Diapers to Thickeners and Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives: Recycling of Superabsorbers via UV Degradation.

ABSTRACT: Superabsorbers based on crosslinked sodium polyacrylate polymers cannot be easily recycled, resulting in 2 million tons of superabsorbers being landfilled or burned every year. A fast and efficient strategy to recycle superabsorbers would significantly alleviate environmental pollution and promote a sustainable use of these polymers. Herein, the rapid recycling of crosslinked sodium polyacrylate hydrogels based on their inherent UV degradation is demonstrated without the need for chemicals besides water. A quantitative conversion of crosslinked sodium polyacrylate into soluble sodium polyacrylate is achieved in minutes, almost 200 times faster than a previous approach based on de-esterification. The obtained soluble sodium polyacrylate can be used, for example, as a thickener for aqueous d

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10521733 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature