Renewable Mixed Hydrogels Based on Polysaccharide and Protein for Release of Agrochemicals and Soil Conditioning

Elena Khan, Kadir Ozaltin, Andres Bernal-Ballen and Antonio Di Martino
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Elena Khan: Research School of Chemistry & Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 63400 Tomsk, Russia
Kadir Ozaltin: Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, 76001 Zlin, Czech Republic
Andres Bernal-Ballen: Facultad de Educación, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Bogotá 111821, Colombia
Antonio Di Martino: Research School of Chemistry & Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 63400 Tomsk, Russia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: The study deals with the combination of biopolymers to develop hydrogels intended for agriculture application. The aim is to propose a renewable and eco-compatible solution to enhance agrochemicals and water efficiency and contribute to maintaining soil fertility. We developed a set of hydrogels based on casein and chitosan for water retention and release of agrochemicals, in particular nitrogen fertilizer urea. The weight ratio of biopolymers, from 0.5 to 2, was investigated to understand the influence of their content on the morphology, swelling, swelling-drying cycles, and water retention in soil. The average content of urea in the hydrogels was 30% of the total weight, and up to 80% was released in the soil in 50 days. The biodegradation of the hydrogels in soil has been investigated by the burial method and monitoring the release of CO 2 . Results demonstrated that by increasing the content of chitosan, the biodegradation time is prolonged up to 20% in 90 days. The obtained results support the ultimate purpose of the work that the combination of two biopolymers at proper weight ratio could be a valid alternative of the marketed hydrogels with the final goal to promote soil fertility and water retention and prolong biodegradation.

Keywords: renewable hydrogels; casein; chitosan; urea; soil conditioning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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