Knijnenburg JTN, Kasemsiri P, Amornrantanaworn K, Suwanree S, Iamamornphan W, Chindaprasirt P, Jetsrisuparb K. Entrapment of nano-ZnO into alginate/polyvinyl alcohol beads with different crosslinking ions for fertilizer applications.
Int J Biol Macromol 2021;
181:349-356. [PMID:
33781815 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.03.138]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) are attractive as fertilizer materials but high concentrations may negatively affect the environment. To reduce their dispersion in the environment we entrapped nano-ZnO in biodegradable polymer beads consisting of alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The alginate/PVA/ZnO beads were prepared via ionotropic gelation using two different crosslinking ions (Ca2+ and Zn2+), and the effect of alginate crosslinking ion and PVA content on bead structure, water absorption, water retention and zinc release was investigated. The pure CaAlg and ZnAlg beads demonstrated a poor water absorption and retention, which were strongly enhanced by the incorporation of PVA into the beads. The continuous Zn release was measured in a sand column, and it was found that the Zn-crosslinked beads rapidly released high concentrations of Zn followed by a more gradual Zn release, whereas Ca alginates showed only a gradual Zn release. The Zn dissolution kinetics could be tuned by the crosslinking ion composition. The prepared nano-ZnO-containing alginate/PVA beads may be attractive for Zn fertilizer applications under water-limited conditions.
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