Preparation and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose-g-Acrylamide Hydrogel

Carboxymethyl cellulose-g-acrylamide, a superabsorbent hydrogel was prepared from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, DS = 0.7–0.8) and acrylamide (AA) monomer through graft copolymerization by the use of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) or Ce 4+ as an initiator in aqueous medium. CMC and hydrogel were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). FTIR spectra established crosslinked polymeric network structure of hydrogel through graft copolymerization reaction between CMC and acrylamide indicating incorporation of acrylamide monomer resulting the formation of carboxamide group (>C=O). AFM showed the surface morphology or properties of the superabsorbent hydrogel. The hydrophilic properties of the superabsorbent hydrogel were identified by the swelling percentage or degree of swelling. Various physical properties were also identified in terms of water desorption, water absorption or hydration of hydrogel and gel content in hydrogel and the corresponding values of these are 86%, 524% and 70%, respectively.