Open AccessSynthesis of biopolymeric particles loaded with phosphorus and potassium: characterisation and release tests
Author(s) -
MirandaVillagómez Erika,
AguilarMéndez Miguel Ángel,
GómezMerino Fernando Carlos,
Ronquillo de Jesús Elba,
SandovalVilla Manuel,
SánchezGarcía Prometeo,
TrejoTéllez Libia Iris
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iet nanobiotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1751-875X
DOI - 10.1049/iet-nbt.2018.5035
Subject(s) - gelatin , distilled water , dispersity , potassium , chemistry , nanoparticle , sodium , particle size , starch , nuclear chemistry , chromatography , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , organic chemistry
The authors synthesised nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with P and K from KH 2 PO 4 using gelatin type‐A and type‐B, and sodium alginate as carriers. Using type‐A and type‐B gelatin, quasi‐spherical particles were obtained, with average sizes of 682 and 856 nm, respectively; with sodium alginate, the resulting NPs exhibited spherical shapes and 600 nm particle average size. The authors found an interaction between KH 2 PO 4 and alginate via the hydrogen bonds existent among the carboxylic groups of the carbohydrate and the OH‐groups of the H 2 PO 4 ‐; interactions among gelatin types with the OH‐groups and the H 2 PO 4 ‐ion were also observed. Adding trypsin to the distilled water solutions of the NPs coated with type‐A gelatin increased the concentration of P in the solution by threefold, while increasing that of K increased by 2.6‐fold. Conversely, adding α ‐amylase to the water solutions with sodium alginate increased the P and K concentrations in the solution by nearly 1.3‐ and 1.1‐fold, respectively. Thus, sodium alginate resulted in NPs with smaller sizes and better spherical formations, though with a high polydispersity index and lower release rate of P and K . This low release rate represents an advantage since plants demand nutrients for long periods, and conventional fertilisers display low use efficiency.