OVERVIEW OF SUPER ABSORBENT POLYMERS (SAPS)

Abstract

“Super absorbent polymers” (SAPs) are cross-linked hydrophilic polymers capable of and absorbing and retaining extremely large amounts of water or aqueous fluids relative to their own mass. They can absorb 100–1000 times their weight in water, making them highly useful in diverse applications such as hygiene products (diapers, sanitary napkins), agriculture (soil conditioners, water retention agents), biomedical fields (drug delivery, wound dressings), and environmental protection (wastewater treatment, spill control).The exceptional swelling ability of SAPs arises from the presence of hydrophilic functional groups (such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amide groups) along the polymer backbone, combined with a three-dimensional cross-linked structure that prevents dissolution while allowing water entrapment.