Abstract
Superabsorbent hydrogels continue to be very important materials due to their applications in several technologies. Unfortunately, most superabsorbent hydrogels currently on the market are acrylate-based products that are non-biodegradable, and, most importantly, some concerns exist about their toxicity for use in agriculture. This study aimed at synthesizing and characterizing biocompatible superabsorbent hydrogel derived from lemon juice. The process involved polymerizing lemon juice (LJ) with glycerol (G) monomers to form polymeric material (HLG-1). HLG-1 was then converted to HLG-2 by crosslinking with maleic acid. Characterization of the hydrogels was done using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesis conditions producing optimal swelling capacity were studied by varying contact time and dosage of both lemon juice and the cross-linker. The FT-IR results showed a peak at 1528 cm-1 and 1591.34 cm-1 associated with –COO- stretching indicating successful polymerization and crosslinking processes. XRD analysis showed conversion from amorphous to crystalline phases upon crosslinking. SEM micrographs showed clear pores with large surface area in HLG-2 compared with the rigid and constricted surface of HLG-1 hydrogel. A maximum swelling capacity of 910% was obtained upon synthesizing hydrogel HLG-2 with lemon juice, glycerol, and maleic acid of a volume ratio of 5.4: 3.75: 3.75 respectively. Crosslinking the hydrogel with maleic acid was found to improve the water absorption capacity of the hydrogel. The superabsorbent hydrogel with such high swelling and water absorption ability has the potential of being applied in arid and semi-arid regions to boost agricultural production.
Highlights
Superabsorbent hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric materials with the ability to swell and retain large quantities of water within their hydrophilic structure (Koetting et al, 2015; Ullah et al, 2015)
This study was geared towards synthesizing superabsorbent hydrogels that are non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable by incorporating glycerol organic surfactant into lemon juice in the presence of maleic acid as a cross-linker with a view of addressing the technical limitations posed in the existing hydrogels
The absorption peaks observed at around 3790.34 cm-1 are a result of the presence of isolated -OH groups in lemon juice while the broad peak of H-OH appeared at 3410.95 cm-1
Summary
Superabsorbent hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric materials with the ability to swell and retain large quantities of water within their hydrophilic structure (Koetting et al, 2015; Ullah et al, 2015). The presence of hydrophilic groups in their structure, permeability, and compatibility, makes them find application in wastewater treatment, agriculture and food industry, biotechnological and medical fields. The increase in their demand has led to increased motivation for their further study by most researchers (Rimmer, 2011). The nature of the cross-linker used determines the permanent and reversible nature of hydrogels. This study was geared towards synthesizing superabsorbent hydrogels that are non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable by incorporating glycerol organic surfactant into lemon juice in the presence of maleic acid as a cross-linker with a view of addressing the technical limitations posed in the existing hydrogels
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
