Solvent-free coating of crosslinked and hydrophobic lignin-based biocomposite for slow-release fertilizer

Quan Wei; Lin Zhang; Jienan Chen; Zhaohui Tong; Xiaoxun Zhou; Lishu Shao; Zhiping Wu; Peng Zhan; Fen Wang; Na Liu; Hanxue Lin; Hongping Dong

Polymer Testing (Oct 2021)

Solvent-free coating of crosslinked and hydrophobic lignin-based biocomposite for slow-release fertilizer

Quan Wei,
Lin Zhang,
Jienan Chen,
Zhaohui Tong,
Xiaoxun Zhou,
Lishu Shao,
Zhiping Wu,
Peng Zhan,
Fen Wang,
Na Liu,
Hanxue Lin,
Hongping Dong

Affiliations

Quan Wei: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Lin Zhang: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
Jienan Chen: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China; Corresponding author. Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China.
Zhaohui Tong: Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
Xiaoxun Zhou: College of Public Administration and Law, Human Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China; Corresponding author.
Lishu Shao: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Zhiping Wu: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Peng Zhan: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Fen Wang: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Na Liu: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Hanxue Lin: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
Hongping Dong: Ministry of Forestry Bioethanol Research Center, Changsha, 410004, China; Hunan International Joint Laboratory of Woody Biomass Conversion, Changsha, 410004, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 102
p. 107335

Abstract

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Biopolymer-based slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) have attracted increasing interest because of their environmental benefits. Herein, a hydrophobic thermoplastic lignin with favorable film formation properties was synthesized through simple crosslinking followed by esterification reactions. The chemical structure, glass transition temperature, and hydrophobicity were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and contact angle studies. The newly synthesized esterified crosslinked sodium lignosulfonate (ECSL) enables the encapsulation of urea via a solvent-free coating method to prepare SRFs because of its appropriate glass transition temperature (Tg) and excellent film formation properties. The ECSL-based SRF released only 86.9% of the encapsulated urea within 44 d, which is superior to most lignin-based SRFs in previous studies. The release rate can also be tuned by adjusting the ECSL ratio. The synthesis of hydrophobic lignin biocomposites with suitable Tgs for film formation resolves the bottleneck of using these types of non-thermoplastic polymers (e.g., lignin) for SRFs. This study not only maximizes the value of biowaste lignin but also offers a non-paradigm approach toward low-cost SRFs for sustainable agriculture.

Published in Polymer Testing

ISSN: 0142-9418 (Print); 1873-2348 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Polymers and polymer manufacture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/polymer-testing

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