TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE ABSORBENT, WATER TREATMENT METHOD, AND WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS

摘要

A thermo-sensitive water absorbent according to the present invention is a thermo-sensitive water absorbent that is used as a draw material in the production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process, has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent is a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent according to the present invention is a block copolymer having a trimethylolpropane structure as a basic structure, and including ethylene oxide and butylene oxide.