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Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels pp 1–23Cite as

Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels

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Part of the book series: Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series ((POPOC))

Abstract

Hydrogels are polymeric three-dimensional networks able to absorb and release water solutions. Sometimes, this behavior is reversed in response to definite environmental stimuli, i.e., temperature, pH, ionic strength, etc. Such stimuli-responsive behavior makes hydrogels attractive candidates for the design of “smart” devices, applicable in a variety of technological fields. In particular, when concerning either ecological or biocompatibility issues, the biodegradability of the hydrogel network, combined with the control of the degradation rate, may add more value to the developed device. Development of new products and materials, particularly those which are based on renewable organic resources using innovative sustainable processes, represents an increasing interest in both academic and industrial research. Cellulose and its derivatives – with numerous hydroxyl groups – have established to be flexible materials with unique chemical structure which provides a good platform for the creation of hydrogel networks with distinctive properties with respect to swelling ability and sensibility to external stimuli. Consequently, cellulose-based hydrogels are attractive materials, biodegradable, biocompatible, and low cost, which exhibit properties that make them promising in many applications, particularly in biomedical and environmental applications. This article reviews the design and the applications of cellulose-based hydrogels, which are extensively investigated due to cellulose availability in nature, the intrinsic degradability of cellulose, and the smart behavior displayed by some cellulose derivatives.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude for the Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute for supporting this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt

    Abdulraheim M. A. Hasan & Manar El-Sayed Abdel-Raouf

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  1. Abdulraheim M. A. Hasan
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  2. Manar El-Sayed Abdel-Raouf
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Correspondence to Manar El-Sayed Abdel-Raouf .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

    Md. Ibrahim H. Mondal

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Hasan, A.M.A., Abdel-Raouf, M.ES. (2018). Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels. In: Mondal, M. (eds) Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels. Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76573-0_11-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76573-0_11-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76573-0

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