Synthesis of carboxymethylcellulose/starch superabsorbent hydrogels by gamma-irradiation.

Background: Superabsorbent hydrogels show a large potential in a wide array of applications due to their unique properties. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is a commercially available water-soluble cellulose derivative of major interest in the hydrogel synthesis. High-energy irradiation allows the chemical crosslinking without the use of crosslinking agents, while the introduction of other natural or synthetic polymers offers a convenient way to modify the gels.

Synthesis and characterization of superabsorbent hydrogels based on hydroxyethylcellulose and acrylic acid.

Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC)/acrylic acid (AAc) copolymer gels with superabsorbent properties were synthesized from aqueous solutions by radiation-initiated crosslinking. The effect of the acrylic acid content on gel properties was determined at different synthesis conditions. The partial replacement of the cellulose derivative with acrylic acid improved the gelation, leading to higher gel fraction and lower water uptake even in very low concentrations (1-5%).