Abstract
Abstract A smart, green, and controllable-release hydrogel based on cellulose was prepared to avoid the problem of soil fertilizer abuse. A field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) demonstrated a wrinkled, rough, lamellar structure with long microtubes. The effect of the cross-linker concentration, epichlorohydrin (ECH), on the physical and mechanical properties in addition to swelling and urea-release kinetics was thoroughly studied. A relatively high swelling ratio, urea entrapment, and proper flexibility were obtained for an ECH concentration of 3.33 %. The swelling kinetics of hydrogel was found to be a second-order process. The maximum swelling value and the initial swelling rate were dependent on cross-linker concentration. The hydrogel exhibited a dehydration shrinkage in saline solution. A significantly high urea release of 6.61 % at 3.33 ECH concentrations was estimated. The urea-release mechanism matches well with the Fickian model. Accordingly, the prepared hydrogel is potential as a smart, green, and controllable-release fertilizer for applications in agriculture and horticulture.
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