Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modified acrylic-based superabsorbents with hydrophobic monomers: synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviors

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymer Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel family of acrylic acid-based superabsorbent polymers (SAP-n) with controlled-absorption rate were synthesized via aqueous solution polymerization using K2S2O8/NaHSO3 as the redox initiators, N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA) as the crosslinker, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl n-alkyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (CnDM, n = 4, 8, 12, 16) as the hydrophobic comonomers. The structures of the copolymers were elucidated by FT-IR and ionic chromatographic (IC) analysis respectively, and the swelling properties of the copolymers were examined. It was found that the water absorbency capacity either in distilled water or in 0.9% NaCl brine decreased with increasing hydrophobe length or content, and the water absorbency rate of SAP-n was as expected lower than that of SAP without hydrophobic monomer; in addition, water retention evaluation under different temperatures revealed that this kind of copolymers could absorb and retain large amount of water at room temperature and release it at high temperature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kazanskii KS, Dubrovskii SA (1992) Chemistry and physics of agricultural hydrogels. Adv Polym Sci 104:97–133

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Buchholtz F, Peppas N (1994) Superabsorbent polymers. ACS Symposium Series 573; Am Chem Soc: Washington, DC

  3. Buchholz FL, Graham AT (1998) Modern superabsorbent polymer technology. Wiley-Vch, New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mohan YM, Murthy PS, Raju KM (2005) Synthesis, characterization and effect of reaction parameters on swelling properties of acrylamide-sodium methacrylate superabsorbent copolymers. React Funct Polym 63:11–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kellenberger S (1989) Absorbent products contaning hydrogels with abilitiy to swell against pressure. EP 339461

  6. James R, Samuel C, Steve L, John P (2002) Absorbent stuctures with integral layer of superabsorbent polymer particels. US 6403857

  7. Kosemund K, Schlatter H, Ochsenhirt JL, Krause EL, Marsman DS, Erasala GN (2009) Safety evaluation of superabsorbent baby diapers. Regul Toxicol Pharm 53:81–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Buchholz FL (2006) Model of liquid permeability in swollen composites of superabsorbent polymer and fiber. J Appl Polym Sci 102:4075–4084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Weerawarna S (2009) Biodegradable superabsorbent particles. US 20090325797

  10. Park TG (1999) Temperature modulated protein release from pH/temperature-sensitive hydrogels. Biomaterials 20:517–521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Seki Y, Torgursul A, Yurdakoc K (2007) Preparation and characterization of poly(acrylic acid)-iron rich smectite superabsorbent composites. Polym Adv Technol 18:477–482

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Omidian H, Rocca JG, Park K (2005) Advances in superporous hydrogels. J Control Release 102:3–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yao KJ, Zhou WJ (1994) Synthesis and water absorbency of the copolymer of acrylamide with anionic monomers. J Appl Polym Sci 53:1533–1538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wu L, Liu M (2008) Preparation and characterization of cellulose acetate-coated compound fertilizer with controlled-release and water-retention. Polym Adv Technol 19:785–792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zheng T, Liang YH, Ye SH, He ZY (2009) Superabsorbent hydrogels as carriers for the controlled-release of urea: experiments and a mathematical model describing the release rate. Biosyst Eng 102:44–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Raju KM, Raju MP, Mohan YM (2003) Synthesis of superabsorbent copolymers as water manageable materials. Polym Int 52:768–772

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Raju KM, Raju MP (2001) Synthesis and swelling properties of superabsorbent copolymers. Adv Polym Tech 20:146–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Weaver M. (1976) Highly absorbent strach-containing polymeric compositions. US 3981100

  19. Kohls SJ, Baker DD, Kremer DA, Dawson JO (1999) Water-retentive polymers increase nodulation of actinorhizal plants inoculated with Frankia. Plant Soil 214:105–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Zheng YA, Wang AQ (2009) Study on superabsorbent composite. XX. Effects of cation-exchanged montmorillonite on swelling properties of superabsorbent composite containing sodium humate. Polym Compos 30:1138–1145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lionetto F, Sannino A, Maffezzoli A (2005) Ultrasonic monitoring of the network formation in superabsorbent cellulose based hydrogels. Polymer 46:1796–1803

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rogers JV, Richter WR, Choi YW, Judd AK (2009) Use of superabsorbent polymer gels for surface decontamination of Bacillus anthracis spores. Lett Appl Microbiol 48:180–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Seungkoo K, Scott J (2005) Superabsorbent polymer. US 20050090586

  24. Zohuriaan-Mehr MJ, Kabiri K (2008) Superabsorbent polymer materials: a review. Iran Polym J 17:451–477

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Weir JL, Wilson LR, Weir J, Wilson L, Weir L, Wilson R (2002) Preparation of water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer, for personal care articles, comprises contacting polyvalent metal salt solution with polymer to give required absorption rate index. US 6433058

  26. Jockusch S, Turro NJ, Mitsukami Y, Matsumoto M, Iwamura T, Lindner T, Flohr A, di Massimo G (2009) Photoinduced surface crosslinking of superabsorbent polymer particles. J Appl Polym Sci 111:2163–2170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wilson LR, Wilson L (2004) Preparation of polymer particles for absorbent articles such as diaper, involves polymerizing monomer in presence of covalent crosslinking agent and polyvalent metal coordination compound. US 6716929

  28. Kiatkamjornwong S (2007) Superabsorbent polymers and superabsorbent polymer composites. ScienceAsia 33:39–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Chang K, Reed PE (2009) Expandable polymeric microparticle composition used for modifying water permeability of subterranean formation including sandstone for recovering hydrocarbon fluids, comprises interpenetrating polymer network consisting of labile polymers. WO 2009131982

  30. Atkins JM, Chang K, Doucette CC, Street JP (2009) Composition useful in tertiary oil recovery process comprises highly cross linked expandable polymeric microparticle, and non-labile and labile crosslinking agent. US 2009264325

  31. Mudiyanselage TK, Neckers DC (2008) Highly absorbing superabsorbent polymer. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 46:1357–1364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Pourjavadi A, Barzegar S (2009) Synthesis and evaluation of pH and thermosensitive pectin-based superabsorbent hydrogel for oral drug delivery systems. Starch-Stärke 61:161–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Campan R, Cazaux F, Coqueret X (2002) Controlled swelling of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels by photochemical grafting of hydrophobic acrylates. Macromol Mater Eng 287:924–930

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Omidian H, Hashemi SA, Sammes PG, Meldrum I (1999) Modified acrylic-based superabsorbent polymers dependence on particle size and salinity. Polymer 40:1753–1761

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lu H, Feng Y (2008) Study on associative polymerizable inverse microemulsion. J Macromol Sci Part A-Pure Appl Chem 45:372–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Lu H, Feng Y (2007) Synthesis, characterization and kinetics of hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide. E-Polymers no.099. 1-13

  37. Lee WF, Yang LG (2004) Superabsorbent polymeric materials. XII. Effect of montmorillonite on water absorbency for poly(sodium acrylate) and montmorillonite nanocomposite superabsorbents. J Appl Polym Sci 92:3422–3429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Pourjavadi A, Amini-Fazl MS (2007) Optimized synthesis of carrageenan-graft-poly(sodium acrylate) superabsorbent hydrogel using the Taguchi method and investigation of its metal ion absorption. Polym Int 56:283–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Liu ZX, Miao YG, Wang ZY, Yin GH (2009) Synthesis and characterization of a novel super-absorbent based on chemically modified pulverized wheat straw and acrylic acid. Carbohydr Polym 77:131–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Qi XH, Liu MZ, Zhang F, Chen ZB (2009) Synthesis and properties of poly(sodium acrylate-co-2-acryloylamino-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)/attapulgite as a salt-resistant superabsorbent composite. Polym Eng Sci 49:182–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Flory PJ (1953) Principles of polymer chemistry. Cornell University Press, Ithaca

    Google Scholar 

  42. Schulz DN, Bock J, Valint PL Jr (1994) In: Dupin P, Bock J, Davis R, Schulz DN, Thies C (eds) Macromolecular complexes in chemistry and biology, Chapt 1. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  43. Candau F, Selb J (1999) Hydrophobically-modified polyacrylamides prepared by micellar polymerization. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 79:149–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Feng Y, Billon L, Grassl B, Khoukh A, Francois J (2002) Hydrophobically associating polyacrylamides and their partially hydrolyzed derivatives prepared by post-modification. 1. Synthesis and characterization. Polymer 43:2055–2064

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Li X, Liu X, Chen Q, Wang Y, Feng Y (2010) Hydrophobically associating polyacrylamides prepared by inverse suspension polymerization: synthesis, characterization and aqueous solution properties. J Macromol Sci Part A-Pure Appl Chem 27:358–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Zhou WL, Zhang YA, Jin KM et al (2009) Synthesis and characterization of functionalized acrylic-acrylamide-based superabsorbent gels. J Appl Polym Sci 114:2828–2836

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Marandi GB, Hariri S, Mahdavinia GR (2009) Effect of hydrophobic monomer on the synthesis and swelling behaviour of a collagen-graft-poly[(acrylic acid)-co-(sodium acrylate)] hydrogel. Polym Int 58:227–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Ma JT, Liang B, Cui P, Dai H, Huang RH (2003) Dilute solution properties of hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide: fitted by different equations. Polymer 44:1281–1286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Omidian H, Hashemi SA, Sammes PG, Meldrum I (1998) A model for the swelling of superabsorbent polymers. Polymer 39:6697–6704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Kairi K, Omidian H, Hashemi SA, Zohuriaan-mehr MJ (2003) Synthesis of fast-swelling superabsorbent hydrogels: effect of crosslinker type and concentration on porosity and absorption rate. Eur Polym J 39:1341–1348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Pourjavadi A, Barzegar S, Mahdavinia GR (2006) MBA-crosslinked Na-Alg/CMC as a smart full-polysaccharide superabsorbent hydrogels. Cabohydr Polym 66:386–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Liu PS, Li L, Zhou NL, Zhang J, Wei SH, Shen J (2007) Waste polystyrene foam-graft-acrylic acid/montmorillonite superabsorbent nanocomposite. J Appl Polym Sci 104:2341–2349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Bhardwaj AK, Shainberg I, Goldstein D, Warrington DN, Levy GJ (2007) Water retention and hydraulic conductivity of cross-linked polyacrylamides in sandy soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 71:406–412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

X. Liu gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the key project in natural sciences (09NZD002) of Southwest University for Nationalities, and Y. Feng thanks the financial supports from Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Science and Technology through its Distinguished Youth Fund (2010JQ0029) and application-oriented fundamental research program of (2008JY0002), as well as the opening fund from Sate Key Laboratory of Oil/Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation Engineering (PLN0605).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest University for Nationalities, South Section 4, 1st Circle Road, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Xingli Liu & Xinping Miao

  2. Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9, Section 4, Renmin South Avenue, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolan Li, Zhiyong Lu & Yujun Feng

  3. The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaolan Li

Authors
  1. Xingli Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaolan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiyong Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xinping Miao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yujun Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yujun Feng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, X., Li, X., Lu, Z. et al. Modified acrylic-based superabsorbents with hydrophobic monomers: synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviors. J Polym Res 18, 897–905 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-010-9487-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-010-9487-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation