E-beam radiation synthesis of xanthan-gum/carboxymethylcellulose superabsorbent hydrogels with incorporated graphene oxide

In this study the electron beam (e-beam) radiation synthesis in “paste-like condition” and characterization of the network structure of acrylic acid (AA) sodium salt/xanthan gum (XG)/carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) superabsorbent hydrogels incorporating graphene oxide (GO) was investigated. The effects of the AA concentration on gel fraction, sol-gel analysis, swelling degree and network parameters, as well as the relationship between these parameters and radiation dose was also established.Gel fraction exceeds 90%, and the p0/q0 ratio shows a moderate degradation process. The swelling kinetic data were used to determine, first the swelling degree, second the diffusion characteristics, and third the average molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc), as well as. The diffusion data revealed a Fickian mechanism transport, for each hydrogel compositions. The network parameters (Mc and ξ) increased with absorbed dose, while cross-linking density and the radiation-chemical yields were decreased.