Novel High Capacity Swelling Superabsorbent Composite and Its Potential for Controlled Release of Fertilizers

Abstract

<em>A hydrophilic macromolecular network is prepared by performing graft copolymerization</em><em> of poly (sodium acrylate) chains onto salep and silica gel. </em><em>The reaction parameters affecting the water absorbency of the superabsorbent composite were optimized using Taguchi method. FT-IR spectroscopy and </em><em>Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) </em><em>were used for confirming the structure of</em><em> the final product and morphology of the synthesized superabsorbent composite was examined by SEM.</em><em> </em><em>The swelling behavior of optimum superabsorbent composite was measured in various swelling media. In addition, swelling kinetics and on-off switching behavior were investigated. </em><em>In order to evaluate the controlled release potential of the matrix, it was loaded with KNO₃and NH₄NO₃ as a model agrochemical and the release kinetics was studied.</em>