Bio-based hydrogels for nutrient delivery
Innovative biodegradable hydrogels based on sodium alginate, chitosan, and their blends, designed for controlled nutrient delivery. These hydrogels utilize ionic crosslinking techniques to modulate nutrient release rates, making them ideal for agricultural applications.
Overview
Bio-based hydrogels for nutrient delivery represent an innovative solution in agricultural technology, offering a biodegradable method to deliver essential nutrients like urea. These hydrogels are formulated using sodium alginate, chitosan, and their blends. The research explores their potential to control nutrient release rates through ionic crosslinking. This technology aims to enhance agricultural efficiency by reducing nutrient waste and improving soil compatibility.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Formulated from sodium alginate and chitosan
- Bench-scale urea-loaded prototypes created via ionic crosslinking with CaCl2 and TPP
- Rapid urea release initially observed, with alginate providing a more effective diffusion barrier
- Improved formulations will include citric acid esterification, biochar, humic acid, tannic acid modifiers, and polymer/lipid emulsion coatings
- Future optimizations will focus on matrix stability and nutrient transport control
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 3, indicating that it has been validated at the bench scale with plans for further development and testing. Future validation stages include optimizing the hydrogel formulations and enhancing the diffusion barriers to control nutrient release effectively.
About Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande
FURG is a comprehensive public federal university headquartered in Rio Grande, in southern Brazil, with a strong coastal character and a multi‑campus footprint. Industry engagement is anchored by the Oceantec science and technology park on the main campus, which co‑locates startups, shared labs, and company project space, and is expanding with a second site in Santo Antônio da Patrulha. The university’s integration with a federal university hospital enables clinical studies and health‑technology piloting, while long‑standing oceanography programs provide access to specialized coastal and marine facilities. Research is backed by Brazilian agencies including CNPq, CAPES, and FINEP. An incubator and a dedicated innovation/tech transfer office support IP, licensing, and startup formation.
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