Optimization of N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide), and ammonium persulfate content in carbonaceous/acrylic acid-co-acrylamide superabsorbent polymer

Carbon filler addition in the superabsorbent polymers (SAP) network shows excellent water absorption capability. However, other than filler, the water absorbency was also influenced by crosslinker, initiator, and monomer contents during the SAP synthesis. This work aimed to optimize the amount of N,N'-methy lenebisacrylamide (NNMBA) as a crosslinker, and ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for carbonaceous/acrylic acid-co-acrylamide based SAP (C-SAP) synthesis. Inverse suspension polymerization was used for the C-SAP synthesis with a fixed amount of acrylic acid, acrylamide, and carbonaceous filler at 70 degrees C for 3 h. The characteristics of the C-SAP were further analyzed using the tea bag method, FTIR, and FESEM. The highest water absorbency recorded is 453.11 g/g at 0.006 wt% APS and 0.0009 wt% NNMBA with R2 of 0.9077, which is low content of crosslinker and initiator. Overall, optimum crosslinker and initiator are important parameters that increase the prospect of C- SAP, particularly in agricultural applications. Copyright (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Symposium of Reaction Engineering, Catalysis & Sustainable Energy