Superabsorbent polymers and methods of making the same

A process for the preparation of a superabsorbent polymer comprising the steps of:

• I) preparing acrylic acid wherein the acrylic acid is made from a fluid F1 containing a hydroxypropionic acid wherein said fluid F1 is obtained by a process comprising the process steps of i) preparation of hydroxypropionic acid from carbohydrates to give an aqueous phase containing hydroxypropionic acid and solids including microorganisms, and ii) separating off of the solids from said aqueous phase, wherein the process of preparing acrylic acid comprises the process steps:
• (a1) provision of said fluid F1 containing a hydroxypropionic acid;
• wherein said fluid F1 is aqueous, and has a composition comprising
• (C1-1) from about 5 to about 20 wt. % of hydroxypropionic acid, salts thereof, or mixtures thereof,
• (C1-2) from about 0.1 to about 5 wt. % of inorganic salts,
• (C1-3) from about 0.1 to about 30 wt. % of organic compounds which differ from hydroxypropionic acid,
• (C1-4) from 0 to about 50 wt. % of solids, and
• (C1-5) from about 20 to about 90 wt. % of water,
• wherein the sum of components (C1-1) to (C1-5) is 100 wt. %;
• (a2) dehydration of said hydroxypropionic acid to give a fluid F2 containing acrylic acid wherein the dehydration comprises a reactive distillation and the dehydration is carried out in a CO2 atmosphere, or an inorganic acid, or both;
• and
• (a3) purification of said fluid F2 containing acrylic acid by crystallization to give a purified acrylic acid phase wherein said purified acrylic acid phase comprises acrylic acid having a purity of at least 70 wt. %;
• and
• II) polymerizing the acrylic acid of I) in the presence of a crosslinker and a neutralization agent to form a superabsorbent polymer.