A new type of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microbeads with surface grafted iminodiacetic acid:: Synthesis and characterization

In this study, firstly, uniform poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) microbeads with an average diameter of 230 mu m were synthesized by suspension polymerization of GMA monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacylate (EGDMA) crosslinker in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) initiator . Secondly, the PGMA microbeads obtained were modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) to afford a new type of microbeads carrying two pendant carboxylic acid groups on the surface. The IDA modification was followed by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transformed Infrared (ATR-FTIR) measurements. The surface morphology and thermal behavior of the PGMA and their modificated form were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques further confirming modification.