Chitosan-Clay hybrid materials for encapsulation of fertilizers: preparation and characterization of controlled release microspheres

• Grant number: 14/09045-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Roselena Faez
• Grantee: Lucas Luiz Messa
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of controlled release fertilizers (ferti-releasers or coated fertilizers) is a new trend for improving productivity, reducing costs and environmental pollution. Such fertilizers release gradually the nutrients to the plant in order to supply its requirement. The preparation of a microsphere from natural materials (chitosan and montmorilonite clay) added with nutrients, according to the needs of plants nutritional, is one of the main motivations for this project. The addition of lamellar silicates as natural clays is a promising alternative to improve the properties and increase the sorption capacity of both water and chemical compounds. Thus, the preparation of such materials has been extensively studied as an alternative to improve many aspects of fertilization using the concepts of controlled release. The objective of this project is the preparation and characterization of ferti-releasers materials for the controlled release of nutrients in soil and plant. There will be prepared hybrid of chitosan/montmorilonite clay in different proportions in relation to the mass. The microspheres will be characterized thermal, structural and morphologically. The nutrient release kinetics will be evaluated using UV-Vis spectroscopy and photometry (for potassium) and the determination of total nitrogen using TOC- LCPN (Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOC) with Total Nitrogen accessory) for calcium nitrate. Nutrient release in soil was also evaluated by monitoring the in situ release using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) technique.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MESSA, LUCAS LUIZ; SOUZA, CLAUDINEI FONSECA; FAEZ, ROSELENA. Spray-dried potassium nitrate-containing chitosan/montmorillonite microparticles as potential enhanced efficiency fertilizer. Polymer Testing, v. 81, JAN 2020. (14/06566-9, 14/09045-0)

LUCAS L. MESSA; JOSÉ DANIEL FROES; CLAUDINEI F. SOUZA; ROSELENA FAEZ. HÍBRIDOS DE QUITOSANA-ARGILA PARA ENCAPSULAMENTO E LIBERAÇÃO SUSTENTADA DO FERTILIZANTE NITRATO DE POTÁSSIO. Química Nova, v. 39, n. 10, p. 1215-1220, 2016-12-00. (14/06566-9, 14/09045-0)