INVESTIGATION OF ACRYLAMIDE, MALEIC ANHYDRIDE HYDROGEL IMPREGNATED WITH POLY(VINYL) ALCOHOL

Abstract

Current investigation is focused on the synthesis of Acrylamide, Maleic Anhydride hydrogel matrix impregnated with Poly (vinyl alcohol), PVA, to obtain a formulation of hydrogel matrix with maximum water swelling property. Thus, series of products, varying the concentration of cross linker and PVA, were synthesized using redox initiator potassium persulphate at 70 oC. Spectroscopic, Thermal, Mechanical analysis and swelling behaviour of formed hydrogels were studied. Tremendous swelling behaviour (with swelling percentage 1409%) was by hydrogel with composition of 3% of Poly(vinyl) alcohol, 0.5% of crosslinker, 3.55 gm of acrylamide, 0.908gm of Maleic anhydride Present study also revealed that the addition of prepared hydrogels in small quantities to sandy soil increased its ability to retain water. The study was further extended with incorporation of antimicrobial activity in the hydrogel matrix by using different concentration of the product of natural origin ,Allium sativum.The results obtained were excellent as the use of Allium sativum juice (also known as garlic juice) in hydrogel matrix incorporated antimicrobial activity against plant pathogen (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and human pathogen (Escherichia coli) without affecting swelling behaviour of matrix. The hydrogel with 3% PVA 3% Allium sativum juice 0.5% crosslinker, 3.55gm acrylamide, 0.908gm maleic anhydride shows best results amongs all the formed hydrogel as zone of inhibition in this hydrogel against Agrobacterium tumefaciens is 3.1 cm while against E.coli is 1.9 cm and and also shows highest water retention measurement.The maximum difference in percent of water evaporation loss with hydrogel PVA3%, Allium sativum juice3%, and one without hydrogel is approximately 41%. From thermal analysis it is found that the hydrogel remained unaffected from environmental stresses during the period of study of 2 months. Current study can lead to develop a new class of hydrogels that can be used in the agriculture field to provide continous cycle of irrigation and also provide protection to crops from pathogens.