Swelling Kinetics and Saponification‐Assisted Synthesis of Chitosan‐g‐PAA Superabsorbent Hydrogels

ABSTRACT Chitosan‐graft‐poly(acrylic acid) (Cs‐g‐PAA) superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were synthesized to evaluate the effects of alkali‐assisted hydrolysis and crosslinking density on swelling behavior and structural characteristics. Swelling performance was assessed through equilibrium swelling and kinetic analysis, whereas morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that alkali‐assisted hydrolysis significantly enhances swelling capacity by increasing ionic carboxylate functionality, with optimal performance at low crosslinker content. Swelling kinetics follow the pseudo‐second‐order model, indicating interaction‐controlled water uptake. SEM observations reveal heterogeneous macroscopic morphologies influenced by processing conditions. Overall, controlled chemical modification is essential for tailoring chitosan‐based SAPs for water‐retention applications.