title: Controlled-release fertilizer prepared using a biodegradable aliphatic copolyester of poly(butylene succinate) and dimerized fatty acid.
abstract: The preparation and characterization of a controlled-release multicomponent (NPK) fertilizer with the coating layer consisting of a biodegradable copolymer of poly(butylene succinate) and a butylene ester of dilinoleic acid (PBS/DLA) is reported. The morphology and structure of the resulting polymer-coated materials and the thickness of the covering layers were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The mechanical properties of these materials were determined with a strength-testing machine. Nutrient release was measured in water using spectrophotometry, potentiometry, and conductivity methods. The results of the nutrient release experiments from these polymer-coated materials were compared with the requirements for controlled-release fertilizers. A conceptual model is presented describing the mechanism of nutrient release from the materials prepared in this study. This model is based on the concentrations of mineral components inside the water-penetrated fertilizer granules, the diffusion properties of the nutrients in water, and a diffusion coefficient through the polymer layer. The experimental kinetic data on nutrient release were interpreted using the sigmoidal model equation developed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Environment Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lubkowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Environment Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smorowska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Environment Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grzmil
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Environment Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozłowska
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry; D002622:Chemistry, Agricultural / Q000379:methods*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D019281:Dimerization; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005308:Fertilizers; D011091:Polyesters; C558934:butylene
keywords: aliphatic copolyesters; biodegradable materials; controlled-release fertilizers