Recycling and Reuse of Superabsorbent Polymers

Super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) are three-dimensional network polymers that can absorb hundreds of times their own weight in distilled water and are either organic or inorganic. They are extensively employed in many different industries, including those that deal with agriculture, biomedicine, everyday physiological goods, separation technology, and wastewater treatment. Polysaccharides are increasingly being combined with synthetic monomers to create semi-synthetic, hybrid SAPs for specialized applications requiring finely tuned properties, such as wound dressings, fertilizers, or self-healing concrete, where the low solubility of synthetic polymers, purification issues, or the need for organic solvents are significant barriers to entry. Products made of polypropylene, polyethylene, elastics, cellulose, and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are among the billions that end up in landfills every year. The chapter discusses the development of superabsorbent polymers since 1961, along with the polymerisation procedures for these materials, their recycling, and their uses.