Biodegradation study of enzymatically catalyzed interpenetrating polymer network: Evaluation of agrochemical release and impact on soil fertility

• Synthesis of environment friendly biodegradable superabsorbent from natural polysaccharide Gum tragacanth, acrylic acid-co-acrylamide using glutaraldehde as cross-linker.
• Enzyme lipase was used as initiator (green pathway).
• Reactions have been carried out in green solvent (i.e., water).
• Synthesized device was biodegradable (soil burial and composting method).
• Synthesized device has been used for controlled release of urea.
• It has also been used for enhancement of the water holding capacity of the soil.
• The synthesized device is very important from technological point of view.

A novel interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) has been synthesized through enzymatic initiation using lipase as initiator, glutaraldehyde as cross-linker, acrylic acid as primary monomer and acrylamide as secondary monomer. Biodegradability of synthesized interpenetrating polymer network was studied through soil burial and composting methods. Synthesized hydrogel was completely degraded within 70 days using composting method, while it was 86.03% degraded within 77 days using soil burial method. This was confirmed by Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Synthesized interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel was used as a device for controlled release of urea and also act as water releasing device. Their impact on soil fertility and plant growth was also studied. The initial diffusion coefficient has a greater value than the later diffusion coefficient indicating a higher fertilizer release rate during the early stage. Fertilizer release kinetic was also studied which showed Non-Fickian diffusion behavior, as the rate of fertilizer release was comparable to the relaxation time of the synthesized matrix. Synthesized IPN enhance the water uptake capacity up to 6.2% and 7.2% in sandy loam and clay soil, respectively.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide