Microcrystalline cellulose from Para rubber leaves as an additive for superabsorbent polymers

This study prepared microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from the Para rubber leaves (RL) via mechanical and chemical treatments in order to reduce the amount of waste RL by making it a value added product. The obtained MCC had a cellulose content of 61 % with a high crystallinity index of 67.35 %. The MCC-graft-polyacrylate (MCC-g-PA) was then prepared using N,N '-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) at 0.05 wt% of acrylic acid via radical polymerization, and was then used as an additive in PA superabsorbent polymers (SAP). The presence of 0.05 g MCC-g-PA in PA (0.1 g) was found to exhibit a 1.17-fold greater water absorbency than the neat PA SAP, which was due to the increased level of hydroxyl and carboxylate groups from the added MCC-g-PA. The MCC-g-PA/PA SAP exhibited a similar reusability to the commercial SAP and could be degraded via cellulase and laccase enzymes.