基于海藻酸钠和纤维素纳米晶体的互穿和半互穿网络超级吸水凝胶：成人失禁垫用可生物降解的高性能解决方案。

Interpenetrating and semi-interpenetrating network superabsorbent hydrogels based on sodium alginate and cellulose nanocrystals: A biodegradable and high-performance solution for adult incontinence pads.

机构信息

Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

出版信息

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Dec 31;253(Pt 8):127118. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127118. Epub 2023 Oct 4.

DOI:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127118

Abstract

Superabsorbent hydrogels (SAHs) are essential in various applications, including hygienic products like adult incontinence pads. However, synthetic-based super absorbent polymers (SAPs) dominate the market despite being non-biodegradable. Alternatively, bio-based hydrogels, such as sodium alginate (SA)-based hydrogels, offer biodegradable alternatives. In this study, we aimed to enhance the practical applied properties of SA-based hydrogels by grafting SA with acrylic acid (AA) and incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Specifically, we investigated the potential of interpenetrating network (IPN) and semi-interpenetrating network (S-IPN) hydrogels as absorbent materials in adult incontinence pads. The fabricated SAHs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). They were also evaluated for absorption and rheological properties. The results showed that in IPN/SAHs, the addition of CNCs decreased pore sizes, while in S-IPN/SAHs, CNC incorporation increased pore sizes. The S-IPN/SAHs exhibited a significantly higher free swelling capacity (FSC) with CNCs loading, reaching 142.29 g/g in 0.9 % NaCl solution and 817.4 g/g in distilled water. On the other hand, IPN/SAHs showed a higher storage modulus and lower loss modulus compared to S-IPN/SAHs. Notably, the superior samples from this study showed a 33 % reduction in SAP consumption compared to commercial SAPs, making them more cost-effective for adult incontinence pad manufacturers. Overall, our research demonstrates the potential of interpenetrating and semi-interpenetrating network superabsorbent hydrogels as high-performance absorbent materials. The results offer improved absorbency and cost savings for producers of adult incontinence pads, and bio-based hydrogels like SA-based hydrogels are promising biodegradable alternatives to synthetic-based SAPs.

摘要

高吸水性水凝胶（SAHs）在各种应用中至关重要，包括成人失禁垫等卫生产品。然而，尽管合成型高吸水性聚合物（SAPs）不可生物降解，但它们仍占据市场主导地位。相比之下，生物基水凝胶，如基于海藻酸钠（SA）的水凝胶，提供了可生物降解的替代品。在这项研究中，我们旨在通过将 SA 与丙烯酸（AA）接枝并掺入纤维素纳米晶体（CNCs）来增强基于 SA 的水凝胶的实际应用性能。具体而言，我们研究了互穿网络（IPN）和半互穿网络（S-IPN）水凝胶作为成人失禁垫中吸收材料的潜力。所制备的 SAHs 通过傅里叶变换红外（FT-IR）光谱和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）进行了表征。还对它们的吸收和流变性能进行了评估。结果表明，在 IPN/SAHs 中，加入 CNCs 会减小孔径，而在 S-IPN/SAHs 中，CNC 的掺入会增加孔径。S-IPN/SAHs 在加入 CNCs 时表现出更高的自由溶胀能力（FSC），在 0.9%NaCl 溶液中达到 142.29 g/g，在蒸馏水中达到 817.4 g/g。另一方面，与 S-IPN/SAHs 相比，IPN/SAHs 表现出更高的储能模量和更低的损耗模量。值得注意的是，与商业 SAP 相比，这项研究中的优质样品可将 SAP 消耗降低 33%，从而使成人失禁垫制造商更具成本效益。总的来说，我们的研究表明互穿和半互穿网络高吸水性水凝胶作为高性能吸收材料的潜力。结果为成人失禁垫生产商提供了更好的吸水性和成本节约，而基于 SA 的水凝胶等生物基水凝胶是合成型 SAP 的有前途的可生物降解替代品。