Synthesis of Super Absorbent Polymer

Raju Marag, Yogesh Landge & Sudhir Gandhi

Raju K. Marag
Department of Chemical Engineering
Finolex Academy of Management & Technology,
Mumbai University, Ratngiri
rajumarag2011@gmail.com
Yogesh A. Landge
Department of Chemical Engineering
Finolex Academy of Management & Technology,
Mumbai University, Ratngiri
yalfamt@gmail.com

ABSTRACT 3 Also considerable increase in water

absorptivity and enhancing thermal and
Super-absorbent polymers are lightly cross-linked
mechanical properties of final gel.
networks of hydrophilic polymer chains. The most
4 We can analyse the factors influencing
efficient water absorbers are polymer networks that
absorptivity of super absorbent polymer in various
carry dissociated, ionic functional groups. These are
samples by varying amounts of the following:
essentially hydrophilic non-toxic and partially cross-
linked polymers that can absorb several hundreds their
a Quantity of monomer
weight in water, but cannot dissolve of their three
dimensional polymeric network structure. The network
b Amount of cross linker
can swell in water and hold a large amount of water
while maintaining the physical dimension structure.
c Additive(clay)
The product swells and forms a tight gel that holds
5 Is it cost effective type and method as compared
water molecules, even under pressure. One kg of these
to other procedures of synthesis of
materials can absorb over 300 liters of water. They are
widely used in sanitary products, such as sanitary
superabsorbent polymer considering the
napkins and disposable diapers, and also in a variety of
properties obtained from selected method.
other fields.
I. INTRODUCTION
Flow diagram of synthesis of polymer by free radical
Super-absorbent polymers are lightly cross-linked method:
networks of hydrophilic polymer chains. The most
efficient water absorbers are polymer networks that
carry dissociated, ionic functional groups. These are STARCH + DISTILLED WATER
essentially hydrophilic non-toxic and partially cross- 45 min
linked polymers that can absorb several hundreds their
weight in water, but cannot dissolve of their three POTASSIUM PERSULFATE + DISTILLED WATER
dimensional polymeric network structure. The network
can swell in water and hold a large amount of water 10 min
while maintaining the physical dimension structure.
The product swells and forms a tight gel that holds BENTONITE CLAY + DISTILLED WATER
water molecules, even under pressure. One kg of these
materials can absorb over 300 liters of water. They are 10 min
widely used in sanitary products, such as sanitary N,N-METHYLENE-BIS-ACRYLAMIDE +
napkins and disposable diapers, and also in a variety of DISTILLED WATER
other fields.
a. APPLICATIONS 10 min
Mainly applications are divided are follows:
Personal Hygiene- SAP
Industrial application ACRYLIC ACID
20 min
Agriculture, Horticulture & Landscaping
b.1 REASON FOR SELECTING THIS TYPE AND
METHOD POLYMER PRODUCT
1 Starches from vegetables were used as basis for
the polymer structure because of their
biodegradability and sustainability of their Flow diagram of synthesis of polymer by free radical
resources. method
2 Addition of bentonite clay increases the thermal
stability of the polymer.

II. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. First, starch solution was prepared by dissolving
starch 8gm. in 80 ml distilled water.
2. Polymerization was carried out in aresin kettle
equipment with a stirrer, a thermometer.
3. The reactor was immersed in a water bath present at
the temperature 65 – 700C throughout the reaction.
4. Potassium persulphate in 15ml distilled water was
added to above solution.
5. After 15 min of stirring, certain amount of MBA
and 15 ml amount of distilled water was added to the
solution mixture.
6. The monomer acrylic acid 40 ml was added to the
solution .
7. After 15-20 min of the reaction, the resulting gel
was washed several times with distilled water and
poured into excess non-solvent methanol for
dehydration.
8. The gel was cut into small pieces and dried at 700 C
at a constant weight. The dried gel was milled and the
size of the obtained particles were 40-60 mesh. 3.4
ANALYSIS OF PROPERTIES
3.4.1 Swelling:
It gives absorbing capacity of polymer and also be
defined as the ability of per unit mass of SAP to
retain water.
Procedure:
1. Take 1 gm of SAP sample (w1).
2. SAP soaked in 50ml of distilled water for
2hours.
3. The swollen SAP is filtered through the
filter paper and weighed (w2).
4. Water absorbing capacity (WA) of the
SAP is measured by above equation.
3.4.2 Retention:
Another important characteristic of SAP
is its water holding capacity that is water
retention ability, which is measured by
wet loss of water at specified
temperature.
Procedure: 6. Subtract the weight of crucible we get
1. Initial weight of sample taken (w1) weight of sample dried in oven(w3).
2. Swollen sample of SAP placed in empty 7. Water retention capacity of SAP can be
crucible. measured by above equation.
3. Take a weight of sample with crucible.
4. Put that crucible in to oven at 90 degree
for 2 hours. 3.4.3 Deswelling:
5. Take a weight of dried sample with

Procedure: 4. Take a weight of dried sample with

1. Swollen sample of SAP placed in empty
crucible (w2).
2. Take a weight of sample with crucible.
3. Put that crucible in to oven at 90 degree
for 2 hours.
crucible.
5. Subtract the weight of crucible we get
weight of sample dried in oven (w3).
6. Deswelling capacity of SAP can be
measured by above equation.
III.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Synthesis of super absorbent polymer by free radical
method using acrylic acid as monomer containing
bentonite clay as additive, starch and N,N-methylene
bisacrylamide as cross-linker,potassium persulfate as
intiator was studied in a resin kettle. The variable
chosen for study on polymer quality are:
The effect of various parameters on super absorbent polymer
is discussed below. The super absorbent polymer is analyzed
for swelling capacity, retention capacity, deswelling capacity,
reswelling capacity in water and NaOH. Swelling and
reswelling capacity are measured at room temperature.
Retention and deswelling capacity are measured by keeping
sample in oven at 90 degrees. The quality of polymer is
measured in properties based on the use of polymer in a
particular sector. Here we mainly focus the use of polymer in
agricultural sector so we measure the quality of polymer
in terms of high swelling, retention and reswelling
percent. Hence, the quality of super absorbent polymer is
discussed in terms of change in swelling, retention and
reswelling percent with variables like amount of clay, amount
of MBA, amount of AA. The stirring speed used for all runs
is 400 rpm.
Effect of amount of bentonite clay (additive)
The effect of bentonite clay on properties of super
absorbent polymer like swelling, retention and
reswelling percent are shown in Table No. 4.1. Runs
are carried out by varying amount of clay from
0.5gm to 0.7gm maintaining reaction time of 95
minutes. It was observed that at lower quantity of
clay i.e 0.5 gm the swelling capacity was lower and
at greater quantity of clay i.e 0.7 gm the swelling
capacity was further lower. With 0.6 gm of clay in
super absorbent polymer we got greater swelling
capacity. Other property, retention capacity was
highest for product with higher quantity of clay but
retention capacity was favourable at 0.6 gm of clay as
it was intermediate and reswelling capacity was
lower for polymer with 0.5gm and 0.7 gm of clay
than at 0.6gm of clay. Variations of swelling
capacity, retention capacity and reswelling capacity
are shown in Figure No. 4.1 to 4.3. It was observed
that at 0.6 gm of clay as additive in super absorbent
polymer the swelling capacity was 2150%, retention
capacity was 48.7% and reswelling capacity was
992%. So we selected 0.6gm as optimum value for
amount of bentonite clay in sample.
Effect of N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide (cross-linker)
Different runs were carried out by varying the cross-
linker content. It showed similar trends as that by
variation of amount of clay The effect of N,N-
methylene-bis- acrylamide on properties of super
absorbent polymer like swelling, retention and
reswelling percent are shown in Table No. 4.2. Runs
are carried out by varying amount of clay from 0.3gm
to 0.5gm maintaining reaction time of 95 minutes. It
was observed that at lower quantity of MBA i.e
0.3gm the swelling capacity was lower which
increased with increase in amount of cross-linker
upto 0.4gm of MBA and further increasing the
quantity of MBA i.e 0.5gm the swelling capacity
reduced. With 0.4gm of MBA in super absorbent
polymer we got greater swelling capacity.
Other property, retention capacity was highest for product
with higher quantity of MBA but retention capacity was
favourable at 0.4 gm of MBA as it was intermediate and
reswelling capacity was lower for polymer with 0.3gm,
0.35gm and 0.5 gm of MBA than at 0.4gm of MBA.
Variations of swelling capacity, retention capacity and
reswelling capacity are shown in Figure No. 4.4 to 4.6. It was
observed that at 0.4gm of MBA as cross-linker in super
absorbent polymer the swelling capacity was 2155%,
retention capacity was 48.7% and reswelling capacity was
995.7%. So we selected 0.4gm as optimum value for amount
of MBA in sample.
Amount of Acrylic acid
Different runs were carried out by varying the basic
monomer content. The effect of Acrylic acid on properties
of super absorbent polymer like swelling, retention and
reswelling percent are shown in Table No. 4.3. Runs are
carried out by varying amount of clay from 30gm to 50gm
maintaining reaction time of 95 minutes. It was observed that
at lower quantity of AA i.e 30gm the swelling capacity
was lower which increased with increase in amount of
monomer upto 40gm of AA and further increasing the
quantity of AA i.e 50gm the swelling capacity reduced. With
40gm of AA in super absorbent polymer we got greater
swelling capacity.
Other property, retention capacity was highest for product
with higher quantity of AA but retention capacity was
favourable at 40gm of AA as it was intermediate and
reswelling capacity was lower for polymer with 30gm, 42gm,
45gm and 50 gm of AA than at 40gm of AA.
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