Efficiency enhancement of decontamination gels by a superabsorbent polymer

Physical gels have been studied as an advantageous alternative to traditional decontamination techniques, which most often rely on the use of surfactant solutions. Such physical gels consist of colloidal particles suspended in a decontaminating solution. They can be sprayed over the surfaces to be treated, where they dry and form solid disposable residues. In order to improve their efficiency, the formulation of gels containing superabsorbents (such as sodium polyacrylate) has recently been suggested. But the mechanism accounting for the observed efficiency increase has not yet been investigated. These additives have a large swelling potential in aqueous media and the amount of adsorbed water depends on the presence of salts in the medium. We anticipated that specific ion effects on the swelling behavior of superabsorbent polymers were the driving force of efficiency enhancement and confirmed this assumption by rheology and in situ tests.