4-(6-Aminohexyl) amino-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid as a novel hydrophilic monomer for synthesis of cellulose-based superabsorbents with high water absorption capacity

4-(6-Aminohexyl) amino-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid as a novel hydrophilic monomer for synthesis of cellulose-based superabsorbents with high water absorption capacity. [Display omitted] •4-(6-Aminohexylamino)-4-oxobut-2-enoic acid (AHOB) was synthesized as a new monomer.•AHOB was used to produce a cellulose-based superabsorbent via graft copolymerization.•The structure of the superabsorbent was characterized by FT-IR, TGA and SEM methods.•The absorbency of the superabsorbent was strongly affected by the AHOB monomer.•The absorbency of the superabsorbent was 616.28 g/g after the repeated 5th cycle. An efficient cellulosic superabsorbent based on a novel functional monomer 4-(6-aminohexyl) amino-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid (AHOB) and acrylic acid was successfully synthesized by free-radical solution polymerization and the effect of the AHOB monomer on the structure, morphology, thermal behavior and viscoelastic features of this superabsorbent was investigated by FTIR, SEM, TGA and rheology methods. Also, the influence of this monomer on the water absorption capacity in various pH and different saline solutions, kinetic behavior, water retention capacity and reusability of the superabsorbent was perused. The results of these experiments confirmed the significant role of the AHOB monomer in improving the properties of the superabsorbent. The excellent absorbency (800.37 g/g in distilled water and 78.02 g/g in 1 wt.% NaCl solution) and high water retention capacity of the prepared superabsorbent showed that it can be used as an efficient water-saving material for agricultural applications.