Abstract: Superabsorbent potassium polyacrylate(PAAK) polymer was synthesized via UV irradiation or microwave copolymerization of acrylic acid in the presence of an initiator (2, 2-dimethoxy-phenyl ethyl ketone or ammonium persulfate) and crosslinker (polyethylene glycol diacrylate). Properties of PAA-K was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). It showed that under the optimized conditions,water absorption of PAA-K made by UV irradiation were 3297 g/g in distilled water and 419 g/g in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution. Those for microwave radiation were 2861 g/g in distilled water and 414 g/g in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution.

Key words: gels, hydrophilic polymers, swelling behaviors, superabsorbent