Vinyl Polymerization. CCCC. Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Initiated with Micrococcus lysodeiplicus

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The polymerization of methyl methacrylate with Micrococcus lysodeiplicus was carried out in water, and the reaction was found to proceed through a radical mechanism. The effects of the quantity of reagent on the rate of polymerization and selectivity of vinyl monomer were studied. The change in the sectional view of the polymerization system was observed with a transmission electron microscope. KEY WORDSMicrococcus lysodeiplicus I Radical Polymerization I Methyl Methacrylate I Transmission Electron Microscope I Recently, it was reported 1 • 2 that the cells of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, could initiate the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of Cu(II) ion. Polymerization was found to proceed in the exterior and interior of the cell, particularly in the cell wall. The present paper deals with polymerization by the cells of bacteria, Micrococcus lysodeiplicus (abbreviated as Me 1). The possibility of radical polymerization, the effects of the quantity of reactant on the conversion of MMA and the selectivity of the vinyl monomer are studied. Moreover, the traits of the cells before and after polymerization, were observed with a transmission electron microscope.