title: pH-responsive controlled-release fertilizer with water retention via atom transfer radical polymerization of acrylic acid on mussel-inspired initiator.
abstract: This work reports a polydopamine-graft-poly(acrylic acid) (Pdop-g-PAA)-coated controlled-release multi-element compound fertilizer with water-retention function by a combination of mussel-inspired chemistry and surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) techniques for the first time. The morphology and composition of the products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry. The results revealed that the stimuli-responsive layer formed by a Pdop inner layer and a PAA outer corona exhibit outstanding selective permeability to charged nutrients and the release rate of encapsulated elements can be tailored by the pH values. At low pH, the Pdop-g-PAA layer can reduce nutrient loss, and at high pH, the coating restrains transportation of negative nutrients but favors the release of cations. Moreover, PAA brushes provide good water-retention property. This Pdop-graft-polymer brushes coating will be effective and promising in the research and development of multi-functional controlled-release fertilizer.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering/Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Key Laboratory for Chemical Materials of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhi-yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Guo-xiang
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia-mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiu-lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: He-yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D005308:Fertilizers; D007211:Indoles; D011108:Polymers; C568283:polydopamine; C036658:acrylic acid