Ecotoxicological Properties of Tulipalin A-Based Superabsorbents versus Conventional Superabsorbent Hydrogels

The Phytotoxicological Aspects of a Novel Superabsorbent/Hydrogels: poly(acrylamide-co-sodium 4-hydroxy-2-methylenebutanoate), prepared from renewable monomer Tulipalin A, on the growth and development of monocotyledonous Avena sativa and dicotyledonous Raphanus sativus, was investigated and compared with the effect of borate-crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylamide), and poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) conventional hydrogels. Tulipalin A-based superabsorbent hydrogels revealed superior properties in terms of the combination of the tested properties. The results confirmed excellent suitability of Tulipalin A-based hydrogels for application as reservoirs of water during plant stress condition. Values of fresh matter (yield) and shoot height of the examined plants growing in soil amended with these hydrogels were ca 10% higher than those of plants growing in soil without hydrogels. Reference borate-crosslinked PVA hydrogels (containing increasing amount of borax cross-linker) revealed harmful effect on plants. The negative effect was observed on most of the investigated properties, increasing with content of the hydrogel in soil and concentration of the borax in it.