White Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) waste, as biowaste for the preparation of novel superabsorbent polymer gel

In order to reduce the pollution of the bio-waste cabbage to the environment and achieve recycling of biological waste resources, synthesis of a novel superabsorbent polymer gel based on waste cabbage (CB) using two monomers AMPS (2-acrylamide-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) and AA (acrylic acid). And the synthesis conditions were optimized, such as the ratio of AMPS and AA, initiator content, and crosslinker content. And the water retention, salt resistance and repeated swelling performance were investigated too. The chemical structure thermal stability and microscopic appearance of the superabsorbent polymer gel were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the novel superabsorbent polymer gel exhibits excellent water absorbency, which can absorb ultrapure water, distilled water, tap water and 0.9% NaCl solution are 1914 g/g, 1726 g/g, 306 g/g and 114 g/g, respectively. This is higher than in related studies 30%− 40% in distilled water, 60%− 70% in tap water and 10%− 20% in 0.9% NaCl solution. Therefore, this superabsorbent polymer gel showed a high swelling property and stable salt resistance. It has a broad application prospect.