Super Absorbent Polymers are prepared from acrylic acid and a cross-linker by solution or suspension polymerization. The type and quantity of cross-linker control both the swelling capacity and gel modulus.
Super Absorbent Polymer is a new type macro molecular synthetic material that can absorb water of hundreds times of its weight in a short time. It is one kind of functionality macromolecule polymer which is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-corrosive. It cannot conflagrate and blast.

Super Absorbent Polymers, otherwise known as SAP, absorbent polymers, absorbent gels, super soakers, super slurpers, gel crystals, are materials that swell in water to form a clear gel made up of separate, individual particles. Unlike a sponge, in which water can be wrung out easily, the hydrated gel particles retain the absorbed water even under pressure. This unique ability to hold absorbed water, even against pressure, is the primary benefit of using super absorbent polymers.3

Applications:

• Dehydration of many kinds of liquids (say Ethanol).
• Dehydration of air.
• Dehydration of Refrigerant.
• Dehydration of natural gas or methane.
• Dehydration of cracked gas, ethylene, ethane, propylene or butadiene

Industrial Application:

Packaging & Transportation:
SAP in ice bags acts as a perfect insulation package (box, case, barrel etc.) and are widely used in transportation of temperature sensitive products such as medicines, blood, vaccines, flowers, fruits, aquatic products and biological agents. Swollen SAP's have the capacity to retain heat or cold for prolonged periods and are useful in hot/cool packs in the packaging industry.

Industrial Waste Management:
Hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste streams must often be solidified and stabilized to pass the Paint Filter Test prior to placement in an appropriately permitted landfill. SAP materials help in safe, effective, and economical liquid waste solidification and stabilization of hazardous, non-hazardous, and low-level radioactive waste. Given the capacity of SAP to retain substantial volumes of water there is limited increase in weight of the solidified mass, thereby minimizing transportation and disposal costs.

Waste Water Treatment:
Due to SAP's absorbency and chelating capability to heavy metal ions, it can seize heavy metal ions in solution for the recovery of precious metals, so SAP is widely used in treating water from metallurgy, mining, and electroplating.

Flood Control:
Giving way to traditional sand bags for sudden flood control, new SAP filled self-inflating bags are in demand. These bags are more effective, easier to deploy and much more compact to store and distribute. On-site testing has proved that the self inflating bags are NINE times faster then traditional sandbags in controlling flood. It saves both time and manpower effectively.

Floral Decoration:
Crystal Soil is an one kind of Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) which is also known as crystal beads, water gel, crystal pearls, water pearl, magic crystal, flora gel, decorative jelly. Crystal soil is a perfect substitute for dirty soil for floral decoration with plants. It can not only play the decorative function, but also reduce plant watering by up to 50% due to its ability of absorbing up to 200 times its weight in water. Furthermore, it is able to repeatedly absorb and release water for many times.

Apart from above, other industries where SAP is Used:

• Absorbent films
• Construction
• Composites & Laminate
• Cool ties
• Drown-Free water source for feeder insects
• Fire-retardant gel
• Fuel monitor systems
• Grow-In-Water toys
• Fake ice (ice crystals) & Artificial Snow
• Motionless waterbeds
• Science kits
• Sport dryers
• Paint & Ink solidification
• Underground Cable Waterproofing
• Petrochemicals
• Mining

SAP has flocculation function to make fine dust of the soil to become loosed big grains; this can prevent soil to be harden. During repeatedly absorb-release water, it can make soil loosen thus to promote soil edaphon development and increase crop quantity.

SAP will significantly reduce water depletion while dramatically improving plant survival and growth. It will also reduce water runoff and soil erosion, thus improving the quality of our lakes, streams and rivers. Cost-efficient water management is of particular importance for the agricultural and horticultural industry, e.g. for tree nurseries growing high-value trees and shrubs. With severe droughts occurring on a more frequent basis due to global warming, SAP can help plants survive by reducing irrigation requirements up to 50%.

It is widely used in agriculture & forestry industry, municipal gardening, drought resisting and water preserving, and sand resisting and controlling aspects, and is playing an important role.