Eco-friendly Biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs); An Effective Water Retainer and Agrofertilizer

Abstract

A polymer is a material which consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. They are classified as synthetic and natural polymers both play essential roles in everyday life due to their broad spectrum of properties. The foremost important class of polymers is superabsorbent polymer (SAP) materials. They are hydrophilic networks which absorb and retain large amounts of water. SAPs are originally divided into two main classes. They are Synthetic (Petrochemical based) and Natural (e.g.; Polysaccharide and Polypeptide based). Most of the present superabsorbent polymers are frequently produced from acrylic acid and acrylamide solution or inverse-suspension polymerization techniques. These are not biodegradable and are harmful to the environment that causes pollution. So, we sought to make biodegradable SAP that can act as a fertilizer to improve the soil quality and water conservation in agricultural land.