BIODEGRADABLE HYDROGELS FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE: STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF IONIC STRENGTH AND pH ON WATER RETENTION CAPACITY

• Grant number: 24/21188-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Process Engineering of Agricultural Products
• Principal Investigator: Carla dos Santos Riccardi
• Grantee: Ana Júlia Fabretti Sabbadini Francisco
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alternatives for the efficient of water demand in agriculture have been required, aiming to mitigatethe effects of water deficit or long periods of drought. In this way, superabsorbent hydrogels are usedboth in agricultural production and for the recovery of degraded areas. The main characteristics ofthe material as soil conditioners should allow water retention capacity, and consequently, increasedwater availability and nutrient absorption capacity by plants. Commercially available products arebased on potassium polyacrylate and polyacrylamide copolymers. However, the degradation of thispolymer chain due to ultraviolet radiation and salts present in the medium promotes the formation ofacrylamide, which is toxic and non-biodegradable. In this perspective, this work aims to evaluate theeffect of the swelling capacity of hydrogels based on chemically crosslinked lignocellulosic/polyvinylalcohol materials under several conditions of salt solutions, ionic strength and pH changes. Thehydrogels will be characterized in terms of morphological and spectroscopic properties, swellingcapacity and hydrolytic degradation. As a perspective, the obtaining of new water-retention materialscan contribute to agricultural production in terms of a more efficient water absorption mechanism ofthe hydrogels, as well as nutrient carriers.