A novel phytic acid-modified corn stalk-composite superabsorbent (PACS-gp(AA-AM-VP)) with water absorbency of 391g/g, water retention around 30% at 200min under 90℃, adsorption capacities of 284mg/g and 448 mg/g for Ni(II) and Cu (II), respectively, was synthesized by graft copolymerization of acrylamide(AM), vinyl pyrrolidone(VP) and itaconic acid(IA) with phytic acidmodified corn stalk (PACS) in aqueous solution, using N,Nmethylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate(APS) and sodium bisulfite(SBS) as redox initiator. Factors influencing water absorbency and water retention of PACS-g-p(AA-AM-VP), such as PACS amount, initiator amount, crosslinker amount, neutralization degree of IA, IA/VP mass ratio and IA/AM mass ratio, were investigated. Morphologies and structure of PACS-g-p(AA-AM-VP) were characterized by FTIR and SEM. FTIR spectra indicate the structure of phytic acid-modified corn stalk graft-copolymer. SEM data shows that fiber structure of corn stalk is partially destroyed after phytic acid modification under ultrasonic wave. PACS-g-p(AA-AM-VP) has a coarse, fluffy and porous structure, facilitating the permeation of water and heavy metal ions into the polymeric network. Given these properties, PACS-g-p(AA-AM-VP) can be extensively applied in agriculture and horticulture as a water-retaining and soil remediation material which increases agricultural irrigation efficiency and remediates heavy metal-contaminated soil due to its low cost, environmental friendliness, high water retention and good adsorption for heavy metal ions. Keywords:superabsorbent; polymerization; corn stalk; phytic acid; composite
Effect of PACS amount on water absorbency and water retention of PACS-g-P(AA-AM-VP)Effects of PACS amount on the water absorbency and water retention of PACS-g-P(AA-AM-VP) were depicted in Figure 4. Obviously, with increase of PACS amount up to 10%, both water absorbency and water retention of PACS-g-P(AA-AM-VP) increased first, and then decreases.