Superabsorbent polymers in agriculture and other applications: a review

ABSTRACT Superabsorbent polymers are a class of polymeric materials that have the ability to absorb and retain a large amount of water and aqueous solutions. They are composed of three-dimensional polymeric networks that do not dissolve in water but swell considerably in aqueous medium. The synthetic superabsorbent polymers are replacing the natural ones because of their high absorption capacity, availability of wide varieties of raw materials and longer durability. Due to their hydrophilic, non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties, they are the most desirable products for various applications such as drug delivery, agriculture, bioremediation, fire fighting, biosensors, food industries, thermal energy storage, and tissue engineering. This article reviews the literature concerned with the classification of superabsorbent polymers, their manufacturing processes, their properties, and the factors affecting them and their applications. Agriculture is one of the growing sectors due to the requirement of food to meet the growing demands of the expanding global population. The technology of controlled or sustained release of agrochemicals and superabsorbents is a boon to the agricultural sector. The review elaborates the literature related to the drug delivery and agricultural application of the hydrogels in detail.