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Abstract

Composite Materials Based on Chitosan for Slow Release of Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium Fertilizers in Agriculture †

by
Marinela-Victoria Dumitru
1,2,*,
Alin Cristian Nicolae Vintila
1,
Horia Iovu
2,
Ana-Lorena Neagu (Ciurlica)
1,
Sorin Dolana
1,
Andreea Miron
1,
Iulia Elena Neblea
1,
Ana-Mihaela Gavrila
1,
Cristina Emanuela Enascuta
1,* and
Tanta-Verona Iordache
1
1
INCDCP-ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independentei, 6th District, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
2
Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the 19th International Symposium “Priorities of Chemistry for a Sustainable Development”, Bucharest, Romania, 11–13 October 2023.
Proceedings 2023, 90(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023090043
Published: 4 January 2024
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of 19th International Symposium “Priorities of Chemistry for a Sustainable Development”)
Versions Notes

1. Introduction

The global food system is under increasing pressure. Therefore, the agriculture sector will be challenged to provide food security for a growing world population without harming the environment. Modern technology will also be required in agro-ecosystems to ensure sufficient food production and reduce the harmful environmental effects brought by using chemical fertilizers and the incorrect disposal or recycling of agricultural waste [1,2]. Numerous studies in the literature have focused on the development of controlled-release biofertilizers and the use of crop residues as a cover and carrier. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are essential nutrients for plant growth. However, the application of these nutrients in the form of chemical fertilizers affects crops and soil [3,4]. Thus, a controlled release of nutrients is needed. As a result of this societal and environmental necessity, new composite materials with high nutrient content were developed in this study.

2. Materials and Methods

For the preparation of innovative composite materials (cryogels) with nutrient content, commercial chitosan (CC) and liquid digestate (obtained from anaerobic digestion of organic waste) were used. Other reagents included the following: acetic acid, which was used in mixture with water, for chitosan dissolution; crosslinking agent. Two series of samples were prepared, some based on chitosan being considered as reference samples. In the case of the second series, there were also nutrient-containing cryogels.

3. Results

In order to highlight the preparation of the aimed materials, several characterization techniques were needed (FTIR, SD, SEM). The FTIR spectra confirmed the incorporation of the liquid digestate into the polymer matrix by the appearance of the characteristic bands for the materials. The swelling degrees were able to determine the ideal time for the samples (with and without a liquid digestate) to resist in water. Following this study, the cryogels will be further tested on UV-Vis for the controlled release of fertilizers.

4. Conclusions

In conclusion, new composite materials based on chitosan and liquid digestate were developed. These materials show great properties in terms of their structure, morphology, and swelling capacity, making them potential candidates for future agricultural applications as controlled release systems for NPK.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, C.E.E., T.-V.I. and M.-V.D.; methodology C.E.E., M.-V.D. and H.I.; formal analysis, A.-L.N., S.D. and M.-V.D.; investigation, A.C.N.V., S.D., A.M., A.-M.G., H.I. and I.E.N.; writing—original draft preparation, T.-V.I. and M.-V.D.; writing—review and editing, T.-V.I., H.I. and M.-V.D.; funding acquisition, T.-V.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization for funding in the frame of 15PFE/2021 “Susținerea competitivității și excelenței cercetării și inovării din INCDCP-ICECHIM în domeniul bioeconomiei și în domeniile conexe” and Project. no. 2N/03.01.2023 (PN 23.06.01.01. AQUAMAT).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Savci, S. Investigation of Effect of Chemical Fertilizers on Environment. APCBEE Procedia 2012, 1, 287–292. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Kaur, J.; Sharma, K.; Kaushik, A. Waste hemp-stalk derived nutrient encapsulated aerogels for slow release of fertilizers: A step towards sustainable agriculture. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2023, 11, 109582. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Garbowski, T.; Bar-Michalczyk, D.; Charazinska, S.; Polanowska, B.G.; Kowalczyk, A.; Lochynski, P. An overview of natural soil amendments in agriculture. Soil Tillage Res. 2023, 225, 105462. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Valkama, E.; Salo, T.; Martti, E.; Turtola, E. Nitrogen balances and yields of spring cereals as affected by nitrogen fertilization in northern conditions: A meta-analysis. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2013, 164, 1–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
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Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Dumitru, M.-V.; Vintila, A.C.N.; Iovu, H.; Neagu, A.-L.; Dolana, S.; Miron, A.; Neblea, I.E.; Gavrila, A.-M.; Enascuta, C.E.; Iordache, T.-V. Composite Materials Based on Chitosan for Slow Release of Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium Fertilizers in Agriculture. Proceedings 2023, 90, 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023090043

AMA Style

Dumitru M-V, Vintila ACN, Iovu H, Neagu A-L, Dolana S, Miron A, Neblea IE, Gavrila A-M, Enascuta CE, Iordache T-V. Composite Materials Based on Chitosan for Slow Release of Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium Fertilizers in Agriculture. Proceedings. 2023; 90(1):43. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023090043

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dumitru, Marinela-Victoria, Alin Cristian Nicolae Vintila, Horia Iovu, Ana-Lorena Neagu (Ciurlica), Sorin Dolana, Andreea Miron, Iulia Elena Neblea, Ana-Mihaela Gavrila, Cristina Emanuela Enascuta, and Tanta-Verona Iordache. 2023. "Composite Materials Based on Chitosan for Slow Release of Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium Fertilizers in Agriculture" Proceedings 90, no. 1: 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023090043

APA Style

Dumitru, M. -V., Vintila, A. C. N., Iovu, H., Neagu, A. -L., Dolana, S., Miron, A., Neblea, I. E., Gavrila, A. -M., Enascuta, C. E., & Iordache, T. -V. (2023). Composite Materials Based on Chitosan for Slow Release of Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium Fertilizers in Agriculture. Proceedings, 90(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2023090043

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