| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a superabsorbent aerogel comprising the following steps: - supplying or preparing a superabsorbent hydrogel consisting of at least 90% by weight of crosslinked polysaccharides with respect to the total weight of the polymer component of the hydrogel, wherein said crosslinked polysaccharides are selected from carboxymethyl starch; hydroxypropyl starch (HPS), oxidized starch, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) possibly salified preferably carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (NaCMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (EHEC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and oxidized cellulose; - dehydrating said hydrogel by subsequent immersion in baths consisting of water and an increasing concentration of an organic solvent miscible in water, starting from 50% v/v of organic solvent; and - drying the resulting product with supercritical CO2. The aerogel obtained through such process and the use thereof in different technical fields, e.g. in agriculture or in the personal hygiene sector, represent further objects of the invention. |