The Oxidative Pretreatments of Cellulose for Cellulosic Superabsorbents

Cellulosic superabsorbents (SAP) are produced by using cellulose and cellulose derivative blends with different binding methods, generally. But cellulose in SAP leads decrease in water absorption and water bonding ability because of nonreactive character of cellulose based on its chemical structure. The oxidative pretreatments of cellulose were attempted for the resolve of disadvantage of cellulose in SAP, in this study. Hydrogen peroxide and TEMPO (2,2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) were used for oxidative pretreatments of cellulose. Oxidized cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) blended and cross-linked by epicholohydrin for cellulosic SAP production. Water absorption capacity of cellulosic SAP were determined in pH:2, 7 and 10. The results show that the oxidative pretreatments of cellulose had affirmative effect of water absorption capacity of cellulosic SAP according to control samples.