Description
What is Super Absorbent Polymer(SAP)?
It is a non-toxic, safe, non-polluting, and biodegradable functional polymer with good water absorption and water retention ability.
The most beneficial attribute of a super absorbent polymer is that it absorbs liquids equivalent to several hundred times its body mass and turns them into a gel; this is how it can retain or block water.
What is Potassium polyacrylate?
Potassium polyacrylate is a type of SAP used as a water-retaining agent in plants.
When compared to regular SAP, agriculture grade SAP (potassium polyacrylate) has undergone post-processing in the manufacturing process (such as grafting), giving it the distinct advantage of being specifically used in agriculture:
- Change the polymer’s cation from sodium ion to potassium ion. This not only eliminates the risk of sodium ion-induced soil salinization but also fertilizes the soil with potassium ions after decomposition.
- Increases the time it takes for decomposition in nature. Ordinary SAP will melt and decompose after absorbing water to form a gel in about a month, whereas agricultural SAP can absorb and release water in the soil repeatedly for dozens of months.
- Increased soil water absorption capacity: increased pressure absorption and ionized water absorption.
These benefits make it similar to a “mini reservoir” in that it absorbs and stores enough water during the rainy season or during irrigation, and then continuously provides water to the plants when the soil is dry.
Agricultural Super Absorbent Polymer(SAP)
Superabsorbents created specifically for agricultural and soil water conservation.
POLYMERSCO® (Agricultural Super Absorbent Polymer) is a potassium-neutralized acrylic-acrylamide co-polymer that is resistant to several wet/dry cycles.
When the soil receives rain or water irrigation, the product delivers moisture to plant root hairs and replenishes itself as a water reservoir.
POLYMERSCO Agriculture grade high absorbent polymer works like a “Mini-reservoir”: it absorbs water when it rains and releases it when it dries.
It may be able to:
- improve seed germination and emergence, giving plants a head start in life;
- contains 18.3% potassium and slowly releases fertilizer efficiency;
- reduce irrigation and increase soil water retention capacity by 85% (for sand);
- 70 percent improvement in crop and fruit output (for melon planting in California).
How it works
Agri-grade super absorbent polymer is made up of a network of parallel polymeric chains that are routinely joined together by cross-linking agents.
Osmosis draws water into a molecule when it comes into touch with one of these chains. Water quickly migrates into the polymer network’s interior, where it is stored. That’s how water gel is made from extremely absorbent polymer powder.
Because the absorption capacity of this water gel is greater than that of soil but lower than that of plant roots, the water absorbed by the super absorbent polymer will be released to the plants once it is dry.
Tips: Agriculture SAP has specific retention of 1.3-1.4 MPa, while roots have specific retention of 1.6-1.7 MPa.
FAQ
A new functional material with outstanding water absorption and water retention capability is super absorbent polymer
A super absorbent polymer is made up of a network of polymeric chains that run parallel to each other and are frequently connected together by cross-linking agents. Osmosis draws water into a molecule when it comes into contact with one of these items. Water quickly migrates into the polymer network’s interior, where it is stored.
Super obsorbent polymer materials are employed in agriculture, manufacturing, and hygiene in a variety of ways.
If not handled appropriately, it can be dangerous. Inhaling the powder, for example, can irritate the lungs–but this isn’t usually a problem. It can create major obstruction if large amounts of it enter sewer or drainage systems, and it should be dealt with very away.
Super absorbent polymer is completely safe, as it is non-toxic and poses no significant health hazards.
Product Test
Test Objective
Performance Study in varying soil classifications.
Sample volumes Used
Soil:500ml, Water:750ml, SAP:5 grams.
Test Samples
| Sample | Type | % Sand | % Silt | % Clay | Control weight (g) | w/POLYMERSCO SAP Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sand | 100 | 0 | 0 | 762 | 768 |
| 2 | Silt Loam | 37 | 40 | 24 | 615 | 626 |
| 3 | Clay Loam | 30 | 48 | 22 | 407 | 400 |
Test result
| Type | Test | Water Passing (ml) | Water Retained (ml) | % Retained | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand | Control | 425 | 325 | 43.3 | - |
| W/Polymersco SAP | 150 | 600 | 80 | 85 | |
| Silt Loam | Control | 275 | 475 | 63.3 | - |
| W/Polymersco SAP | 100 | 650 | 86 | 37 | |
| Clay Loam | Control | 362 | 398 | 53.1 | - |
| W/Polymersco SAP | 200 | 550 | 73.3 | 38 |
Agricultural grade super absorbent polymer Applications
1.Agriculture on a vast scale with hydrogel
The seed germination rate can be successfully improved and promoted by applying 15 to 30 kg per hectare, coupled with seeds hole application or ditch treatment to the soil around the seed. Plants corn in the United States, pasture in parched areas of Inner Mongolia, potatoes in Cape Verde, and increases melon output by more than 70%.
2. Specially formulated water retention agent for lawns and sod
The POLYMERSCO® polymer is very easy to utilize throughout the lawn and sod growth cycle. They ensure that lawns germinate well, mature quickly, and grow in a consistent and even manner. Sod rooting is also more rapid. Super absorbent polymers are commonly utilized in golf course landscaping as well as grass in parks and gardens.
3. Specially formulated water retention agent for use with fertilizers.
POLYMERSCO® Polymer can be used dry into fertilizer mixes to decrease nutrient leaching in the soil. Because of the behavior of plants fertilized with this mixture, it is feasible to maintain or even improve output while also preventing leaking into the environment. The findings of the manufacturers’ tests also reveal that the plants’ roots are developing better.
4. Specially formulated water retention agent for horticulture
When plants are planted, POLYMERSCO® polymer for horticulture can be applied to the soil, increasing plant survival, increasing drought tolerance, facilitating plant generation, and lowering garden care expenses.
5. Arboriculture-specific water retention agent
Planting trees, bushes, and jungles with super absorbent polymer are beneficial. It allows for a lower mortality rate after transplantation as well as improved root development, resulting in faster growth and production.
6. Specially formulated water retention agent for transplant mature trees
One of the most important technological guarantees for the “site creation” of huge trees with canopy transplantation is the application of a Super absorbent polymer soil water retention agent.
7. Vegetable-specific water retention agent
Two types of water-retaining agents with different particle sizes were used to raise seedlings using eggplant, Chichewa, and ribbed loofah as materials to study the effect of water-retaining agents on vegetable seedling quality and fertility retention.
The results show that the higher the concentration of the water-retaining agent in the seedling substrate, the stronger the fertilizer-holding capacity of the seedling substrate, but when the concentration of the water-retaining agent is too high, it will inhibit the growth of vegetable seedlings, and the low-concentration water-retaining agent has a significant effect on promoting the growth of vegetable seedlings, and the small particles have a significant effect on promoting the growth of vegetable seedlings.
The diameter water-retaining agent has a stronger seedling strengthening effect than the large particle size water-retaining agent.
The seedling effect is best when the concentration of a small particle size water-retaining agent is 1%. Seedlings of eggplant, Chichewa, and ribbed loofah were measured for plant height, stem thickness, and maximum leaf area.
Both reached their highest possible value, and the difference was extremely significant when compared to the control.
8. Water retention agent designed specifically for greening projects
Super absorbent polymer is commonly used in greening projects because it stabilizes newly graded soils, keeps surface water to a minimum, reduces the amount of mulch, prevents cellulose mulch from becoming hardpan, and aids in the rapid sprouting of seedlings even in dry areas.
