Parametric and Optimization Studies on the entrapment of Potassium Fertilizer into Chitosan-Poly(methacrylic acid) Carrier via Ionic Gelation

Nanofertilizer is an emerging technology for exhibiting slow release mechanism of fertilizer application. This slow release mechanism allows increase in nutrient uptake of plants while minimizing environmental pollution; specifically, reducing eutrophication in bodies of water. This study includes parametric and optimization studies for ionic gelation process in the formulation of potassium fertilizer in chitosan polymethacrylic acid (CS-PMAA) carrier, and subsequent characterization of the formulated K fertilizer. A 2k factorial experimnental design was initially implemented to determine significant factors. Results show that polymerization time inversely affects the K content concentration of the K-CS-PMAA fertilizer due to the swelling behavior of chitosan, while K:CS-PMAA ratio directly affects the K content concentration. Upon numerical optimization, the conditions found to maximize K content of the formulated fertilizer are 3000 ppm K+ corresponding to 1.5:1 ratio of the K loading concentration to CS-PMAA carrier for 30 mins polymerization time. The optimum K content of K-CS-PMAA fertilizer is about 34.98% w/w – less than the 44.27% w/w K content of the fertilizer grade, muriate of potash (MOP). The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results of 368.1 nm and 75.4 nm, respectively, indicated that K-CS-PMAA is nanosized. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) results proved the presence of CS-PMAA with deviations at 1483.01 and 1405.07 caused by the vibration in the --COO-anion groups of PMAA indicating the attachment of potassium in the nanoparticle. Furthermore, the fertilizer formulated was proved to exhibit slow release behavior with the value of 83.70% K+ release after 48 hours compared to the 99.43% release of MOP

Parametric and Optimization Studies on the entrapment of Potassium Fertilizer into Chitosan-Poly(methacrylic acid) Carrier via Ionic Gelation

Nanofertilizer is an emerging technology for exhibiting slow release mechanism of fertilizer application. This slow release mechanism allows increase in nutrient uptake of plants while minimizing environmental pollution; specifically, reducing eutrophication in bodies of water. This study includes parametric and optimization studies for ionic gelation process in the formulation of potassium fertilizer in chitosan polymethacrylic acid (CS-PMAA) carrier, and subsequent characterization of the formulated K fertilizer. A 2k factorial experimnental design was initially implemented to determine significant factors. Results show that polymerization time inversely affects the K content concentration of the K-CS-PMAA fertilizer due to the swelling behavior of chitosan, while K:CS-PMAA ratio directly affects the K content concentration. Upon numerical optimization, the conditions found to maximize K content of the formulated fertilizer are 3000 ppm K+ corresponding to 1.5:1 ratio of the K loading concentration to CS-PMAA carrier for 30 mins polymerization time. The optimum K content of K-CS-PMAA fertilizer is about 34.98% w/w – less than the 44.27% w/w K content of the fertilizer grade, muriate of potash (MOP). The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results of 368.1 nm and 75.4 nm, respectively, indicated that K-CS-PMAA is nanosized. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) results proved the presence of CS-PMAA with deviations at 1483.01 and 1405.07 caused by the vibration in the --COO-anion groups of PMAA indicating the attachment of potassium in the nanoparticle. Furthermore, the fertilizer formulated was proved to exhibit slow release behavior with the value of 83.70% K+ release after 48 hours compared to the 99.43% release of MOP