Durability indicatives of hydrogel for agricultural and forestry use in saline conditions

• Published in: Journal of arid environments 2021-12, Vol.195, p.104622, Article 104622
• Main Authors: Nascimento, Carla Danielle Vasconcelos do, Feitosa, Judith Pessoa de Andrade, Simmons, Robert, Dias, Carlos Tadeu dos Santos, Nascimento, Ícaro Vasconcelos do, Mota, Jaedson Cláudio Anunciato, Costa, Mirian Cristina Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Irrigation water salinity; Poly (Acrylamide-co-Potassium Acrylate); Soil conditioner
• ISSN: 0140-1963; 1095-922X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104622

This research tested the hypothesis that the interaction between time and salinity reduces the water absorption potential of a hydrogel – Poly (Acrylamide-co-Potassium Acrylate) and influence the degradation of residual acrylamide monomer. The experimental design was completely randomized split-plot with four replications. The treatments were time periods (30, 60, 90 and 120 days) and levels of salinity of the hydrating solution (distilled water = 0.003, 0.5; 1.5; 3.0 and 6.0 dS m−1). Swelling, hydrogel composition, and residual acrylamide monomer concentration were evaluated. The hydrogel showed lowest water absorption potential (8.1 g g−1) in a saline solution of 4.20 dS m−1 after 120 days. The C/N ratio of the hydrogel increased by up to 47% in a hydrating solution with an EC of 4.4 dS m−1 at 120 days. Additionally, there was an observed shift in the wavelength of methylene, amide, and acrylate bands, that indicates degradation. Residual acrylamide monomer concentration was