Functional biodegradable protein‐based matrices as a potential candidate for micronutrients and water supply

Abstract

AbstractThe excessive use of fertilizers in horticulture applications generates subsoil and groundwater contamination due to their high solubility. A possible solution to this problem is the incorporation of nutrients in biodegradable matrices, allowing nutrients to be released in a controlled manner depending on the needs of the crops. The principal objective of this work was the evaluation of the incorporation of different salts into soy protein‐based matrices to develop devices that could release micronutrients in a controlled manner. Thus, the processability of matrices with different incorporated salts such as zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O), zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZnSO4·H2O), zinc carbonate (ZnCO3), and zinc perchlorate (Zn(ClO3)2), as well as their integrity and functionality have been evaluated. Results show the great potential of soy protein‐based matrices for the incorporation of micronutrients such as zinc. However, salt incorporation has a detrimental effect on the water uptake capacity of the matrices.