This research tested the hypothesis that the interaction between time and salinity reduces the water absorption potential of a hydrogel – Poly (Acrylamide-co-Potassium Acrylate) and influence the degradation of residual acrylamide monomer. The experimental design was completely randomized split-plot with four replications. The treatments were time periods (30, 60, 90 and 120 days) and levels of salinity of the hydrating solution (distilled water = 0.003, 0.5; 1.5; 3.0 and 6.0 dS m⁻¹). Swelling, hydrogel composition, and residual acrylamide monomer concentration were evaluated. The hydrogel showed lowest water absorption potential (8.1 g g⁻¹) in a saline solution of 4.20 dS m⁻¹ after 120 days. The C/N ratio of the hydrogel increased by up to 47% in a hydrating solution with an EC of 4.4 dS m⁻¹ at 120 days. Additionally, there was an observed shift in the wavelength of methylene, amide, and acrylate bands, that indicates degradation. Residual acrylamide monomer concentration was <0.5 mg g⁻¹ (safe for agricultural use). After 120 days up to 85% of the residual acrylamide monomer was degraded. About the water absorption potential, the results suggest that under semi-arid conditions hydrogel durability for forestry and crops applications may be impaired by the salinity of the hydrating solution.

该研究检验了以下假设：时间和盐度之间的相互作用会降低水凝胶 - 聚（丙烯酰胺-共- 丙烯酸钾）的吸水潜力，并影响残留丙烯酰胺单体的降解。实验设计是完全随机的裂区，重复四次。处理是时间段（30、60、90 和 120 天）和水合溶液的盐度水平（蒸馏水 = 0.003、0.5；1.5；3.0 和 6.0 dS m ^-1）。评估了溶胀、水凝胶组成和残留丙烯酰胺单体浓度。水凝胶在 4.20 dS m ^-1的盐水溶液中表现出最低的吸水潜力（8.1 g g ^-1）120 天后。在 120 天时，水凝胶的 C/N 比在 EC 为 4.4 dS m ^-1的水合溶液中增加了 47% 。此外，观察到亚甲基、酰胺和丙烯酸酯波段的波长发生变化，这表明降解。残留的丙烯酰胺单体浓度<0.5 mg g ^-1（农业使用安全）。120 天后，多达 85% 的残留丙烯酰胺单体被降解。关于吸水潜力，结果表明，在半干旱条件下，水凝胶对林业和作物应用的耐久性可能会受到水合溶液盐度的影响。