 15 ng/l at m/z 176 butachlor .The relative standard deviation for fenitrothion and butachlor is 3.5 and 8.5 % respectively (n=5).The concentration of fenitrothion and butachlor in September was higher compared to December and April 2001.

Kinetics of the oxidation of tris (2,2'-bipyridine) iron (II) sulfate by ceric sulfate was spectrophotometrically studied in an aqueous sulfuric acid medium. Different methods, including isolation, integration and half-life, were employed to determine the reaction order. The redox reaction was found to be first-order with respect to the reductant, tris (2,2'-bipyridine) iron (II) sulfate, and the oxidant, ceric sulfate. Complex kinetics was observed with an increase in the initial concentration of the oxidant. The influence of the dielectric constant, [H+] and [SO42-] on the rate was also investigated. The increase in the dielectric constant and H+ ion concentration of the medium retard the rate, while an increase in the SO42- ion concentration first accelerates the rate, and then retards the reaction. The effect of each factor, i.e., the dielectric constant, H+ ions and SO42- ions, suggests that Ce (SO4)32- is the active species of cerium (IV). A rate law consistent with the observed kinetic data and the proposed mechanism is suggested to be:-d [Fe (bipy)32+/dt=kK1Kd [Fe (bipy)32+] [CeW]t [SO42-]a/Kd2+Ki [SO42-]a

A model for a heterogeneous graft polymerization of vinyl and/or acrylic monomers on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) initiated by ceric ions is developed. The model can be easily extended to other (poly)hydroxylic substrates. Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto PVA was carried out using ceric; ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator in an aqueous nitric acid medium under N-2 atmosphere. The optimum conditions for grafting were determined by studying the effects of concentrations of initiator, monomer, PVA and acid on the percentage of grafting. The graft copolymer was characterized by FTIR spectroscopoy. The graft yield increases with increasing monomer concentration up to 1.728 M, with further increases, the graft yield decreases. The graft yield increases with increasing initiator concentration up to 1.31x10-2 M and PVA up to 12 g/L and thereafter it decreases. The effects of the pH of polymerization medium, reaction time, temperature on graft yield have also been investigated. The kinetics of the graft polymerization of acrylonitrile onto PVA in aqueous solution was studied by bromometry titration. The following rate expression: Rp=k [AN]1.06[CAN]0.62 [PVA]0.61 was observed and a suitable mechanism is suggested. The overall activation energy of the copolymerization reaction is found to be 42.51 KJ/mol within the temperature range 25-45 degreesC.

Graft polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) onto starch (St) were carried out in aqueous solution using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as redox system under N2 atmosphere. The effect of pH, reaction time, temperature, concentrations of CAN, St, and monomers on the graft yield was investigated. Monomer reactivity was in the following order: AA>EMA. The kinetics of the graft polymerization of AA and EMA onto starch in same system with CAN was studied by acid-base and boromometric titration, respectively. The rate expressions for graft polymerization are Rg=k[AA]0.92[CAN]0.56[St]0.46 and R/g=k/[EMA]0.92[CAN]0.53[St]0.48 and a suitable mechanism is suggested. The graft copolymers were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The overall activation energy of graft polymerization of AA onto starch was found to be 36.25 kJ.mol-1 within the temperature range 20-40°C, and for graft polymerization of EMA onto starch is found to be 11.88 kJmol-1 within the temperature range 25-45°C.  

Catalytic amount of Ce(IV) as ceric triethylammonium nitrate (CTEAN) in dichloromethane or acetone can bring about an efficient tetrahydropyranylation of different types of alcohols to afford the corresponding tetrahydropyranyl ethers in high yields. Deprotection of tetrahydropyranyl ethers can also be achieved efficiently in the presence of this catalyst in methanol.

A chemoselective and efficient procedure for the oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds is reported using ceric ammonium nitrate in the presence of 3-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate as Brönsted acidic ionic liquid ([Hmim]HSO4) as the solvent under mild conditions. The use of non-toxic and inexpensive materials, straightforward procedure, short reaction times and good yields of the products are the major advantages of this method.

It is reported that dithiocarbamates can be produced effectively, conveniently, simply, and selectively in a single reaction vessel. Accordingly, aryl/alkyl halides are coupled to the in situ produced dithiocarbamate anion utilizing a highly inventive catalytic system consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) and polyethylene glycol (PEG-400: H2O) in a favourable reaction medium. The advantages of this new technology over previously reported methods include low costs, high product yields, rapid reaction times, easy access to an ecologically friendly catalytic system, and PEG's capacity to be recycled. All synthesized dithiocarbamates were characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and ESI-MS Mass spectra.