Preparation and properties of polyacrylate/bentonite superabsorbent hybrid via intercalated polymerization

Polyacrylate intercalated bentonite superabsorbent hybrid had been prepared by means of solution polymerization with intercalating, polymerizing and crosslinking reaction. The partially neutralized acrylic acid (NaA) was intercalated, polymerized and crosslinked to bentonite. The initiator was potassium persulfate and the crosslinking agent was sugar. The structure of the polyacrylate/hybrid was determined by FT-IR and XRD. The results showed that bentonite was intercalated by polyacrylate. The layers' spacing of bentonite was enlarged. The various factors, such as the degree of neutralization, the consumption of monomer, the amount of initiator and crosslinking agent and the amount of bentonite, which affected the resin's water absorbency, were studied through orthogonal experiments. The optimum conditions showed that the ratio (wt) of bentonite to monomer was 1/2, the degree of neutralization was 75% (mol), the initiator content was 3%, and the crosslinker content was 5%. The cost of the superabsorbent has decreased by 30%, whereas its water absorbency was about 120 g/g for water, and 30–36 g/g for saline solution.