Sodium polyacrylate based superabsorbents do not have an excellent track record absorbing whole blood. Several factors weigh in on this issue.

The chemistry of sodium polyacrylates tilts the balance in favor of absorption of aqueous based liquids.  As a matter of fact, the “more aqueous” the liquid, the better the absorption. Today’s superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) absorb many hundreds of times their own weight in deionized water.  As you move way from deionized water… very pure water… the absorption efficiency of any sodium polyacrylate decreases rather dramatically.  See ETi’s article titled “Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…” on the News page of our website for more information in this regard.

Whole blood has an aqueous fraction and SAPs certainly try to soak this up during the absorption process.  What seems to negatively affect whole blood absorption is its viscosity and non-aqueous fraction.  The combination of these factors along with blood’s higher solids content makes for a challenging absorption process.

Emerging Technologies inc. is very excited to offer our LiquiBlock™ 2G-120 for blood absorption.  Data indicate that 2G-120 is better than certain other sodium polyacrylates in the absorption of whole blood and certain blood mixtures.  Our tests show a whole blood absorption capacity of about 28 grams per gram.  Also, 2G-120 absorbs whole blood in about 10 seconds or less.  So, it is efficient and fast.

Do you need to absorb whole blood?  Liquid mixtures containing blood?  Do you need to design a wound dressing?  Something similar?  Give us a shout and let us get a sample of 2G-120 to you.  We are confident you will like it.