The copolimeryzation synthesis and swelling capacity of cellulose-poly superabsorbent (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) based on rice straw

A superabsorbent has been synthesized by copolymerization of rice straw cellulose as the back bone with the composition of 0.724 mol/L acrylamide and 1.429 mol/L acrylic acid as the monomers, 2.32 mmol/L N, N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide as the crosslinker, and 7.94 mmol/L potassium persulfate as the initiator. The rendement of cellulose obtained from rice straw isolation is 33.55% with the size of 34.06 nm nanocrystalline cellulose, obtained from XRD diffraction pattern. The copolymerization results in the spectrum characterization of Cellulose-Poly superabsorbent (AA-co-AM) with FTIR shows OH stretching vibration, NH and C=O stretching of monomer acrylic acid and acrylamide at wave number about 3343 cm-1 and 1600 cm-1. The surface morphology analyzed with SEM shows the superabsorbent has rough surface morphology compared to acrylic acid-acrylamide copolymer. The results of grafting efficiency increases with the increasing amount of the reacted monomer. The characterization of result shows that the grafting process of acrylic acid-acrylamide on cellulose has been formed. The swelling capacity of superabsorbent in water is 691.18 g/g, and 765.58 g/g in urea. This result is quite satisfactory and can be applied for slow release superabsorbent.