Cryo-Structured Chitosan Sponges with Controlled Release Properties for Liquid Digestate as Potential Agricultural Fertilizers
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Phosphorus and potassium are two of the most essential macronutrients that often work together to support plant health and productivity. If one of these elements is deficient, it can lead to reduced plant growth, low yields, and poorer crop quality. For this reason, fertilizers contain these nutrients to replenish soils that have been depleted over time. As a sustainable approach, this study proposes new cryo-structures based on chitosan and liquid digestate with controlled release properties for potassium and phosphorus. For this purpose, commercial chitosan (a biopolymer extracted from marine waste) was used along with a liquid digestate, obtained through anaerobic digestion, to develop cryo-structured sponges. The incorporation of liquid digestate in the cryo-structured sponges was confirmed using different characterization techniques (FTIR, TGA/DTG, SEM, and EDX), while the release mechanism for phosphorus and potassium was investigated using ICP-OES spectroscopy.
Source: Gels
DOI: 10.3390/gels11110887
Authors: Marinela Victoria Iordanescu, Alin Cristian Vintilă, Grigore Psenovschi, Luiza Capra, Ana-Mihaela Gavrilă, Cristina Emanuela Enascuta, Tanța-Verona Iordache
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,534
Award: G4188544374
OpenAlex ID: W4415877371