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Synthesis, swelling and water-retention behaviors of phytic acid-modified corn stalk-composite superabsorbents

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Abstract

A novel phytic acid-modified corn stalk-composite superabsorbent (PACS-g-p(AA-AM-VP)) with water absorbency of 391 g/g, water retention around 30% at 200 min under 90 °C, adsorption capacities of 284 mg/g and 448 mg/g for Ni(II) and Cu (II), respectively, was synthesized by graft copolymerization of acrylamide(AM), vinyl pyrrolidone(VP) and itaconic acid(IA) with phytic acid-modified corn stalk (PACS) in aqueous solution, using N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) and sodium bisulfite (SBS) as redox initiator. Factors influencing water absorbency and water retention of PACS-g-p (AA-AM-VP), such as PACS amount, initiator amount, crosslinker amount, neutralization degree of IA, IA/VP mass ratio and IA/AM mass ratio, were investigated. Morphologies and structure of PACS-g-p (AA-AM-VP) were characterized by FTIR and SEM. FTIR spectra indicate the structure of phytic acid-modified corn stalk graft-copolymer. SEM data shows that fiber structure of corn stalk is partially destroyed after phytic acid modification under ultrasonic wave. PACS-g-p (AA-AM-VP) has a coarse, fluffy and porous structure, facilitating the permeation of water and heavy metal ions into the polymeric network. Given these properties, PACS-g-p (AA-AM-VP) can be extensively applied in agriculture and horticulture as a water-retaining and soil remediation material which increases agricultural irrigation efficiency and remediates heavy metal-contaminated soil due to its low cost, environmental friendliness, high water retention and good adsorption for heavy metal ions.

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The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Basalt Fiber and Composite Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province (Grant No. XXFC-2208); Key Research and Development Program of Sichuan province (Grant No. 2019YFG0264); Human Resources and Social Security Department of Sichuan Province (Grant No. 19BZ08-009); State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Grant No. SKLGP2018Z005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Bingjun Liu, Tao Wan, Dongmei Li, Zhenggen Huang, Hao Xu & Yang Zhao

  2. Basalt Fiber and Composite Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Dazhou, 635000, Sichuan, China

    Tao Wan

  3. National Quality Supervision and Inspection Test Center of Architecture Ceramic, Leshan, 614000, Sichuan, China

    Zhenggen Huang

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  1. Bingjun Liu
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Correspondence to Tao Wan.

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Liu, B., Wan, T., Li, D. et al. Synthesis, swelling and water-retention behaviors of phytic acid-modified corn stalk-composite superabsorbents. J Polym Res 31, 147 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-024-03987-5

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