Hi.

Any way to make such thing at home ? Is it a complex task ?

i'd say you probably can't make this at home. You'd need to get the acrylamide monomer first, which would be difficult.

Thanks, Herman

Not to mention very toxic.

it`s easy enough to buy the end product however, it`s sold in garden shops in packets that you mix with potting compost for hanging baskets to retain moisture, and also in quite a few kids diapers as an absorbing agent.

Yes, is the clear gel soil for growing plants, when - I believe- hydrated with hydroponic formulas.

The poisonous part am not sure. Perhaps when degrades over time.

 

Found this, but hebrew to me :

http://www.cellmigration.org/resource/imaging/ppt-pdf/polyacrylamide_gel_fabrication_flowchart.pdf

 

Miguel

that PDF`s no good to you anyway.

 

and yes, I read that the breakdown products are potentially carcinogenic, that`s why it`s not recommended for use in veg growing.

IIRC, PAA is also used in electrophoresis as the substrate.

Acrylamide isn't the sort of stuff you want to play with.

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/forensic-science/mg15020314.700

OTOH it is present in lots of foods so it can't be that bad.

it`s easy enough to buy the end product however, it`s sold in garden shops in packets that you mix with potting compost for hanging baskets to retain moisture, and also in quite a few kids diapers as an absorbing agent.

 

Does that mean that baby diapers make good compost?

in more ways than one