Application of factorial experimental design to optimize radiation‐synthesized and biodegradable super water absorbent based on cassava starch and acrylic acid

Abstract

Super water absorbent (SWA) for agricultural applications must be optimized to withstand diminishing consequences in real soil system. A 33 × 12 full factorial design and soil water retention experiments were explored to optimize agricultural SWA made from acrylic acid (AA) and cassava starch. Four synthesis parameters such as degree of neutralization (DN), AA concentration, cassava starch concentration, and absorbed dose affecting the gel properties of SWA were investigated in the experimental design. The results showed that AA concentration and DN has strong interaction effects toward the degree of swelling (DS), gel fraction (GF), and gel strength (GS) of SWA. The soil water retention of SWA reduces with time due to microbial degradation and multivalent cations present in the soil. The optimum formulation is 20% AA 10% Starch 30% DN 10 kGy has predicted values (176 ± 68 g/g DS, 93 ± 5% GF, and 137 ± 23 kPa GS) close to the experimental values (132 ± 0.2 g/g DS, 91 ± 0.2% GF, and 141 ± 88 kPa GS). The chosen optimized formulation is 20% AA 7.5% starch 30% DN 20 kGy with 46% biodegradability after 218 days and stable soil water retention compared to commercial SWAs.

Current Advances in Design of Starch‐Based Superabsorbent Polymers and Their Removal of Typical Pollutants from Tannery Wastewater

“…Challenges and corresponding measures of starch-based superabsorbent polymer. [2][3][4][5][6][7][96][97][98][99][100][101] than 12 h. The neutralization degree was generally kept at 70-80%, and the dosage of cross-linking agent was about 0.1-1%. Under these conditions, a good network structure can be formed to promote the adsorption capacity of starch-based superabsorbent polymer.…”

“…The adsorption of starch‐based superabsorbent polymers primarily depends on the flexible network structure formed during the polymerization process to provide more free space. [ 98,99 ] It was reported that nanoparticles as physical cross‐linking agents could generate chelation with polymer chains to form a flexible network structure. [ 100 ] Hence, it is possible to attempt to utilize nanoparticles combined with starch‐based superabsorbent polymers to improve the adsorption performance. What's more, starch‐based superabsorbent polymers are prepared by grafting the starch‐based materials with nonionic monomers containing amino groups.…”

Gel Properties of Carboxymethyl Hyaluronic Acid/Polyacrylic Acid Hydrogels Prepared by Electron Beam Irradiation

“…Polyacrylic acid (PAA) and its derivatives belong to the most commonly used synthetic water-soluble polymers applied to the production of hydrogels. Because PAA hydrogels contain ionizable carboxylic moieties, their gel properties, such as the degree of swelling, are greatly affected by the degree of neutralization as well as the pH and the ionic strength of the dispersing medium [5,6]. As a biomaterial, it demonstrated good biocompatibility and bioadhesive properties [7,8].…”