Catalog NumberHG9003047
CAS Number9003-04-7
CategoryPolymer Surfactants
Use as dispersing agent, emulsifying agent.
Use as thickening agent.
Use as chelating agent.
Use as flocculant.
Use as suspending agent.
Use as water-absorbing agent.
Use as water-based lubricant.
Sodium Polyacrylate as Superabsorbent Polymer for Water Retention in Agriculture
Wang, Hanbo, et al. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science (2020).
Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) such as sodium polyacrylate have been applied as soil conditioners to reduce water loss and improve water use efficiency in arid and semi-arid agriculture. Sodium polyacrylate, formed by cross-linking acrylic acid and sodium acrylate, is one of the most widely used SAPs. While previous studies have documented SAP benefits for soil physicochemical properties, their influence on soil bacterial community structures and associated chemical residues remains poorly characterized, raising concerns about long-term environmental safety.
Experimental Protocol: Sodium polyacrylate was applied to repacked loessial soil columns under water-deficit and water-saturated conditions. Soil bacterial community structures were profiled using Illumina MiSeq sequencing with comprehensive alpha diversity analysis at multiple taxonomic levels. Pyrolysis analysis was employed to systematically identify chemical residues uniquely present in SAP-treated soils compared to untreated controls.
Performance Evaluation: Alpha diversity analysis revealed that SAP addition significantly altered bacterial diversity across all moisture regimes. At the phylum level, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were reduced by 1.9-2.4-fold and 1.1-2.1-fold respectively, while Firmicutes increased by 1.9-4.6-fold. Under water deficit, reduced soil pH strongly promoted Lactobacillus proliferation (9.9-29.1-fold), and acid production by these bacteria further lowered pH, potentially inhibiting Acidobacteria (1.3-1.8-fold) and Chloroflexi (1.6-2.3-fold). Pyrolysis analysis detected methanesulfonyl chloride, long-chain amides, and esters exclusively in water-saturated SAP-treated soils, indicating potential negative environmental and agricultural impacts.
Sodium Polyacrylate -Based Adsorbent for Seawater Desalination Systems
Ali, Ehab S., et al. Energy Conversion and Management: X 20 (2023): 100421.
Seawater desalination is vital for addressing global freshwater scarcity, yet most conventional processes depend on fossil fuels. Adsorption desalination systems (ADS) represent an environmentally benign alternative utilizing porous solid materials to adsorb and desorb water vapor, operating on low-temperature energy supplies such as solar energy or waste heat. ADS offers advantages including low corrosion probability, minimal fouling, and absence of major moving parts. Sodium polyacrylate-based adsorbents show promise for improving ADS performance and reducing desalinated water costs.
Experimental Protocol: Sodium polyacrylate (SP), SP/(NH4)2CO3 activated material, and SP/CaCl2 composite were theoretically evaluated for ADS performance. Models were implemented using MATLAB and TRNSYS over a full year using live weather data from hot climatic regions. Performance metrics including specific daily water production (SDWP) and coefficient of performance (COP) were compared for systems operating with and without heat recovery (HR).
Performance Evaluation: The SP/CaCl2 composite achieved a relatively high SDWP of 15 m3/ton with COP=0.67. SDWP increased dramatically to 45 m3/ton when heat recovery was incorporated into the system. The cost of desalinated water was estimated at 3.8 $/m3 using solar energy and 0.63 $/m3 utilizing waste heat for a system with HR, demonstrating the substantial economic viability of sodium polyacrylate-based adsorbents for sustainable and cost-effective seawater desalination.
Sodium Polyacrylate Used as an Additive to Suppress the Supercooling Phenomenon of Phase Change Materials
Berdja, Mohand, et al. Journal of Energy Storage 36 (2021): 102397.
Supercooling is a persistent undesirable thermal effect in latent thermal storage applications that significantly reduces energy performance and increases energy consumption. When a phase change material (PCM) is cooled below its melting temperature, solidification is delayed until a lower nucleation temperature is reached, forcing refrigeration systems to operate at less efficient temperatures. There is a critical need for effective nucleation-promoting additives that can suppress supercooling without altering the fundamental thermal properties of PCMs.
Experimental Protocol: Sodium polyacrylate particles were combined with three PCMs at liquid phase: deionized water, ethylene glycol solution (23%), and NaCl salt solution (13%). Differential scanning calorimetry and systematic cooling tests were conducted below PCM solidification temperatures to measure thermo-physical properties and define the effect of sample volume on supercooling degree. Gel structure stability was assessed above the solidification temperature to evaluate leakage prevention during storage and transport.
Performance Evaluation: The SP-PCM couples formed stable gel structures above the solidification temperature, effectively preventing leakage without requiring additional containment. Depending on sample volume, sodium polyacrylate significantly reduced or completely eliminated supercooling during PCM solidification, while the PCM's intrinsic physical properties including latent heat and melting temperature remained unchanged. The polymer promoted heterogeneous nucleation while reducing leakage, leading to decreased energy consumption during the solidification process for cold thermal storage applications.