Acknowledgement

This Investigatory project is submitted

by Nishant Nischaya and is done under
the supervision and support of Ms.
Seema Singhal. The chemicals used are
disposed with care after use.
Investigatory
Project: Super
Absorbent
Polymers
Discovering the properties of Sodium
Polyacrylate
Sodium polyacrylate is an easily available and commercially valuable
chemical. It finds its wide application in various products, lie! "aby
diapers, #emale hygiene products, hydro gels etc.
20!
$ishant $ischaya
A.%. DA.&. '.P.S.
2 Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
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% Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
Certificate
Date: - ____________
Roll no: - ______________
This is to certify that this investigatory
project is carried out successfully by
Nishant Nischaya of class XII in the
Chemistry lab during the academic
year !"# $!"%&
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& Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
__________________
'eacher-In-Charge
Introduction
'his in(estigatory )ro*ect aims to
re(eal the chemical and )hysical
)ro)erties of +odium )olyacrylate, which
is commonly known as the +u)er
Absorbent -olymer& .eing used in large
number of )roducts, it is of great
commercial im)ortance& It finds its
a))lication in baby dia)ers, female
menstruation )ads, hydro gel crystals etc&
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! Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
Content
"&/ 0hat is +u)er Absorbent -olymer1
&/ Aim: - A brief descri)tion of the e2)eriment
3&/ 4aterials re5uired
#&/ 'he 62)eriment
%&/ Result and discussion
7&/ +ome other su)er absorbents
8&/ +co)e for future use
9&/ .ibliogra)hy
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' Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
0hat is +u)er Absorbent -olymer1
Sodium polyacrylate is a superabsorbent polymer primarily used as an
absorbent for water and a(ueous solutions in baby diapers) adult
incontinence products) feminine hygiene products) and similar
applications. This superabsorbent polymer compound has very long
carbon chains bonded with sodium atoms in the center of the molecule
in repeating units of *+,
2
*+,-+..Na/.
0hen sodium polyacrylate is e1posed to water) the higher concentration
of water outside the polymer draws the water into the center of the
molecule via osmosis. Sodium polyacrylate will continue to absorb water
until there is an e(ual concentration of water inside and outside the
polymer. This forms a polymeric gel many times larger in si2e than the
original powdered compound.
Aim: - A brief descri)tion of the
e2)eriment
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3 Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
4aterials re5uired

,ydro gel crystals

Superabsorbent baby diapers

0a1 paper

Scissors

4 o2 plastic glasses

Measuring cup

$lastic spoons

5istilled water

+olander or funnel

5igital camera

6o1 of table salt

7rea

7ric acid
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4 Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
'he 62)eriment
Procedure: - With distilled water
. $lace a new super*absorbent diaper on a piece of wa1 paper) cut the diaper in
half and pull out some of the fibers.
2. Sha8e the fibers and pull them apart) allowing the powdery granules to fall
onto the paper.
%. 5iscard the fibers. The white granules that remain are sodium polyacrylate.
&. 9epeat steps *& with another diaper until there is tablespoon of the powder.
!. .n another sheet of wa1 paper) place 0 hydro gel crystals in a pile.
'. Ne1t to them pour an e(ual amount of sodium polyacrylate granules removed
from the diapers.
3. +arefully pour the two polymers into separate 00ml plastic glasses or cups
and label them.
4. 7sing a measuring cup add !0 ml of distilled water to each glass. Stir the
water in both glasses with plastic spoons.
:. The sodium polyacrylate will start absorbing water and swelling) and the
hydro gel crystals will begin to grow immediately.
0. .bserve and record what happens to the two substances after %0 minutes)
hour) and ; hours.
. #llow the hydro gel crystals to grow to the point where they cannot be seen
clearly inside the glass and allow the sodium polyacrylate to gel until it
reaches its ma1imum e1pansion.
2. Measure the unabsorbed water in each glass by pouring the li(uids into a
measuring cup) using a strainer) colander) or funnel to catch the crystals and
gel.
%. 9ecord how much water is left after crystal and gel absorption by subtracting
the amount left from !0 ml and record in a table similar to the one shown
below.
Name of +u)er- Initial #mount after absorbent #mount #bsorbed
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: Investigatory project" Super #bsorbent $olymer
absorbent #mount addition
Sodium $olyacrylate !0 ml
,ydrogel +rystals !0 ml

&. 7sing the data in the table plot a line or bar graph of amount of li5uid
absorbed by the two absorbents along the <*a1is verses their names along the
=*a1is.
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