Synthesis and Characterization of Materials Properties of a Biological Superabsorbent Polymer for Single-Use Consumer Product Applications

In addressing issues of plastic accumulation in the environment and negative impacts of plastic degradation, the development of biobased alternatives is crucial in solving these hazards. Single-use, disposable hygiene products, such as diapers and feminine hygiene, significantly contribute to plastic waste. These products often contain non-biodegradable, synthetic, superabsorbent polymers. In this research, biobased superabsorbent polymers have been designed and synthesized, using biological crosslinker and backbone components to create a hydrogel system, which absorbs water into the polymeric matrix. The hydrogels are synthesized using chitosan and sodium alginate as the backbone foundation and genipin as the crosslinker, which are all commonly found in nature. Through chemical ratio alteration, including the crosslinker to backbone ratio, the superabsorbent polymers successfully absorb and retain water. The characterization of the hydrogels, including the absorbency capacity, absorbency retention, performance under a load, and performance with ion presence, have proven that fully biological superabsorbent polymers are possible.