Synthesis and Characterization of Superabsorbent Polymer Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose-graft-Itaconic Acid

Superabsorbent polymers of carboxymethyl cellulose-graft-itaconic acid were synthesized using potassium persulfate as a free radical initiator in the presence of N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker using solution polymerization technique. The structures of the grafted copolymers were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of reaction variables such as concentration of carboxymethyl cellulose, itaconic acid, initiator, crosslinker, and neutralizing agent were optimized to achieve a hydrogel with high swelling capacity of 74 g/g (DI water) and 18 g/g (0.9 wt% NaCl solution). The swelling kinetics of the prepared SAP were analyzed by applying the Fickian diffusion model and the Schott’s pseudo second order kinetics model. The diffusion exponents in the Fickian model, n, showed values of 0.73-0.93, indicating that chain relaxation behavior during absorption had a large effect on total absorbency.