Synthesis of superabsorbent carbonaceous kenaf fibre filled polymer using inverse suspension polymerisation

Munirah Ezzah Tuan Zakaria; Saidatul Shima Jamari; Suriati Ghazali

doi:10.15282/jmes.11.3.2017.2.0253

Authors

Munirah Ezzah Tuan Zakaria Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300 Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia
Saidatul Shima Jamari Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300 Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia
Suriati Ghazali Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300 Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.11.3.2017.2.0253

Keywords:

Superabsorbent polymers; inverse suspension polymerisation; swelling properties; kenaf.

Abstract

This paper studies the synthesis of superabsorbent carbonaceous kenaf fibre filled polymer using inverse suspension polymerisation method. The kenaf fibre was prepared using the hydrothermal carbonisation process. Inverse suspension polymerisation process involved two different solution mixtures; a continuous phase containing cyclohexane, span-80, and kenaf fibre filler and a dispersed phase containing partially neutralised acrylic acid, acrylamide, initiator APS, and crosslinker NN-Methylenebisacrylamide. Kenaf fibre filler addition was varied with different weight percentages (0.01- 0.05 wt%). Water absorption testing using the teabag method showed sample containing 0.04 wt% carbon filler had the highest and optimal percentage of water absorbency, 55.27 g/g while the sample containing 0.01 wt% carbon filler displayed the lowest percentage of water absorbency, 45.27 g/g. All SPC samples showed a higher rate of water absorbency compared to SAP sample which had 40.61 g/g of average water absorbency. The samples were characterised by FTIR, FESEM - EDX, Mastersizer. All synthesised samples produced were in spherical beads form. It can be concluded that kenaf fibre affects the enhancement of superabsorbent polymer performance.

References

Nnadi F, Brave C. Environmentally friendly superabsorbent polymers for water conservation in agricultural lands. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management. 2011;2:206-11.

Jaber FJAAA. New Routes for Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Superabsorbent Polymers. 2012.

Wang G, Li M, Chen X. Inverse suspension polymerization of sodium acrylate. Journal of applied polymer science. 1997;65:789-94.

Khoi NV, Tung NT, Ha PTT, Cong TD. Preparation of Superabsorbent Polymers by the Inverse Suspension Method. Advances in Natural Sciences. 2008;7:85.

Bajpai SK, Bajpai M, Sharma L. Inverse suspension polymerization of poly(methacrylic acid-co-partially neutralized acrylic acid) superabsorbent hydrogels: synthesis and water uptake behavior. Designed Monomers & Polymers. 2007;10:181-92.

Sevilla M, Fuertes AB. The production of carbon materials by hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose. Carbon. 2009;47:2281-9.

Wu L, Liu M. Preparation and properties of chitosan-coated NPK compound fertilizer with controlled-release and water-retention. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2008;72:240-7.

Razak NESA, Hashim S, Rahm AR. Characterization and Absorbing Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Filled Poly (Acrylic Acid–co–Acrylamide) Superabsorbent Polymer Composites. Sains Malaysiana. 2011;40:789-94.

Zainuddin SYZ, Ahmad I, Kargarzadeh H, Abdullah I, Dufresne A. Potential of using multiscale kenaf fibers as reinforcing filler in cassava starch-kenaf biocomposites. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2013;92:2299-305.

Azwa ZN, Yousif BF. Characteristics of kenaf fibre/epoxy composites subjected to thermal degradation. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2013;98:2752-9.

Falasca SL, Ulberich AC, Pitta-Alvarez S. Possibilities for growing kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) in Argentina as biomass feedstock under dry-subhumid and semiarid climate conditions. Biomass and bioenergy. 2014;64:70-80.

Lips SJJ, Iñiguez de Heredia GM, Op den Kamp RGM, van Dam JEG. Water absorption characteristics of kenaf core to use as animal bedding material. Industrial Crops and Products. 2009;29:73-9.

Lee CH, Sapuan SM, Lee JH, Hassan MR. Mechanical properties of kenaf fibre reinforced floreon biocomposites with magnesium hydroxide filler. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences. 2016;10:2234-48.

Fauzi FA, Ghazalli Z, Siregar JP. Effect of various kenaf fiber content on the mechanical properties of composites. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences. 2016;10:2226-33.

Fairuz AM, Sapuan SM, Zainudin ES, Jaafar CNA. Effect of filler loading on mechanical properties of pultruded kenaf fibre reinforced vinyl ester composites. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences. 2016;10:1931-42.

Funke A, Ziegler F. Heat of reaction measurements for hydrothermal carbonization of biomass. Bioresource Technology. 2011;102:7595-8.

Funke A, Ziegler F. Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass: A summary and discussion of chemical mechanisms for process engineering. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. 2010;4:160-77.

Ahmed S, Ahsan A, Hasan M. Physico-mechanical properties of coir and jute fibre reinforced hybrid polyethylene composites. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. 2017;14:3927-37.

Jamil WNM, Aripin MA, Sajuri Z, Abdullah S, Omar MZ, Abdullah MF, et al. Mechanical properties and microstructures of steel panels for laminated composites in armoured vehicles. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. 2016;13:3742-53.