Superabsorbent Polymers: Material Safety of the Major Chemical Groups

With the successful development of superabsorbent polymers for diverse applications in agriculture, the question on their safety to the soil and plant system is being increasingly raised. Currently these products are finding an extensive application in public hygiene, biomedical aids, oil refineries, wastewater treatment and several other domains. Material safety data on all the major chemical groups of these materials are in public domain. These have been compiled through Google search, reorganized and reported. The chemicals and reagents employed in the preparation of agricultural superabsorbents and those for other applications are generally the same. Only an intelligent and need based choice of reaction conditions and reactant ratios has to be made to develop materials for intended domain. Based on the safety information of the materials reported in the literature, the products for use in agriculture are not anticipated to pose any danger to the environment.