Superabsorbers can be found in diapers as well as in a number of other hygiene and medical products, such as bandages and dressing materials.
So far, strong acids have been required to recycle sodium polyacrylate, the highly absorbent material. These crosslinked polymers are insoluble in water. At high temperature, they do not melt, but only degrade. The acids, however, "cut" the chains stabilizing the polymers after about 16 hours at 80 degrees Celsius and, hence, enabled recycling. Read
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