Abstract
AbstractIn this study, the N,N‐dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) solution with different lithium chloride concentrations of 3 wt%, 5 wt%, and 7 wt% by phase inversion in ethanol vapor to produce chitin hydrogels for plant growth. The chitin hydrogel prepared with a higher concentration of lithium chloride showed improvements in elastic and mechanical properties. The tensile strength was enhanced from 275.8 to 434 kPa for the chitin hydrogel with 3% and 7% of LiCl. While the reduction in water content suggested forming a denser hydrogel structure at higher LiCl concentrations; the water contact angle (WCA) value indicated that chitin‐derived hydrogels are hydrophilic. Moreover, the bio‐degradation experiment indicated the degradable percent of the chitin hydrogel placed in 10 mg/L of aqueous lysozyme solutions at 37°C increases during 7 to 28 days from 4.72 wt% to 5.45 wt%. The obtained hydrogel was suitable for the growth and development on rosemary plants. The condition CE15 with the hydrogel of 85 wt% chitin‐derived hydrogel and 15 wt% cellulose as best medium planting with the largest effect on the height, the crown's diameters and the number of level‐one branches of the rosemary plants.
Published Version
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