Exploration of Cellulose-based Cross-linker for Manufacturing Eco-friendly Superabsorbent Polymer

Ji Hyun Tak; Min Seo Kim; Ji Young Lee

doi:10.7584/JKTAPPI.2025.2.57.1.94

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2025 Vol.57, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

Exploration of Cellulose-based Cross-linker for Manufacturing Eco-friendly Superabsorbent Polymer 친환경 고흡수성 수지 제조를 위한 셀룰로오스 기반 가교제 탐색

28 February 2025. pp. 94-101

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Abstract

Super-absorbent polymer is an insoluble and hydrophilic material with a three-dimensional network structure that can absorb hundreds of times its weight in water. Various petrochemical polymers have been used as raw materials for manufacturing commercial SAPs. In particular, most commercialized SAPs use petrochemical polymers as cross-linking agents, which makes SAPs non-biodegradable. Therefore, it is necessary to replace petrochemical cross-linkers with eco-friendly cross-linkers to develop eco-friendly SAPs. In this study, eco-friendly SAPs were prepared, and their functionality was evaluated to determine the possibility of using quaternary aminated cellulose nanofiber (Q-CNFs) as a cross-linker. Carboxymethylated CNF was used as the primary absorbent, and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) was used for additional cross-linking. Q-CNFs and CM-CNF were made from cotton linter mixed pulp (CLMP) and hardwood bleached kraft pulp (Hw-BKP). Eco-friendly SAPs were prepared by varying the mixing ratios of these three materials, and then their water absorption and gel content were measured. There was no significant difference depending on the dosage of Q-CNFs made from Hw-BKP, but the gel content gradually increased as Q-CNFs made from CLMP were added. When Q-CNFs were not added, the gel content was 77.9%, but the gel content increased to 83.6% when 15% of Q-CNFs were added. Therefore, it was confirmed that Q-CNF made from CLMP could be utilized as a cross-linker for producing eco-friendly SAPs.

Keywords

Super-absorbent polymer (SAP)

cellulose nanofiber (CNF)

quaternization

carboxymethylation

cross-linker

eco-friendly

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Information

Publisher :Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
Publisher(Ko) :한국펄프종이공학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korea TAPPI
Journal Title(Ko) :펄프종이기술
Volume : 57
No :1
Pages :94-101
Received Date : 2025-02-10
Revised Date : 2025-02-18
Accepted Date : 2025-02-18
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7584/JKTAPPI.2025.2.57.1.94

Journal of Korea TAPPI ISSN:0253-3200(Print) 펄프종이기술

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