Synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviour of superabsorbent polymers from cassava starch‐graft‐poly(acrylamide)

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were prepared from cassava starch by graft copolymerization of acrylamide on to starch using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as free radical initiator, followed by alkali saponification. The reaction parameters such as concentration of acrylamide, concentration of CAN, temperature, and duration of polymerization reaction were optimized for maximum water absorbency using a 4‐factor 3‐level Box‐Behnken design. The highest values of percentage grafting and absorbency obtained were 174.8% and 425.2 g/g, respectively. The polymers were characterized by determination of grafting efficiency, N‐content, acrylamide content, FTIR analysis, SEM and XRD analyses. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) showed that the SAP has higher thermal stability. The rate of water absorbency and the swelling behaviour of the SAP under different conditions of pH, and different salts were determined. The de‐swelling pattern of the hydrogels over different time durations was also determined.