The kinetics of polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by a V(V)cyclohexanone redox system in the presence of a surfactant was studied over a temperature range of 30-50 degrees C in acidic medium. The anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) enhances the rate of polymerization (R-p) as well as rate of V(V) consumption (-R-v). The cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), decreases both R-p and -R-v, while the nonionic surfactant, Triton-X-100, has no effect on the rate. The change of concentration of the surfactant, monomer, acid, and cosolvent on the rate of polymerization were examined. Both R-p and -R-v are computed in the presence of different organic substrates, i.e., cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, glycerol, and citric acid. The viscosity-average molecular weight ((M) over bar(v)) of the polycrylonitrile, obtained at different [SDS], was determined using the Mark-Howinb relationship. A suitable mechanistic scheme was proposed for the process.