The synthesis of polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) in the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a cellulose derivative, was carried out by emulsion polymerization using a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). First, the complex formation between CTAB and CMC was studied by surface tension measurements. The polymerization condition chosen was that corresponding to CMC chains fully saturated with CTAB and to the onset of pure surfactant micelle formation, namely, at 0.25 mmol L-1 CTAB and 1.0 g L-1 CMC. The hybrid particles were characterized by ζ potential and light scattering measurements and scanning electron microscopy. All dispersions were stable in the ionic strength of 2.0 mol L-1 NaCl at least for 4 days. The colloidal stability was attributed to the presence of a hydrated CMC layer around the particles. The present procedure brings the advantage of synthesizing and stabilizing particles with functional groups on the surface in a one-step method using very small amounts of surfactant, a friendly condition for the environment.

The synthesis of hybrid particles was carried out by emulsion polymerization of styrene in complexes formed by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a polyanion, and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). CMC chains with variable molecular weights and degrees of substitution were tested. The polymerization condition chosen was that corresponding to CMC chains fully saturated with CTAB and to the onset of pure surfactant micelle formation, namely, at the critical aggregation concentration. The hybrid particles were characterized by zeta potential and light scattering measurements. The period of colloidal stability in the ionic strength of 2.0 mol L(-)(1) NaCl was observed visually. Upon increasing the CMC chain length, the particle characteristics remained practically unchanged, but the colloid stability was increased. The increase in the CMC degree of substitution led to particles with more negative zeta potential values. The adsorption of copper ions (Cu(2+)) on the surface of hybrid particles could be described by the Langmuir model, as determined by potentiometric measurements. The increase in the mean zeta potential values and X-ray absorption near-edge spectra evidenced the immobilization of Cu(2+) ions on the hybrid particles.