Superabsorbents

AQUASORB™ series

Superabsorbent swells on contact with water and receives a bound amount of moisture, which is tens of times greater than their correct amount (for use in agriculture more than 500 times). The water-holding agents produced by us are used in the manufacture of personal care products, as well as in other industries.

Superabsorbent plays an important role in everyday life. Without the use of a moisture retarder, it is not possible to produce feminine hygiene pads, baby diapers, pads that make life easier when urinating incontinence. SNF has supplemented the range of FLOSORB products used in this field with a new water retainer with unique absorbing properties.

SNF has developed a range of water retainers that can significantly reduce the cost of irrigation and improve the quality of soils.

AQUASORB™ series suerabsorbent is injected into soil or materials, absorbs and retains large amounts of water and nutrients. Unlike most products that absorb water, AQUASORB™ has the property of easy recycling of absorbed water and nutrients, providing it to plants. This is the function of absorption, called the recoil cycles.

Advantages:

  • Increases the water holding capacity of soils for several years. The irrigation frequency can be reduced by 50%.

  • Reduces the loss of water and nutrients due to leaching.

  • Reduces the evaporation of water from the soil.

  • Improves the physical properties of dense soils, increasing aeration.

  • Increases the growth of plants. Water and nutrients are constantly available in the root zone for optimal plant absorption.

  • Protects nature from drought and pollutants in groundwater.

Structre

AQUASORB is a series of water retention aids, based on anionic polycrylamide. They are water-insoluble cross-linked copolymers of acrylamide and potassium acrylate.
AQUASORB products absorb amounts of distilled water up to 500 times their mass, passing into gels.

How it works

Polymers contain a set of polymer chains parallel to each other. They are regularly connected by sewing agents, forming a mesh. When water is in contact with one of these chains, it is drawn into the polymer molecule through osmosis. Thus, water is retained, rapidly migrating into the polymer network. When the soil dries, the polymer gives it up to 95% of the absorbed water.
The change in the amount of the cross-linking agent allows the polymer network to be modified:

  • The more the polymer is sewn, the more dense the mesh. This reduces the capacitance, but increases the stability of the polymer over time.

  • On the contrary, less crosslinked polymers form a weak network. Absorption increases, but stability decreases.

Features & Benefits

The water retainer is supplied with different particle sizes, the absorption capacity and the recoil capacity of which varies, depending on the properties of the soil.

Absorption capacity

In general, the smaller the particle size of the polymer, the greater the capacity and the rate of absorption.

Buffer effect for fertilizers

The water retainer significantly reduces fertilizer leaching, because they are retained in the polymer network. Thanks to this, fertilizers are much longer available for plants.

Effect of salts

The presence of electrolytes in the aqueous medium significantly reduces the absorption capacity of AQUASORB. This explains the fact that the water holding capacity of AQUASORB in materials varies by 100-150 times by mass.

Drying time increases

The superabsorbent increases the water-retaining capacity and delays the drying time. Sandy soil, treated with 2 grams of superabsorbent per kilogram of soil, retains moisture twice as long as untreated.

Aquasorb 3005

Crosslinked copolymer of acrylamide and potassium acrylate
Dry product content 89-90%
Apparent density 0.85
Specific gravity 1.10 g/cm²
pH 8.10
Appearance Dry white powder
Hydrated – transparent gel
Particle size Powders, micro granules, granules
Absorption absorption, g/g 400 in deionization. Water 150 in soil
Moisture retention with pF1 980 ml/l
Water return at pF4.2 (near the point of drying) 95%
Cation exchange capacity 4.6 meq / g
Dosage For substrates: 1-2 g / l
For soils: 20-50 g / m3
Productivity in soil Up to 5 years
Toxicity in soil No under normal conditions
Packing 25 kg plastic bag
50 pound paper bag
Storage temperature 0-35 ° C
The half-life of the dry product 5 years
* These values ​​depend on the size of the polymer particles

Environment

Biodegradation

The polymer is sensitive to the action of ultraviolet rays, which break chemical bonds, converting the polymer into oligomers (very small molecules). Thus, it becomes significantly more sensitive to aerobic and anaerobic processes of microbiological decomposition.
Therefore, AQUASORB™ itself decomposes itself in soils (up to 10-15% per year) for CO2, H2O and nitrogen compounds.

Bioaccumulation

The polymer is too huge to be absorbed in the tissues and cells of plants. Therefore, the potential bion accumulation is zero
The productivity period of AQUASORB in the field varies from one year to five years and depends on the particle size and agroclimatic conditions.

  • The more the polymer is sewn, the more dense the mesh. This reduces the capacitance, but increases the stability of the polymer over time.

  • On the contrary, less crosslinked polymers form a weak network. Absorption increases, but stability decreases.

Toxicity:

  • AQUASORB™ do not exhibit systematic toxicity (LD50 for rats> 5000 mg/kg).

  • AQUASORB™ was approved by the French Ministry of Agriculture (APV No. 8410030). Products under our trademarks in the US are also approved by the US Department of Agriculture.

  • For additional information consult the safety data sheet for the product.

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