Hydrogels Are Reinforced with Colombian Fique Nanofibers to Improve Techno-Functional Properties for Agricultural Purposes

Marcelo A Guancha-Chalapud,Diego F Tirado,Liliana Serna-Cock

doi:10.3390/agriculture12010117

Marcelo A Guancha-Chalapud, Diego F Tirado + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12010117

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Abstract

Colombia is the world’s largest producer of fique fibers (Furcraea bedinghausii), with a net production of 30,000 tons per year. This work proposes to revalue waste from the Colombian fique agroindustry. For this purpose, cellulose nanofibers were obtained from fique and used as reinforcement material to create acrylic superabsorbent hydrogels. Unreinforced acrylic hydrogels (AHR0) and acrylic hydrogels reinforced with fique nanofibers at 3% w/w (AHR3), 5% w/w (AHR5), and 10 % w/w (AHR10) were synthesized using the solution polymerization method. The best hydrogel formulation for agricultural purposes was chosen by comparing their swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By raising the nanofiber concentration to 3% (AHR3), the best-chosen formulation, the interaction between the nanofibers and the polymer matrix increased, which favored the network stability. However, beyond AHR3, there was a higher viscosity of the reactive system, which caused a reduction in the mobility of the polymer chains, thus disfavoring the swelling capacity. The reinforced hydrogel proposed in this study (AHR3) could represent a contribution to overcoming the problems of land dryness present in Colombia, an issue that will worsen in the coming years due to the climate emergency.

Highlights

Since 2017, the United Nations (UN) has projected the world population to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100, driven by growth in developing countries such as Colombia [1]
By 2050, the world will have 2 billion additional hungry people [3] and a severe water crisis [4,5,6], since the planet will require roughly 95% of fresh water for agriculture production [7]. This means that the global food and agricultural systems must seek solutions to optimize water use [8,9,10]; superabsorbent hydrogels could make a contribution in this regard [11]
Unreinforced acrylic hydrogels (AHR0) and acrylic hydrogels reinforced with fique nanofibers at 3% w/w (AHR3), 5% w/w (AHR5), and 10% w/w (AHR10) were synthesized using the solution polymerization method

Summary

Introduction

Since 2017, the United Nations (UN) has projected the world population to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100, driven by growth in developing countries such as Colombia [1]. By 2050, the world will have 2 billion additional hungry people [3] and a severe water crisis [4,5,6], since the planet will require roughly 95% of fresh water for agriculture production [7]. This means that the global food and agricultural systems must seek solutions to optimize water use [8,9,10]; superabsorbent hydrogels could make a contribution in this regard [11]. The global hydrogel market was valued at USD 22.1 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 31.4 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%

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