A Study of the Synthesis and Properties of AM/AMPS Copolymer as Superabsorbent

Summary: A new superabsorbent polymer, PAMA, has been prepared in an aqueous solution using acrylamide (AM) and 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) as monomers, potassium persulfate (PPS) as initiator, and N , N ′‐methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA) as cross‐linker. The absorbing properties and water retention of PAMA have been investigated. It is found that the absorbency of PAMA can reach 2 451 and 119 g · g −1 in distilled water and in 0.9 wt.‐% NaCl solution, respectively. This copolymer also can absorb a large amount of pure methanol (277 g · g −1 ), a property that has not been reported for the other superabsorbent polymers in the literature. The swelling behavior of PAMA in some water/organic solvent mixtures and water retention of PAMA in sand have been investigated.Water retention of the PAMA in sand at 80 °C. 1) Sample containing PAMA; 2) Sample without PAMA.