Modified-Polysaccharide Super Absorbent Polymer for Biodegradable Absorbency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional super absorbent polymers (SAPs) lack biodegradability, leading to environmental pollution during waste disposal.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable super absorbent polymer is developed using a cross-linked polymer of a monomer containing a modified polysaccharide with maleic acid and carboxymethyl groups, ensuring at least 60% of the repeating units are derived from the modified polysaccharide and a molecular weight of 190,000 g/mol or higher.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional acrylic acid-based monomers are used for super absorbent polymer production, then physical properties and absorbency are maintained, but biodegradability is lost causing environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer system combining modified polysaccharide (biodegradable component) with acrylic acid-based monomer (performance component). The modified polysaccharide provides biodegradability through natural polymer breakdown, while the acrylic acid component maintains super absorbency and physical properties. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating both biodegradable and high-performance characteristics in a single material system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of polysaccharide by introducing maleic acid groups and carboxymethyl groups, then controlling the degree of neutralization (50-95%) to optimize both biodegradability and physical properties. By adjusting these chemical parameters, the polymer achieves sufficient absorbency and structural integrity while maintaining biodegradability, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and performance reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biomass-derived materials are used to achieve biodegradability, then environmental compatibility improves, but production cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary chemical modification of polysaccharide before polymerization, introducing maleic acid and carboxymethyl groups in advance. This pre-modification ensures that the biodegradable polysaccharide backbone maintains its structural integrity and reactivity during subsequent polymerization, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving both biodegradability and performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including molecular weight of modified polysaccharide (190,000 g/mol or more), composition ratio (60 parts by weight or more of modified polysaccharide-derived repeating units), and degree of neutralization (50-95%). These parameter optimizations streamline production by establishing clear specifications that balance biodegradability with manufacturability, reducing trial-and-error in the manufacturing process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high molecular weight modified polysaccharide is used to ensure biodegradability, then environmental breakdown improves, but polymerization efficiency and cross-linking may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets the molecular weight of modified polysaccharide at 190,000 g/mol or more to ensure biodegradability, while simultaneously optimizing the composition ratio (60 parts by weight or more of modified polysaccharide-derived repeating units) and degree of neutralization (50-95%). These parameter optimizations compensate for reduced polymerization efficiency by adjusting the chemical environment to favor complete reaction and cross-linking, thus maintaining productivity while achieving high biodegradability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The biodegradable SAP exhibits excellent biodegradability without compromising its physical properties, thereby preventing environmental pollution and maintaining performance in hygiene products.
Implementation Method 1
A biodegradable super absorbent polymer including a cross-linked polymer of a monomer containing a modified polysaccharide having at least one of a maleic acid group and a carboxymethyl group
Implementation Method 2
preparing a hydrogel polymer by performing cross-linking polymerization on the monomer composition
Data Source
AI summary
A super absorbent polymer exhibiting excellent biodegradability without deterioration in physical properties of the super absorbent polymer, and a preparation method of the same are described herein. The super absorbent polymer comprises a cross-linked polymer of a monomer containing a modified polysaccharide having at least one of a maleic acid group (—OCOCH═CHCOOH) and a carboxymethyl group (—CH2-COOH), wherein at least a part of the maleic acid group and the carboxymethyl group is neutralized, the cross-linked polymer contains 60 parts by weight or more of a modified polysaccharide-derived repeating unit, and a molecular weight of the modified polysaccharide is 190,000 g/mol or more.