Synthesis and Water Absorbing Properties of KGM-g-P(AA-AM-(DMAEA-EB)) via Grafting Polymerization Method

In this study, a novel KGM-based superabsorbent polymer KGM-g-poly-(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-N,N'-dimethyl-N-ethylmethacryloxylethylammoniumbromide) (KAAD) was prepared, which was obtained by the free radical grafting solution polymerization of acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA) and N,N'-dimethyl-N-ethylethacryloxylethylammonium bromide (DMAEA-EB) onto konjac glucomannan (KGM) with of potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) as initiator and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker. The groups of AA, AM and DMAEA-EB grafted on KGM were detected by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of the reaction conditions (including an initiator dosage, AA and AM mass ratio, and a reaction temperature, etc.) on the grafting degree and grafting efficiency were investigated by a gravimetric method. The maximum grafting degree and grafting efficiency of the obtained graft polymer in the experiment were 71.51 and 89.90%, respectively. The effects of crosslinking agent and GD on water absorption were explored. And all of the experimental data show that the water absorption ratio of the KAAD resin exceeds 527.00 g/g under each optimal reaction conditions. Therefore, KAAD can be widely used as a functional material in pharmaceutics, textiles, construction and other fields due to its excellent superabsorbent properties.