Hybrid super absorbent resin based on waste slag modified zeolite: A potential component adopted to agricultural water retention

Abstract

The hybrid super absorbent resin (SAR), Poly(acrylicacid-co-acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) based on zeolite synthesized from solid waste slag (P(AA-co-AM-co-AMPS)/zeolite) was synthesized. The chemical and structural characteristics of the materials were examined through FTIR, XRD, and SEM studies. In the presence of zeolite, the flat surface of the composite transformed into interconnected porous structure. The deionized water equilibrium swelling capacity of the hybridized SAR (835.79 g/g) was higher than that of the pure SAR (524.53 g/g). As much as 40 % of the water was released from the fully swollen hybrid SAR when it was centrifuged. P(AA-co-AM-co-AMPS)/zeolite had a swelling loss rate just of 27.64 % after five swelling/drying cycles. In addition, it still had good absorption in ionic salt solutions of different concentrations and good water retention at different temperatures. This confirmed that the hybridized SAR had excellent water holding capacity and salt solution adsorption. The FTIR and XRD results showed that the excellent performance of the hybridized SAR may originate from the interconnection of the zeolite and the pure SAR. The P(AA-co-AM-co-AMPS)/zeolite may be utilized as an agricultural water retaining agent.