Preparation of Superabsorbent Polymer from Sugarcane Bagasse via Extrusion Process

The aim of this research study is to develop a biodegradable superabsorbent polymer, based on cellulose from sugarcane bagasse (SCB), for water resource management, horticulture, and other products in agricultural applications. A SCB superabsorbent polymer was polymerized from SCB and acrylic acid (AA) monomer in the presence of N, N-methylene-bisacrylamide as a cross-linker by using corotating twin-screw extruder. The ratios of SCB and AA were varied in order to enhance the swelling ability of the absorbent polymer. Polymerization of SCB superabsorbent polymer was initiated by using ammonium persulfate as an initiator in a normal system and ammonium persulfate/sodium sulfite as a couple initiator in redox system. The results indicated that the swelling ability of superabsorbent polymer prepared by ammonium persulfate/sodium sulfite as a couple initiator was higher than that of the polymer prepared by ammonium persulfate as the initiator. The SCB superabsorbent polymer prepared under optimized polymerization conditions was mixed in soil, and the water-retaining ability of the soil was subsequently investigated. Soil water retention was improved in the presence of the SCB superabsorbent polymer. These results confirmed that the superabsorbent polymer prepared from polymerization of SCB and AA in the presence of N, N-methylene-bisacrylamide as a cross-linker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator by using corotating twin-screw extruder could potentially be used as an agricultural water resource.