Wet Oxidation of Water-soluble Polymers

Abstract
Wet oxidation of various water-soluble polymers was carried out with particular attention given to the reactivity of polyethylene glycol. Polymers with high molecular weight were more reactive than their low molecular weight analogues or monomer models. It is suggested that the high reactivity of the polymers can be attributed to the ease of an intramolecular hydrogen abstraction in the propagation step of oxidation. Bio-degradability of the polymers was highly improved by wet oxidation. Wet oxidation is especially effective for the treatment of waste water containing water-soluble polymers.