Preparation and properties of alginate superabsorbent filament fibers crosslinked with glutaraldehyde

Superabsorbent filament fibers based on sodium alginate were prepared using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. Alginate was extruded into an aque ous hydrochloric acid coagulation bath to form continuous alginic acid gel fibers via a wet-spinning method. The alginic acid gel fibers were dehydrat ed by exchanging water with dioxane, crosslinked, then neutralized for bett er absorbency. Crosslinked alginate filaments exhibited a high saline solut ion and synthetic urine absorbencies, maintaining the integrity of the fibe r structure. Maximum synthetic urine absorbency was obtained with the fiber crosslinked at a lower glutaraldehyde concentration compared with that req uired for maximum saline solution absorbency. This appears to be due to the crosslinking effect of calcium ions in the synthetic urine solution being absorbed. Strain and tenacity of the crosslinked alginate fibers decreased with an increasing amount of glutaraldehyde used in the crosslinking reacti on. The decrease in tenacity was not significant while the strain showed an extensive decrease. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.