Comparative Assessment of Injection and Compression Molding on Soy Protein Bioplastic Matrices for Controlled Iron Release in Horticulture

Daniel Castro-Criado (), Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado, Víctor M. Pérez-Puyana () and Alberto Romero
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Daniel Castro-Criado: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain
Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado: Chemical and Environmental Bioprocess Engineering Group, Institute I4, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Víctor M. Pérez-Puyana: Department of Engineering and Materials Science and Transportation, University of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain
Alberto Romero: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Conventional horticultural fertilization frequently leads to nutrient loss and environmental contamination, driving interest in biodegradable controlled-release systems. This work developed soy protein isolate (SPI) matrices containing 5 wt.% FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O using injection. The matrices were evaluated for crosslinking, mechanical properties, water uptake (WUC), soluble matter loss (SML), iron-release kinetics in water and soil, and biodegradability under composting conditions. Injection-molded samples achieved very high crosslinking with moderate rigidity and water absorption and delivered iron rapidly in water, while compression-molded samples exhibited slightly lower crosslinking but greater stiffness, higher WUC, minimal SML, and sustained iron release. Notably, both processing methods yielded comparable iron-release profiles in soil and complete biodegradation within 71 days. Overall, compression molding produces SPI-based matrices with superior mechanical strength and water retention, positioning them as an ideal solution for long-lasting, sustainable nutrient delivery in horticulture.

Keywords: soy protein; horticulture; injection molding; compression molding; controlled release systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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