Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are special materials that can absorb and hold a very large amount of water compared to their own weight. They are commonly used in products such as baby diapers, sanitary items, agriculture, and wastewater treatment. Most of the SAPs used today are made from petroleum-based chemicals. These materials do not easily break down in nature and may cause environmental pollution. Therefore, it is important to develop safer and biodegradable alternatives. This study focuses on preparing eco-friendly SAPs using natural materials like starch, cellulose, and chitosan. These substances are obtained from plants and natural sources, making them renewable and environmentally friendly. By modifying these natural polymers and combining them properly, their water-absorbing capacity can be improved. The prepared bio-based SAPs show good swelling ability and water retention properties. These environmentally friendly SAPs can help farmers by keeping soil moist for a longer time, reducing the need for frequent irrigation. They can also be used in hygiene products and in cleaning polluted water by absorbing harmful substances. Overall, this study shows that natural polymers can be used to develop sustainable and biodegradable superabsorbent materials, which are better for the environment compared to synthetic ones.

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1. Ma J, Li X, Bao Y. Advances in cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels. RSC Adv. 2015;5:59745-59757. doi:10.1039/C5RA08522E.
2. Cheng B, Pei B, Wang Z, Hu Q. Advances in chitosan-based superabsorbent hydrogels. RSC Adv. 2017;7:42036-42046. doi:10.1039/C7RA07104C.
3. Zohuriaan-Mehr MJ, Kabiri K. Superabsorbent polymer materials: a review. Iran Polym J. 2008;17(6):451-477.
4. Montesano FF, Parente A, Santamaria P, Sannino A, Serio F. Biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogel increases water retention properties of growing media and plant growth. Agric Agric Sci Procedia. 2015;4:451-458.
5. Pourjavadi A, Harzandi AM, Hosseinzadeh H. Modified natural polysaccharides as superabsorbent hydrogels. Eur Polym J. 2004;40(7):1363-1370.
6. Li A, Zhang J, Wang A. Utilization of starch and clay for the preparation of superabsorbent composite materials. Bioresour Technol. 2007;98(2):327-332.
7. Wu J, Lin J, Zhou M, Wei C. Synthesis and properties of starch-graft-polyacrylamide/clay superabsorbent composite. Macromol Rapid Commun. 2000;21(15):1032-1034.
8. El-Hamshary H, Fouda MMG, Moydeen AM. Development and applications of polysaccharide-based superabsorbent hydrogels. Int J Biol Macromol. 2023;245:128909.
9. Yang Y, Liang Z, Zhang R, Zhou S, Yang H, Chen Y, et al. Research advances in superabsorbent polymers. Polymers. 2024;16(4):501. doi:10.3390/polym16040501.
10. Guilherme MR, Aouada FA, Fajardo AR, Martins AF, Paulino AT, Davi MFT, et al. Superabsorbent hydrogels based on polysaccharides for application in agriculture as soil conditioner and nutrient carrier: a review. Eur Polym J. 2015;72:365-385.
11. Sannino A, Demitri C, Madaghiele M. Biodegradable cellulose-based hydrogels: design and applications. Materials. 2009;2(2):353-373.
12. Shaheen W, Iqbal MM, Qudrat L. Development of cellulose-based superabsorbent polymers: a review. Cellulose. 2025;32:2811-2845.
13. Bashari A, Rouhani Shirvan A, Shakeri M. Cellulose-based hydrogels for personal care products. Polym Adv Technol. 2018;29(12):2853-2867.
14. Singh V, Tiwari A, Pandey S, Singh SK. Peroxydisulfate initiated synthesis of potato starch-graft-poly(acrylamide) superabsorbent hydrogels. Carbohydr Polym. 2007;67(1):46-53.

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are special materials that can absorb and hold a very large amount of water compared to their own weight. They are commonly used in products such as baby diapers, sanitary items, agriculture, and wastewater treatment. Most of the SAPs used today are made from petroleum-based chemicals. These materials do not easily break down in nature and may cause environmental pollution. Therefore, it is important to develop safer and biodegradable alternatives. This study focuses on preparing eco-friendly SAPs using natural materials like starch, cellulose, and chitosan. These substances are obtained from plants and natural sources, making them renewable and environmentally friendly. By modifying these natural polymers and combining them properly, their water-absorbing capacity can be improved. The prepared bio-based SAPs show good swelling ability and water retention properties. These environmentally friendly SAPs can help farmers by keeping soil moist for a longer time, reducing the need for frequent irrigation. They can also be used in hygiene products and in cleaning polluted water by absorbing harmful substances. Overall, this study shows that natural polymers can be used to develop sustainable and biodegradable superabsorbent materials, which are better for the environment compared to synthetic ones.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Ma J, Li X, Bao Y. Advances in cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels. RSC Adv. 2015;5:59745-59757. doi:10.1039/C5RA08522E.
2. Cheng B, Pei B, Wang Z, Hu Q. Advances in chitosan-based superabsorbent hydrogels. RSC Adv. 2017;7:42036-42046. doi:10.1039/C7RA07104C.
3. Zohuriaan-Mehr MJ, Kabiri K. Superabsorbent polymer materials: a review. Iran Polym J. 2008;17(6):451-477.
4. Montesano FF, Parente A, Santamaria P, Sannino A, Serio F. Biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogel increases water retention properties of growing media and plant growth. Agric Agric Sci Procedia. 2015;4:451-458.
5. Pourjavadi A, Harzandi AM, Hosseinzadeh H. Modified natural polysaccharides as superabsorbent hydrogels. Eur Polym J. 2004;40(7):1363-1370.
6. Li A, Zhang J, Wang A. Utilization of starch and clay for the preparation of superabsorbent composite materials. Bioresour Technol. 2007;98(2):327-332.
7. Wu J, Lin J, Zhou M, Wei C. Synthesis and properties of starch-graft-polyacrylamide/clay superabsorbent composite. Macromol Rapid Commun. 2000;21(15):1032-1034.
8. El-Hamshary H, Fouda MMG, Moydeen AM. Development and applications of polysaccharide-based superabsorbent hydrogels. Int J Biol Macromol. 2023;245:128909.
9. Yang Y, Liang Z, Zhang R, Zhou S, Yang H, Chen Y, et al. Research advances in superabsorbent polymers. Polymers. 2024;16(4):501. doi:10.3390/polym16040501.
10. Guilherme MR, Aouada FA, Fajardo AR, Martins AF, Paulino AT, Davi MFT, et al. Superabsorbent hydrogels based on polysaccharides for application in agriculture as soil conditioner and nutrient carrier: a review. Eur Polym J. 2015;72:365-385.
11. Sannino A, Demitri C, Madaghiele M. Biodegradable cellulose-based hydrogels: design and applications. Materials. 2009;2(2):353-373.
12. Shaheen W, Iqbal MM, Qudrat L. Development of cellulose-based superabsorbent polymers: a review. Cellulose. 2025;32:2811-2845.
13. Bashari A, Rouhani Shirvan A, Shakeri M. Cellulose-based hydrogels for personal care products. Polym Adv Technol. 2018;29(12):2853-2867.
14. Singh V, Tiwari A, Pandey S, Singh SK. Peroxydisulfate initiated synthesis of potato starch-graft-poly(acrylamide) superabsorbent hydrogels. Carbohydr Polym. 2007;67(1):46-53.