Biopolymer-Based
Superabsorbent Hydrogel:
Optimization Using the Taguchi
Method and Investigation of Its
Swelling Behavior
GHASEM R. BARDAJEE
Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Qazvin Branch, P.O. Box 878, Qazvin, Iran;
Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology,
P.O. Box 11365-9516, Tehran, Iran
ALI POURJAVADI
Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology,
P.O. Box 11365-9516, Tehran, Iran
ROUHOLLAH SOLEYMAN
Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology,
P.O. Box 11365-9516, Tehran, Iran
Received: October 27, 2008
Accepted: August 10, 2009
The Taguchi method was used as a powerful experimental design tool for
synthesis optimization. A series of superabsorbent hydrogels was synthesized by
proposed conditions of Qualitek-4 software. Considering the results of nine trials
according to analysis of variance, optimum conditions were proposed. The
swelling behavior of optimum superabsorbent hydrogels was studied in various
solutions, with pH values ranging from 1 to 13. In addition, swelling kinetics,
swelling in various organic solvents, the absorbency under load, and on–off
switching behavior were investigated. Also, hydrogel formation was confirmed
by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface morphology of the
synthesized hydrogels was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. C 2009
Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 28: 131–140, 2009; Published online in
Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20154
TABLE II
Experimental Experimental Layouts of an L9 Orthogonal Array
According to Taguchi’s Suggestion
SCHEME 1. Proposed mechanism for irradiation synthesis of the (Na-Alg/κC)-g-poly(AAm) superabsorbent hydrogel.
1418 cm−1 because of the asymmetrical and symmet- cm−1 can be attributed to D-galactose-4-sulfate, 3,6-
rical stretching vibrations of −COO− groups. Char- anhydro-D-galactose, glycosidic linkage, and ester
acteristic absorption peak of alginate appeared at sulfate stretching of κC, respectively. A new broad
3429 cm−1 for the hydroxyl group. In the spectrum peak in the spectrum of the hydrogel appeared at
of κC, the bands observed at 845, 916, 1025, and 1225 1662 cm−1 , which may be attributed to the C O
FIGURE 1. FT-IR spectra of (a) Na-Alg, (b) κC, and (c) (Na-Alg/κC)-g-poly(AAm) superabsorbent hydrogels.
TABLE IV
Water Absorbency Results for Nine Trials
Trial
Salinity
The ionic strength of the environment affects
FIGURE 3. The kinetics of absorbency under load. the swelling capacity of superabsorbents. Figure 5
FIGURE 5. The swelling capacity variation of FIGURE 6. Effect of organic solvents (ethanol and
(Na-Alg/κC)-g-poly(AAm) in various concentrations of 2-propanol) on the water absorbency of superabsorbent
NaCl solution. hydrogel.
TABLE VI
Solubility Parameters for Solvents34 and Their
Direct Relationship with Swelling Equilibrium (SE) of
Superabsorbent
Solvent δ (or δmix )a ES (g/g)
ENVIRONMENTAL-RESPONSIVENESS
BEHAVIOR OF THE HYDROGEL
The swelling of the superabsorbent hydrogel
hybrids in saline solutions appreciably decreases
compared with the values measured in deionized
water.37,38 This phenomenon, commonly observed
in swelling of all ionic hydrogels, is often attributed
to a screening effect of the additional cations causing
a nonefficient anion–anion electrostatic repulsion,
leading to a decreased osmotic pressure (ionic pres-
sure) difference between the hydrogel network and
the external solution.38 Optimum sample was tested
to be swollen and deswollen alternatively in dis-
tilled water and 0.10 M of NaCl solution. As shown FIGURE 8. SEM micrographs of (a) (Na-Alg/κC) and
in Fig. 7, the sorption–desorption behavior is quite (b) (Na-Alg/κC)-g-poly(AAm) synthesized under
repeatable. optimized conditions.
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