Can superabsorbent polymer crystals absorb any other liquids besides water? (page 2)

Research Questions

• What is a hydrogel superabsorbent polymer crystal?
• How did the hydrogel crystals change when placed in the various liquids?
• Will a hydrogel superabsorbent polymer crystal absorb liquids other then water?
• What liquids other then water if any will a hydrogel superabsorbent polymer absorb?
• Why was distilled water used as a control?
• What happens when the crystal gel dries out? Is the hydrogel crystal reusable?
• How does the absorbency of the hydrogel compare with other materials that are absorbent: cotton balls, paper towels, sponges, etc?

Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research

Hydrogel crystal, crystal, polymer, control, and superabsorbent polymer

Experimental Procedure

1. Using a measuring cup pour 4 ounces of orange juice, vegetable oil, milk, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, club soda, and distilled water into clear plastic cups.
2. Place one or two crystals in each liquid. The crystals will begin to grow immediately.
3. Observe what happens to the crystals after 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 1 ½ hours. How has the crystals changed?
4. Allow the crystals to grow to a point where they cannot be seen clearly inside the cup.
5. Measure the liquid left in each cup by poring the residue liquid into a measuring cup, using a stranger or paper filter to catch the crystals.
6. Determine how much liquid is left after crystal absorption by subtracting the amount of liquid poured in the measuring cup from 4 ounces.
7. For a more scientifically accurate investigation the entire processed should be repeated twice more. Record the results in a table similar to the one shown below.

8. Using the data in the table plot a line or bar graph of amount of liquid absorbed by the crystals along the Y-axis verses the name of each liquid along the X-axis.
9. As an extension to this project take the now jelly-like polymer crystals and spread them out on a piece of wax paper using a ruler, measure and record the size of the crystals.
10. Allow the crystals to sit in the sunlight for several days. As the polymer sits in the warm sunlight, the liquid will evaporate, and the crystals will shrink.
11. After several days, measure and record the size of the polymer crystals. Were there any differences in the rate and size of crystal shrinkage based on the liquids that they were in?

Bibliography

References to related books

Authors: Fredric L. Buchholz (Editor), Andrew T. Graham (Editor) 

Publisher: Wiley-VCH, Inc.     ISBN-10: 0471194115 and ISBN-13: 978-0471194118

This book is about superabsorbent polymers, how they are made, and to what purpose they are used with the technical developments and techniques needed to produce them. There is a special emphasis on the applications of superabsorbent polymers specifically within personal care items.

The material in the book is comprehensive, adult-level in scope and sequence however; the young investigator and his or her parents (teachers) can use this book as a general reference resource.

Links to related sites on the web

Super Absorbent Polymer

How to make a Crystal Appear and Disappear?

NOTE: The Internet is dynamic; websites cited are subject to change without warning or notice!