Preparation of a monolithic and macroporous superabsorbent polymer via a high internal phase Pickering emulsion template

A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) possesses an ability to absorb an aqueous solution up to several hundred times its own weight. To utilize a SAP effectively, a high absorption rate is also essential in addition to a high absorption capability. Herein, using a template based on a high internal phase Pickering emulsion (HIPPE) stabilized by aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles, we synthesize a SAP with a high absorption rate by forming macropores. In particular, by adjusting three different parameters, the concentration of the crosslinker, the internal volume fraction of the emulsion, and the particle concentration, we successfully formed a HIPPE-templated SAP with a high absorption rate for a saline solution, which was 51.6 g g⁻¹ of the absorbency within 10 s. We confirm that the swelling kinetics is mainly determined by the interconnectivity between the internal macro-pores. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48133.