Development of Super Water-absorbent from Cellulosic Materials. (3). Improvement of water absorbency.

Abstract

Water absorbents were prepared from bleached hardwood kraft pulp by carboxymethylation (CM-LBKP) and cross-linking with polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether having different chain length by two stages method. Water retention value reached up to as high as 670 g/g for deionized water, and 64 g/g for 0.9% saline solution (physiological saline). Higher D.S. of carboxymethyl group of LBKP was advantageous for a higher water retention value, when D.S. ?1.42. Water retention value of cross-linked CM-LBKP decreased with the increase of the amount of bound cross-linking agent.