Abstract
This study describes the development of a renewable and biodegradable biopolymer-based hydrogel for application in agriculture and horticulture as a soil conditioning agent and for release of a nutrient or fertilizer. The novel product is based on a combination of cellulose derivatives (carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose) cross-linked with citric acid, as tested at various concentrations, with acid whey as a medium for hydrogel synthesis in order to utilize the almost unusable by-product of the dairy industry. The water uptake of the hydrogel was evaluated by swelling tests under variations in pH, temperature and ion concentration. Its swelling capacity, water retention and biodegradability were investigated in soil to simulate real-world conditions, the latter being monitored by the production of carbon dioxide during the biodegradation process by gas chromatography. Changes in the chemical structure and morphology of the hydrogels during biodegradation were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The ability of the hydrogel to hold and release fertilizers was studied with urea and KNO3 as model substances. The results not only demonstrate the potential of the hydrogel to enhance the quality of soil, but also how acid whey can be employed in the development of a soil conditioning agent and nutrient release products.
Highlights
The agricultural sector is a major consumer of water, one that utilizes in excess of 70% of the available water resources for growing crops and producing foodstuffs [1]
The results reveal that a relationship exists between the temperature and the swelling capacity
This paper describes a set of renewable and biodegradable hydrogels for agricultural use based on acid whey and derivatives of cellulose, prepared as a soil conditioner with the ability to release an added nutrient
Summary
The agricultural sector is a major consumer of water, one that utilizes in excess of 70% of the available water resources for growing crops and producing foodstuffs [1]. As a result of the emphasis on environmental protection in recent times, great interest has been shown in developing biodegradable hydrogels based on renewable bioresources (e.g., derivatives from agricultural crops or industrial byproducts) [5,6,7]. Such environmentally friendly hydrogels have found various applications, including in agriculture, due to their low-cost, sustainability and biodegradability [6,8]
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