Fabrication of Superabsorbent Biogel from Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a three-dimensional network polymer with a high capacity of uptaking a water-containing solution. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been extensively used as an absorbent polymer; however, its water-holding properties are inferior compared with that of SAP. In this study, the fabrication of bio-gels from CMC crosslinked with acrylic acid has been evaluated to improve saline solution-holding capacities by three production routes. The swelling capacity of the biogel fabricated by a sequential process of brief homogenization treatment on the crosslinked reactant and addition of CMC powders was significantly increased; its initial absorption rate was comparable to that of the commercial SAP.