Absorption and desorption of water by a crosslinked acrylamide-sodium acrylate copolymer as a function of different parameters

The absorption and the desorption of water by a commercial superabsorbent, a crosslinked copolymer of 70% acrylamide and 30% sodium acrylate, have bee n investigated using several parameters, in order to use it as a soil condi tioner in the agricultural sector. Therefore, absorption and desorption iso therms have been determined according to: type of soil, position in the soi l, size of copolymer particles, and variation of water discharge. Water abs orption by soils alone was investigated too, in order to show effectiveness of crosslinked copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate. A model was se t up allowing determination of water diffusivity in the various systems. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.