Cellulose blends with enhanced water retention and their use in irrigation
Water-retaining gel compositions, methods of making water-retaining gel compositions, and the uses thereof for enhancing soils, preparing plant growth media and facilitating the growth of plants therein are disclosed.
1. A method of making a water-retaining gel composition, comprising:
dissolving hydrolyzed cellulose completely in a dissolution media to form a first mixture;
combining said first mixture with an antisolvent to form a precipitate, said antisolvent comprising a swellable hydrophilic polymer and water;
separating said precipitate from excess antisolvent and excess dissolution media;
optionally adjusting or neutralizing the pH of said precipitate; and
washing said precipitate with water to form said water-retaining gel composition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said gel composition has a pH of from 4 to 9.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic polymer comprises polyethylene oxide.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of drying said composition.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of mixing said precipitate with particulate media to form a mixture thereof.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose comprises microcrystalline cellulose.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissolution media comprises sulfuric acid.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the particulate media comprises sand.
9. A method of making a hygroscopic water-retaining gel composition, comprising:
dissolving hydrolyzed cellulose completely in a dissolution media to form a first mixture;
combining said first mixture with an antisolvent to form a precipitate, said antisolvent comprising polyethylene oxide and water;
separating said precipitate from excess antisolvent and excess dissolution media;
mixing said precipitate with particulate media;
optionally adjusting or neutralizing the pH of said precipitate; and
washing said precipitate with water to form said water-retaining gel composition having a pH of from 4 to 9; and
drying said composition to produce said water-retaining gel hygroscopic composition.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said cellulose comprises microcrystalline cellulose, and said dissolution media comprises sulfuric acid.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said particulate media comprises sand.