Highly absorbent polyhydroxy polymer graft copolymers without saponification

US4194998A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• George F. Fanta · Peoria, US
• Edward I. Stout · Peoria, US
• William M. Doane · Morton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 1978
• Grant date: Mar 25, 1980
• Expiry date: Oct 30, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S47/10
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Absorbent compositions comprising graft copolymers of starch are prepared by a simplified method of synthesis. By using a mixture of a nonionic acrylic monomer and an anionic sulfonic acid-substituted acrylic monomer, highly absorbent compositions are prepared without the need for an alkaline saponification step. These compositions are also characterized by their ability to absorb large amounts of aqueous fluids under highly acidic conditions.