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Polymer Sciences | ISSN: 2471-9935
October 02-03, 2017 Chicago, USA
3
rd
International Conference on
Polymer Science and Engineering
Fabrication of novel acrylic-based hdrogel for controlled release of organic and inorganic fertilizers
Rubab Zohra
1
, Muhammad Aslam Malana
2
and
Shehnila
3
1
Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) Lahore, Pakistan
2,3
Bahaudding Zakaria University Multan, Pakistan
A
novel terpolymeric hydrogel system composed of methacrylate (MA), vinylacetate (VA) and acrylic acid (AA) chemically
crosslinked with Diethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) was studied for its application in the field of controlled relaease
fertililizers. Two inorganic agrochemicals, ammonium nitrate (AN), potassium nitrate (PN) and one organic fertilizer, urea were
selected as test chemicals to study the efficiency of the hydrogel. The copolymeric hydrogels were characterized through Fourier
transform infrared (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimeter/ thermal gravimetric analyses (DSC/TGA) and Scanning electron
microscopy (SEM). During swelling studies, it was found that the media penetration velocity and equilibriummedia content changed
adversely with the crosslink density. The pH of loading medium shifted the swelling mechanism from Fickian (n<0.5) to non-Fickian
(n>0.5) behavior. The crosslink density also decreased the Molecular weight between cross links, Mc, and m esh size, ξ. The percentage
loading capacity of hydrogel was found to be higher for inorganic chemicals (70 % for PN and 71.1% for AN) than that of Urea with
loading percentage of 42.56-61.5. Extensive release studies of Urea indicated that the cumulative release of Urea could be controlled
by changing its initial concentration in the loading medium and the acrylic acid component in the hydrogel. The release of Urea was
also studied in soil solution and it was found that the ions present in the release medium highly affect the cumulative release amount
of the fertilizer slowing down its release rate as compared to that in the deionized water. Moreover, mostly the hydrogels exhibited
a non-Fickian type release behavior with the diffusion exponent (n) having value greater than 0.5..The promising response these
hydrogels to the external pH, a reasonable agrochemical loading capability, optimum release capacity, first order release kinetics and
favorable swelling behavior indicate that these hydrogel systems may be used, not only, as good controlled release fertilizer (CRF) but
may also be helpful to enhance the water absorption capacity of soil alongwith avoiding soil erosion phenomenon in the best possible way.
rubabzohra@gmail.comPolym Sci, 3:3
DOI: 10.4172/2471-9935-C1-003