Biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogels derived from cellulose by esterification crosslinking with 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic dianhydride

► Novel superabsorbent hydrogel obtained from cellulose by the crosslinking reaction. ► 1,2,3,4-Butanetetracarboxylic dianhydride as a crosslinker was used for the reaction. ► Absorbency of the hydrogel depended on the amount of BTCA esterified to cellulose. ► Absorbency of the hydrogel increased with the molecular weight of the starting cellulose. ► The hydrogel was easily degraded by cellulase.