In the superabsorbent polymer (SAP) market, attention is increasingly turning to materials whose environmental characteristics are clearly defined and documented.

Global demand continues to grow. Conventional materials, often acrylic-based and derived from petrochemical feedstocks, are still widely used, while regulations and qualification criteria are placing greater focus on material composition and end-of-life management.

This is the background to Spongel, the SAP developed by Magic: a high-efficiency superabsorbent powder certified OK Compost Industrial for industrial composting. It offers an alternative to conventional synthetic SAPs while maintaining the level of absorbent performance required by demanding applications.

The SAP market is growing, and material assessment criteria are changing

The global SAP market continues to expand and, according to current estimates, is expected to surpass USD 18 billion by 2030.
Growth is being driven by applications where absorbency is an essential requirement, from fresh food preservation and medical procedures to hygiene products.

Most SAPs currently in use are still based on petrochemical technologies. At the same time, interest is growing in materials supported by certifications and technical data that define their environmental characteristics.

Spongel was developed with this need in mind.

Performance compared with conventional SAPs

Spongel is the result of a project launched by Magic in 2015 and protected by patent. Its formulation consists of 85% components of organic origin.

From a functional perspective, it provides:

• Free Swell Capacity (FSW): up to 70 g/g in saline solution.
• Absorbency Under Load (AUL): up to 20 g/g, maintaining stability under pressure.
• Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC): around 35 g/g, on par with advanced synthetic SAPs.

These results are achieved without petrochemical derivatives, using a formulation developed in Magic’s laboratories and initially validated through a university study. As early as 2015, the study demonstrated the feasibility of producing an efficient SAP without additives.

In 2020, Spongel obtained OK Compost Industrial certification for indutrial composting with reference to EN 13432 and EN 14995.

One material, applications across different sectors

Airgel g-grade
Airlaid certified OK Compost Industrial for industrial composting and free from chemical absorbent additives.

G-Pad
Absorbent pad for food packaging, designed to help manage liquids released by fresh products. Certified OK Compost Industrial for industrial composting.

Cargopad
Absorbent mat for the cargo transport of sensitive loads, designed to retain large volumes of liquid and simplify hold cleaning.

Spongel can also be formulated for applications such as:

• Agriculture and precision irrigation, to help retain moisture in dry soils.
• Electrical cable protection, to block moisture in the event of water ingress.
• Solidification of liquid waste, to support the handling of industrial sludges.
• Environmental emergency application, to contain spills in civil or industrial settings.

Versatility across applications

Available in formulations developed for different requirements, Spongel is a modular absorbent solution designed for use across multiple sectors.

It is already used in practical applications.
A patented and certified material, designed for integration into industrial processes and characterised by industrial compostability within the scope defined by the relevant certification.

Choosing Spongel means working with a traceable material supported by data, research and measurable performance.
The value of the material lies in the data that describe it and in the certifications that define its field of application.