Superabsorbent Polymer in Agricultural Application

Superabsorbent polymer is a three-dimensionally cross-linked hydrophilic resin gel with excellent swelling and retaining capabilities. It could absorb liquids tens to thousands times its own mass and retain the liquids even under pressure [87,88]. 

Two factors, water and fertilizer, play a crucial role in the growth of plants and their quality [88]. Therefore, it is very 

From the research of Zhang [88], a novel flax yarn waste-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) [FYW/PAA] superabsorbent composite has been synthesized (Fig. 3.6). In order to develop an eco-friendly superabsorbent composite, flax yarn waste (FYW) was used as raw material. Acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) were grafted onto the pretreated flax yarn waste (PFYW) by free-radical graft copolymerization in homogeneous aqueous solution. As a result, the prepared FYW/PAA attained the best water absorbency of 875 g/g in distilled water, 490 g/g in rainwater and 90 g/g in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution. 

This paper showed a new method in utilizing textile cellulose wastes such as cotton linter, cotton yarn waste and flax yarn waste, in the production of superabsorbent material. The introduction ofthem into superabsorbentcouldsignificantly reduce theproduction 

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