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Structure and properties of corn stalk-composite superabsorbent

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Abstract

A novel corn stalk-composite superabsorbent was prepared by graft copolymerization of corn stalk with acrylic acid, acrylamide and sodium 4-styrenesulfonate in aqueous solutions after the pretreatment of corn stalk, using N,N-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate and sodium bisulfite as redox initiators. Factors affecting water absorption rate of the superabsorbent composite, such as the amount of corn stalk, crosslinker, and initiator were investigated. Adsorption rates of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions of the corn stalk-composite superabsorbent were also studied. Corn stalk-composite superabsorbent had equilibrium adsorption capacities of 210 mg g−1 within 50 min and 505 mg g−1 within 150 min for Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the structure of corn stalk-composite superabsorbent. X-ray diffraction indicated that the sharp diffraction peaks of corn stalks disappeared and transformed into a large and wide amorphous dispersion peak. The discontinuous sheet structure of corn stalks disappeared and gel aggregates with microporous holes and small capillary pores were formed after corn stalk graft modification. After absorbing water, the swollen composite superabsorbent formed a network-like structure filled with water. Thermal gravimetric analysis indicated that the composite superabsorbent had high thermal stability with three step degradations.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Pillar Program, China (2010GZ0128), Opening fund of State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, China (SKLGP2012K004) and Cultivating Programme for Excellent Innovation Team of Chengdu University of Technology, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Lab of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Tao Wan, Runqiu Huang & Qihua Zhao

  2. Mineral Resources Chemistry Key Laboratory of Sichuan Higher Education Institutions, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Tao Wan, Lei Xiong, Xuemei Tan, Lili Qin & Junyan Hu

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  1. Tao Wan
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  2. Lei Xiong
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  3. Runqiu Huang
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  4. Qihua Zhao
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  5. Xuemei Tan
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  6. Lili Qin
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  7. Junyan Hu
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Correspondence to Tao Wan.

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Wan, T., Xiong, L., Huang, R. et al. Structure and properties of corn stalk-composite superabsorbent. Polym. Bull. 71, 371–383 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-1066-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-1066-1

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