Acrylamide is an odorless, white crystalline solid which has chemically active
amide group and solid bond in the molecular structure; melting at 84.5 C;
highly soluble in water and soluble in ethanol, ether and acetone; insoluble in
benzene and heptane. Polymer of acrylamide, a white, odourless solid, is soluble
in water but insoluble in such solvents as alcohols, hexane, ethyl acetate,
glacial acetic acid, and lactic acid. Solid acrylamide is stable at room
temperature, but may polymerize explosively when heated to the melting point and
or in contact with oxidizing agents such as chlorine dioxide and bromine. It may
polymerize on exposure to light. When heated to decomposition, acrylamide emits
carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and/or derivatives,
hydrogen gas. Acrylamide is commercially available in aqueous solution form
stabilized with hydroquinone, t-butylpyrocatechol, N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine or
other antioxidants. Acrylamide monomer is produced mostly by the catalytic
(copper) hydration of acrylonitrile. The major use of acrylamide and its
derivatives is in the production of polymers and modified copolymers for various
purposes such as waste and sewage treatment, paper and pulp manufacturing, oil
recovery and ore processes, photografic emulsion, soil stabilizer, adhesive
coating and food processing.
